HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



109 



iums equal to $1,875, the Shorthorns taking 

 eighteen premiums, or $740. 



With these basis facts established, we turn to 

 the importation of Mr. W. H. Sotham, and the 

 correspondence and controversies growing out 

 of that importation, and these we shall quote 

 freely. The following extract is from a letter 

 of Mr. W. H. Sotham, of date June 1, 1840, to 

 Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker, publishers of the 

 "Cultivator/' V. 7, pp. 113, 114: 



"Of our cattle I shall not say more than that 

 they are of the Hereford breed, and from the 

 same breeder who agrees with me that the 

 Herefords are decidedly the best and most prof- 

 itable when taken in the aggregate. The Smith- 



of 15 sovereigns at the Rutland Agricultural 

 Society's show at Oakham. Also, at Smithfield 

 Club show, the first prize of 20 sovereigns in 

 class first. Age of this ox, four years and two 

 months; weight 122 stone (1,708 Ibs.), bred by 

 Mr. John Hewer of Hereford. It is my opinion 

 that Herefords are better milkers than gener- 

 ally represented. It is not clear to me that 

 they are inferior to the Shorthorn or Durham. 

 When our cows come to grass I will endeavor 

 to give the quantity. Appearance on the vessel 

 are much in their favor. I will not say 

 more on this subject until we "have some for 

 sale ; these are intended for our own use. 



"Should it meet the views of improving, in- 



CHAMPION HEREFORD OX, SMITHFIELD. 1848. (Bred by H. R. H. Prince -Albert.) 



field show will acknowledge this, as the Here- 

 fords take top price against all others. 



"Other instances are in their favor. The 

 oxen are excellent workers, the best feeders, and 

 when in market fetch one-half penny per pound 

 more than the Durham s. The fat and the lean 

 is so well interlarded. This assertion is backed 

 by most of the London butchers, of whom I 

 made inquiry, and I send you a letter for inser- 

 tion from Mr. Guerrier to me, one of the best 

 salesmen in London, who presented me with an 

 engraving (fi 63) of the prize ox in 1837, the 

 property of Mr. John Thomas Smith, Portland, 

 Lincolnshire, This ox obtained the first prize 



telligent, enterprising farmers, such as know 

 how to lay out their money judgmatically, we 

 have no objection to enter into a trade with 

 Mr. Hewer, to take the whole of his extra stock 

 yearly, who says no other person shall have 

 them for exportation. Any other breed of the 

 first order, or any kind of animal England can 

 produce, I will endeavor to procure by the pur- 

 chaser representing it to me, and the highest 

 price he will give in New York, or any kind of 

 field or garden seeds. But I must admonish 

 the purchasers to show a little spirit, not to be 

 afraid of their shadow in a good cause ; the best 

 things in this world cannot be bought at low 



