228 



HISTORY OP HEREFOED CATTLE 



Seventh. What hreed of cattle is best for 

 driving long distances? 



This question is more difficult for me to 

 answer than any of the others, as I have very 

 little experience in driving cattle; but I am told 

 by persons who have been engaged in this busi- 

 ness that the improved Shorthorns, when fat- 

 tened young, do not stand long journeys welL 

 I should suppose from their make that the 

 Ilerefords would he the best travelers. The im- 

 proved Shorthorns make excellent oxen, as they 

 never get overburdened with flesh while they 

 have plenty of hard work to do. The breed is 

 more gentle and docile than any others that we 

 have had. Yours respectfully, 



Sam'l D. Martin. 



Near Colbyville, Ky., Dec. 4, 1848. 



We present these complete and authoritative 

 statements to show that while the "seventeen" 

 importations included Herefords and that these 

 were not by any means first-class specimens of 

 the Hereford breed, yet they had enough of 

 the naturally inherent thrift of the breed, so 



that the "seventeens" owed considerable (to say 

 the least) to the Hereford for the thrift and 

 quality they became particularly noted for. The 

 "seventeens," as a family of Shorthorns, were 

 never fashionable because of this Hereford al- 

 loy. But at the same time no Shorthorn fam- 

 ily surpassed, if any equaled, them in real 

 merit. 



Evidence of this Hereford blood crops out 

 frequently in the descendants of the "seventeen" 

 importations to this day, as witness the steer 

 John Sherman, whose portrait we give. (]\ 116) 

 Mr. Gillette, who bred this steer, reports the 

 dam a "white-faced cow" of unknown breeding, 

 descended, as are all his herd (Shorthorns), 

 from the earlier Kentucky stocks. The so- 

 called "seventeen" families being given the 

 greatest credit for excellence of the Gillette 

 herd. 



The presence of this old grazing blood un- 

 doubtedly has had a most favorable influence 

 in making the reputation of "Gillette Short- 

 horns" for superiority above the pure-bred 

 Shorthorn for range purposes. 



WILLIAM WATSON 

 (UNCLE WILLIE). 

 (Pathf-r of the Angus cattlo 

 in America.) 



