HISTORY OF HEREPOED CATTLE 





stratum is a -light red sandstone, and the soil 

 generally is a deep red heavy loam, some- 

 times with some clay in it. The surface of 

 the county is hilly, and averages about 350 feet 

 above sea level. There are some small but 

 beautiful and fertile valleys. The culture of 

 tree fruits, notably apples, and of hops is largely 

 pursued. Damp fogs prevail at some seasons 

 and help to keep the grass beautifully green all 

 the year round. 



"Mr. Southall has kindly furnished me with 

 the following particulars of temperature, rain- 

 fall, etc., the results of his own observations at 

 his house in Ross, the southern part of Hereford 

 county : 



Temperature. 1882. 1883. 



Absolute maximum 84°1' 77°0' 



Absolute minimum 19°6' 18°8' 



Average maximum 57^1' 56^9' 



Average minimum 42°3' 41°6' 



Mean 49°7' 49°25' 



"The temperature reached the extreme height 

 only on three or four days in the year of 1884, 

 and in 1883, on one day only. The rainfall 

 amounted in 1883 to 31.52 inches, being 1.34 

 inches more than the average. There were in 

 this year 197 days on which rain fell. 



"The ideal Hereford is thus described by Mr. 

 Duckham : 'The face, throat, chest, or lower 

 part of the body and legs, together with the 

 crest, or mane, and the tip of the tail, a beauti- 

 fully clear white; a small red spot on the eye 

 and a round red spot on the throat, in the mid- 

 dle of the white, are distinctive marks which 

 have many admirers. The horns are of a yel- 

 low or white waxy appearance, frequently 

 darker at the ends ; those of the bull should 

 spring out straightly from a broad, flat fore- 

 head, whilst those of the cows have a wave and 

 a slight upward tendency. The countenance is 

 at once pleasant, cheerful and open, presenting 

 a placid appearance, denoting a good temper 

 and that quietude of disposition which is so es- 

 sential to the successful grazing of all ruminat- 

 ing animals; yet, the eye is full and lively, the 

 head small in comparison to the substance of 

 the body. The muzzle white, and moderately 

 fine thin cheek. The chest deep and full, well 

 covered on the outside with mellow flesh ; ker- 

 nel full up from shoulder point to throat ; and 

 so beautifully do the shoulder blades blend into 

 the body that it is difficult to tell in a well-fed 

 animal where they are set on. The chine and 

 loins broad ; hips long, and moderately broad ; 

 legs straight and small. The rump forming a 

 straight line with the back, and at a right angle 

 with the thigh, which should be full of flesh 

 down to the hocks, without exuberance; twist 



good, well filled up with flesh even with the 

 thigh. The ribs should spring well and deep, 

 level with shoulder point ; the flank full, and 

 the whole carcass well and evenly covered with 

 a rich mellow flesh, distinguishable by yielding 

 with a pleasing elasticity to the touch. The 

 hide thick, yet mellow, and well covered with 

 soft, glossy hair having a tendency to curl.^ 



"A glance at the cuts presented here will show 

 us immediately how closely the animals whose 

 portraits have been selected to accompany this 

 article answer to this description. The bull 

 Romeo (Tj 250) is perfect. He was bred by Mr. 

 Carwardine, of Leominster, in Herefordshire, 

 and was sold in 1882 to Messrs. Earl & Stuart, 

 of Lafayette, Ind., where he now is. 



"The ox pictured here (^251) was bred by 

 Mr. J. Price of Pembridge in Herefordshire. 

 He won the Elkington Challenge Cup at Bir- 

 mingham in 1881, and again in 1882. This 

 challenge has never before been won twice by 

 the same animal, and, in recognition of his 

 great feat, the portrait of this ox is to have 



EDWARD PRICE. 

 Fattier of John Price, Court House, Pembridge. 



the place of honor, the title page, of volume 

 14 of the Hereford Herd Book, just about to be 

 issued. The general rule is to admit to the 

 Herd Book only cuts of such animals as take 

 first prize at a Royal Agricultural show. The 



