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Titles included in this collection are listed in the volumes published by the Cornell University Press in the series The Literature of the Agricultural Sciences, 1991-1996, Wallace C. Olsen, series editor. HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 3- '- , '*^^^^^'->:>f.,^,/: BENJAMIN TOMKINS. Bum m.j. Died ISl'j. HISTORY HEREFORD CATTLE JAMES MACDONALD JAMES SINCLAIR, JOINT-AUTHOES OF " HISTORY OF POLLED ABEEOEEN-ANGUS CATTLE," ETC., ETC. WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. ^nnbon : VINTON & CO., Ld., Publishing Office: 9, New Beidge St., Ludqate Circus, E.C. 1886. LONDON : PRINTED BY VINTON & CO., Ld., 30, Hampstbad Eoad, N.W. PREFACE, In attempting to delineate the history of Hereford cattle, it has not been thought necessary to enter into the wider subject of the origin of the various domesticated races of British cattle. Those who may be inclined to look into that fascinating but almost hopelessly involved question we would refer to Mr. Storer's exhaustive and interesting work on " Wild White Cattle," and our own lesser volume on " Polled Cattle," where the prevailing views are set forth and discussed. The present work is confined to m.atters which more im- mediately relate to the Hereford breed, whose importance and popularity seemed to merit attention from the Live Stock historian. We have dwelt at considerable length on the operations of leading early breeders, and this has been done with the object of throwing light upon the origin, composition, and extension of the improved Hereford. For assistance in the undertaking, thanks are due, in a special manner, to Mr. William Housman, who has given us the benefit of his intimate knowledge of the breed in prepar- ing the chapter on the Breed in the Show-yard. Professor Boyd Dawkins; Mr. John HUl, Felhampton Court; Mr. Thomas Duckham, Baysham Court; Mr. Thomas Tomkins Galliers, Wistaston; Mr. Forester, Sherlowe; Mr. George Smythies, Marlow Lodge; Mr. J. L. Hewer, Aston Ingham; Mr. Hay- wood, Blakemere; Mr. John H. Yeomans, Stretton Court; Mr. WUliam Tudge, Leinthall; Mr. Ralph Palmer, Nazeing; and Mr. T. L. Miller, Beecher, Illinois, and others have also afforded us valuable aid, which we would here acknowledge. CONTENTS, Origin of the Breed Early Improvement Ceafieb I. Chapter II. Chaptee III. Early Improvement (continued) . . Chapter IV. Early Improvement (continued) . . Chapter V. A Group of Early Improvers Chapter VI. Progress of the Breed . . Chapter VII. Later Improvement Chapter Vin. Existing Herds in England Chapter IX. Existing Herds in England (continued) . . Chapter X. Characteristics of the Breed and System of Management Chapter XI. Extension of the Breed in other Countries Chapter XII. Herefords at the Shows . . FAQE. 1 32 50 85 106 130 156 191 226 258 293 335 ILLUSTRATIONS. BenjamiTi Tomkins Tomkins' Silver Cow Sovereign 404 (Mr. Hewer's) Lord Wilton 4740 Leonora . . Horace 3877 Dorothea and Theodora Hotspur 7028 (Mr. Price's) . . Golden Treasure . . Good Boy 7668 . . Merry Monarch 5466 Gift Wilton 9985 Hotspur 7726 (Mr. Hall's) . . Rebe, New Year's Gift, and Rowena Maidstone 8875 . . Vanity 7th Cassio 6849 The Grove 3rd 5051 PAGE Frontispiece. . Facing 64 1) 92 • t» 166 • »» 182 . 190 i» 194 »» 204 t» 206 • )» 208 • »i 214 • »i 212 .. 222 • • i» 224 • • »i 234 • • i» 236 • • n 316 • • »i 814 CHAPTER I. OEIGIN OP THE BREED. Origin of the breed. — Speed's evidence as to Herefordshire cattle in 1027. — Statements of early writers on live stock. — Marshall's testimony. — " The first breed of cattle in the island." — Hereford Fair inl788; " the finest show of cattle anywhere seen." — Marshall on the points of the Hereford. — The colour, a middle red, a " bald face " being characteristic of the true breed (1788). — George Culley. — J. H. Campbell and the Charlton ox of 1790. — Garrard's engravings of red with white face Herefords (1800). — Duncumb's County Histories. — Hereford cattle " long esteemed superior to most, if not all, other breeds in the island." — T. A. Knight on Lord Scuda- more's importation of red with white face cattle from Flanders about 1660. — Lawrence's speculations as to origin of breed. — His con- clusion that, with respect to profit, no breed in England could stand in competition with it. — Parkinson, Bingley, and Youatt. — Later authorities. — Mr. Storer and Professor Boyd Dawkins on the Welsh white cattle. — White-faced cattle of Holland. — The TuUy white- faced bull (1750). — Lord Chesterfield's opinion. — The Ukraine breed. — Alleged introduction of white-faced bull from Yorkshire. — Professor Boyd Dawkins on the origin of the breed. — Domestic cattle from two sources : Bos Primigenius and Bos Lmigificms. — Herefords derive their white face from Bos Primigenius, strongly accentuated by Flemish cattle. — White 'faces frequent in last century. — Hereford breed formed by judicious amalgamation of various good sorts. With the exception of a trief general reference by Speed* to the fact that the climate of Herefordshire " is most health- ful, and the soyle so fertile for corne and cattle, that no place in England yieldeth more or better conditioned," we have been unable to find any special allusion to the Hereford breed by English writers prior to or during the seventeenth century. This omission is explained by the circumstance that it was not until about the end of the last century, when British agriculture raised up its own chroniclers, that * England, Wales, and Scotland described. By John Speed, London, 1627. B i HEREFORD CATTLE. breeds of live stock attracted much notice. Since the advent of the agricultural historian, however, this variety has received a good deal of attention. Marshall, Culley, Lawrence, Campbell, Duncumb, Knight, and others, have all had something to say regarding the origin and early character of the breed. But the accoimts they have given, in so far as they relate to its origin, appeared to be so contradictory, that, in addressing the students at the Eoyal Agi-icultural College at Cirencester in 1863,* Mr. Thomas Duckham, M.P., for many years editor of the Hereford Herd Book, was constrained to admit, that " as regards the early history of the breed, little is known or can be gleaned previous to the establishment [in 1799] of the great fat show of the Smithfield Club." Now it seems to us that Mr. Duokham's complaint as to the absence of reliable information concerning the history of Hereford cattle prior to 1799 was due, not so much to the Inaccuracy of the opinions that had been put forward, as to the circumstance that the various authorities did not properly estimate the value and relative bearing of the evidence they had been able to collect. What were simply incidents con- nected with the development of the breed were accepted and repeated by them as separate explanations of its origin, and the confusion that has resulted is so great, that it ia not remarkable that Mr. Duckham should have abandoned the attempt to reconcile the conflicting theories. Indeed, we might have been inclined to follow his example, and begin the history of fhe breed at the time when it made its appearance at the shows of the Smithfield Club at the end of the last century. But to have adopted that course would scarcely have been satisfactory, and our first object -htII therefore be to endeavour to see whether the apparently contradictory statements cannot to some extent be brought into harmony. In order to do this, the most convenient course to pursue will be first to present a careful summary of what each of the leading authorities has written as to the origin and early progress of the breed, and then, with the aid of any additional • A Lecture on the History, Progress, and Comparative Merits of the Hereford Breed of Cattle. By Thomas Duckham, Baysham Court, Koss. 1863. OEIGIN OF THE BREED. 3 facts we have been able to obtain, bring out such conclusions as seem to be sufficiently well established. We have to get over in one leap the interval from Speed in 1620, to Marshall in 1788. Marshall was one of the first to break the silence that had prevailed on the Marshall subject from the time of the erudite tailor of {1788 — 1798). the seventeenth century, who testified to the large numbers and good condition of the cattle of Herefordshire. It is, perhaps, desirable to recall that Marshall* was a contemporary of the Rev. Arthur Young, and in some branches of their work he was not inferior as an authority to the editor of the " Annals of Agriculture." Although he did not overlook any matter connected with farming, Young du'ected his attention mainly to the elucidation of improved methods of husbandry. Marshall had a special taste for live stock, and wherever he went these seem to have attracted his first notice. He was a native of Yorkshire, and journeyed all over the country collecting facts illustrative of the agriculture of the various districts, and making particular enquiry as to the breeds of cattle, horses, and sheep. In, describing the cattle of the West of England,! Marshall groups together the breeds of Devon, Sussex, Hereford, Gloucester, and North Wales, and remarks: — " These several breeds I conceive to have sprung from the same stock. Their colour apart, they perfectly resemble the wild cattle which are stiU preserved in Chillingham Park, and it appears to me that the different breeds above noticed are varieties arising from soils and management of the native breed of this island. The black mountain breeds of Scotland and Wales appear to me evidently to be from the same race, agreeing in everything but colour with the red breeds that are here adduced." Speaking * William Marshall, the eminent agricultiurist and writer on Bural Economy, was baptized at Sinnington, near Pickering, Yorks, on July 28th, 1745. He died September 18th, 1818, and was buried at Middleton on the 24th of the same month. His tombstone is still in Middleton churchyard, and there is also h, monument to him in the church at Pickering. — [Mr. George Scoby, Beadlam Grange, has furnished these notes.'\ t The Rural Economy of the West of England. By William Marshall. 1796-98. B 2 4 HEREFORD CATTLE. more especially of the cattle of Devonsliire, Marshall says: — " There are numberless individuals of the Devonshire breed so perfectly resembling the breed of Herefordshire in frame, colour, and horn, as not to be distinguishable fi-om that celebrated breed, except in the gi-eater cleanness of the heads and fore-quarters, and except in the inferiority of size." Marshall published his Kural Economy of Gloucestershire, &c., in 1788,* and here he dealt particularly with the breed that now engages our attention. He wrote as follows: — " The Herefordshire breed of cattle taking it all in all may without risque, I believe, be deemed the first breed of cattle in this island In general appearance the Herefordshire cattle resemble very much those of Sussex, except in their superior size, and still more nearly the present breed of the Vale of Pickering, notwithstanding these several districts are separated nearly 200 miles every way from each other, with other breeds of cattle intervening. Their frame is altogether athletic, with the limbs in most cases sufficiently clean for the purpose of travelling. The form of many of them as beasts of draught is nearly complete. Besides their superiority as beasts of draught, and their being eligible as dairy stock (being in this respect similar to those of Gloucestershire), the females at least fat kindly at an early age, the strongest proof of their excellency as fatting cattle. I have seen three-year- old heifers of this breed — to use a familiar phrase — ' as fat as mud,' much fatter than any heifers of that age I have seen of any other breed, the spayed heifers of Norfolk excepted. Viewing the Herefordshire breed of cattle in this light, which I believe to be a true one, how unfortunate for the rural affairs of these kingdoms has been the choice of the spirited breeders of the Midland Counties," who had selected the Longhorn variety for their use. Marshall goes on to say that at the Hereford fair on October 20th, 1788, he saw about a thousand head of cattle, chiefly of the Herefordshire breed. A large proportion of them were grown oxen, full of flesh, and sold for or were worth at the selling prices of the day, from £12 to £17 an ox. " The most valuable collection I have met * Rural Economy of Gloucestershire, &c. By William Marshall. 1788-89. ORIGIN OF THE BREED. 5 with " he adds, " out of Smithfield, by much the finest show I have anywhere seen." In the section of his book devoted to Gloucestershire, Marshall gave a description of the qualities of a Herefordshire ox intended for grazing in that county, which it will be useful to quote. " The general appearance full of health and vigour, and wearing the marks of sufficient maturity — proviuciully 'oxey,' not steerish or still in too growing a state to fat. The countenance pleasant, cheerful, open ; the forehead broad; the eye full and lively ; the horns bright, tapering, and spreading; the head small; the chap clean; the neck long and tapering; the chest deep ; the bosom broad and projecting forward ; the shoulder-bone thin, flat, no way protuberant in bone, but full and mellow in flesh ; the chine full : the loin broad ; the hips standing wide and level with the spine; the quarters long and wide at the nache ; the rump even with the general level of the back, not drooping, nor standing high and sharp above the quarters ; the tail slender and neatly haired; the barrel round and roomy, the carcase throughout being deep and well spread ; the ribs broad, standing close and flat on the outer surface, forming a smooth, even barrel, the hindmost large and of full length ; the round bone small, snug, not prominent ; the thigh clean and regularly tapering ; the legs upright and short ; the bone below the knee and hough small; the feet of a middle size; the cod and twist round and full ; the flank large ; the flesh everywhere mellow, soft, and yielding pleasantly to the touch, especially on the chine, the shoulders, and the ribs ; the hide mellow and supple, of a middle thickness, and loose on the nache and huckle ; the coat neatly haired, bright and silky ; its colour a middle red, with a bald face, the last being esteemed characteristic of the true Herefordshire breed." This, then, is the picture of a typical Hereford as the breed existed about a hundred years ago. It is so complete that it is not to be wondered at that later writers, such as Campbell, La\vrence, and Youatt acknowledged that they were unable to improve upon the description, which they accepted as the best that could be given. It is well in passing to emphasize the fact that during the closing decade of the last century the Hereford was in colour a middle red, and that a "bald face' was then esteemed characteristic of the true breed. 