250 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



HEREFORD AND OTHER CATTLE. 



In a late number of the Mark Lane Express, a 

 writer claims a superiority for the Ilcrefords over the 

 short-horns, on the ground of greater hardiness of 

 constitution, -which enables them to bear up under 

 severities of climate, seasons of scarcity, epidemics, 

 and exposure to diseases, which few other breeds can 

 withstand. These are important considerations ; 

 and if the breed can be found to prove up these 

 characteristics, there will be no difficulty in estab- 

 lishing their fame on an enduring basis ; as other 

 prominent and valuable qualities, such as capacity 

 for working oxen, kindly feeders, quick maturers, 

 carrying the greatest weights on the most valuable 

 points, are already generally acknowledged. 



As a proof of the high estimation in which they 

 are held, the writer cites the case of Mr. Tompkins, 

 in which fifty-two head of grown animals and calves 

 brought an average of four hundred and forty-eight 

 dollars each. One bull (Phcenix) sold for over two 

 thousand nine hundred dollars. Those sold by Mr. 

 Price, in 1841, consisting of one hundred bulls, cows, 

 and calves, averaged two himdred and sixty dollars 

 each. A cow and calf sold for one thousand one 

 hundred and fifty dollars at auction. Below we give 

 some of his remarks, which are quite to the point : — 



I consider it absolutely requisite that a breeder, to 

 arrive at eminence, should be very particular in his 

 selection of materials to found a herd upon ; other- 

 wise he will meet with disappointment at the onset, 

 and may be deterred from prosecuting the pursuit 

 with zeal and interest afterwards. This brings me 

 to what should next receive his special attention — 

 " pedigree ; " which is of so much consequence that 

 I cannot see how a breeder can proceed in safety 

 without it. To secure the excellences which I wish 

 to perpetuate in animals, I have always found the 

 surest method of doing it to breed from those that 

 have possessed them for generations past ; and I 

 cannot discover how anj^ one can be influenced to 

 use a male to any extent with well-bred cows (how- 

 ever perfect in form, coat, and quality) of mongrel 

 descent. The chances are, that his oifspring will not 

 inherit his good qualities, but his and his progenitors' 

 imperfections. There are few cows that sufficiently 

 combine the many essential qualities of bull breed- 

 ers. And it is a growing evil to save the male pro- 

 duce of inferior cows for bulls, thereby making a bad 

 and worse than useless bull of what would otherwise 

 make a good ox. 



The color of Hercfords is much diversified. It is 

 well known that there are good Ilerefords of various 

 colors, such as grays, roans, mottled, and white faces, 

 with and without marks of white on the back, bosom, 

 and abdomen ; the rest of the body being dark or 

 light red. As a well wisher to the prosperity of 

 Hereford cattle, I much deplore the fashion or preju- 

 dice which gives a predominance in favor of a par- 

 ticular color, to the exclusion of all others. To ac- 

 complish it, there must be a sacrifice of many good, 

 if not the very best animals, without any real advan- 

 tage accruing from it. A herd uniform in color is 

 pleasing to the eye of a superficial observer ; but an 

 individual with any pretensions to a knowledge of 

 the true character of Ilerefords will discover the 

 characteristics of the breed, notwithstanding the 

 herd contains animals of every color incident to 

 them. Indeed, it is strongly marked in the late Mr. 

 B. Tompkins's, and his successor, (Mr. Price's,) family 

 of Hercfords. Although to a great extent I disre- 

 gard color, I by no means am indiff'erent about the 

 coat or covering. 



The Hercfords, I presume, should have a moder- 

 ately thick hide, elastic, and affording to the touch 

 that mellowness which is only to be acquired by 

 experience. These are indicative of a predisposition 



to acquire flesh and fat, and it is termed quality, 

 The skin should also be covered with a thick pile of 

 flossy hair, which I like to see waft in the breeze, 

 when exposed (as is frequently the lot of Hercfords) 

 to all the vicissitudes and inclemencies of the weather, 

 looking as if nature had destined them to endure it, 

 by providing them with a suitable covering. There 

 are many standards of form erected by different 

 judges, but only one can be true ; and to arrive at a 

 knowledge of that should be every breeder's ambi- 

 tion. Mr. Welles, in his admirable and instructive 

 letters on this subject, which ap]xarod in. the Here- 

 ford Journal and other periodicals, has given a de- 

 tailed account of the defective points existing in 

 Ilerefords, especially as it regards their fore quarters, 

 to remedy which, Mr. Price's sort of bulls should be 

 called into active requisition. It augurs well, and is 

 a proof of the correctness of my recommendation, that 

 the Hereford prize oxen and heifer, and many of the 

 prize cattle, at the meetings of the Koyal English 

 Agricultural Society, were either purely of Mr. 

 Price's sort, or strongly spiced with that blood. I 

 can imagine that an undue attachment to a favorite 

 color, and a love for animals of overgrown dimen- 

 sions, will operate with some breeders against trying 

 this heretofore successful cross. It is plainly obser- 

 vable that now size is receiving more attention than 

 form, at the sacrifice of many points of utility and 

 beauty. We occasionally see a good animal of over- 

 grown dimensions, but more frequently the reverse — 

 " an uncertain bull at an uncertain hop ; " neither do 

 I believe there is any advantage in it, as animals re- 

 quire more food and care when driven beyond their 

 natural standard, and, like water forced above its 

 level, will return to it again when the floodgate is 

 withdrawn. I do not, however, advocate diminutive 

 animals, but those with as much size as is consistent 

 with the laws of nature. If the breeders of Hero- 

 fords steadily keep in view the improvement of their 

 justly celebrated cattle, the short-horns and Devons 

 will never supersede them, and they will be enabled 

 to maintain their invidious position at the two great 

 national agricultural exhibitions. 



GEORGE DRAKE. 

 Stockbridge, Hants, Feb. 27. 1849. 

 — From the A7nerica7i Agriculturist. 



PROSPECTS FOR THE WOOL MARKET. 



AVe once more recur to this subject, for although 

 the flocks in Maine have been wonderfully thinned 

 oft", there " are a few more left," and their owners 

 feel as much interest in the question, " How is wool? " 

 as ever. 



The new monthly periodical, started by T. C. 

 Peters, in Buffalo, N. Y., entitled the "Wool- 

 Grower," promises to be a valuable aid to the wool- 

 growing interest ; and as the editor is at the head of 

 a large wool depot, and of course directly connected 

 with the wool trade, his statements may be relied 

 \ipon, as one "having authority" in these matters at 

 least. 



The range of the Buffalo market, during June, he 

 quotes as follows : — 



No. 1 30 to 34 cents. 



2 27 " 32 " 



3 25 " 28 " 



4 23 " 26 " 



5 20 " 23 " 



And he adds, that wool ought not to be sold, and 

 probably will not be, unless forced upon the market, 

 at a price below the highest range ; but if forced upon 

 the market, it can be readily sold at our lowest 

 quotations. These prices are for the opening market. 



