256 



HISTOKY OF HEltEFOED CATTLE 



CHAPTER XXII. 



The "Breeders' Journal" 



The amount of opposition that the Hereford 

 breed of cattle encountered, during their up- 

 ward march to popularity, in America, can be 

 but faintly imagined, indeed, it does not seem 

 possible at this day that the agricultural and 

 etock journals were so completely dominated 

 by the Shorthorn men prior to 1880. 



We were, from the commencement of our 

 experience in breeding Hereford cattle, liberal 

 advertisers in the live stock journals, and while 

 this, to some extent, opened their columns to 

 us, to advocate the cause of the Herefords, we 

 were continually handicapped by their desire 

 to do or say nothing to offend their Shorthorn 

 customers. 



The following quotation, taken from the 

 "National Live Stock Journal," shows the 

 standard by which the editor of that journal 

 measured merit. It evidently refers to the 

 Herefords as a meritorious, but not widely 

 popular breed of cattle, and takes the ground, 

 by implication, that the Shorthorns are the 

 best breed, mainly, because they are so popu- 

 lar. The article referred to, says: "In con- 

 versation with an intelligent and enthusiastic 

 breeder of a meritorious, but not 'widely popu- 

 lar^ breed of stock (and here we give formal 

 notice, that we frankly decline inviting criti- 

 cism, by being more special), we frankly told 

 him that as far as money making was con- 

 cerned, we should advise him to select a more 

 popular breed. If he desired to do the most he 

 could for his neighbors and the agriculture of 

 his country, his course would naturally be de- 

 termined by his belief, that his favorite breed 

 was the best for farmers generally. The breed 

 in question has been in this country for at least 

 half a century, but is little more known now 

 than it was twenty years ago. Our friend ad- 

 mitted the facts, but marveled at the obtuse- 

 ness of the farmers. If any breed has been 

 and continues to be, popular and fashionable 

 over a wide region of country, it is useless to 

 deny it the possession of substantial merits. 

 The Shorthorns have, for instance, had their 



popularity greatly helped in many ways, but 

 had it not been for substantial merit, this breed 

 could not, by any combination of influences, 

 have been made to gain and retain so wide- 

 spread a popularity. 



"It is quite within the possibilities, however, 

 that some other breed, which has not been so 

 skillfully handled, is a better one for general 

 use than the Shorthorns. It now strikes us 

 we should let their work speak for them, rather 

 than to indulge in reasoning to show what they 

 ought to do. If they were mainly fitted for 

 beef production, we should try to make good 

 exhibits at fat stock shows." 



This standard of merit would not do for the 

 Hereford. In our contest for recognition, we 

 were compelled to call things by their right 

 names, and if gross injustice was done to so 

 characterize it. 



The "Breeders' Gazette" was established in 

 1881, by Mr. J. H. Sanders, a year after we 

 established the "Breeders' Journal." In their 

 first number, Mr. Sanders gave the keynote, as 

 to the stand the "Gazette" would take, in refer- 

 ence to breeds of cattle. It is as follows : 

 "While the Herefords, Devons, Jerseys, Hol- 

 steins. Polled Angnis, AjTshires and other breeds 

 of cattle will each receive due attention and fair 

 treatment in our columns, yet it cannot be de- 

 nied that there are ten men interested in Short- 

 horns to where there is one engaged in breed- 

 ing any other variety. And recognizing this 

 very general distribution of Shorthorn blood 

 throughout the country, we shall endeavor to 

 make "The Breeders' Gazette" indispensable to 

 the breeders of that strain of cattle. We shall 

 keep a vigilant eye upon the business in the 

 States, Canada and England, and shall always 

 have the latest possible Shorthorn news. The 

 Book (Shorthorn) question will receive due at- 

 tention, and the views of many of our leading 

 breeders will be published through our col- 

 umns. Valuable historical sketches of the 

 various tribes to be found in the herds of 

 America will appear from time to time, and a 