6 HEREFORD CATTLE. The next witness we shall call is one who deservedly holds a high place among the early writers on cattle. Culley's Observations on Live Stock* is a standard work, George CuUey and is generally trustworthy, because the author (1794). was not only a good judge, but also one who did not usually accept hearsay evidence, although unfortunately, as regards Hereford cattle, he seems to have done so. In the first edition of his book, the sub- stance of which appeared in the " Annals of Agriculture," George Culley said: — "As to the Herefordshire brown cattle, they are, I am pretty clear, neither more nor less than a mixture between the Welsh and a bastard race of Long-horns that are everywhere to be met with in Cheshire, Shropshire, &c." It is only necessary to contrast this remark with that of Marshall to prove that it cannot be accepted as reliable. Moreover, the account was subsequently practically condemned by Culley himself, for in the second edition of his book he withdrew the passage that has been quoted, and substituted the statement that " the Sussex and Herefordshire cattle were varieties of the Devonshire, of a greater size, the Herefordshire being the largest." He evidently did not feel very confident in dealing with the matter, and distrusting his own judgment, which had already been at fault, he gave a description with which he says he had been favoured by Mr. EUman (probably Mr. EUman, Glynde, of Southdown sheep fame, who was also a breeder of Herefords). In this, Mr. Ellman says: — " Colour red, fine hail', and very fine skin ; neck and head clean ; horns neither long nor short, rather turning up at the points ; in general well made in the hind-quarters ; wide across the hips, rump, and sirloin, but narrow on the chine; tolerably straight along the back, ribs or sides lying too flat, thin in the thigh, and bone not large. An ox six years old when fat will weigh from 60 to 100 stone (14 lbs. to the stone) [840 lbs. to 1400 lbs.], the fore-quarters generally the heaviest. The oxen are mostly worked from three to six years old, sometimes seven, when they are turned off for feeding. The calves run with the cows tOl they are 11 or 12 weeks old, when they are weaned and turned to grass. A good cow, after the calf is taken from •Observations on Live Stock. By George Culley, farmer, Northum- berla^ ^ M rT ^ E* SBp-S " an' eg- £Ba|.- o <5 t^ C P-P M . . 13. cu» •^H P'B _5J S.S'« ■:-0 - ^ m K. Ol ^- o "^ n. WW n S D ai5 S.S p- W.5 :sB" w -.1 g 01 C p-fl op a "> -, o o 1-3 K td O o o EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 31) his eldest son Thomas at the Court House, Benjamin at Blackhall, he himself going to Wellington." After consideration of the foregoing facts, it will be ad- mitted that some of Low's statement must have applied to Benjamin Tomkins, who was born in 1714 and died in 178!(, and not to his son Benjamin, who was born in 1745, married in 1772, and died in 1815. These explanations remove several difficulties other than those merely of a biographical description, that have occurred to those who have studied the history of the breed as it is disclosed in the works of writers who have attempted to connect the names of individuals with its early improvement. Low, it will be noticed, tixes the date of the commencement of the improvement of the breed by the marriage of Benjamin Tomkins, an event which occurred in 1772. The alteration of the character of the whole breed of a county progresses slowly. It must first be carried out in the breeder's own herd, and the influence gradually extended to others. Now, the Herefords in 1788 had attained such a reputation as a distinct variety that it drew from Marshall the compliment " of being the first breed of cattle in this island." Between 1772 and 1788 the interval is about 16 years, and it is impossible that the fame of the breed could have been established in that brief period by the efforts of onn man. But Benjamin Tomkins the elder was married in 1742, at the age of 'd2, when presumably he began on an extensive scale his work as a cattle breeder, the nucleus of his herd tieing the cow SUver and her calf, bequeathed to him by his father in 1720, he being then only six years old. Between that date (1742) and the time indicated by Marshall, the interval is 46 years, during which great ameliorative changes might have been, and doubtless were, effected on the breed. The importance of having correct dates induces us to print an extract from the pedigree of the Tomkins family, which has been prepared by Mr. GalUers, and the accuracy of which can be certified, it being extracted from official records that are open to pubHc inspection. There is thus evidence to prove that the elder Benjamin Tomkins was a breeder of Hereford cattle, and that his stock traced back to that of his father Richard Tomkins, who 40 HEEEFOED CATTLE. flourished during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Benjamiri Tomkins senior, as we have seen, was an active im- prover of the breed, and was celebrated for his straia of cattle, which are traditionally beheved to have been chiefly of a dark red or very dark brown colour, \vith mottled faces. Except what has already been mentioned no record of his career as a breeder has been discovered, but it is probable that he was one of the first who made an attempt to breed for the butcher as well as for the plough. Even to him, however, the title that has been given to his son of having been " the founder of the breed " cannot with accuracy be apphed. Working alongside of him were a number of other breeders whose names have come down to us, particularly those of Tully, Skyrme, Hay- wood, Yeomans, and Galliers. So far as pedigree records reveal the earlier history of the improved breed, it may be said to have been largely moulded upon the stocks of Tomkins, Tully, and Skyrme. Before referring to Tully and Skyrme, it will be convenient to allude to another family of breeders. William Galliers of Wigiiore Grange. — William Galliers of Wigmore Grange was intimately associated with the elder Benjamin Tomkins in the work of improving the breed. His connection with the early Herefords has been overlooked by most ivriters, a circumstance in some measure due to the fact that the later members of the family have not continued to breed pedigree Hereford cattle, and also owing to Mr. Eyton, the first editor of the Herd Book, not having obtained much information regarding the stock derived from the Galliers herds. But there can be no question as to the merit of the early Galliers cattle. They went into the very best herds of the time ; and any doubt as to their superiority will at once be removed when it is stated that William Galliers of Frogdon, son of William Galliers of Wigmore Grange, gained no fewer than 13 cups and two decanters for Hereford cattle at the shows of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society between the years 1802 to 1813. William Galliers of Wigmore Grange, the friend and companion of the elder Benjamin Tomkins, was born in 1713, and died on May 26th, 1779, in his 66th year. There is in existence a lease of Wigmore Grange in his favour, dated EAELT IMPROVEMENT. 41 June 27th, 1760, granted by Mr. Salwey Cockram, and made in consideration of the surrender of a previous agreement for 21 years, fi-om June, 1745. No doubt this gentleman did much to improve the breed, and his close connection with the elder Benjamin Tomkins has already been noted. There seems to have been frequent disputes as to whether he or the elder Benjamin Tomkins was the more eminent breeder, and it is believed by some that Wigmore Grange was one of the earhest seats of the " white faces." As has been pointed out in the preceding chapter, there was an opinion prevailing that Mr. Galliers had introduced sometime during the first half of the eighteenth century a bull, red with white face, from Yorkshire, but no confirmation of the allegation has been obtained other than the document printed in the first chapter, although there is little doubt that both the elder Benjamin Tomkins and WUliam Galliers went outside the county for fresh blood. The herd at Wigmore Grange, which had by that time passed into the possession of John Galliers, son of William GaUiers and brother of William Galliers of Frogdon, who gained so many prizes at the early shows of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society, was sold on October 15th, 1795. Prior to that time a number of the best animals in the herd had been acquired by William Galliers, junior, who went to Oxhouse about 1765, to Bye in 1790, and to Frogdon in 1799. But the names of the purchasers at the Wigmore Grange sale prove that the herd was then held in high estimation by com- petent judges. This being the first sale of Herefords of which there is a detailed account, it may be useful to give the full list of prices and purchasers, as showing some of those who were then interesting themselves in the breed. Prices for Herefords had not at that time begun to rise, and it is evident that, at the date of the sale, agricultural affairs were in a depressed condition. Account of Stock sold at Wigmore Grange, October loth, 1795: — Lot 1, Dainty— Mr. Smith, Shellesley, £13 13s. ; (2) Pleasant— Mr. Jeffries, The Grove, £9 15s. ; (3) Blossom— Mr. Jeffries, The Sheriff, £11 13s. ; (4) Tidy— Mr. Price, Buckland, £13 ; (5) Damsel and calf — Mr. Downes, Ashford, £13 15s. ; (6) Broady ajid oalf — Mr. Smith, 42 HEREFORD CATTLE. Borrington, £17 Is. ; (7) Young Broady and calf — Mr. Smith, Dirty Middleton, £10 Is. ; (8) Tulip— Mr. Lambert, Leinthall, £8 9s. ; (9) Stately— not sold ; (10) Gentle— Mr. Smith, Shellesley, £26 5s. ; (11) Sally— Mr. Jones, Wrexham, £13; (12) Nancy— Mr. Smith, Yeston, £13 18s. ; (13) Dolly— Mr. Jones, Wrexham, £10 10s. ; (14) Nutty— not sold ; (15) Dumplin— Mr. Smith, Yoston, £23 lis. ; (16) Young Nubbin— Sir. Turner, Aymostry, £14 18s. ; (17) Nelly— not sold ; (IB) Peggy— Mr. Jeffries, The Sheriff £8 13s. ; (19) Old Broady— Mr. Smith, Yeston, £20 10s. ; (20) Old Nubbin— not sold ; (21) Lovely— Mr. Ashdown, Little Breinton, £13 ; (22) Molly— Mr. Turner, Aymestry ; (23) Tanny — not sold ; (24) Pretty — not sold ; (25) Goodluok— Mr. Ashdown, Little Breinton, £16 ; (26) Bull— not sold ; (27) Madcap — not sold ; (28) Madcap's calf — Mr. Proctor, Orleton, £12 ; (29) Pretty— not sold ; (30) Bull calf, Lady's, see 35— Mr. Beddoes, Diddlesbury, £21 10s. ; (31) Blowdy— not sold ; (32) Her bull calf— Mr. Smith, Hohne Lacy, £12 12s. ; (33) Silk— not sold ; (34) Her bull calf— Mr. Phillips, Joy, £13 15s. ; (35) Lady— not sold ; (36) Cherry — not sold ; (38) entered above ; (39) Duchess —Mr. Turner, Aymestry, £21 2s. ; (40) Her calf— Mr. Harris, £12 ; (41) Young Blowdy— not sold ; (42) Her bull calf— Mr. Smith, Shel- lesley, £18 18s. ; (43) Bull calf— Mr. Smith, Yeston, £24 10s. ; (44) Brovfny — not sold ; (45) Rose — not sold ; (46) Ring — not sold ; (47) Tulip — not sold ; (48) "Two-year-old heifer — Mr. Turner, Aymestry, £32 5s. ; (49) Ditto— Mr. Smith, Holme Lacy, £8 ; (50) Ditto— Mr. Smith, Berrington, £13 18s. ; (51) Ditto — Mr. Downes, Ashford, £9 13s. ; (52) Ditto— Mr. Turner, Aymestry, £15 8s. ; (53) Ditto- Mr. Smith, Yeston, £10 ; (54) Ditto— Mr. Jenks, Grindon, £14 ; (55) Ditto— Mr. Wainwright, £12; (56) Ditto— Mr. Lewis, Gladstry, £7 7s. ; (57) Ditto— Mr. Lewis, Gladstry, £6 12s. ; (58) Ditto— Mr. Downes, Yeston, £9 12s. ; (59) Ditto— Mr. Jeffries, The Grove, £9 9s. ; (60) Ditto— Mr. Lambert, Long Leinthall, £9 14s. ; (61) Ditto— Mr. Jones, Wrexham, £9 9s. ; (62) Ditto— Mr. Jones, Wrexham, £8 ; (63) Ditto— Mr. Weyman, Breinton, £10 ; (64) Ditto— Mr. Bodden- ham, £7 9s. ; (65) Ditto— Mr. Smith, Berrington, £7 2s. ; (66) Ditto— Mr. Jeffries, The Sheriff, £10 10s. ; (67) Ditto— Mr. Smith, Berrington, £10 2s. ; (68) Ditto— Mr. Downes, Yeston, £10 ; (69) Ditto— Mr. Jeffries, The Sheriff, £9 9s.; (70) Ditto— Mr. Smith, Berrington, £9 ; (71) Two Bullocks— Mr. Smith, Berrington, £12 12s. ; (72) Two calves— Mr. Price, Buokland, £12 14s. ; (73) Ditto— Mr. Edwards, Comb, £11 10s. ; (74) Ditto— Mr. Hitohcott, Brakes, £11 2s.; (15) Ditto— Mr. Onions, Rowton, £10; (76) Ditto— Mr. Harris, Moor, £7 ; (77) Ditto— Mr. Harris, Moor, £7 7s. ; (78) Ditto- Mr. Harris, Moor, £9 9s. ; (79) Ditto— Mr. Downes, Yatton, £8 8s. ; (80) Mr. Downes, Yatton, £9 ; (81) Ditto— Mr. Harris, Moor, £6 15s. ; (82) Ditto— Mr. Ashdown, Little Breinton, £8 12s. The two sons of William GaUiers — William, born at Wigmore Grange in 1744, who died at Oxhouae in 1832, tAKLY IMPROVEMENT. 