482 



HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



having the same care and treatment. The ani- 

 mals 'were weighed regularly, as was also the 

 feed consumed by each. 



Mr. C. and his son, the present Hon. Erastus 

 Corning, were so far convinced of the superior- 

 ity of the Herefords, that the Shorthorns were 

 sold, and the descendants of the same herd of 

 Herefords can now be seen on the farm. 



The Herefords in the trial exceeded the 

 Shorthorns in the number of pounds gained and 

 put the gain in the most desirable portions of 

 the animal for market. 



In the forty-two years the Herefords have 

 been on the farm, there has never been a Here- 

 ford cow but what has given plenty of milk to 

 raise her calf, whereas some of the calves of 

 the Shorthorn cows would have died of starva- 

 tion but for outside help. 



The Corning herd of Herefords are kept in 

 breeding condition only and are exhibited in 

 that state. 



As prize winners they rank among the high- 

 est in the country, having won the New York 

 State Agricultural Society's Large Gold Medal 

 three times. Imp. Comus has won seven first 

 premiums, Marchioness 2d, Katy, and Victoria 

 6th have all won first prizes as cows, when com- 

 peting against some very noted herds. 



The demand for Herefords in the last six 

 months has been unprecedented. 



While in Colorado some time ago, I asked 

 an extensive cattle man what he thought was 

 the best breed for beef. "Well, there isn't much 

 doubt about that, when a man can get five 

 dollars more a head for white- faced steers, from 

 Kansas and Illinois buyers, than for any other 

 steers, no matter how well-bred we tell them 

 they are." JAMES W. Cox, JR. 



A NEW YORKER ENDORSES MR. SOTHAM. 



Mr. Editor: 



Meslina, Orleans Co., N. Y. 

 June 5, 1882. 



The "Breeders' Journal" of April last was 

 put into my hands a few days ago by a friend, 

 and while I have not had time to examine it as 

 much as I wish, I have read the article upon 

 the life and career of my old and valued friend, 

 Wm. H. Sotham, as a breeder of Herefords, 

 and much of which came under my own knowl- 

 edge. It is a truthful history, and his likeness 

 recalls to my mind many pleasant memories, 

 and I am glad to know that he is yet living 

 and sees his favorite breed taking rank where 

 he always claimed they would if given anything 

 like a fair chance alongside the Shorthorns; 

 many men less resolute than he would have 



succumbed to the great pressure against him in 

 the early introduction of the Herefords. I 

 have witnessed many an argument between him 

 and the Shorthorn men, besides those wielded 

 by his able pen. Mr. Remington, of whom you 

 speak, is a brother-in-law of mine, and has 

 started a small cattle ranch in Holt Co., Ne- 

 braska, and purchased a Hereford bull of Eras- 

 tus Corning, of Albany. His son, M. C. Rem- 

 ington, Jr., is attending to it. I am still of the 

 opinion there are no better cattle for the 

 shambles or for working oxen than the Here- 

 fords, but as beef is^now produced so much 

 cheaper in the West, we have to resort to other 

 branches of farming. I purchased some very 

 good animals of Mr. Sotham, one heifer, two 

 years old, and calf by her side. Woodbine, il- 

 lustrated in transactions of the New York State 

 Agricultural Society in 1853, took first prize at 

 Saratoga. I then sold the late John Merryman, 

 of Cockeysville, Md., the first Hereford he ever 

 purchased. I last met Mr. Sotham in Detroit 

 some four years ago, and through his recom- 

 mendation I purchased some Berkshires of Mr. 

 Smith, with which I have been very successful, 

 carrying off first prize in our state. I should 

 like to be informed of Mr. Sotham's address. 

 Sincerely yours, H. BOWEN. 



SUCCESSFUL IN DAKOTA. 



Mr. T. L. MILLER, Beecher, 111. 



Dear Sir : Have intended writing you for a 

 considerable time, but between getting in a new 

 herd of Minnesota cattle, and putting up our 

 hay crop, have had little leisure since the first 

 of May. We are now in position to give the 

 results of our first year's experience with 

 Herefords, and am glad to say it is most satis- 

 factory. We used the yearling bulls we bought 

 of you in June of last year on a limited number 

 of native cows during July and August. Every 

 cow they served had a calf last spring and all 

 are alive and doing splendidly. They all show 

 the Hereford blood distinctly and some of 

 them are as well marked as their sires. After 

 the season was over, we turned the bulls out 

 on the range and let them run all winter. Did 

 not stable them or feed any hay or grain. 

 They came out this spring thin in flesh, but 

 in good thriving condition, and filled up very 

 fast when the new grass came. Altogether, they 

 proved themselves a very hardy lot of cattle 

 and well adapted to roughing it on the range. 

 Have used them on our entire herd this season, 

 and if next year's calves prove equal to those 

 we now have, the Herefords will unquestionably 

 have the lead here. All our neighbors conceded 



