THE IIEREFORDS. 



31 



face, and somewhat larger head and thicker neck, it would not at all 

 times be easy to distinguish between a heavy Devon and a light 

 Hereford. Their white faces may probably be traced to a cross with 

 their not distant relations, the Montgomeries. 



The Hereford cow is apparently a very inferior animal. Not only 

 is she no milker, but even her form has been sacrificed by the 

 breeder. Herefordshire is more a rearing than a feeding county, 

 and therefore the farmer looks mostly to the shape and value of 

 his young stock ; and, in the choice of his cow, he does not value 

 her, or select her, or breed from her according to her milk-ing 

 qualities, or the price which the grazier would give for her, but 

 in proportion as she possesses that general form which experience 

 has taught him will render her likely to produce a go©d ox. 

 Hence the Hereford cow is comparatively small and delicate, and 

 some would call her ill-made. She is very light-fleshed when in 

 common condition, and beyond that, while she is breeding, she is 

 not suffered to proceed ; but when she is actually put up for fatten- 

 ing, she spreads out, and accumulates fat at a most extraordinary 

 rate. 



HEREFORD FEEDING OX. 



The breeder has been taught by experience, that when the 

 cow, although she should be somewhat roomy^ is too large and 

 ma^:culine, the ox will be brawny and coarse, and perhaps a little 



