THE SOlfT'HERN CULTIVATOR. 
189 
Hereford Cow, “Matchless.” — Imported bxj W. H. Sotham, Esq., Albany, N. Y. 
HEREFORD CATTLE NO. II* 
The beautiful cut which we give of one 
one of the naost symmetrical cows ever import- 
ed into America, is, as lar as we are capable of 
judging with the naked eye, a most capital and 
taithlul likeness ol that animal. We saw her 
at Hereford Hall, near Albany, in 1844, on a day 
when her capacity as a milker was submitted 
to the piercing eye of no less a judge than Dan- 
iel Webster, who, amongst his various tran- 
scendant qualities, is well known to the farmers 
ot the Northern States, as one ol the very best 
judges ol neat cattle. Mr. Webster pronounced 
Matchless “ The best cow for all purposes'' he 
had ever seen. His scrutiny extended to every 
part ol this model cow, and as his ungloved hand 
pressed her silken coat, and tried her flowing 
udders at the pail, a glow of honest farmer like 
pleasure lighted up his swarthy face— the remem- 
brance of the joys of boyhood seemed to have 
driven the vexed cares of the politician Irom 
his heart, and he stood among his brother far- 
mers in the only capacity in which he has ever 
been true to the noble attributes ot his genius — 
as “the farmer ot Marshfield.” Matchless, 
previous to this time, had carried off the high- 
est prizes at the Smithfield Show in England, 
and had been equally successful before the prej u- 
dicedShort-horn judges with whichtheState Ag- 
ricultural Society ot New York had been bur- 
thened. She was imported by Mr. Sotham, at 
a high figure, but we believe he has never been 
repaid for his enterprise, and the determination 
with which he set out, viz; ol “ havingthe best 
cow in England.” Matchless, like all highly 
prized animals, died in 1845, and left but few of 
her progeny— but those few areol a superbeast. 
The illustration of the Hereford cow, bred 
by the Earl of Talbo^ in Professor Low’s 
Breeds of Domestic Animals, is before us as 
we write, and comparing the outline of that 
plate, with that of Matchless, we find it 
to be identical in every particular; remarking 
at the same time, that for symmetry and some 
of the boasted characteristics claimed specially 
lor the Short horns, the latter excels the repre- 
sentation made as a model of this breed. We al- 
so take the liberty of testifying to the remark- 
able similarity of appearance displayed in this 
herd of Messrs. Sotham and Corning, which 
was so perfectly matched, that to a person un- 
accustomed to seeing the ring-streaked and 
speckled Jacob’s cattle” of the country, ' it 
was difficult, even alter an acquaintance of 
weeks, to designate one particular cow from 
another. They alt look alike, and are conse- 
quently a pure breed. 
The Hereford cattle have not had a fair 
chance, even in England, and in this country 
the illiberality of a cliqueot Short horn breeders 
did all it could to drive them from before the 
breeding public. The public, however, have 
the satisfaction of seeing this very clique them- 
selves driven out of sight in their own class, by 
the liberality and excellent skill displayed by Mr. 
George Vail, of Troy, who has made it his 
pride, annually, to import one or more of the 
best Short horns from England, and who had the 
satisfaction, at the late Agricultural fair of New 
York, to have the six highest p’-emiums award- 
ed to animals bred and exhibited by himself. 
We intend, as soon as vve get through with the 
Herelords, to give our attention to true Short 
horns, such as are bred by Mr. Vail. The 
Herelords have suffered much from want of ad- 
vocates, who had access to the public through 
agricultural journals and works. 
