1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
173 
The beef of the Herefords is of fine quality, and 
commands a price in the English markets equal to any 
except that of the Highland Scotch. The following 
extract from a late number of the Agricultural Ga- 
sett e, giving the price current at the Smithfield Market, 
shows about the usual ranges 
Per stone of eight pounds. s, d. s. d. 
Best Scots, Herefords, &c.,....... • 4 4 to 4 8 
Best Short-horns,... 4 2 to 4 6 
Youatt says—“ there are few cattle more prized in 
ihe market than the genuine Herefords.” In respect 
to size, they rank next to the Short-horns. The wri¬ 
ter just referred to, observes:—“ they fatten to a much 
greater weight than the Devons, and run from 50 to 70 
score—£ 1,000 to 1,400 lbs.,] the four quarters. A to¬ 
lerable cow will average 35 to 50 score—-£700 to 1,000 
4bs.] *** The hide is considerably thicker than that of 
the Devons, and the beasts are mo re hardy compared with 
the Devons, they are shorter in the leg, and also in the 
carcass.; higher, and broader, and heavier in the chine 5 
rounder and wider across the hips, and better covered 
with fat; the thigh fuller and more muscular, and 
the shoulders larger and coarser.” The latter remark 
may be true as to the two breeds in general, but most 
of the Herefords we have seen, have not been coarse in 
the shoulder. 
There have been comparatively but few importations 
of Herefords to America. The principal one, and that 
from which the breed has been chiefly disseminated 
through the country, was that of Messrs. Corning & 
Sotham, consisting of 5 bulls and 17 cows and heifers, 
imported in 1840. These were mostly from the herds 
of Mr. J. Hewer, and Mr. Walker. Mr. C. N. 
Bement purchased a bull and heifer in 1839. The bull 
died shortly after, and the cow and her increase were 
added to the first mentioned herd. Hon. H. Clay, of 
Kentucky, imported two bulls and two heifers of this 
breed in 1817. We do not know who was the breeder 
of this stock, or whether they were of the most es¬ 
teemed families of Herefords. In an account of them, 
written by Mr. Clay, published in the American Far¬ 
mer, 1822, he states that the price paid in England for 
the four, was £105 sterling. From this we should in¬ 
fer that they were not from a herd of the highest re¬ 
pute. He states that one of the bulls died on his jour¬ 
ney from Baltimore to Kentucky. We have understood 
that the increase from these animals was not large. 
In 1824, Admiral Coffin, of the Royal Navy, pre¬ 
sented to the Massachusetts Society for Promoting 
Agriculture, a Hereford bull and heifer. They were 
bred by Sir J. G. Cotterel, whose stock was from 
Mr. Yarworth, and his from Mr. Benj. Tomkins, the 
first noted breeder of Herefords. The cow never bred. 
The bull was kept several years by the late Hon. Isaac 
€. Bates, of Northampton, Mass., and left a valuable 
progeny. 
Besides the above importations, we are informed that 
Mordecai Hale, Esq., sent some Herefords to Steu¬ 
ben county, N. Y., many years ago. We have no par¬ 
ticulars in regard to their importation. [See remarks 
of Judge Leland, in The Cultivator (ox 1845. p. 109.] 
As to the success of the Herefords in this country, 
we believe they have given general satisfaction to 
those who have given them a fair trial. They have 
good constitutions, thrive readily, and are more active 
than any other cattle of so large a size. But few of 
the full bloods have as yet been fattened or worked. 
The half bloods show a decided superiority over the 
common stock of the country, for these purposes. In 
respect to dairy properties, we think they have, as com¬ 
pared with other breeds, especially u Herd-Book ” 
Short-horns, proved better here than some anticipated. 
From what we have seen, we think it would not be dif¬ 
ficult to breed good dairy stock from Herefords; though 
it is probable, that the development of their dairy qua¬ 
lities, would be to some extent, a sacrifice of the dis¬ 
position to fatten. We know that good dairy cows are 
met with in this breed. Their milk is generally rich, 
and like that of the Devons, yields a large proportion 
of the best of butter. In 1839, the Royal Agricultural 
Society offered a prize of fifteen sovereigns for the cow 
u best calculated for dairy purposes”—the competition 
being open to all breeds in the kingdom. This prize 
was taken by the Rev. J. R. Smytbies, for a Hereford. 
The second prize was awarded for a Short-horn. Se¬ 
veral other Herefords were entered for the prize—a cir¬ 
cumstance which proves that cows were to be had of 
this breed, in the dairy qualities of which, their own¬ 
ers had such confidence, as to show them against any 
others. This was the only occasion on which the 
Royal Society has brought the different breeds into com¬ 
petition with each other—the class having been from 
the time abolished. 
Mr. Smythies, in a late communication in the Mark- 
Lane Flxpress , before referred to, says—“ I have seen 
Hereford cows milk well, and had ouC myself which 
made eleven pounds of butter a week lo. three months.” 
This may have been the cow on which he received 
the above mentioned prize, though this is not stated. 
But he observes that beef is much more profitable in 
his section than dairy products, and on this account “it 
is not an object with a Hereford breeder to have good 
milkers.” 
The milking property in cattle, undoubtedly depends 
on the object and skill of the breeder. The late John 
Price, in a communication published in the Farmer's 
Magazine for January, 1841, observes :—“ Experience 
has taught me, that no animals possessing form and 
other requisites, giving them a great disposition to fat¬ 
ten, are calculated to give much milk; nor is it reason¬ 
able to suppose they should; it would be in direct op¬ 
position to the law of nature. Had I willed it twenty 
years ago, my belief is, that I could, by this time, have 
bred twenty cows, purely from my own herd, [Here¬ 
fords,] which should have given a sufficient quantity of 
milk for (paying) dairy purposes; and I am equally 
confident that, in the same period, I could have bred a 
similar number, that would not at any time have given 
twenty quarts of milk per day among them. I feel con¬ 
fident that I could effect either of these objects much 
more easily and certainly than I could blend the two 
properties in the same animal,—retaining also the form 
and quality best adapted to live hard and feed—[fat¬ 
ten.]” 
But it is not to be expected that the Herefords, or 
any other breed of cattle, will take the place of all 
other breeds in all situations. On this point, the obser¬ 
vation of C. Hilliard, in his “ Practical Farming 
and Grazing ,” is worthy of notice :—“ There are four 
different breeds of cattle that are, for different soils, 
situations and purposes, superior to any other cattle in 
the world. The Durhams, (or as they are commonly 
called, the improved short-horns,) and the Herefords, 
for the best pastures; the North Devons for the short 
pasture on warm light soils; and the Scots for the wild 
and cold pasturage. These four breeds of cattle will 
ever remain pure, because it is thought that they can¬ 
not be permanently benefitted by crossing with any oth¬ 
er breed.” 
Cements. —Soak isinglass in water till it is soft, then 
dissolve it in the smallest quantity of proof-spirits, with 
the aid of a gentle heat. In 2 ounces of this dissolve 10 
grains of ammoniacum, and while still liquid, add a solu- 
tion-of half a drachm of mastich in three drachms of 
rectified spirits, stir them well together, and put the mix¬ 
ture into small bottles, which are to be kept covered. 
This cement, when used, is to be liquified by putting the 
bottle into hot water. 