43 aged 88 years; and John, born at Wigmore Grange in 1755, who died at Coxall in 1828 — were both celebrated breeders. The prize list of the early shows of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society proves the character of the stock of William GaUiers, and the sale list just given indicates the estimation in which the herd, after it had passed into the hands of John Galliers, was held, although he does not seem to have long continued breeding Herefords after his removal to Coxall in 1795. Miss Letitia Galliers, granddaughter of William GaUiers of Frogdon, remembers some animals of the mottle-face variety being at Oxhouse. She believes that at first a portion of the Galliers cattle were moie or less mottle faced, but they gradually assumed the red with white face markings, and by selection they ultimately became wholly of that colour. There can, in her opinion, be no doubt that her grandfather won his prizes with white-faced animals. Some notes taken from a memorandum book belonging to WiUiam Galliers of Frogdon show that in 1775 his oxen weighed 80 St. 4 lbs., while in 1787 an ox weighed 89 st. 11 lbs., and a cow 84 St. 9 lbs. He seems to have sold his cattle by weight, at 4rf. per lb. WUliam Galliers went from Frogdon to Lynch Court in 1816, where he bred the bull Cupid 260. He resided at Lynch Court only for about two or three years, and then removed to Oxhouse. It is believed that his stock at Lynch Court were acquired by the Eev. J. E. Smythies, while the remainder of his herd at Oxhouse passed to his son Thomas Galliers (born 1775, died 1861), who bred Reform 254, calved in 182G. lieform was the sire of Prince, and the Eev. J. E. Smythies' Young Cupid 259 was by Cupid 260. Thomas Galliers did not continue breeding pedigi-ee cattle, although he kept up a good stock. The Galliers cattle thus became absorbed in the general stock of the county, and had to some extent passed out of recollection when the first volume of the Herd Book was compiled in 1846. The Tully, Skyrme, and Haywood families. — Thus far it has been possible to speak with some degree of certainty as to the pioneer breeders, and to refer to documentary evidence in support of the statements made. But when we 44 HEREFORI) CATTLE. come to the families of Tully and Skyrme, the case unfortu- nately is different. A diligent search has been made for fresh information regarding these early breeders, but our efforts have to a large extent been unsuccessful. Few documents exist, and in their absence tradition is of secondary value. Among those with whom communications were opened on the subject was Mr. Duckham, M.P., formerly editor of the Hereford Herd Book, who replied: — " I do not think there is anyone connected with either the Skyrme or Tully families who can give the slightest information respecting their herds. In 1862 I revised and printed a second edition of volumes i. and ii. of the Hereford Herd Book, and whilst engaged in doing so I made every enquiry I could, in order to make the entries more complete, but all the old members of these families had passed away. The few descendants who were alive were quite unconnected with agriculture, and could not give me any information. They, too, are now gone, and I do not know anyone who can aid you in the matter. A Tully bull appears to have been the foundation of Mr. Tudge's herd. The celebrated Lord Wilton 4740 traces back to him. The first prize ox at the first meeting of the Sraithfield Club was bred by TuUy. The lithograph in my lecture at Cirencester was taken from a coloured print I obtained from a member of the family. A man who should have been able to have told me much respecting the Tully stock, and by whose judgment the Hampton Court herd was established, has been dead several years, and all he knew passed away with him. Although repeatedly pressed by me, I could obtain but little support or information for the Herd Book." Enquiries in other directions have been almost equally fruitless. It has been stated in Mr. Eowlandson's report on the agri- culture of the county of Hereford, that the first of the white- faced cattle was observed in the herd belonging to the Tully family, about the middle of the last century. This would indicate the period at which attention was first specially devoted to the breeding of this strain at Huntington, and there can be no doubt that the Tully cattle were of great merit. They are found taking prominent places at all the early shows — at Smithfield and at the Herefordshire Agricultural Society's exhibitions, while at EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 45 the first show of the Koyal Agricultural Society of England in 1839, the first prize cow is stated in volume i. of the Herd Book to have been Huntington, bred by Mr. Tully. Many of Mr. Westcar's oxen, including the winner of the first prize at Smithfield in 1799, were bred by one or other of the Tullys ; and Bingley, in his British Quadrupeds (1809), states that Mr. Tully, Huntington, fatted an ox " to 1928 lbs., the fat weighed 288 lbs., the tongue was sold for a guinea, and the hide for three guineas." Garrard (1800) gives a coloured print of the first prize ox at Smithfield in 1799, which, as has been stated, was bred by Mr. Tully. Mr. Welles explains that a larger portion of white showed ifself in the Tully cattle than in those of any herds of eminence on record. Many oxen, he says, of heavy weights, and sold for extraordinary prices at Smithfield, originated with him. His cattle generally were of large size, but often too soft in their flesh and too sleek in their hair. The elder Mr. Tully, in whose herd probably the white calf was observed about 1750, seems to have left three sons, who attained considerable distinction as breeders — Samuel at Huntington, Joseph at Haywood, and another at Clyro. On February 21st, 1811, the herd belonging to Samuel Tully at Huntington was sold. For the times prices were high. The best cow in calf fetched £100, and the four next best cows and heifers with their calves sold for £26-1 10«. The whole 16 breeding cows with their calves and in calf realised £821, averaging £51 6s. each. The contemporary report says, " the remainder of this excellent stock fetched equally high prices." A large number of the Herefords of the present day can be traced back to the herds of the Tullys of Huntington, Hay- wood, and Clyro. The cattle of Mr. Skyrme of Stretton, of which records are still more scanty, were of a light red colour inclining to yellow, with the faces occasionally faintly ticked or speckled. William Skyrme of Dewsall, who died in 1804, aged 65 years, had also a somewhat noted herd. His daughter, now in her 86th year, informs us that her father's cattle were red with white face and had wide horns. But it is from the herd of Skyrme of Stretton that the most famous animals of this strain are descended, 46 HEIiEKOHD CATTLE. It is a noteworthy fact that Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight, in founding his herd in the latter part of the last century, after a few preliminary experiments, selected stock from the herds of Tully, George Tomkins, and Skyrme, the last, as Mr. Housman remarks, giving the somewhat pale red colour, the Tomkins cattle the darker shades of red, and the Tully the grey, afterwards so celebrated as " the Knight greys." It is thus apparent that in the opinion of Mr. Knight, who was no mean judge, these three strains of blood were about the best the county possessed at the end of the last century. The Tully and Skyrme cattle formed the foundation of a large number of other herds, as will be shown when the proceedings of later breeders engage attention. It is a misfortune that so little can be ascertained as to the material they used, and their method of breeding. The family of Haywood of Clifton-on-Teme, where they resided for many generations, had a famous variety of cattle, which can be traced further back than any other. Mr. Henry Haywood of Blakemere House (whose valuable assistance in preparing this work is thankfully acknowledged), in a letter to the authors, says: — "In the division of John Haywood's property in 1713, he specially refers to his cattle and to one of his sons. My father always told me that his great grand- father (the said John Haywood) was considered a superior man of business, and was a breeder of Hereford cattle ; and my uncle, Joseph Smith of Shelleslcy (who had always lived in that neighbourhood), often mentioned this John Haywood as a leading man and breeder of Herefords. His information would be correct, as he was greatly interested in the breeding of Hereford cattle, and had a large herd descended from the stock of Tomkins and Price of IJyall." Mr. Haywood has in his possession a picture by Weaver, representing the Hereford buU Prizefighter, which bears the following in- scription: — " Prizefighter, bred by Samuel Haywood, the property of Mr. Gwilliam of Purslow, Shropshire, shown at Shifnal, 29th December, 1800, by Mr. Tench of Bromfield, against Mr. Knowles of Nailston, Leicestershire, to decide a bet of 100 guineas, determined m favour of the Herefordshire by Mr. Pestar, Somersetshire," At Blakemere House there is EARLY IJIPIIOVEMENT. il another picture of an ox, " bred by S. and C. Haywood of Clifton-on-Teme, Worcester, and got by the celebrated bull Prizefightei-, bred by their father, and sold to Mr. Green, Ashford, who won many prizes." He was sold with his dam to Mr. Cheese of Lyonshall, and passed into the possession of a gentleman at Upton-on-Severn, who sent him to Smithfield Show in 181 6, where he took first prize, and was " considered faultless." The ox is mottle faced, with red legs and white tail. Mr. H. Haywood says: — " My grandfather Samuel Haywood bred the bull Prizefighter, that was shown at Shifnal in 1800, and the ox that took the first prize at Smith- field in 1816 was bred by my uncle Samuel and my father Charles Haywood, who would at that time be young men at home, their father having died previous to the birth of the said ox. My uncle Samuel died young, and my father took a sheep farm about 1816, but my uncle Edward Jeffries ■ Haywood bred a few Herefords up to his death, but never exhibited. The Jeffries obtained their first Herefords from the Haywoods, and Edmund Cheese Jeffries, brother to Thomas Jeffries, who bred the bull Cotmore, always bred regardless of the pure white face, and at his sale the bull Sheriff and other cattle were mottle faced." The colour of some of the cattle belonging to the Haywoods was dark red with very little white. Mr. John HiU, Felhamp- ton Court, who also owns a painting of Prizefighter, and who has placed at our disposal the whole of his valuable collection of documents relating to the breed, thus describes the colour : — " White boss with red hairs among it, and shaded with white over left eye and dingy white blaze, a little white round the jaw, and a white throat line ; horns white with black tips ; white flag to tail ; no other white of any sort." Mr. Housman, in a communication that appeared in the " National Live Stock Journal," referring to the picture at Blakemere House, says: — "The bull is considered a mottle- faced one, but if there was much white upon his head the painter has failed to indicate it. The colour appears to be a deep almost self -red, excepting that on the forehead and at the end of the tail it is intensely dark. It is also very deeply shaded upon some parts of the body, the homs are tipped with 48 HEREFORD CATTLE. black, and, unless the painter has been betrayed by a desire to give the effect of shadow, the nose, too, must have been darkly clouded. But, perhaps, the most remarkable peculiarity is the tight tuck-up at the throat. This is made the more apparent from the position of the head, which, instead of being carried somewhat horizontally, as the head of a Hereford is usually carried, is considerably bridled, and the horns curve inward and downward." The bull Prizefighter went into the possession of Mr. Gwilliam of Purslow Hall, Salop. It may, therefore, be assumed that the herd of this gentleman was closely allied to that of the Haywoods, and, as showing the value that was attached to the blood, it may be mentioned that in October, 1808, Mr. Gwilliam 'e stock was sold, when a cow and a calf were purchased by Sir W. W. Wynn for £22.5 15s., a heifer and calf sold for £121 16s., and three bull calves realised £169 Is. The whole of the cows sold averaged £65 8s. Gd. each. This is, indeed, the first of the high prices on record for Herefords for breeding purposes, and it is not unwarrant- able to assume that it can, to a large extent, be placed to the credit of the Haywood strains, which, however, have for m:iny years lost their distinctive character, and become merged in the stock of the county. These, then, were some of the pioneer breeders of Herefords, who stand out more distinctly than their compeers in the misty records of the past. The list might be considerably enlarged, because many living breders can trace back their stock as having been in the possession of ancestors who lived in the last century. Those who have been named comprise the more distinguished breeders, whose strains enter most largely into the composition of existing herds. The main object of these old breeders seems to have been — at least at the begining of their operations — to rear largo, heavy cattle, that after having been worked in the plough, and having " taken an equal share in the labours of the harvest," would fetch a good price from the graziers of the Midlnnd counties, who assembled in large numbers at the Hereford October fair. By them they were purchased with the view of being fattened for the butcher, or as Duncumb puts it, " perfected EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 49 for the London markets." There does not seem to have been much uniformity about their cattle, either in respect of form or colour. As to the latter point, Marshall, it is true, says a bald face was characteristic of the true Herefordshire breed, while Duncumb remarks that the " prevailing " colour was a reddish brown with white faces. Within these descriptions there was, of course, room for much diversity, which doubtless existed. The leading breeders would appear to have had their favourite sorts, and these varieties had warm admirers and keen partisans. At a very early period the system of in-and-in breeding was, to some extent, adopted, and a separate character was established for the various " breeds," as they were called, the trade mark, as it may be termed, chosen for each being the colour markings. Thus there were the Tomkins, Tully, Skjrrme, Galliers, and Haywood " breeds." The selection of a uniform type was not for many years accomplished, and the struggle for supremacy, begun during the last century, was continued untU a comparatively recent date. The conflict, we think, did much to prevent the spread of the breed outside its native districts. Nor was the division favourable to its progress within the county, which woiild have been better promoted by a concentration of effort than by the separation of supporters of the various types into hostile groups. 