176 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



Evidence establishes beyond question that the Hereford when re- 

 moved to almost any climate does not degenerate as a beef producer. 

 The females, too, of" the breed are found most satisfactory for the dairy, 

 under different conditions than can be found in their home countries. 

 Both of these conclusions are contrary to an opinion I have heard many 

 express to the effect that Herefords deteriorate away from home. But 

 I have observed that while such an opinion seems very general, it is 

 maintained by those without special knowledge of the breed, and I 

 think it an inherited prejudice which a little investigation would dis- 

 prove to the satisfaction of the holder. "Old prejudices die hard" is 

 true and trite. In Bedfordshire and Dorset herds have been main- 

 tained for many years, fifty in some cases, and these herds are fully up 

 to the standard of the homebred ones; in every case, that is, in which 

 due care has been taken to get an occasional infusion of fresh blood. 

 In the wet and changeable climate of Cornwall the breed is established 

 largely and maintains its reputation, though Devons and Short-horns 

 are said to deteriorate there. In the counties near London, Surrey, 

 Cambridge, and Kent, Herefords have done well ; also in Wales and 

 Scotland. They withstand the severe climate of the latter country 

 without seeming difficulty, and will live where many Short-horns cannot. 

 In Ireland they are much esteemed and their number is constantly in 

 creasing. They maintain in all these places their characteristics of 

 early development and rapid and even fattening. 



The breed seems to stand the heat with the same indifference ifc does 

 the cold. In Jamaica the progeny of some imported Hereford bulls 

 have proved the most valuable and useful stock in the island ; and the 

 heat of Australia has not affected in the slightest degree the character- 

 istics of the large number of Herefords there. Of their success in the 

 United States I shall speak farther on. 



I have thus far considered the Herefords mainly as a butcher's breed. 

 I will now speak of their qualifications for the dairy. In the shire of 

 Dorset, one of the crack dairy districts of England, producing a butter 

 much sought after,* there are many Hereford dairy herds. The owner 

 of the largest of these herds wrote twenty years since as follows : 



Our herd of Herefords have been established nearly thirty years, and so far from th cu- 

 be ing degenerated with us they are much improved, aud Hereford dairies aro becom- 

 ing very common in this county. In proof that they aro good for milk with us, wo 

 let nearly 100 cows to dairy people, and if I buy one of aay other breed to till up* the 

 dairy, they always grumble, and would rather have one of our own bred heifers. 

 Onr'system is, wo let our cows at so much per year,finding them in land and mak- 

 ing the hay; the calves being reared by hand with skim milk and linseed until three 

 months old, when we take them, and allow a quarter's rent of the cow for the calf at 

 that age; they are then turned into the pasture; 



The proprietor of this herd and writer of this letter was Mr. James, 

 of Blandford, Dorset. His son writes me under date January 19, 1884, 

 that the same system is still pursued and that the Herefords are as 

 great a success as ever. He says : 



My late father and myself have kept and bred Herefords for dairy cows for forty- 

 eight years and have always used the best blood we could get. I have won a num- 

 ber of prizes for "dairy cows" and " dairy cows and offspring" against Devoiis and 

 Short-horns. 



Mr. James further says : 



In a cold, wet, sour place there is nothing like the Herefords ; their good coats are 

 a protection in the winter. The butter that is made is a splendid color and taste. 



* So much appreciated is this Dorset butter, that to my personal knowledge it is a 

 common practice for retailers in Bristol to call certain line grades of Norniaudy but- 

 ter Dorset butter. They say it is about the same and helps the sale. 



