986 A HISTOKT OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



condition, while the Herefords remained to the end 

 of the winter and exhibited a better condition," 



At Esperanza. — Sr. Miguel Gr. Salas, one of the 

 Argentine advocates of the Hereford, imported in 

 the year 1882 fifty cows and one bull, and formed 

 with these animals his first herd at Esperanza. This 

 imp9rtation was followed periodically by others, 

 which were used for renewing the blood, avoiding 

 the necessity for close breeding. Of the bulls pro- 

 duced from the stock a number were prepared for 

 sale when they were two years old, and the re- 

 mainder utilized for improving the stock of ' * Creole ' ' 

 cattle, which he owned on different estates. Of the 

 effects observed, it is said: 



"The result of the crossing with the ordinary 

 cattle was at first mediocre, but lately has been 

 very satisfactory, the steers realizing prices which 

 rival with the best obtained from among the Dur- 

 hams. Notwithstanding all this, there are some ob- 

 jections raised on the part of market buyers for the 

 Hereford cattle, and this opposition against such an 

 excellent breed is chiefly based on the existence of 

 two prominent features pertaining to this class of 

 cattle, which have contributed to lessen their popu- 

 larity here. 



"First: The amazing facility with which the 

 Hereford attains the coloring without more admix- 

 ture than that resulting from a half-pure Hereford 

 bull with an ordinary cow, which at once produces 

 the characteristic color — red with a white face. But 

 then an animal with so little strain of noble blood, 

 although it has the color of the pure breed, naturally 

 cannot have its other distinguishing features; and 

 from these circumstances persons not very expert in 