50 HEREFOKD CATTLE, CHAPTER III. EARLY IMPEOVEMENT (continued). Benjamin Tomkins, the Younger. — Low and Eyton on foundation of his herd. — Alleged purchase of cows called Pigeon and Mottle at Kington fair about 1766. — Probability that he acquired stock from his father. — Silver Bull 42, " the foundation of his breeder's future eminence." — Was he descended from Silver Cow of 1720? — The Tomkins strains of Silver, Pigeon, and Mottle. — Their characteristics and colours. --Close breeding. — High merit of Tomkins stock. — What Tomkins did for the breed. — Disregard of colour. — Early maturity and wealth of flesh considered more important. — Valuation of herd in 1808. — Notes on Tomkins cattle. — Sale of his herd in 1819. — High prices : a bull sold for £588 ; average for breeding animals £149. — Alleged deterioration of Tomkins' herd. — The Misses Tomkins. — Pinal dispersion of herd in 1854. — Other members of the Tomkins family. — Mr. T. C. Yeld's History of the Breed. — His testimony to the excellence of Galliers, TuUy, Skyrme, and Tomkins cattle. — A letter by Mr. T. A. Knight. — John Price of Ryall.— Description of his herd. — His sales. — Breeding stock to the value of £20,000 dis- posed of by auction. — Mr. Welles on Price's cattle. — Other breeders of Tomkins and Price strains.— Lord Talbot, &c. BENJAMIN TOMKINS, THE YOUNGER. Not long after Bakewell commenced to improve the Long- horns, Benjamin Tomkins, the Younger, began his operations with the Herefords. He was the grandson of Richard Tomkins (whose stock were of such value as to be specially mentioned in his will in 1720), and the son of Benjamin Tomkins (born 1714, died 1789), the iuheritor of the cow Silver and her calf, and one of the first improvers of the breed. There is some dilhculty in fixing the exact date when young Tomkins set to work independently as a breeder. Professor Low gives two dates — 1769 and 1772, the latter being the year in which he was married. Mr. Eyton, in the Appendix to volume i. of the Herd Book, quoting Low as his authority, says Tomkins' herd originated about the year 1766. Low, however, does not EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 51 mention the yeaj- 1766, but 1769 and 1772. We are in- clined to think that he commenced at the date given by Eyton, as he was probably in the fai'm of Blackball when or shortly after he attained his majority, which would have been in 1766. Although on certain points Professor Low fell into error regarding the history of Benjamm Tomkins and his connection with the breed, there must have been some foundation for the statements he gave as to the origin of his herd. No addi- tional corroborative evidence of the circumstance has been obtained, but due weight must be attached to the confirmation given by Mr. Eyton, who also had the advantage of commimi- cating on the subject with Miss Tomkins, daughter of Benjamin Tomkins; and it is further reported that Tomkins told Mr. Price of Ryall that he had bred the whole of his herd from two heifers and a bull, selected by himself early in life. Eyton's account of the origin of the herd runs as follows: — "Mr. Tomkins' herd originated, according to Professor Low, in two cows purchased by him at Kington fair about the year 1766 ; according to others they were purchased from a wheel- wright in the. village, and had been taken notice of by Mr. Tomkias on account of their singular aptness to fatten. Miss Tomkins informs me that one was a grey one, and the other a dark red one with a spotted face; the former he called Pigeon, and the latter Mottle. From whatever source obtained, there is no doubt that these animals, with occasional crosses from the best selected herds in the neighbourhood, were the foundation of the stock which has been so celebrated for many years at King's Pyon. During the latter portion of Mr. Tomkins' life he used none but bulls bred by himself, and did not cross with any other stocks, which system many of the breeders into whose hands his stock has fallen have since carried on. So justly confident does Mr. Tomkins appear to have been in the superiority of his stock, that he once drove 20 of his cows to Hereford on the day of the agricultural show, and ofEcred 100 guineas to any one who would show an equal number superior to them; the offer, however, was not accepted." It will be observed that Mr. Eyton does not speak with much confidence as to the place whence the two cows with which E 2 52 HEREFORD CATTLE. Tomkins commenced were obtained. He gives, without endorsing either version, Low's statement that they were bought at Kington fair, and also that of others to the effect that they came from a wheelwright in the village ; and speaks of the whole subject with evident uncertainty. Low also in a subsequent reference so far contradicts himself by remarking that Tomkins appears to have selected good cows where he could obtain them in the district, and Eyton says that he had occasional crosses from the best selected herds in the neigh- bourhood. It is, of course, quite probable that Tomkins may have picked up the nucleus of his herd in the manner described, but considering that he had his father's large and first-rate stock from which to make selections, it is curious that he should have gone outside it. If these two cows were bought as stated, they must have been secured on account of some special excellence they possessed which suited them better for the purposes he had in view than other stock which he might easily have obtained. The bull with which he began probably came from the herd of the elder Benjamin Tomkins, and the subsequent infusions of fresh blood which he evidently introduced would very likely also have been from his father's stock and some of the other old herds that have been mentioned. Be this as it may, the details given regarding the alleged purchase of the two cows throw some light on the principles that undoubtedly guided Benjamin Tomkias in his subsequent career as a breeder. They prove that the first thing he looked for was the fattening propensity of his stock, and they also show his indifference to colour markings. The latter fact is further evidenced by another circumstance. Tomkins always maintained that his Silver BuU 41 was the best stock-getter he ever had. Mr. Duckham points out that this animal was bred by Tomkins in early life, and " formed the foundation of his breeder's future eminence;" and Mr. Eyton says: — " The buU which is often referred to by the name of SUver Bull, Tomkins always considered as the first great improver of his stock. There is a prevailing opinion respecting this bull's name that it was given to him because he was of a silver or grey colour, but the fact is that he was a red buU with a white EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 53 face, and a little white on his back ; and his dam was a cow called SUver." It is interesting to note in passing that in the designation of two of Benjamin Tomkins' favourite animals, there is a revival of the name of the cow which his grand- father left by win to his father many years before. It is not improbable — indeed it is very likely — that they were descendants of liichard Tomkins' Silver cow, and from her may thus have been derived one of the characteristics of young Tomkins' stock ; so that, without an undue straining of facts, it may be said that modern Heref ords of this line trace back to the Silver cow of 1720. Tomkins' herd contained not only the Pigeon and Mottle families, but also the Silvers, which last were red with white faces. The earliest cattle of Benjamin Tomkins were in fact of three distinct strains, the names Silver, Pigeon, and Mottle being used to distinguish the varieties. We are informed by Mr. George Bray, sen., of Haven Dilwyn (now over 70 years old, and who is a nephew of George Tomkins, whom ho personally knew for many years), that the Tomkins cattle were (1st) gi-ey ; (2nd) hail-backed, which meant that they were white along the back, and had a good deal of white about the neck and underneath the belly, and somewhat up the sides ; ( 3rd) ticked or smoky-faced, with more or less white along the back ; (4th) red with white face, with less white about the body; and (5th) mottles of aU shades, from dark red with no white on the back. He agrees that, at the beginning of this century, even the Tomkins stock varied in every possible way as to colour markings. The three principal divisions were — the Silvers, red with white face and having more or less white along the back ; the Pigeons, of a grey colour; and the Mottles, mottle faced. These facts afEord strong proof that Benjamin Tomkins disregarded colour. With the two cows used in building up his herd— one grey and the other dark red with a spotted face — and his most impressive sire red with white face, it is not surprising that in his herd the colours of the animals became greatly diversified. One who does not speak without good authority, writes to us: — " Sometimes Tomkins' white faces and sometimes his mottles were the best. They appear to have changed and changed about, according to the character of the 54 HEREFORD CATTLE. bulls he used." This point is of some importance, because the fact that Tomkins did not attempt to permanently fix a particular colour on his stock rendered the subsequent amal- gamation of the valuable blood from his herd with other stocks possessing difEerent markings, and the ultimate establishment of the red with white face as the standard colour of the breed, much easier than would otherwise have been the case. It is plain that in the opinion of Benjamin Tomkins flesh and form were much more worthy of cultivation than parti- cular shades of colour, and he devoted great attention to the development of both these characteristics. But, unfortunately, it is not possible to give many details as to his operations as a breeder. No private herd books were then kept, and before Mt. Eyton commenced the collection of pedigi-ees for volume i. of the Herd Book, nearly all the evidence as to the system of breeding Tomkins adopted had vanished. Professor Low, after mentioning the purchase of the cows Pigeon and Mottle, says Tomkins appears to have selected good cows where he could obtain them in the district, but to have reared his bulls from his own stock, although in the earlier stage of his im- provements he sometimes made use of other bulls when they suited his purpose. After a time, however, he abandoned this practice, and confined himself in breeding to his own stock. " It thus appears," Low goes on to say, " that the principle of his system was selection of the most suitable individuals for breeding, and that, having produced by this mean animals of the properties required, he confined himself to his own herd. Having arrived at the improvement sought for, he communi- cated to the individuals, by intermixture with one another, that uniformity and permanence of character which constitutes a breed. In this latter respect, however, he was not so success- ful as Bakewell, and many of the Herefords deviate consider- ably from a common type. Tomkins, indeed, had what he termed his different lines of stock, as his Mottle line and his Pigeon or Silver line, from which, we are merely to infer that his animals had not been so amalgamated as to acquire a permanent class of common characters." Low's dissertation is given for what it may be worth. Much of it, it is to be feared, is simply speculative, and we need scarcely repeat KAELT IMPROVEMENT. 55 our objection to ids assumption that Tomkins founded the breed, and was the first, or even in his own time the only improver. Although Tomkins had several lines of blood, their main difference was in colour, and we di not agree that there is any proof of wide divergence in other respects in the character of his stock, the several families being distinguishable only by their colour markings. It may be added, that according to tradition the Tomkins Mottle tribe were short-legged, heavily fleshed animals of good scale and quality, but not so handsome as the Pigeons. There can be no doubt that Tomkins bred his stock very closely. In fact, as has been mentioned, all the early Hereford breeders proceeded at the outset on the in-and-in system. Either as the result of breeding from neai- aiKnities, or fi-om a deliberate selection of medium-sized animals, his cattle became reduced in bulk ;is compared with others in the count}- which were probably cultivated more for working purposes. I'rirc, who subsequently purchased many Ilerefords from Tomkins, says his stock were of smaller size than other herds he saw iu Herefordshire, but they had more of the gfiod properties he had in view than any he could meet with elsewhere. The great fact that Tomkins seems to have got hold of was that a new sphere of usefulness was opening for cattle. This we believe was the leading principle in Bakewell's improvements, both of cattle and sheep, and it was the same with Tomkins, and to a lesser extent with the other early Hereford breeders. A weU-informed correspondent tells us that at the begin- ning of this century Benjamin Tomkias possessed the best herd of the red with white face and mottle face varieties then existing. His nephew, George Tomkins, repeatedly expressed this opinion in the hearing of several members of the family now living, and there were few better judges. He made a tour through England in 1808, and when he returned he told his uncle that his were by far the best cattle he had seen anywhere, not only in the county, but in the kingdom ; and he advised Benjamin Tomkins to ask more money for them. This he did, more than doubling the price, which he obtained. " He doubtless," adds our