212 



HISTORY OF H EKE FOR I) CATTLE 



cess they have achieved in the field of journal- 

 ism. May they still become more prosperous is 

 my sincere wish. 



My ohject is to write the truth, and if any 

 of my former opponents think me in error, I am 

 open to criticism, I care not in what shape it 

 comes. If I cannot vindicate myself I will cry 

 peccavi, and acknowledge the fault. All I ask 

 is a fair field and no favor. 



PART XI. 



The Bates ring is now broken up, the Bates 

 mania defunct ; titles are looked upon with sus- 

 picion. Men who supported them did so to 

 their hearts' content, but would now gladly re- 

 turn them to the country in which they were 

 created. 



GRADE STEER CALVES IN AN IOWA FEED LOT. 



The wise men at the East have to be fed with 

 roast beef by the practical men at the West; 

 therefore, they have to study the best and most 

 economical way of making it to their own ad- 

 vantage. They have found out that the Here- 

 ford has a strong constitution, has a good, thick, 

 mellow hide to protect it, under which good 

 quality invariably rests. Their meat being well 

 interlarded is put on in the right places; this 

 gained in their activity is" unchangeable, which 

 enables them to take it to market in good shape. 



The Bates tribes under their thin hides and 

 soft handling, so vehemently supported by their 

 breeders, cannot stand the hardship they have 

 to endure, especially when weaned from their 

 nursing and pampering. The character of their 

 soft flesh is bred in them, under the absurd 

 doctrine Thomas Bates was constantly preach- 

 ing to his followers. This flabby flesh wasted 

 away in their coarseness from the exertion 

 which compelled them to travel for their food, 

 and what they did put on was carried to market 



in had shape, which made thorn only fit for 

 stoekers to be finished amidst plenty, where they 

 could be indulged in idleness, then the most 

 profitable parts were deficient, not having been 

 bred there; their pedigree must have been a 

 fraud. So goes the world and the people in it 

 are subject to many changes. L. F. Allen and 

 his herd book, J. R. Page and his flattering 

 portraits, even with the assistance of Ambrose 

 Stevens, can never compensate for the injury 

 thev have done to Shorthorns. * * * 



PART XII. 



about in my 25th year, I 

 used to go to visit my uncle in London, 

 who lived in White Lion street, a close neighbor 

 to Mr. William Gurrier, who was salesman for 

 my father; and being fond of stock, I used to 

 get up in the morning between 1 and 2 o'clock 

 to ride with Mr. Gurrier to market, as Smith- 

 field began at this time by lamp light. He 

 kindly took me through the cattle as he handled 

 them in their pens, frequently asking me which 

 was the best bullock. If I differed with his 

 judgment he explained it to me. I was always 

 on hand at my uncle's door when he called for 

 me. Mr. Giblett was one of the best customers, 

 and we frequently went to Bond street to view 

 the stall of meat killed by this noted purveyor. 

 We had not much chance of judging between 

 the Herefords and Shorthorns, as he seldom 

 killed any of the latter, which were at that 

 period very coarse and of inferior quality. Mr. 

 Giblett's principal purchases were Herefords 

 and Scots. Here we had a good chance to com- 

 pare our judgments of alive and dead,' and I 

 again say here that no man can be a successful 

 breeder of cattle of any breed unless he can 

 discover true quality in the live animal. To 

 do this, his hand must be his guide. 



The more Galloway and Highland blood they 

 introduced into the crossed Durhams the more 

 they improved them, hence, the name of "Im- 

 proved Shorthorn." When the passion for up- 

 standing style in Dukes and Duchesses became 

 fashionable and fanciful, this improvement was 

 destroyed, and good breeding was lost sight 

 of. Mr. Giblett's establishment and his repu- 

 tation for the best stall of meat was extended 

 far into the country, he killing nothing but 

 Herefords and Scots. It was a great grati- 

 fication to me to see the display of meat in this 

 well-known and extensive establishment, and 

 I was a frequent visitor when on a visit to my 

 London friends. Everything was kept in the 



