456 report of national museum, 1887. 



the carcasses have sold for 18 cents per pound ; the hides in their dressed 

 state for $50 to $75 each. A half-breed buffalo ox (four years old, crossed 

 with buffalo bull and Durham cow) was killed last winter, aud weighed 

 1,280 pounds dressed beef. One pure buffalo bull now in my herd Weighs 

 fully 2,000 pounds, aud a [halfjbreed bull 1,700 to 1,800 pounds. 



"The three-quarter breed is an enormous animal in size, and has an 

 extra good robe, which will readily bring $40 to $50 in any market where 

 there is a demand for robes. They are also very prolific, and I consider 

 them the coming cattle for our range cattle for the Northern climate, 

 while the half and quarter breeds will be the animals for the more 

 Southern district. The half and three-quarter breed cows, when really 

 matured, will weigh from 1,400 to 1,800 pounds. 



"I have never crossed them except with a common grade of cows, 

 while I believe a cross with the Galloways would produce the handsom- 

 est robe ever handled, and make the best range cattle in the world. I 

 have not had time to give my attention to my herd, more than to let 

 them range on the prairies at will. By proper care great results can be 

 accomplished." 



Hon. O. J. Jones, of Garden City, Kans., whose years of experience 

 with the buffalo, both as old-time hunter, catcher, and breeder, has earned 

 for him the sobriquet of "Buffalo Jones," five years ago became deeply 

 interested in the question of improving range cattle by crossing with 

 the buffalo. With characteristic Western energy he has pursued the 

 subject from that time until the present, having made five trips to the 

 range of the only buffaloes remaining from the great southern herd, and 

 captured sixty-eight buffalo calves and eleven adult cows with which to 

 start a herd. In a short article published in the Farmers' Beview 

 (Chicago, August 22, 1888), Mr. Jones gives his views on the value of 

 the buffalo in cross-breeding as follows : 



" In all my meanderings I have not found a place but I could count 

 more carcasses [of cattle] than living animals. Who has not ridden 

 over some of the Western railways and counted dead cattle by the thou- 

 sands ? The great question is, Where can we get a race of cattle that will 

 stand blizzards, and endure the drifting suow, aud will not be driven 

 with the storms against the railroad fences and pasture fences, there to 

 perish for the want of nerve to face the northern winds for a few miles? 

 to where the winter grasses could be had in abundance? Realizing these 

 facts, both from observation and pocket, we pulled on our ' thinking cap,' 

 and these points came vividly to our mind : 



" (1) We want an animal that is hardy. 



" (2) We want an animal with nerve and endurance. 



" (3) We want an animal that faces the blizzards and endures the 

 storms. 



" (4) We want an animal that will rustle the prairies, and not yield 

 to discouragement. 