correspondent, " could have taken all before him at the agricultural shows, but he would not com- 56 HEKEFORD CATTLE. pete. He was a peculiar, proud, exclusive kind of man, and regarded the cattle belonging to others as quite beneath his notice, considering his own to be beyond comparison the best." What Tomkins did for the Herefords was to develope their early maturing properties, shorten their legs, refine their bone, improve their beef poiats and the quality of their flesh, and impart to them more thoroughbred character and impressiveness. His disregard of colour, in the opinion of some people, was probably a mistake; and it is almost certain that if he had aimed at producing uniformity in this particular, the consoli- dation of the breed would have been much more rapidly accomplished, and the waste of energy entailed by the struggle between admirers of the white faced, the mottle faced, and other varieties, which subsequently occurred, would have been avoided. But, of course, there is another aspect of the question, and there are not wanting those who maintain that the limitation of colour was, in the general interests of the breed, a misfortune. As will be shown later on, the battle of colour was fought out between the supporters of the red with white faces and the red with mottle faces ; and, although the promoters of the latter variety possessed in largest measure the Tomkins blood, they could not successfully maintain the opinion that Benjamin Tomkins, in his own practice, attempted to produce any particular description of colour markings. It was in 1804 that John Price of Kyall became acquainted with the stock of Tomkins. Other eminent breeders acquired bulls and cows from him, and his cattle soon spread widely over the county. In October, 1808, Tomkins had a large sale at the Court Farm, Wellington, which the auctioneer, Mr. William James, announced in these words: — " For sale, the following valuable and much admired stock, the property of Benjamin Tomkins, who is going to decline breeding cattle, consisting of 20 capital cows and heifers, which have five calves now sucking, two four-year-old bulls, one ditto martin, nine three- year-old bullocks, six two-year-old ditto, two yearling heifers, one of which is heavy in calf, three two-year-old bulls, two ditto yearlings. The above stock is of the same breed which has for many years been so much admired, and allowed by competent judges to be equal if not superior to most in the EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 5? kingdom." A note of tlie prices or purchasers' names at ttis sale has not been obtained, but we are able to give a private valuation of the stock at WeUiagton Court Farm, drawn up by George Tomkins in June, 1808, which will indicate the owner's estimate of their worth: — " 12 cows and calves at £40 each — 480 ; 12 oxen at £23— £276 ; 10 two-year-olds at £20— £200 ; 10 yearlmgs at £15— £150." Only a comparatively smaU number of the bulls bred by Benjamin Tomkins were entered in the Herd Book, and in few cases are particulars given of their breeding. Silver Bull 41 is registered simply as coming under the division of the white faces, and as having been bred by Mr. B. Tomkins. Wellington 4 is described as a mottle face, calved 1808, bred by B. Tomkins. He passed into the possession of Mr. Price, and was purchased at his sale in 1816 by Mr. Jellicoe of Beighterton for £283 10s., being afterwards sold to Mr. Germaine. He was considered by Mr. Tomkins " the best bull he ever bred, his Silver Bull excepted, and also the best stock-getter." In volume i. of the Herd Book there is a coloured lithograph of this buU from a painting by Mr. Welles, representing a compact, straight animal of fair size with fine bone, mottle face, white dewlap, and white along the lower parts of the body. Another of Tomkins' buUs registered in volume i. is Ben 96. Mr. Eyton says Miss Tomkins informed him that Ben was by Sam 144, out of one of Mr. Tomkins' cows called Nancy. Sam 144 is without recorded pedigree, all that is said con- cerning him being that he was bred by B. Tomkins. Wild Bull 145, bred by Tomkins, was, on Miss Tomkins' authority, said to be by SUver Bull 41, out of a cow called Tidy. Phoenix 55, a mottle face, out of StorreU, bred by Mr. Tomkins, and got by Wild BuU 145, was purchased at Miss Tomkins' sale in 1819 for 560 guineas by Lord Talbot. Mr. Eyton has this remark as to his dam: — " Storrell, Miss Tomkins informs me, was out of a mottle-faced cow of the same name, by a Pigeon bull." The bull caUed " Son of Price's 84," bred by Tomkins, was out of Price's No. 25, " who was out of a sister to the dam of Price's 23 or the SHt Teat Cow by the Silver BuU 41." Proctor's BuU 316 was bred by B. Tomkins " out of his favourite cow Old Pink." Voltaire 39 A was a 58 HEREFuRb CATTLE. wliite-faoe bull bred by Tomkins, dam Price's No. 3. Wizard 59 was a mottle face of Tom.kins' breeding by Ben 96, and was sold to Mr. Germaine for 300 guineas. Wedgeman 166 was bred by Tomkins, but no pedigree is given in the Herd Book. In the appendix to volume ii. of the Herd Book, Mr. E. F. Welles gave some interesting recollections of the stock of Mr. John Price, from which a very complete idea can be obtained of the character and appearance of the Tomkins cattle. It is, indeed, one of the most valuable statements that has been made on the subject. Mr. Welles says: — "When Mr. John Price commenced cattle breeding, the character of buU most in esteem in the chief Midland districts was one having a throat with as little loose flesh as possible depending from it. This character was also introduced by some breeders amongst Ilcre- fords. The celebrated Purslow bull, the property of the Haywoods of Clifton-on-Teme, had this character. Mr. Walker of Burton had also adopted it, and from him Mr. Price had a bull or two. Mr. B. Tomkins and other Hereford breeders had not been affected by this fashion, and Mr. Price when he became acquainted with Mr. Tomkins' stock relinquished it, preferring, and upon sounder principles, that character which better indicated the male animal, a considerable degree of throatiness not being objected to. This character belonged to Wellington 4, the first buU, and, I think, the only one bought by Mr. Price of Mr. B. Tomkins. This buU was very dark in colour, with face and bosom both mottled and speckled. His dam, too, bought afterwards by Mr. Price (but did not breed with him), was also of the same colour. " The cows bought by Mr. Price of Mr. Tomkins were the following: — First, a large cow with speckled face, giving a blue appearance to it, with what may be termed an arched forehead or Roman nose, tips of horn blackish, body of lightish brown dappled, under part of body and legs inclining to blackness, white along her back, and well formed, but on rather high legs. Secondly, a cow commonly called the Mark-nosed Cow — a red cow with mottled face, square made, and on short legs, rich quality of flesh, with a soft and thick pile of hair moderately curled. This cow was unfortunate to Mr. Price as a breeder, EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 59 the only produce I recollect out of her being the Marked- faced BuU, alias Pion at his sale. Thirdly, a large yellow cow with white face, rather long-headed and not carrying much flesh. She was the dam of Voltaire, by one of IVIr. Tomkins' bulls. " Pigeon, by far the most remarkable cow he had of Mr. Tomkins — and her own character, as well as that of her descendants, will well warrant me in terming her the best — was a large cow, rather on high legs, somewhat shallow in the bosom, with very fine bone, neck rather light, head good but horn short ; her colour a speckled grey, the red parts being dark, growing stiU darker about her legs ; hair rather short but soft, quality of flesh excellent, back and hind-quarters great, excepting thighs, which were rather hght, but with good twist ; her constitution hardy, and she was a regular and successful breeder. About the same time also Mr. Price had another cow from Mr. B. Tomkins, which was called the Rough Cow, from her coat being much curled ; she was a middle-sized cow, nothing remarkable in form, her colour dark red with white back, and she had the reputation of being of a family that were good ox breeders. Mr. Price had a bull from this cow called Rough Bull, alias Original, but he did not long retain any of his stock. There were sisters to him by other Tomkins bulls, the most noted of which was No. 14. Two more cows Mr. Price subsequently obtained from Mr. B. Tomkins — a half-sister to No. 25, and a daughter of Mr. Tomkins' famous Slit Teat Cow No. 21. The former of these was a small cow, but of very true form, dark colour with white along her back ; she was the dam of Lord Talbot's Woodcock, sire of Mr. Price's Woodcock Pigeon. I am not aware that Mr. Price had any more cows from Mr. B. Tomkins ; but he afterwards obtained two cows of his blood — one called Damsel from Mr. T. Tomkins, and another from Mr. Tomkins of Wormbridge, the former the dam of Woodman and the latter the dam of Diana. He also bought a few Tomkins bred cows from Mr. James Price ; among these was the dam of Peg Murphy." These notes, which furnish a complete picture of a large number of the Tomkins cattle, fully bear out which has been 60 HEREFORD CATTLe. said as to their diversified colours. Mr. Price's selections comprised animals that were yellow with white face; speckled grey; dark red with white back; red with mottle face; dark colour with white along the back, and lightish brown dappled, with white along the back, &c. The only point in which there was an approach to uniformity as regards colour was the white back. A few other notes as to Tomkins' cows are gleaned from the entries in the Herd Book. The Sht Teat Cow referred to by Mr. Welles was considered by Tomkins the best cow he ever had. Storrell by Wild Bull was, as has already been mentioned, dam of Phoenix, sold to Lord Talbot for 560 guineas. Old Rose was out of the dam of Silver Bull 41. Old Lovely was a daughter of the Slit Teat Cow. All we know about others are their names, and in some cases those of their sires — Blowdy out of Old Pigeon, the dam of Mr. Price's Pigeon ; Margaret by Silver Bull 41 ; Stately by Wizard 59 ; Blossom by Phoenix 55 ; Old Lily, Nutty, &c. After the death of Benjamin Tomkins in October, 1815, the herd, which had by this time been much reduced in numbers by private sales, was kept on by his daughters, the Misses Tomkins, until October, 1819, when part of it was sold. Through the courtesy of Mr. Haywood of Blakemere House we have been favoured with a copy of the original sale bill, containing the prices and purchasers' names, marked by one who was present at the sale. The document has a historic importance and must be reproduced in full : — "A catalogue of the valuable stock of prime Herefordshire cattle, the property of the late Benjamin Tomkins of Wellington Court, which will be Sold by Auction without reserve, upon the premises at King's Pion, nine miles from Hereford, on Monday, 18th October, 1819, being the eve of the Herefordshire Agricultural Show, and two days previous to the great cattle fair at Hereford : — Price. Lot. Name. Purchaser. £ s, d, 1. Yearling heifer, Toimg Blowdy— Mr. W. West . . . . 66 14 2. Ditto, Young Fairmaid— Mi. Court 99 15 3. Two-year-old in-calf heifer, Young Bloaaoai— Mr. G. Tomkins for Lord Talbot .... 105 4. Ditto, Young Silver— Mr. John Tomkins 73 10 5. In-calf heifer. Duchess— Mr. Q. Tomkins for Lord Talbot . . 105 6. Ditto cow, Pigeon -Mr. W. West .... .. 159 12 T. Ditto, Stately— Mr. G. Tomkins for Lord Talbot . . . . 52 10 8. Ditto, Silk— Mr. Lewis 70 7 9. Ditto, Beauty— Mr. Cooke 262 10 EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 61 Price, Lot. Name. Furohaser. £ s. d, 10. In-calf cow. Saver— Mr. West 210 11 Ditto, Cherry— Mr. Q. Tomkins for Lord Talbot . . . . 110 5 12. Ditto, Prettymaid— Mr. Lenia .... ... 99 IS 13. Ditto, Piot— Mr. Turner 105 14. Ditto, Nancy— Mr. G. TomkinB for Lord Talbot . . . 252 6 16. Ditto, Blowdy— Mr. Cooke ... . ... 273 16. Ditto, Fairmaid— Mr. West 65 2 17. Ditto, Tidy— Mr. Cooke 131 5 18. Ditto, Lovely— Mr. Cooke 63 11 19. Ditto, Storrell- Mr. Q. Tomkins for Lord Talbot . . 262 5 20. Ditto, Pink— Mr. Edwards 141 15 21. Bull calf off ditto— Mr. Clarke 147 22. Ditto off Beauty— Mr. Cooke 215 6 23. Fat cow, Blossom— Mr. James 48 6 24. Pair of two-year-old steers (twins) — Mr. T. Cooke . . , . 47 6 25. Ditto— Mr. W. Cooke 4860 26. Ditto— Mr. James Price 49 27. Single bullock — Mr. James Price 20 28. Pair of yearling bollocks— Mr. Smith . ... 24 29. Ditto— Mr. Patrick 2700 30. Ditto— Mr. James Price 49 31. Ditto— Mr. Oliver 2760 32. Ditto— Mr. Wedge 25 10 33. Pair of bullock calves— Mr. W. Cooke 20 10 34. Ditto— Mr. W. Cooke 16 35. Ditto— Mr. Wight 16 36. 37. Heifer calf— Mr. G. Tomkins . .... 30 38. Ditto— Mr. Cooke 26 39. Two-year-old buU off Pink— Mr. W. West . ... 147 40. Ditto off Storrell- Mr. G. Tomkins for Lord Talbot. . . . 588 41. Four-year-old bull— Mr. Welles . . ... 16216 42. Five-year-old ditto— Mr. T. Cooke 173 5 " N.B. — The above cattle are all of the pure breed, which have been so justly esteemed and admired by the most competent judges in every part of the kingdom where they have been introduced, and for which peculiar blood the highest prices have been obtained, and particularly No. 23, which is considered to carry the greatest weight upon the smallest bone of any cow in the kingdom." These were remarkable prices. The 52 head sold made £4673 14s., or an average of £89 17s. 6d. each, but a number were steers. The breeding animals, numbering 28, averaged no less than £149, the total for them being £4172 6s. The detailed figures are as follows: — TOTA] £ S. 15C0WS 2249 2 3 Two-year-old heifers ... 288 10 2 Yearling heifers 156 9 4BuUs 1071 2 Bull calves 362 5 AVKEAOK. £ 3. d. 149 18 9 94 10 78 4 6 ... 