As cattle tor the tenantry, they were wide 
spread throughout the South and interior of 
England, but the Messrs. Colling brought out 
the fashion of the Short horn breed, which took 
like wild-fire with the nobility and gentry of the 
country, and what was really the luckiest cross 
which ever happened in the world, fell into the 
hands of those who were able to spend thousands 
of pounds upon a single animal, and the result 
was the establishment of that parazon of breeds, 
“ the true Short Horn,” which will always be a 
favorite one with those who are able to bestow 
on them extraordinary care and extra food. It 
was different with the Herefords. They were 
in the handsof the small farmers and tenantry — 
who, like our own agriculturists ot the present 
day, did not seem to understand the economical 
policy of giving an animal all it would con- 
sume, and turning its carcase into cash for re 
invesiment, at the earliest possible age. Yet 
with all these disadvantages, without a trumpet- 
er save the butcher and butter-maker, the Here- 
fords held an even race with their pampered 
rivals, and since they have been taken up by 
those persons who manifest an interest in im- 
proving them, they have carried off a flattering 
proportion of all the premiums, wherever ex- 
hibited. .Mr. Tompkins, who died about thirty 
years since, was the first improver of this breed. 
His exertions were cotemporaneous with those 
of the celebrated Bakewcll, whose improved 
- L' icesler breeds ot cattle, sheep and swine aston- 
ished the world. After M r. Tompkins, came 
Mr. Price; and latterly the Earl of Talbot, and 
the noble, generous and heariy-souled Earl of 
Warwick, have taken hold of them with a right 
good will. This last adoption of the breed 
will do much for it even in England, where ten 
to one of the Herefords still remain, in the 
hands of the petty, rent-paying, high taxed far- 
mers, who can scarcely keep the thatch on the 
roof over them and straw in the manger. There 
have been no exhibitions ol “ Hereford Oxen,” 
or “Immense Herelord Heifers,” to bring them 
before the public, and to secure attention to 
them. Their history is crammed away in a 
page or page and a hall by Cully, Bailey, the 
Rev. Henry Berry Loudon, and that modem 
authority Youalt, who palmed a most disgrace- 
ful production, as far as the history of British cat- 
tle is concerned, on the “Society for the Diffu- 
sion of Uselul Knowledge,” We regret that it 
has been so extensively circulated in America, 
and were rejoiced to see it announced that 
“Lewis F. Allen, in his celebrated history of 
Short horns has demolished Youatt’s authority.” 
Youatt was a pretender who compiled a book, 
the different accounts of breeds which it con- 
tained being written by interested breeders, and 
which is now banished from the countenance of 
the Engli'h breeders, throughout the kingdom, 
by reason of its many errors and false state- 
ments. The only valuable portion of Youatt’s 
work is the Veterinary Department, which, 
however, is not so reliable as Clater’s Cattle 
Doctor, with notes by John S. Skinner, But 
with all the disadvantages of poverty in owner- 
ship and tilled opponents, against whom they 
have had to contend, the Herefords have work- 
ed themselves into high favor and notice iu 
England. Though not so quick as the Devons 
— they bring more weight to the yoke, and their 
proverbial docility makes them the best oxen to 
be found in the woild. They are prized as hardy, 
wei i const! tutioned, thrifty and profitable animals 
for all the purposes ot the agricultural breeder, 
and must, sooner or later, become a breed as 
popular in America as it is valuable elsewhere. 
it is l.~ue, the Herelords will not live on the 
wind, or on sedge straw and sunny hill-sides in 
winter, and a burnt up pasture in summer, and 
it is equally true that as long as we expect to 
convert these almost intangible agricultural aids 
into flesh. bone and blood, we will never be able 
to keep Herefords or any other good breed of 
cattle. We want a breed of cattle which, by 
converting good food into flesh, butter and ma- 
nure, will repay us for extra care bestowed on 
them. We honestly believe that the Herefords 
will do this as certainly as any breed which 
now obtains, and look forward to the day wlien 
they will at least stand on the same platform 
with their beautiful rivals the Short Horns, and 
then we can say “ with a lair field and honest 
judges,” we will ask no odds to ensure them 
triumphant competition. In our next, we shall 
abridge Professor Low’s history and bring other 
claims of this breed to notice. 
R'ivenseToJl,S.C.,Nov.ym>. A. G. SUMMER. 
