190 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



face, mane, throat and under portion of the body, the inside and 

 lower part of the legs, and the tip of the tail are beautifully 

 white ; the other parts of the body a rich red, usually darker in 

 the male than the female. The horn is white, or light yellow, 

 of a waxy appearance, sometimes tipped with black. The fore- 

 head is broad, with spreading horns, those of the bull straight 

 and level with the poll, and of the ox and cow, slightly curved, 

 with an upward tendency. The eye is full yet passive, denoting 

 the quietness of disposition and of temper characteristic of the 

 Hereford, and which is of paramount importance to insure the 

 profitable feeding of all ruminating animals. The cheek is fine, 

 the head small in proportion to the carcase, which is long, level 

 and cylindrical ; the hide is thick, yet mellow, well covered with 

 long soft hair, having a tendency to curl. The brisket is promi- 

 nent, the chest well expanded, and the breed is prominently 

 distinguished for neatness of shoulder, the bone being thin and 

 flat, the kernel full up the outside shoulder, well covered with 

 mellow flesh ; the chine good, the loin broad, the hips wide and 

 level, the whole back displaying a straight line, well covered 

 with flesh, from the head to the tail ; the twist, flank and fore- 

 flank are good, the outside thigh is the most defective part. 

 The whole body is well covered with thick, mellow flesh, yielding 

 with pleasant elasticity to the touch ; the legs are short and the 

 bone small, and the whole contour displays great constitution, 

 and exhibits, perhaps, a larger amount of flesh, in proportion 

 to bone, than any other breed." 



They have been long and favorably known in England, men- 

 tion being made of them as early as 1776, but the importations 

 to this country have been comparatively very few until within 

 a late period. The State owned, a few years since, some fine 

 specimens of this breed, which were sold to parties in Maryland, 

 just previous to the breaking out of the rebellion. They are 

 celebrated for their oxen and steers ; they rank next to the 

 Shorthorn in size ; from their uniformity of color thfey are 

 easily matched. As they are bred chiefly in England for their 

 beef, their dairy qualities have been overlooked to a great extent, 

 yet it is claimed by persons who are fully competent to give an 

 opinion, that they are fully equal to the Shorthorns. Sanford 

 Howard, than whom there is no better authority, writes me, 

 under date of March 9th : " The Herefords are much better 



