148 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



and beautifully marbled. There are few cattle more 

 prized in the market than the genuine Herefords."* 



The Encyclopaedia published by the London So- 

 ciety for the Dirtusion of Knowledge, vol. xii., article 

 Herefordshire, corroborates the above statements 

 fully, particularly that in regard to their milking 

 qualities, asserting that none are kept for their milk 

 alone, but that the cows are used exclusively for the 

 purposes of breeding. It must be remembered, how- 

 ever, that milking qualities are as easily conferred 

 by the skilful breeder as other desirable qualities ; 

 and if they do not at present exist in the Herefords, 

 they can be introduced into the breed, as was done 

 by Mr. Berry into the Short Horn. At present, their 

 unfitness for the dairy, it must be acknowledged, 

 constitutes a formidable objection. 



Specimens of the Herefords were imported into 

 this country several years since by the Hon. Mr. 

 Rives, of Virginia, and more lately by the Hon. H. 

 Clay, of Kentucky ; but they do not seem to have 

 been received with the favour that has been accord- 

 ed to the Short Horns or the Devons. (See Fig. 5.f ) 

 More lately, importations of this fine stock have 

 been made by Messrs. Gotham and Corning of this 

 state ; and a fair experiment will now be made of 

 their comparative merits in feeding, milking, and 

 draught with our favourite imported breeds, the 

 Durhams and Devons ; and their ability to endure 

 our climate, and to thrive on our upland medium 

 pastures, will be also fully tested. 



Long Horns. — For a good many years past, the 

 importations of cattle from abroad have been con- 

 fined mostly to two kinds, the Devon or middle horn, 

 and the Durham or short horn varieties ; and the 

 general excellence of these cattle is such as to jus- 

 tify the preference shown them by the breeder. In 



* British Cattle, p. 32. 



■f The opposite figure is a portrait of a Hereford bull twt 

 years old, imported by Mr. Bement, of Albany, in lc39 



