HIS TOE Y OF HEEEFOED CATTLE 



289 



It is well to do as our fathers have done, if 

 they have done right. It is easier to go with 

 the current, but it is sometimes wiser to go 

 against it. Won't you try it on this question? 



"There is now open to the world, and 

 brought into the world, a stock country the 

 like of which was never known before. It 

 changes or will change the whole system of 

 breeding and the question must and will be 

 solved as to the breed of cattle best suited 

 for it. 



"Beecher, 111. T. L. Millek." 



Editors remarks: '^Ve have no interest in 

 any breed of cattle, and the claim of superi- 

 ority over the Shorthorn advanced by our cor- 

 respondent on behalf of the Hereford, is a mat- 

 ter which we shall leave Shorthorn breeders to 

 discuss or refute for themselves. We place but 

 a slight estimate upon the results of the Smith- 

 field show, for the reason that the animals are 

 fed for the prize without any reference to cost 

 — they are stuffed and pampered, and brought 

 into the very highest state of obesity, regard- 

 less of expense. The result in a contest of this 

 kind depends quite as much upon the .judg- 

 ment of the feeder as upon the merit of the 

 animal. What is wanted is information about 

 cattle handled in a practical sort of way, with 

 a practical, end in view; such, for instance, as 

 information about what general farmers can 

 do and are doing with their stock. We should 

 be pleased to see such a show as that of the 

 Smithfield Club inaugurated in this country. 

 Not because we believe it would settle any dif- 

 ference of opinion among rival breeders as to 

 whether the stock of one was superior to that 

 of the other, but because it would demonstrate 

 to the general farmers of the country that there 

 is a substantial benefit to be derived from the 

 use of improved blood. With the big steers 

 on exhibition weighed by judges, and all the 

 details of their keep published, the general 

 farmers, realizing the impossibility of ap- 

 proaching such results with their native stock, 

 would be encouraged to secure better blood. 

 Of course there are other respects in which 

 it would be of advantage, but the above is the 

 principal benefit to be derived from it. 



"We know nothing of the challenges to 

 which our correspondent refers — why they 

 were made or why they v/ere not accepted. 

 We beg to say, however, that in general chal- 

 lenges are so worded as to seem fair on their 

 face, while coupled with 'conditions' which no 

 one can accept. We do not know that the chal- 

 lenges of Mr. S. were coupled with such con- 

 ditions as they were only briefly stated; but the 

 offer to feed 200 beasts might not have found 



a man in England able to comply with the con- 

 ditions. 



"And, after all, a trial or two establishes 

 nothing. It is only from a large number of 

 trials, embracing all manner of conditions, that 

 a reliable conclusion can be formed. These ex- 

 periments would, of course, be interesting, al- 

 though, considered by themselves, not very im- 

 portant. We should be pleased to see the.gxr 

 periment made, as we are always pleased: to 

 have the details of carefully considered feed- 

 ing operations, no matter what kind of animals 

 are the subjects'. 



"We think there is a public record in this 

 country showing the Shorthorn to be entitled 

 to the high estimation in which it is held. It 

 is the record made up by the general farmers 

 of the country who have made a practical test 

 of the merits of the breed for practical pur- 

 poses. So far the test has simply been between 

 the Shorthorn and the scrub. There is no pub- 

 lic estimate as to the relative valu'e of Short- 

 horns and Herefords, because the public have 

 not sufficient experience with the Herefords to 

 form such an estimate. 



"Our own opinion is that it is not so much 

 a question as to which breed is superior to the 

 other in itself, as to which breed will make the 

 most valuable cross upon our inferior native 

 stock, and for the present there should be a 

 market for all the bulls of both breeds, with- 

 out engendering any rivalry between them. 



"The details given by our correspondent, of 

 Hereford beeves, etc., are full of interest. We 

 shall cheerfully publish more of the same sort 

 as received. If facts enough of this sort are 

 furnished, the general farmers of the country 

 will form an opinion that will not be very far 

 out of the way. We presume the grades to 

 which our correspondent refers in speaking of 

 Colorado were from the Texan stock on the 

 dam's side; or at any rate from dams not fully 

 up to the standard of our native cattle. And 

 it should also be remembered that Colorado 

 pastures are somewhat lighter than our own." 



Again, in the "National Live Stock Journal" 

 for September, 1876; 



"Editor of the 'Journal'; 'And, after all, 

 a trial or two establishes nothing. It is onlv 

 from a large number of trials, embracing all 

 manner of conditions, that a reliable opinion 

 can be formed. These experiments would, of 

 course, be interesting, although, considered by 

 themselves, not very important.' 



"Thus the 'Journal' says, on page 350. in 

 reference to the offers made by Mr. Smythies 

 to test the Herefords against the Shorthorns 

 and Devons. What were these offers: 