267 15 181 2 6 28 head £4172 6 Average £149 62 HEREFORD CATTLE. It is interesting to compare the foregoing averages with those realised at the great Shorthorn sales of the Brothers Colling, which took place ahout the same time. At Mr. Charles Colling's sale at Ketton in 1810, the average for 47 head was £151 8s. (the bull Comet bringing 1000 guineas). At Mr. Robert Colling's sale at Barmpton in 1818, 61 head averaged £128 17s. 10c?.; and at his sale in 1820, 46 head averaged £49 8s. 7d. A statement has recently been made to the effect that the Tomkins Herefords, if they had not from the effects of excessive in-and-in breeding fallen into disrepute before Benjamin Tomkins' death, at least did so almost immediately afterwards. There is certainly no evidence of want of public appreciation in the sale list which has just been given. More- over Mr. John Price for many years retained without any mixture the blood of Tomkins, and also bred very closely, and yet when his herd was dispersed in 1841 — 26 years after Tomkins' death — the average for 9!) lots was £53 16s. id. But it is only necessary to glance at the composition of the foundation herds of Herefords as recorded in the Herd Book — those of Knight, Smythies, Yarworth, Hewer, Walker, Hoskyns, Perry, Jellicoe, Smith, Lord Talbot, Sir F. Lawley, &c. — to see how largely the Tomkins blood was infused over the breed. There was scarcely one of the early herds that was not indebted to the Tomkins strains for part of its excellence, and if the results of injudicious in- and-in breeding had then, as is alleged, been so painfully apparent, the blood would scarcely have obtained such ■\vide circulation. That some of Tomkins' cattle went into the possession of those who were not able to do them justice, and who failed in the attempt to carry out what they supposed was his system, is unquestionable; but that the herd retained un- impaired its high character when Benjamin Tomkins died is proved by the results of the sale in 1819, and by the fact that John Price continued for 37 years to successfully breed on Tomkins' lines without resorting to other bldfid. After the sale in 1819 the Misses Tomkins remained at the Brook House farm, and continued to breed Hereford cattle. They had a second sale in October, 1839, when it was EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 63 announced that they were about to retire from business. The catalogue of this sale shows that their cattle still retained con- siderable reputation. Among the prices were £108 for the nine-year-old cow Pigeon, the purchaser being Mr. Gough ; £50 for the eight-year-old cow Stately (Mr. Davenport) ; £50 for the nine-year-old cow Lovely (Mr. GaUierg) ; £56 for the seven-year- old cow Diana (Mr. Galliers) ; £52 for the three- year-old heifer Countess (Mr. Jones) ; £51 for the two-year- old heifer Tidy (Mr. Galliers). A three-year-old buU No. 1, got by a bull from Old Pigeon by the same sire, made £82 (Mr. Griffiths). Among the other purchasers were Mr. Smythies, Mr. Yeld, Mr. Vevers, Mr. J. Moore, &c. The average for 48 animals was over £30. The final sale was in October, 1854, one of the sisters having in the interval died. The entire herd, numbering 55 head, " descended from that peculiar blood which has for three-fourths of a century been the admii-ation of the county, and which have upon former occasions reahsed higher prices than any other breed of Herefords in the kingdom," was then dispersed. No cata- logue of this sale seems to have been printed ; the announce- ment having been made on a broadside specifying the numbers of the various classes of stock, and there is no note of prices. The auctioneer, however,' stated that " the animals were purely descended from the herd of the late Mr. Benjamin Tomkins, from whom the late Mr. Price of Eyall obtained that breed of cattle which, at different times, have been distributed through the United Kingdom at enormous prices, particulars of which will be found in Eyton's Herd Book." From a note in volume i. of the Herd Book, it appears that it was the custom of the Misses Tomkins to give the same names to their cows through successive generations, and their bulls — of which they were in the hdbit of keeping four or five — were not dis- tinguished by names, but by numbers. From these causes no bulls or cows bred by them appear in the Herd Book. We are informed that for some years the Misses Tomkins had the advantage of Mr. George Tomkins' assistance, but when he gave up his farm in 1836 the herd does not seem to have been so carefully managed, although the system of close breeding was continued. Doubtless the Misses Tomkins parted with the best 64 HEREFORD CATTLE. portion of their stock in 1819, and most of the remainder in 1839; and between that date and 185-1, having only themselves and a bailiff to depend upon, it was only to have been expected that their herd should not continue to possess the special merits by which it was formerly characterised, and it may be from its decadence that the idea has arisen that Benjamin Tomkins' stock had greatly deteriorated before his death. Other members of the Tomkins family besides the Misses Tomkins engaged in the breeding of Herefords. Among them may be mentioned Mr. Richard Tomkins, Hyatt Sarnesfield, a brother of the wife of Benjamin Tomkins. He was born in 1736 and died in 1818. After the death of this gentleman, his herd was sold in April, 1819. We have the sale list, but it is unnecessary to print it in full. The prices were very good for the times. A pair of oxen named Summons and Merry- man were sold for £80, and another pair named Merchant and Lightfoot for £60. Mr. Westcar gave £50 for a pair of three- year-old bullocks, and £4:8 10s. for another pair. Among the purchasers of breeding stock were the Kev. Mr. Smythies and Mr. Jones, Breinton. Mr. Bray tells us that among Richard Tomkins' stock were a good many of the " hail-backed " variety, and several of the animals included in his sale are thus described in the cata- logue. The Rev. J. R. Smythies purchased two " hail- backed" heifers. George Tomkins of Frogdon, born 1740, died 1797, brother of Benjamin Tomkins, the Younger, had also a noted stock of Herefords, and he is generally believed to have been a remarkably good judge of stock. George Tomkins, son of the gentleman just named, nephew of Benjamin Tomkins, and a trusted friend of Lord Talbot, also bred Hereford cattle. Born in 1776, he occupied the farms of Wistaston and Frogdon. He gave up the former farm to his son-in-law Thomas Galliers in 1836, and then retired to the Green, Norton Canon. The portrait of a cow bred by Mr. George Tomkins was often pointed out by the father and mother of Mr. T. T. Galliers, Wistaston, as being a good representative of the Tomkins Silver "breed." This cow was purchased by Mr. Peploe of Garnstone Castle, and was a favourite of his, being kept to a great age for < m O o EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 65 breeding. He had her painted by Weaver in 1814, when she was eight years old, and the picture hung in Mr. Peploe's study during his lifetime, and during that of his successor. Captain Peploe. When the Rev. J. B. Webb-Peploe succeeded to the property, he presented the oil painting to the late Mrs. GalUers, on her requesting permission to have a photo taken of the portrait of her father's Silver cow. This painting represents the Tomkins Silver variety of Herefords. Mr. T. A. Knight of Downton obtained some of his stock from Mr. George Tomkins, who died in 1854, aged 79 years. Other members of the Tomkins family, who were breeders of Hereford cattle, were Richard Tomkins of Dippers Moor, born 1757, died 1800 ; William Tomkins of Wormbridge, bom 1756, died 1821 ; and Thomas Tomkins of Court House, bom 1743. AN OLD breeder's ACCOUNT. In the foregoing notice of the early breeders, it has been found necessary to discard many of the accepted theories on the subject. Good reasons for the conclusions at which we have arrived have been given, but it is very satisfactory to be able to obtain from an independent authority almost complete con- firmation of the views adopted. Since the preceding pages were written, a document has come into our possession to which we attach much value. Mr. Edward Yeld, Endale, sends us a history of the breed in manuscript, drawn up many years ago by his uncle, the late Mr. T. C. Yeld of The Broome, who was himself an eminent breeder. From this the following is taken : — " The imperfect accounts given of the breed of Herefords in the last century induces me to record what is within my own knowledge, and that derived from sources within my reach : that of the last century is derived from my acquaintance with a retired intelligent farmer and breeder of Herefords, himself a successful competitor at the old Herefordshire Agricultural Society, and who possessed a dozen or more handsome prizes of his own winning, during the last and present century, bemg in farming more than 30 years in the last and 20 in the com- mencement of the present century. 66 HEREFORD CATTLE. " Going back to the middle of the last century, there were very excellent Herefords of two kinds, viz., mottle-faced and white-faced. By far the best breed of mottle-faced Herefords were in the possession of Mr. William Galliers of Wigmore Grange ; that of the white-faced in the possession of Mr. Tully of Huntington, and Mr. Sk3rrme of Stretton. Before the last century expired, Mr. Benjamin Tomkins obtained the lead and took a very prominent part for many years. Mr. William Galliers before mentioned and Mr. B. Tomkins were on terms of personal intimacy, and from the great similarity of the breeds there is every probability of their being derived from the same source. I may here mention (although not strictly within the county) a similar stock of mottle-faced cattle bred by Mr. William Walker, senior, of Burton, Worcestershire. I do not say that either of these were wholly mottle-faced, but they were all very similar in form, and of a rich red colour. " There were many other good stocks in the middle of the last century. Among them were Mr. Waring of Letton, Mr. Steward of Little Dilwyn, Mr. John Yeld of Milton, Mrs. TurbervUle of Broome, Mr. Weyraan of Moreton, and others. That there were excellent Herefords before the present century the following circumstances will show. On one occasion the late Mr. George Tomkins of Wistaston, spending the day at my house, and being wishful to know the origin of Mr. Benjamin Tomkins' herd, I said to him, ' How did your uncle Ben originate his herd ? ' He replied : — ' My father was an excellent judge, and if he saw a good heifer in market would always buy it, and his brother Ben would always get it from him ; ' and it is rather singular that Mr. Charles Walker, also, at my own house, when asked how his father originated his herd at Burton, gave a very similar reply, viz., that when his father saw a good heifer in market he always bought it ; and I think that proves to demonstration that there were good stocks of Herefords, and that good animals were to be picked up in the Hereford markets. " I cannot supply a better proof of the estimation in which Mr. William Galliers' stock was held than to give the names of purchasers at his sale which took place at Wigmore Grange, EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 67 15th October, 1795. He then had three sons, all settled in business, viz., William, who farmed Frogdon and Wootton Farms, King's Pion ; Thomas, who farmed Stapleton Castle ; and John, who farmed Coxall." Mr. Yeld proceeds to give the names of the purchasers at the Wigmore Grange sale, but as we have printed in a previous page a full list of prices and purchasers at that auction, it is unnecessary to repeat it. Mr. Yeld adds : — " Most of the above were purchasers of several lots. They were the cows, calves, and young heifers ; the oxen, steers, and bulls were sold in the following spring. The writer has seen a painting of one of the oxen, four of which, he has learned from the family, sold for over £70 each. " Old Mr. TuUy also left three sons in farming business — one at Huntington, one at Clyro, and one at Grafton ; and these possessed by far the best of what would be called the white-faced Herefords, if I except Mr. Skyrme of Stretton, but of whose stock I have no reliable account, except the opinion of !Mr. T. A. Knight, which is certainly most favour- able. In giving an account of the Herefords of the last century, I have stated nothing but what is from correct sources. " I now proceed to name the best herds at the commence- ment of the present century, and, although Mr. Benjamin Tomkins was in highest repute, there were many who possessed equally good cattle. The late Mr. T. A. Knight, in replying to my enquiry about the pedigree of the celebrated White Bull, writes as follows : — " ' Sir, — The account which you appear to have received respecting the bull from which you have bred is in every essential respect correct, but I did not give the calf to Mr. Turley.* He bought it of me for £3, and never paid me anything for it. Its dam was bred by Mr. Skyrme of Stretton, who, at that timef possessed, in my opinion, by far the best breed of cattle in the county, and which was Mr. Westcar's * It was said Mr. Knight had sat up all night for this cow to calve, and when it proved a white one, gave it to his tenant ; which I had mentioned, to recall to his memory what bull it was. — T. C. Y. t About 1810.