CATTLE AND DAliiy FARMING. 



It will therefore be seen that the permanent pasture far exceeds all 

 the other portions of tlie. hind put together. The population in 1881 

 was 118,147. Very ie\v of the people are employed in manufactures, 

 but many iiud employment in the autumn in hop and fruit gathering. 



THE GREAT CATTLE FAIR. IN HEREFORD. 



The city of Hereford is situated somewhere near the center of the 

 county, and is in latitude 52 4' north, and longitude 2 54' west. The 

 climate is on the whole temperate. The city is small, and has been the 

 seat of a bishopric from the earliest times, for more than twelve hun- 

 dred years. The cathedral is very beautiful, but does not rank among 

 the largest of the English fanes. It has portions of Norman work in 

 it, and since its restoration has been made one of the handsomest in- 

 teriors in the Kingdom. The city proper is rather poor, but some of the 

 streets and the market place are large and spacious, and at fair time 

 their appearance is very wonderful, every portion of the streets, even 

 up to the cathedral yard itself, is crowded with the u white-faced beau* 

 ties" of the county; while Shropshire, Monmouthshire, Breconshire, and 

 even Gloucestershire send their contingents. It is indeed a remark- 

 able sight, being different to anything of its class in England, as the 

 thousands of cattle brought together are all of one type, deep brownish- 

 reds with white faces, and some other portions of the body and tips of 

 tail white. There is no interspersing of Shorthorns or other breeds, 

 an occasional Devon is seen, but that seems to be an accident, and the 

 shouting of drovers, the bellowing of the cattle, and the general hum of 

 conversation whilst the deals are made, forma singular and very amus- 

 ing sight. The great fair takes place in the third week in October, and 

 as many as from 8,000 to 9,000 head of cattle have been brought for sale 

 during that time. Some ycnrs ago dealers like Carwandine, Pardiug- 

 tou, Jones, Knight, and Price were accustomed to bring some hundreds, 

 and generally sold them to the graziers of the midlands or to other 

 dealers who brought them up to the great markets at Banburjr, Ayles- 

 bury, and Northampton', where there was always a ready sale. The 

 trade now seems quite changed, and but few good animals ever reach 

 the midland markets, as the graziers themselves go down by rail in a 

 few hours and buy largely of the breeders, or dealers, who get together 

 on their own premises lots of from 30 to 100 for their selection, and it 

 is only rarely that men can be suited at the old markets. 



HISTORY OF THE HEREFORD BREED. 



I am greatly indebted to the writings of the late Mr. Dixon, a well- 

 known agricultural writer, for much of the information contained in 

 this paper, as well as to my good friend Mr. Duckhain, member of Par- 

 liament for Herefordshire, who was the editor of the Hereford Herd- 

 Book, and who has done as much, or perhaps more than any other man, 

 to bring this noble race of cattle prominently before the public at the 

 present time, who has given me much valuable information, and I can- 

 not do wrong in quoting from these most reliable authorities for many 

 statements which I shail make in this paper. I will also give my own 

 personal experience as a grazier, and judge at the royal and other 

 agricultural shows, where I had many opportunities of getting well 

 acquainted with this breed. 



Old Fuller, who was a quaint writer of more than two hundred years 

 ago, says of Herefordshire, "that it doth share as deep as any county iu 



