26 A HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



fathers did their work; here their sons and grand- 

 sons carry it on today. 



The visitor in Herefordshire is constantly re- 

 minded that a rough rugged country is contiguous. 

 One recognizes the presence of the old red sandstone 

 formation. At intervals you glimpse the blue tops of 

 the Cambrians in the west. Here and there Here- 

 fords graze on precipitous slopes ; but the landscape 

 rolls gently for the most part, and the valleys hold 

 wide areas of flat fertile fields. The soil is prin- 

 cipally a heavy red loam, changing to clay or gravel. 



It is a land fair to look upon — a land of .good 

 roads, comfortable homes, well managed farms and 

 a hospitable people intensely loyal to the breed of 

 cattle that has carried the name of Hereford around 

 the world. As in other parts of Britain, the farms 

 are mainly operated imder lease. The permanent 

 pastures are usually rented by auction, commanding 

 at times as high as $15 to $30 per acre per year from 

 cattle growers. 



A mixed husbandry in which live stock has had a 

 leading part has been practiced in .Herefordshire 

 as far back as there is record. Small grains, roots, 

 apple orchards, meadow lands and pasturage are 

 always in evidence, but the red cattle with the white 

 faces are everywhere a prominent feature. In recent 

 years fruit fanning has been increasing and a much 

 larger acreage is now devoted to that industry, but 

 the raising of live stock is still the most important 

 feature in the farming of the county. 