— T. C. Y. F 2 68 HEREFORD CATTLE. opinion. I reared several other bulls from the same cow, which were very excellent, and for one of them at H months old I refused 40 guineas. The sire of your bull descended from a mixture of the breed of Mr. TuUy of Huntington and Mr. Isaac Martin, who possessed a very ex- cellent, though small, stock. I do not think a better bred animal than that about which you have enquired ever existed in the county of Hereford. I never bred above two or three animals fi-om Mr. Benjamin Tomkins' stock, which, I confess, I never liked. With good wishes, your obedient servant, ' (Signed) T. A. Knight, ' Downton, January 8th, 1836.' " Here we shall take leave of Mr. Yeld for the present ; as a consideration at this stage of his further observations would somewhat disturb the chronological order of the history. It may be pointed out that Mr. Yeld was evidently unaware of the fact that there were two breeders named Benjamin Tom- kins. The associate of William Galliers of Wigmore Grange, to whom he refers, was, as has already been explained, not Benjamin Tomkins, the Younger, as he seems to have believed, but his father. JOHN PRICE OF RTALL. It was impossible to notice the career of Benjamin Tomkins, the Younger, without making some reference to his greatest supporter and disciple John Price. Thanks to Mr. Price's habit of carefully recording his breeding transactions, and to the industry of his friend Mr. Welles, we know almost exactly the character of the cows he purchased from Tomkins; and his subsequent method of breeding is clearly narrated in the Herd Book entries, which were drawn up from his catalogues and notes. Mr. Price was scrupulous in his attention to pedi- gree, and, in his case, there is no occasion for regret at the absence of details. John Price, the eminent breeder, was the eldest son of Job and Elizabeth Price, who occupied a farm at Earl's Croome, in Worcestershire, where he was born in 1776. The son of an industrious farmer, John Price was from an early age engaged EAULY IMPROVEMENT. 69 in all the operations of the farm. Thus employed, he had little opportunity for receiving any other than a plain village school education. He was taught to read, to write, and the use of figures. Whatever disadvantage, however, he experi- enced from the want of a more extended education, was amply compensated by the possession of great natural abilities — of a mind powerful and original in its conceptions and conclusions. And as soon as he commenced business on his own account he let slip no opportunity of improving his education by reading, and seeking the society of gentlemen of high respecta- bility. Early in life he became a favourite with the Earl of of Coventry. These facts are gleaned from an obituary notice that appeared in the " Farmers' Magazine," in 1845. Mrs. Pumfrey, Mr. Price's daughter, in a subsequent number of that journal, wrote: — "AU is true that you state of his humble birth : not that his parents were of mean grade or fortuneless; but farmers then lived and brought up their sons so differently to those of modern times. My father's transcendant natural abilities and genius, however, surmounted every obstacle to improvement ; by nature and habit he became a perfect gentleman, an ornament to any society, and this without any assumed polish ; humble and courteous even in his most palmy days, he was a favourite with all, the kind and assisting friend of many, his very faults leaning so much to the side of virtue as to disarm one of blame. Not only, as you say, was he an admitted, but an honoured guest at Croome, for even during the visit of royal personages has the late Countess of Coventry insisted on my father being of their circle. I have known the late Earl of Coventry, with his brothers, dine at my father's house five days of the week ; the late Earl Plymouth, and many others too numerous to name individually, none of whom need to blush in association with a man mentally superior to most. His fame as a breeder and judge of stock will not die for many an age ; in which respect I have often been told since and before his death, he had no equal." Mr. Price ultimately succeeded his father as tenant of Earl's Croome, and he early evinced a fondness for the live stock of the farm. The cattle he first possessed of any pretensions to good breeding were procured from Mr. Walker of Burton. 70 HEREFORD CATTLE. Mr. Welles states that with some of these he was iaduced to try crosses with the pure Gloucesters, an old breed famous for their milking properties, the improved specimens also making good carcases of meat and producLag good steers. An uncle, Mr. Barnes of Corse Court, was in possession of an excellent herd of the Gloucester breed, and Mr. Price procured a few cows from him. Mr. Welles says he remembers a cow bred from one of these by a Hereford bull making, when fed, an extraordinary heavy animal — weighing upwards of 18 score per quarter (1440 lbs.). It was about the year 1804 that Mr. Price became acquainted with the cattle of Mr. B. Tomkins, from whom he bought a few cows, using to them bulls descended from Mr. Walker's stock. Mr. Welles recollected the first bull so bred, out of the cow Pigeon, bought from B. Tomkins ; but the cross did not suit and the animal was disposed of. About 1811 Mr. Price gave up the farm at Earl's Croome and bought a small estate at Eyall, near Upton-upon-Severn. He also took a large field of pasture, a part of Croome demesne, of about 120 acres, which he held till his death. In a few years from this time he possessed himself of cows from Mr. B. Tomkins, and his herd began to attract considerable notice ; among the purchasers of the stock he was able to draft being many of the nobility, including the Earl of Plymouth, Earl Talbot, and the Hon. Mr. Germaine. In 1812 he gave a challenge, to be decided at the Lichfield Agricultural Meeting, to show 20 of his cows in milk against 20 Longhorn cows for 100 guineas. The challenge was accepted by Mr. Meek, and was decided in Mr. Price's favour. About this date he made a large speculation in purchasing land. The venture was not a success, and the estate had to be sold at great loss. A good stock of cattle and sheejs which Mr. Price had collected also came to the hammer, and the prices showed that much judgment had been exercised in their breeding and selection. Mr. Price then carried on his farming operations at Ryall, where he continued to reside, taking, however, more grass land of excellent quality at Mytton, near Tewkesbury. But previous to this he had obtained more Herefords of Tomkins blood, and EARLY IMPEOVEMENT. 71 purchased the bull Wellington and his dam from Mr. Tomkins. Soon after 1816 Mr. Price left Ryall, and took up his residence at Poole House, near Upton, still holding the land of which he had been tenant for so many years under Lord Coventry. Mr. Price frequently expressed his views on the subject of breeding. He stated that among cattle, the Highland Scot approached more nearly than any other animal to the standard of form which he considered the true one. " This," he adds, " determined me in adopting them as my model. I was desirous of possessing a breed of cattle on a somewhat larger scale than the Scotch Kylnes, yet having the same symmetrical loggy forms with similar coat and texture of flesh." In this opinion, Mr. Price only repeated what Mr. John Charge had heard Bakewell many years before state, that from the West Highland heifer he thought the best breed of cattle might be produced. In commencing to form a herd which should possess the form and qualities he thought most desirable, Price, as has been mdicated, fixed upon the stock of Benjamin Tomkins, from whom he purchased a considerable number of cows and heifers, and three bulls. These cattle were of smaller size than other herds he saw in Herefordshire, but had more of the good pro- perties of the model he had in view than any others he could meet with. As we have seen, he first attempted to improve the Tomkins cattle by crossing them with the larger stock of Mr. Walker, with the view of increasing their size, but the result was so unfavourable that he put away all these crosses and returned to the pure Tomkins variety. Mr. Price continued to breed Herefords until 1841, his herd being solely of Tom- kins blood; so that for upwards of 70 years at least, this strain, first in the possession of Benjamin Tomkins, and then in that of John Price, was bred continuously without a fresh cross. For a description of the various animals purchased from Tomkins by Price, the reader is referred to the interesting notes of Mr. Welles printed on a preceding page. In reference to the statement that Price obtained the best animals that Tomkins possessed, Mr. Eyton says there was one old cow that must be excepted, a remarkably good breeder, 72 HEREFORD CATTLE. which Tomkins always refused to sell, although Price offered him £250 for her. This remark suggests an idea of the sums Price paid for the animals he actually hought from the great breeder at Wellington Court. Mr. Welles expresses the opinion that INIr. Price had only one of Tomkins' bulls, the celebrated Wellington 4. But in addition to that animal he owned Voltaire 39a, a white-faced bull bred by Tomkins, and an iznnamed bull of his breeding that appears in some of his pedigrees. Price seems to have followed Tomkins not only in his system of in-and-in breeding, but also in his disregard of colour. It will have been noticed that the colours of the cows he acquired from Tomkins varied greatly. Then among the bulls, Wellington was a mottle face ; Voltaire a white face, and Victory 33, calved in 1839, bred by Price, was chosen for illustration in the first volume of the Herd Book as a typical specimen of the grey variety ; while the portrait of Young Trueboy 32 is also given in volume ii. as a specimen of the greys, although in the entry in the first volume he is stated to have been a mottle face. One of the most remarkable cows owned by Price was Toby Pigeon by Toby 5, dam Pigeon or Price's No. 6, bred by B. Tomkins. It is stated in the entry of one of this cow's produce in vol. i. of the Herd Book, that nearly the whole of Mr. Price's herd sold in 1841 were derived from her. At 19 years of age she had bred 19 calves, having taken the bull by chance when a calf, and at three and four years old she had twins. The following is a list of her progeny : — Woodcock Pigeon by Woodcock 50 ; Bull, Solon 92 ; Bull, died ; Miss Woodman ; Bull, Young Woodman 12 ; BuU, Paris 19; Bull, Plenipotentiary 23; Cow, soldtoMr.Monkhouse; BuU, Trusty 15 ; Cow ; Cow, died young ; Ditto ; Burton Pigeon; Bull, died; Bull, Trueboy 14; Cow, Blue Pigeon; Cow, Stock Dove; Cow, Nonsuch; Bull, Washington 35. Mr. Price frequently challenged admirers of other breeds to show their stock against his own, this, as we shall have occasion to point out, having been a favourite method of settling disputed points as to superiority, prior to the general acceptance of the more satisfactory arbitrament of the show- ring. He attended one of Lord Althorpe's ram sales in EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 73 Northamptonshire, and after the dinner gave a challenge to show one of hia bulls against any Shorthorn. He succeeded in getting up a sweepstakes of five pounds each, which he won with his bull Limdyfoot, which, according to the writer of the memoir in the "Farmers' Magazine," was allowed to be the completest animal any of the company ever saw. In 1839 he issued another challenge, of which Mr. Haywood of Blakemere House has given us a copy. It is as follows : — " Challenge ! ! ! To all breeders of cattle in England. Mr. Price of Poole House, Upton-upon-Severn, is willing to show a bull and 20 regular breeding in-calf cows bred by himself for any sum not exceeding £100, nor leas than £25, to be shown before the last day of November next ensuing, against a bull and a like number of cows of any sort that have been bred by and are now in the possession of any breeder of cattle in the United Kingdom. The judges to decide on this occasion to be chosen by that noble patron of agriculture and stickler for fair play Earl Spencer, and his lordship's friend Sir Francis Lawley, Bart., or whom they may appoint. The stock to be viewed on the farms of their respective owners, and the judges to be paid by the losing party. N.B. — It is a well-known fact that this herd has lived on worse and less food, owing to the dry summer, than any other herd of cattle in the county." This challenge was not accepted, but it led to a controversy between Mr. Bates of Kirklevington, the well-known Short- horn breeder, and Mr. Price. Mr. Bates, writing in 18i0, said he had visited Herefordshire about 50 years previously, and was then and continued still an admirer of the best variety of the Hereford cattle. But he considered then, and had for above 40 years been convinced, that "the very best Short- horns, which were only a few, were capable of improving all other breeds of cattle in the United Kingdom, as well as the ordinary Shorthorns, which were far from a good breed, and much inferior to the Heref ords, Devons, and others." Mr. Bates added: — " I have at present two red twin one-year-old bulls, one out of the dam of Duke of Northumberland, you may not think unworthy to be put to your herd of Herefords for one season, to give you an opportunity of testing the merits of this cross-bred. In my opinion they would prove an invalu- 74 HEREFORD CATTLE. able cross with the best Heref ords — increase the growth of the Herefords, and at aji earlier age be fit for the butcher, with a less consumption of food, and quality of beef unimpaired ; and also give that breed an increased milking quality, both in quantity of milk and richness, yielding more butter." To this Mr. Price replied, that he had inspected Lord Spencer's Shorthorn herd, and had never seen anything to shake his belief that Hereford cattle would pay more money for the food they consumed than any other breed with which he was ac- quainted. He said he had tried many crosses, aU, of which signally failed, where the object had been to obtain more size and weight by using large male animals with females of smaller dimensions. Writing to the " Farmers' Magazine " in 1841, Mr. Price gave a description of his farm and the difficulties under which he laboured, owing to shortness of keep, &c. He said: — " The farm I have occupied since 1829 has not at any time much exceeded 150 acres ; 20 of which are arable, totally unfit for the growth of turnips, and nearly 120 acres, part of the Croome demesne, belonging to the Earl of Coventry, in one ground and rather below second-rate quality of land, greatly covered with omamiental timber, and neither buildings nor fold-yards on my farm sufficient to hold 20 beasts ; yet on this land I have usually kept 100 head of cattle, together with a flock of 150 sheep, 40 of which were rams, besides my cart and other horses. These are facts well-known to the whole of my neighbours, who have always given me full credit for being the worst keeper of stock in England. I have seldom made use of oilcake, and on no occasion have I given corn or meal to any of my stock." On October 17th and 18th, 1816, Mr. Price had an extensive sale at Ryall, which was thus announced : — " The cattle stock are wholly descended from that of the justly celebrated one of the late Mr. Benjamin Tomkins of Wellington Court, in the county of Hereford, and are too well known to need any comment." The prices realised at this sale were very large, and the event forms such an important land-mark in the history of the breed, that we give the list of purchasers and prices. EAELT IMPROVEMENT. 