118 



HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



it, as it is fed to advantage to many kinds of 

 animals. 



"The breeders of stock and tillers of soil 

 ought to he intimately united, or the antic- 

 ipated improvement in husbandry will end in 

 disappointment. Could we establish agricul- 

 tural societies and combine in friendship, the 

 more AVC met together and the oftener we dis- 

 cussed subjects connected with agricultural 

 matters, the greater would be the advantages 

 that would ensue. I hope this feeling will be 

 established in Jefferson County and that we 

 shall be able to meet together to awaken the 

 farming interest and promote the public good. 

 "I am, dear sirs, yours most sincerely, 



WM. H. SOTHAM. 

 "Perch Lake Farm, Jefferson County, N. Y., 



1840. 



"N. B. I have met with the last three num- 

 bers of your valuable paper since writing the 

 above, and will answer all reference to my com- 

 munication in your next." 



It is most notable that Mr. Sotham advo- 

 cated a system in 1840 akin to the all-prevail- 

 ing "Agricultural Institute" of to-day. He was 

 half a century ahead of his time. 



In same volume, pp. 193-4, we quote H. S. 

 Randall in full : 



"Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker: In the August 

 number of the 'Cultivator' Mr. Bement of Al- 

 bany expresses the opinion that the statement 

 made by me in a previous number, 'that the 

 Durham would lose in milking properties by a 

 cross with the Devon or Hereford' was incorrect. 

 Mr. Bement's skill as a breeder and his candor 

 as a gentleman, to both of which I am happy 

 to bear ample testimony, entitle his opinion to 

 much respect. The subject, too, derives addi- 

 tional interest from the recent importation of 

 Herefords and the introduction of several valu- 

 able herds of Devons into our state. 



"The essay of mine from which Mr. Bemrnt 

 quotes was designed rather to correct several 

 popular errors than to furnish a text-book for 

 the scientific breeder. But brief and imperfect 

 as was the account it contained of the Here- 

 fords, much subsequent examination of both 

 English writers and living English breeders 

 has only confirmed me in the correctness of the 

 positions therein assumed, particularly of the 

 one controverted by Mr. B. His evidence, 

 founded on the results of his own experience, 

 is good as far as it goes, but a few instances 

 does not establish a rule. The entire prepon- 

 derance of testimony, both of writers and breed- 

 ers in England, is against the milking proper- 



"THE WOODLEYS," OXFORDSHIRE. (Birthplace of Wm. H. Sotham. Rear view.) 



