HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



155 



Smythies' letters in your paper a short time 

 previous to his death, and who was present at 

 both decisions. 



The home of the Herefords in England is 

 light sterile soil, and they are generally bred 

 on light soil here. Still, we beat the Short- 

 horns, both here and there, under impartial and 

 proper judges, and with this just treatment will 

 ultimately rank first of all breeds. 



You see plainly by the prejudice advanced 

 by Mr. Clay and Mr. Chapman what Hereford 

 breeders have to contend with here; and there 

 are many such writers as "C. M. C." fresh 

 ones springing up every day like mushrooms 

 assuming that a breeder can be made in a day 

 by purchasing "herd-book cattle" and the next 

 week copy from some one else an article to 

 teach old breeders. This you will see by the 

 "Ohio Farmer," which I send you with this. 



Such "judges" as Mr. Chapman have been 

 frequently put on the committee at our State 

 fairs. When "Halton" took the first prize at 

 Rochester in the foreign class, one of the 

 "judges" was a schoolmaster. This I know to 

 be true, for I was manager of the whole cattle 

 department that year and laughed heartilv while 

 they were "judging" of "Belted Will/' and 



"Halton" (both Shorthorns), the former being 

 by far the best bull. They call "Halton" an 

 enormous size, therefore "Halton" was the best. 

 Whether this was the "schoolmaster abroad" I 

 know not. From such causes as these, Mr. Edi- 

 tor, springs my spirit of controversy; and in 

 such defense you cannot blame me. Whatever 

 you see amiss in my letter tell it to the people ; 

 such conduct will never offend me. I write my 

 views on a subject as plainly as lam capable, not 

 being a "classical man," and solicit information 

 from the soundest source. If I deviate from the 

 truth intentionally, trim me with a severe pen 

 and I will retire from the field disgusted with 

 my own actions. I am the only breeder who 

 will write in defense of Herefords against Short- 

 horn boasting, and I am determined to stand 

 my ground against unlimited numbers of those 

 who call themselves "breeders" and who are 

 constantly puffing their cattle in this country 

 either by tongue or pen. 



Since my last letter to you I have traveled 

 through much of Canada, and from casual ob- 

 servation in the townships of Markham and 

 Pickering, near Toronto, was impressed most 

 favorably with the quality of the soil, more es- 

 pecially for turnips. It is mostly inhabited by 



GRATEFUL (4622) 2572. 

 (Bred by A. Rogers. Champion of England, 1876-1880. From a painting.) 



