HISTOEY OF HEEEFOED CATTLE 



287 



the 'Mark Lane Express/ the following offer: 

 'To place four Hereford calves on the first of 

 May next in the hands of any respectable 

 grazier in the Midland Counties, against four 

 Shorthorn and four Devon calves, no calf to 

 be more than four months old on that day. 

 The twelve calves to be turned to grass to- 

 gether, and to have nothing but grass until 

 the 20th of October following, and then to be 

 put in stalls and fed as the grazier thinks 

 proper — but the food to be weighed to each lot 

 — until the following May, when they shall be 



number belonging to any two breeders of 

 Shorthorns or Devons. in any part of Great 

 Britain, for 100 sovereigns. 



"These offers were made but never accepted. 

 As to my offer made through the "Journal,' you 

 fear that I will never be gratified by its ac- 

 ceptance: 



" 'Xo one person has such an interest in 

 Shorthorns considered with reference to the 

 aggregate interest as will justify him in en- 

 gaging in this matter. Besides, the reputation 

 of Shorthorns is so well established that there 



JOHN PRICE (COURT HOUSE, PEMBRIDGE, ENG.). 

 Tlie Elkington cup and other valuable prizes won by this veteran breeder. 



again turned to grass, and have nothing but 

 what they can get there until the 1st of Octo- 

 ber; then to be again taken into stalls, and the 

 food given them weighed as before. The whole 

 to- be shown as extra stock at the Smithfield 

 show, and after the show to be slaughtered, 

 the four beasts which pay the best to be the 

 winners.' Mr. S. also ofi'ered to show 100 Here- 

 ford beasts, the property of Sir Francis Law- 

 ley, on the first of January, 1849, and the same 

 number, which were the property of Mr. Aston, 

 Lynch Court, on the same day, against an equal 



will be little for them to gain in such a con- 

 test.' 



"This is perhaps true. But is there in this 

 country such a record for the Siiorthorns as 

 will show that they are entitled to the position 

 they claim? The different Ijranches of the 

 family claim the merit is in them only. I go 

 on quietly, as you suggest, and feed some 

 Hereford steers, but such tests have very little 

 value. 



"The test which I propose will have a value, 

 not only to the breeders themselves, but to the 



