FIRST AMERICAN IMPORTATIONS 281 



prize-winner at the Oxford Royal of 1839. They 

 were placed upon Mr. Coming's farm near Albany. 

 Speaking of the shipment, ' ' The Albany Cultivator ' ' 

 of that period said : 



' ' One of the most important importations of cattle 

 and sheep that has ever taken place in this country 

 has been made by the Hon. Erastus Corning, of this 

 city, and William H. Sotham, of Jefferson county. 

 It consists of twelve cows, calves and heifers and 

 twenty-five sheep. The cattle are of the Hereford 

 breed from Herefordshire, and the very best animals 

 that could be selected. No one can help being struck 

 by the extraordinary size of the cows, their fine 

 forms and their substantial development, denoting 

 strength and power, and showing the basis of the 

 reputation which the Herefords formerly had for 

 working cattle and now for feeding. The expense 

 of the importation was nearly $8,000. " 



The following year Mr. Corning sent Sotham after 

 another lot, but these were unfortunately lost at 

 sea. About this date the New York State Agricul- 

 tural Society was organized, several breeders of 

 Shorthorns being prominent in its management. 

 The Corning cattle were exhibited, a special award 

 was made to the cow Matchless, and a committee 

 recommended that a regular class be made for them. 

 This, it seems, however, was not done for some time, 

 whereupon Mr. Sotham criticised sharply the Short- 

 horn breeders, the fair managers and various agri- 

 cultural writers of the day as being prejudiced 

 against the Herefords. 



In a review of the New York State Fair of 1844, 

 published in "The Albany Cultivator and Country 



