408 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
[COPYRIGHT SECURED.] 
HORT-HORN BULL "CONJURER," 5470. — FkOM A PHOTOGRAPH. — Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
Short-horn Cattle. 
Our engraving is from a photograph lately 
taken of the magnificent Short-horn bull Con- 
jurer, A. H. B., 5476, owned by Mr. Geo. F. 
Wilson, of East Providence, R. I. He is a red 
roan, was bred by Mr. T. L. Harison, of Motley, 
St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., was three years old 
Jan. 26th, and weighs now, in moderate flesh, 
1960 lbs. His sire is Hotspur, 4030 ; dam, Curds, 
by Barington, 1229, etc. Hotspur was by 
Duke of Gloster, (11,382) 2763, one of the best 
bulls ever imported, out of Daphue, by Harold. 
"We have never before attempted to engrave 
a Short-horn from a photograph. The one 
from which the above is copied was sent to us. 
It shows in a measure the distorted foreshorten- 
ing so common in large photographs, yet has so 
much of the grandeur and nobility of the ani- 
mal in it that we have essayed to reproduce it 
as accurately as possible. The bull is not coarse 
in the head, and his muzzle is remarkably fine. 
The visitor at our State and County Pairs, 
is always attracted by some representatives of 
the Short-horn breed. This can perhaps boast a 
less antiquity than any other distinct race of 
British cattle, and has, besides, more decidedly 
artificial characteristics. The stock from which 
the improved breed has sprung was that of the 
counties of York, Lincoln, Northumberland, 
and Durham. These cattle were famous for 
their early maturity, large size, quick fattening, 
and smallness of offal, and large yield of milk. 
They became famous, and were taken to all parts 
of the kingdom, while the breeders of that and 
other regions were stimulated to still more 
careful selection and judgment in breeding. 
The aim with Short-horn breeders has ever 
been to raise animals which would grow rapid- 
ly, attain a large size, and fatten easily. It is, 
therefore, preeminently a beef producing race. 
Deep milkers are occasionally found among the 
Short-horns, but the production of milk has 
been ignored by eminent breeders, in perfecting 
the beef points. Crosses of the Short-horns with 
common stock or other breeds, are often very 
large milkers, and almost always quick feeders. 
The Short-horn bull is the noblest and most 
majestic of his kind. The cow is the most, 
queenly, the most perfect in form, and, consider- 
ing her great size, the finest in bone ; and as 
the race excells in "handling" qualities, it 
has, naturally, more admirers than au} r other. 
Animals of a very similar character to the 
Short-horns, were introduced into this country 
as early as 1783, but it was not until 1791 that 
the first authentic importations were made. 
Since that time, until the rinderpest laws were 
passed, frequently, and, latterly, almost every 
year, some of these animals have been imported. 
Much of this stock has been carefully bred, and 
the animals are as good as any of their race, 
while some of it has run out to a great extent, 
so that, though sprung from the best blood, 
majy of the animals are really inferior. 
The Short-horns are of large size, red, white, 
or white and red, in color, the mixture being 
most common and most prized. The head is 
small, the muzzle moderately fine, the nose 
nearly white, the horn waxy, small, and, in 
cows, usually turned downward, or pointing 
forward and toward each other. The brisket pro- 
jects forward, is very deep, and almost free 
from dewlap. The neck is fine, and free also 
from superfluous skin. The chest has great 
depth and width. The shoulder is very well 
developed, and covered with muscle, and the 
lines from the shoulder over the crops, back 
and loin are very full and fine. The carcass is 
round, the ribs extending far back, the hips 
wide, pelvis large and broad, the tail at the roots 
strong, but rapidly tapering, and veiy fine at the 
brush. . The lines of the back and belly are 
nearly straight. The hide is soft and mellow, 
yielding and elastic to the touch, and the hair is 
soft and abundant. The beef of the Short-horns 
is not equal to that of several of the other breeds, 
but they are very profitable animals to the 
feeder, because they grow and fatten so rapidly, 
and to the butcher and consumer, because they 
have so little offal. The breeders have endeav- 
ored constantly to increase the most valuable 
parts, and to reduce those of the least value. 
