378 



HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



with more success on a future occasion." 

 ( Cheers. ) 



Be it remembered that Mr. Hobbs gained the 

 first premium as the owner of the best cow in 

 milk, of any breed, with a Hereford. What 

 will the pen depressers of milking Herefords 

 say to this? Will they not have to put on their 

 "studying caps" to find some endorsers for 

 "Youatt?" 



Again, I refer you to a sale of Herefords in 

 the "Mark Lane Express" Oct. 30, page 12, the 

 property of Mr. John Hewer: "An in-calf 

 cow, Lady, by Chance, was knocked down for 



QUEEN OP THE LILLIES 4367. 

 Bred by T. E. Miller, Beecher, 111. 



100 guineas ($500) ; two-year-old Victoria at 

 87 guineas ($435) ; yearling heifer, 40 guineas 

 ($200) ; an aged bull, Dangerous (the sire of 

 some of my heifers), 100 guineas ($500) ; Lofty, 

 and bull calf, 51 guineas ($255), and several 

 others at similar prices." 



What does this say for the Herefords ? Will 

 it not "prove" that some writers know nothing 

 about them ? and will it not teach some of them 

 to search for facts before they "abuse the 

 Herefords T' 



I refer you again to a sale at Algarkirke 

 of an excellent herd of Shorthorn cattle belong- 

 ing to Mr. Rogerson, same paper for Oct. 23, 

 page 12 : "Nonesuch, two years and six months 

 old, was knocked down at 27 10s. ($136.68), 

 a very fine animal; others fetched from 20 

 to 25 ($100 to $125). Altogether the sale has 

 been highly satisfactory, and reflects equal 

 credit on the breeder and the auctioneer. Young 

 Spectator was on the ground and was much ad- 

 mired." 



Such comparisons as these are the true stand- 

 ards for other breeders and it is gratifying to 

 find such authority to substantiate the facts I 

 have previously stated. I have an own sister 



to Lady, several half sisters to Lofty, and two 

 half sisters to Victoria; and they came from 

 the bleak hills of Gloucestershire, from the 

 herds of William, John and Joseph Hewer. I 

 do not think an "extraordinary" milker is a 

 profitable animal for the farmer. If I can keep 

 my cows up to from 6 to 8 Ibs. each, for nine 

 months, I will be perfectly satisfied ; nor do I 

 think that three herds in twenty will do more, 

 unless selected entirely for that purpose. We 

 all know that a great quantity of milk requires 

 to be forced with extra feed; and when such a 

 cow is dried for the grazier or feeder, I want 

 him to keep an accurate account of food con- 

 sumed, and the price sold to the butcher. 



One more statement and I have done. I do 

 not think there are many breeders in this coun- 

 try who are willing to give a remunerating 

 price for a good animal. The butchers have 

 far more spirit than the breeders, and my ob- 

 ject in future shall be to serve them. If breed- 

 ers want this stock, let them go to England 

 and fetch them; they will then know their 

 true value. At present, I intend to make steers 

 of all. Nor do I intend to show another animal 

 for a premium in this country, so long as a 

 combined prejudice exists. 



I conclude by saying that the Hon. Erastus 

 Corning has rendered me every assistance with 

 his purse, and deserves as much credit for this 

 noble spirit as the best of the noblemen in 

 England. They know agriculture is the only 

 support of the country. Directing members of 

 this country know equally well the benefit they 

 render it by such praiseworthy transactions, and 

 such are the true supporters of a prosperous 

 and enterprising country. It is such men only 

 that can place America in the exalted station 

 she ought to occupy. 



WM. H. SOTHAM. 



Hereford Hall, near Albany, Nov. 30, 1843. 



A notable instance of Herefords used as dairy 

 stock in England has been mentioned in the 

 Consul's report, that of the experience of the 

 Messrs. James of Dorsetshire. 



Several years since Mr. Duckham, in writing 

 us of the Herefords, gave an account of their 

 use by the said Mr. James, of Mappowder, near 

 Blandford, Dorsetshire, England ; referring to 

 their use at Mappowder to show their adapta- 

 bility to different sections of the country. 

 When in England we had occasion to visit his 

 herds and some of the neighboring herds. We 

 learned from Mr. James that his father estab- 

 lished this herd in 1837, and that, at his father's 

 death in 1857 or 1858, he came into possession 

 of the herd and has bred them from that time 



