208 



HIST j; Y OF H E E E F li 1) CATTLE 



in a good bite of grass ; some of them were 

 stretclied out in tlie sun sleeping, others stand- 

 ing chewing their cuds contentedly. If we dis- 

 turbed one from his lair he would twist his 

 tail round and stretcli himself, which satis- 

 tied Mr. Savage that they were thriving finely. 

 One of them seemed contented, and with a mild 

 look in his eye allowed us to handle him. His 

 hide was thick and mellow, his flesh firm and 

 ripe ; I called Mr. Savage's attention to this 

 steer's compactness, symmetry, quality and 

 weight. "Have you a Shorthorn in your herd 

 that can compare with him ? Is there an ani- 

 mal amongst them with such a constitution ? 

 Have these and your Shorthorns all lived 

 alike?" He said there was but little difference 

 in their pastures. "If Shorthorns are so su- 

 perior to Herefords, why did you not go to 

 Darlington fair or market and buy high-grade 

 Shorthorn steers and spayed heifers, which 

 could be bought in any quantity, and at less 

 money than Herefords? There seems to be a 

 myth among Shorthorn breeders that I cannot 

 understand. I think you are more attached to 

 fashion, fancy and pedigree than you are to 

 a rent-paying animal." "I tell you, Sotham," 

 said Mr. Savage, "it is of no use disguising the 

 fact. Those Hereford steers will go to market 



a month hence, without cake or corn, but Short- 

 horns want to be finished on cake, and I am 

 free to say they fetch the higlier price over 

 the Shorthorns. If Shorthorns make greater 

 weight, the extra weight does not compensate 

 for food consumed." "I am satisfied, Mr. Sav- 

 age," said I, "so let us change the subject," 

 which was converted to prospects of things in 

 America. Mr. Matthews and myself dined with 

 Mr. Savage, and spent the afternoon smoking 

 our long clay pipes, drinking our port and 

 sherry in moderation, and in the evening sat 

 down to a game at whist, which we kept up un- 

 til a late hour. 



Probably it is one of the greatest sights in 

 the world to see at any Hereford fair so many 

 superior cattle with white faces, and so uni- 

 form in color, symmetry, substance and qual- 

 ity combined, as to make that breed superior 

 to any other. I was never more amazed than 

 at my first visit. It confirmed my belief and 

 a fixture of me,»iD favor of the Herefords, prob- 

 ably to the end of my life. I at once felt satis- 

 fied I was on the right track in cattle breed- 

 ing, however the Americans might be preju- 

 diced against them. 



Notwithstanding they were shut out of state 

 and county shows and driven under the lash 



A "LINE-UP" AT WEAVERGRACE, FARM OF T. F. B. SOTHAM. 



