CHAPTER VII. 

 A FOOTING GAINED IN THE MIDDLE WEST. 



From the early eastern stocks mentioned in the 

 foregoing chapter the fame of the Hereford grad- 

 ually expanded westward. But the available supply 

 of cattle was limited and the paralyzing effects of 

 the great Civil War from 1861 to 1865 operated for 

 several years after its close to prevent any wide- 

 spread extension of the work of live stock improve- 

 ment until the business of the country had recovered 

 from the shock. By 1870 the interest of western cat- 

 tle-growers in Herefords was obviously increasing, 

 and those who believed that there was a bright fu- 

 ture for the breed in the newer west planned to push 

 their claims for recognition with renewed vigor. 



Gov. Crapo's Experiments. One of the earliest 

 introductions of Hereford blood into the state of 

 Michigan was that made by Governor Crapo of 

 Flint, who in 1866 began experimenting with Short- 

 horns, Devons and Herefords. The latter were from 

 the herd of Mr. Stone of Guelph, and included the 

 bull Velvet Jacket, then two years old, and three 

 heifers of like age. The Shorthorns were obtained 

 from Hon. Ezra Cornell of Ithaca., N. Y., and the 

 Devons from good sources in the same state. Speak- 

 ing of the result of Governor Crapo's experiment, 



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