IN FOREIGN FIELDS 975 



"You ask me what reasons justify in the Argen- 

 tine Republic the apparent supremacy of the Short- 

 horns as a race, the superiority of the Herefords 

 being unquestionable as regards strength, hardiness, 

 health, resistance and adaptability to all kinds of 

 camps. 



"I believe it is only a matter of personal prefer- 

 ence. I acknowledge that such a motive has no 

 weight as a commercial argument. It must also be 

 borne in mind, that the generality of our breeders 

 have, for some time past, dedicated themselves to 

 breeding Shorthorns, as these were more abundant 

 than Herefords. The former spread thus easily over 

 the country and today the owners of Shorthorns, 

 although the origin of their cattle in this country 

 may not be a pure one, have continued crossing with 

 imported animals or with more or less pure bulls for 

 such a long period that their herds are almost pur 

 sang. Such breeders naturally are loath to give up 

 the results of many years of assiduous work. 



"I think, nay, I can assure, that there are Short- 

 horn breeders who are intimately convinced of the 

 necessity of starting in the direction of a breed 

 which, like the Hereford, offers them more endur- 

 ance, is better adapted to all zones, shows greater 

 resistance in times of drouth and during cold 

 winters, than are displayed by the Shorthorns. Yet 

 this conviction is an inward one; it is not openly 

 avowed. Things will most likely continue in this 

 state until the Hereford breeders, who on their side 

 persist in their propaganda, do succeed in establish- 

 ing their opinion, as I understand has happened in 

 the United States. The Hereford breeders have kept 

 up the struggle for a very long time; but they were 

 few, compared with the number of their rivals, and 

 the upshot so far favors the predominion of the Dur- 

 hams. During recent years, however, a reaction has 