75 To render the list of value for reference, it is necessary to explain that two catalogues of the sale were issued. One of these was really a list of Mr. Price's entire herd, what would now be called a private catalogue, showing the breeding of the animals ; the other was merely a note of the lots, these being connected with the elaborate catalogue by reference to the ear marks. In the Herd Book all the entries from Mr. Price's herd are made out by references to the ear marks of the cattle, whose pedigrees are given in this catalogue. We here combine the two catalogues and priut opposite the name of the animals that were sold a note of the purchasers and the prices : — Mr. Price's Sale at Ryall, October 16iA and llth, 1816. No- 0° . cows. „ , . horn. Age. t s. a. 1 21 Bought of Mr. Tomkins, sire BUver Bull— Mr. Morris . 10 10 2 13 Bought of ditto, dam by Silver Bull— Mr. W. Thomaa . 26 5 3 15 Bought of ditto, sold to Mr. Pratt last year— Mr. Playfleld 37 16 4 13 Bought of ditto, dam by Silver Bull 5 — Slaughtered, bred by J. Price 6 9 Bought of Mr. Tomkins, dam by Silver Bull— Mr. Welles 215 6 7 — Sold to Mr. Welles, bred by Mr. Tomkins .... 8 9 Sold to ]l«rd Plymouth, bred by J. Price, dam No. 5, sire bred by Mr. Tomkins .... ... 9 — Sold to Lord Sackville, bred by J. Price 10 — Sold to ditto, bred by ditto 11 — Sold to Mr. Lawley, bred by ditto . ... 12 — Sold to Lord Plymouth, bred by ditto . ... 13 — Sold to ditto, bred by ditto 14 8 Bought of Mr. Tomkins, dam No. 1, sire son of No. 25 — Lord Talbot 99 15 15 7 Bred by J. Price, dam No. 1, sire sou of No, 25 — Lord Talbot 57 16 16 7 Bred by ditto, sold to liOrd Plymouth, dam No. 9, sire Voltaire alias No. 1 17 7 Bred by ditto, dam No. 10, sire Voltaire— Mr. Bavenahaw 53 11 18 7 Bred by ditto, sold to Mr. Pratt, dam No. 8, sire Voltaire. 19 6 Bred by ditto, dam No. 9 sister to Diamond, sire bred by Mr. Tomkins— Mr. Welles 31 10 20 6 Bred by ditto, dam No. 5, sire bred by Mr. Tomkins- Mr. West ... 39 18 21 7 Bought of Mr. Tomkins, dam Lovely, granddam Slit Teat Cow, sire son of No. 25— Mr. Chapman . . . . 43 1 22 7 Bought of Mr. Tomkins- Mr. Hooper. . . . . 49 7 23 7 Bought of ditto, dam Slit Teat Cow, sire son of No. 25 — Lord Talbot 110 5 24 6 Boughtof ditto, dam No. 26, sire Wellington— Lord Talbot 3.3 12 25 20 Bought of ditto, sister to dam of No. 23, sire Silver Bull- Mr. Welles 32 11 26 8 Bought of Mr. Moore of Wellington, dam and sire bred by Mr. Tomkins- Mr. West 38 17 27 — Bought of ditto, sold to Lord Plymouth .... 28 7 Bought of Mr. Tomkins— Lord Talbot . . . . 60 8 29 7 Bought of ditto, dam No. 9— sold to Mr. NiohoUs 30 7 Bought of ditto, dam Wellingtoa's dam— Mr. Price . . 42 76 No. on bom. Me 81 K 32 6 33 6 34 6 36 6 36 6 87 6 88 6 39 6 40 6 11 6 42 6 43 4 44 4 46 4 46 4 47 - 48 — 49 8 60 3 ei 3 62 8 68 3 64 3 66 3 66 3 67 8 68 8 69 3 60 3 HEREFORD CATTLE. £ s. d. Bought of Mr. West of The Home— Mr. Bamee . . 34 13 Bred by J. Price, dam No. 2tf, sire bred by Mr. Tomkina— Mr. Havenshaw 49 7 Ditto, dam No. 9, aire ■Wellin^n— Mr. Leohmere . . 34 13 Bought of Moore of Wellington, dam sister to No. 26, sire Wellington— Mr. Thomas 45 3 Bought of Mr. Tomkina, Young Nutty, dam Nutty, sire Wellington alias No. 2— Lord Talbot . . . . 89 6 « Bought of Mr. Tomkina, dam Lonely, sire Wellington — Lord Talbot 6300 Dam No. 15, aire Pion aliaa No. 3— Mr. BaTenahaw . . 89 18 Bred by J. Price, sold to Mr. Pratt, dam dead . Bred by ditto, dam No. 16, sire Pion alias No. 3— Mr. Barnes ,....8090 Bred by ditto, dam No. 6, sire Pion — Mr. Lechmare . . 49 7 Bred by ditto, dam No. 38, sire dead, bred by Mr. Tomkina —Mr. Wilson 4580 Bought of Mr. Tomkins, dam sister to No. 2, sire Welling- ton aliaa No. 2— Mr. Pratt 85 14 Bred by J. Price, dam dead, aire Original aliaa No. 4— aold to Lord Plymouth Bred by ditto, dam No. 8, aire Original alias No. 4 — Mr. Wilaon 84 13 Bred by ditto, dam No. 16, aire Wellington aliaa No. 2 — Lord Talbot 86 16 Bred by ditto, dam No. 16, sire Original alias No. 4 — Mr. Wilson ....4530 Bred by ditto, dam No. 6, aire Pion aliaa No. 3 — Lord Talbot 120 16 Bred by ditto, dam No. 18, aire Wellington aliaa No. 2 — Mr. Moraunt 86 16 Bred by ditto, dam No. 19, aire Original aliaa No. 4 — Mr. Oindera 66 14 Bred by ditto, dam No. 37, aire Wellington aliaa No. 2 — Mr. Pratt 87 16 Bred by ditto, dam No. 36, aire Wellington— Mr. Morria . 26 6 Bred by ditto, dam No. 2, aire bred by Mr. Tomkina — Lord Talbot 4200 Bred by ditto, dam No. 23, aire No. 8— Lord Talbot . . 90 6 Bred by ditto, dam No. 3, aire No. 2— Lord Talbot . . 46 8 Bred by ditto, dam No. 15, aire No. 4— Mr. Weat . . 29 8 Bred by ditto, dam No. 7, aire No. 3 Bredby ditto, dam No. 17, sireNo. 4-Mr. Evana . . 60 8 Bred by ditto, dam No. 88, sire No. 2— Mr. Leohmere . 88 17 Bred by ditto, dam No. 8, sire No. 2— Mr. Palfrey . . 89 18 Bred by ditto, dam No. 6. aire No. 3— Lord Talbot . . 99 16 HEIFERS. 61 3 62 2 68 a 64 2 66 2 66 2 67 2 68 t S9 •i 3 Bred by J. Price, dam No. 21, aire No. 2- -Mr. Wellee ~ Bred by ditto, dam No. 32, aire bred by Mr. Tomkina and dead — Mr. Moraunt Two-year-old heifer— Mr. Morria Bred by ditto, dam No. 23, aire No. 2— Lord Talbot . Bred by ditto, dam No. 4, aire No. 4 —Mr. Webb Bred by ditto, dam No. 15. aire No. 3— Mr. Bosworth Bred by ditto, dam No. 23, aire No. a— Lord Talbot . Bred by ditto, dam No. 17, aire No 2— Mr. Weat Bred by ditto, dam No. 80, aire No. 2 -Mr. Bosworth Bred by ditto, dam No. 33, aire No. a -Mr. Leohmere 173 5 87 16 39 8 262 44 a 48 1 68 6 61 9 43 1 86 14 EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 77 No. on horn. TO 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 eo 81 82 83 B4 66 87 90 91 92 93 94 95 Age. 3 Bred by J. Price, dam No. 2 Bred by ditto, sold to Mr. 2 Bred bv ditto, sold to Mr. 2 Bred by ditto, dam No. 21 2 Bred by ditto, dam No. 21 2 Bred by ditto, dam No. 31, 2 Bred by ditto, dam No. 7, Talbot .... 2 2 2 2 2 42, gire No. .3— Lord Talbot Pratt— Mr. Morris . Pratt— Mr. West , sire No. 2— Lord Talbot , sire No. 2— Ditto sire No. 4— Mr. Wilson . aire by Mr. 'WelleB' bull— Lord Bred by J. Price, dam No, Bred by ditto, dam No. 86 Bred by ditto, dam No. 8, Bred by ditto, dam No 1, 1 Bred by ditto, dam No. 31 1 Bred by ditto, dam No. 43, Price .... 1 Bred by ditto, dam No. 14, 1 Bred by ditto, dam No. 6, Morris . —Mr. West . . 18, sire No. 2— Mr. Bosvorth , sire No. 2— Mr. West sire No. 4— Mr. G. Price . sire No. 8— Lord Talbot . sire No. 4 — Mr. Morris aire Moses alias No. 9— Mr. O ;, sire No. 2— Mr. Buck sire Toquas alias No. 5 — Mr, — Mr. Morris Bred by J. Price, dam No. 8, sire No. 4— Ditto . —Ditto . Bred by J. Price, dam No. 21, sire No. 4 — Mr. Bosworth Bred by ditto, sold to Mr. P. Gbapman Bred by ditto, sold to Mr. Champion ...» — Mr James Price — Mr. Moraunt Heifer calves were sold at from £16 16s. to £42. £ s. d. 48 8 28 7 49 7 69 6 6 89 5 53 11 42 46 4 47 6 36 15 81 10 62 10 17 17 18 18 189 18 18 18 18 31 17 17 t6 6 17 17 17 17 BULLS. 1. Voltaire, bred by Mr. TomMns, dam No. 3 2. Wellington alias No. 2, eight years old, bred by Mr. Tomkina— Mr. Germaine 8. Pion. got by No. 1, dam No. 2— Mr. Lane 4. Original, got by a bull bred by Mr. Tomkins, dam No. 1— Mr, West . . ... . . 6. Toquas, got by No. 1, dam No. 9 — Mr. Morris 6. Rumbo, got by No. 1, dam No. 4— Mr. Ravenshaw 7. Chocolate, got by Pion, dam No 4— Mr. £vans . 8. Warrior, got Wellington, dam No. 4— Mr. Chapman 9. Moses, got by Welliogton, d*m No. 14— Mr. G. Price 10. Eyall, got by Pioa, dam No. 35 — Lord Talbot 11. Eclipse, got by Wellington, dam No. 25— Lord Talbot 12. RoUa, got by Won, dam No. 15— Mr. Palfrey 13. Tptheman got by Moses, dam No. 24— Mr. Barnes 14. Waxy, got by Wellington, dam No. 47— Lord Talbot 283 10 49 7 147 48 8 89 6 52 10 136 10 115 10 262 10 94 10 43 1 65 13 841 6 BULL CALVES. 16. Sovereign, own brother to Waxy— Mr. Jas. Price 16. Master Tozer, got by Moses, dam Young Pigeon— Lord Talbot 17. Araxes, got by Pion, dam No. 14— Mr. Buck 18. Crispin, got by Waxy, dam No. 59— Mr. Chapman 19. Junius, got by Waxy, dam No. 49— Mr. Pratt 20 Lieopold, got by Waxy, dam No. 61 by Wellington— Mr. Welles 126 . 44 2 . 89 5 . 66 2 . 46 4 . 63 s 126 78 HEREFORD CATTLE. The averages for the various classes, were as follows: — 32 Cows AVEEAOE. £ I. d. 64 1 6 TOTAL. £ s. 1730 4 rf. 13 Three-year-old heifers 21 Two-year-old heifers .. 766 10 n 57 2 1199 8 6 . 36 8 8 364 7 n n . 132 4 6 1718 17 n 72 5 6.. 433 13 n Oi. 116 head averaged £68 Os. £6728 10 6 We have also a catalogue, with a few prices, of Mr. Price's sale at Mitton Lodge Farm, near Tewkesbury, on March 21st and 22nd, 1820, but it is not necessary to reproduce it. A few high prices were realised. Mr. Jellicoe gave £127 Is. for the co-vy Vesta; Mr. Barnes £109 4s. for the heifer Thalia. Mr. Price's final sale took place at Poole House, on October 15th, 1841. Here the cow Toby Pigeon was sold in her 22nd year to Sir P. Lawley for £14. The highest price was £16G for the bull Washington, Lord Talbot bemg the purchaser. Among the cows Wood Pigeon made 1.50 guineas, going to Mr. Bird, Hampton Court, Hereford. The heifer Tuberose was taken by Lord Talbot at 100 guineas, and Ceres at £115 by Sir F. Goodricke; Mr. Smith, Martly, gave £100 for the bull Tramp, Sir P. Lawley £140 for Young Trueboy and £100 for Victory, Mr. Samuel Peploe bought the bull Murphy Delaney for 110 guineas, and Mr. Evans, Pendeford Hall, Stafford, took The Rejected for -110 guineas. The largest purchasers were Lord Talbot, Sir F. Lawley, Sir P. Goodricke, Captain Walters, Mr. S. Peploe, Garnstone, and Kev. J. R. Smythies, Lynch Court. The average for 99 animals was £53 16s. 4rf., and the total £5328. Commenting on the re- sults of the sale, Mr. Price said : — ' ' Although the average at my sale in 1816 is a little above the average price of my last sale in 1841, it will I think appear evident on taking into account the length of time (25 years) that has elapsed between the two sales, the great reduction which has taken place during that time (and since the sales of Messrs. Ceiling's Shorthorns) in the price of first-rate herds of cattle, and also of other herds of cattle, together with circumstances too well-known EARLY nrPEOVEMENT. 79 to both landlords and tenants to need any comment from me, that the average of my last sale is much the best ; thereby placing the herd on much higher ground com- pared with all others than they heretofore occupied ; and I do sincerely hope that the hands these animals have fallen into will take care that they keep their present high position. Should they not continue to do so and lose caste, the fault will not be in the cattle." At the Poole House sale it was resolved to present Mr. Price with his portrait, and a good picture was painted by Mr. Frederick Tatham. Mr. Price survived this sale only two years. At his three sales of cattle in 1813, 1816, and 1841, the proceeds amounted to no less than £16,690. A complete record of the sale in 1820 does not exist, but we should imagine that if the amount obtained at it could be added, it would swell the total to £20,000. In the article on Hereford Cattle contributed to Morton's Cyclopedia of Agriculture, Mr. Welles has a few remarks on the character of Mr. Price's stock. He said he thought it must be generally admitted that unusual exertions had been made through great diificulties by an individual of an adjoining countv, who had been the most zealous and (if high prices were the test) the most successful breeder of Heref ords of that day [about 1830-40]. And little as his opinions seemed to be in conformity with those of a large portion of the breeders of the county of Hereford, and though his great efforts to raise the character of the breed had been so little understood and appreciated on its native soU, he thought those who calmly and dispassionately examined the principles which guided him in the pursuit must be convinced there were many points on which he insisted as indispensable in the formation of a superior animal that could not safely be disregarded. Instances of failure might be adduced against him in some of his practice, but these often resulted with the most sagacious from the trial of new combinations ; and Mr. Welles thought it very probable that the rising generation of breeders would find that a superior intellect brought to bear so exclusively on one subject had not been exercised in vain, and that time would 80 HEREFORD CATTLE. dispel many of the prejudices existing in certain places against Mr. Price's "breed." Mentioning some of the exceptions that might fairly be taken to Mr. Price's system of breeding, he said one of the most prominent was a great disregard of the mOking property ; and from his late practice of breeding from near affinities, this fault might be supposed to have been more permanently fixed in certain families. That it would not be desirable in a breed such as the Hereford to make too many sacrifices to the mUking quality, he thought would be generally allowed ; but there might be, he was convinced, a sufficient disposition to give a fair quantity of milk and the cow be equally good for any purpose required of her. There were, however, many cows that from want of proper care of the udder after calving and during the time that the grass was luxuriant were rendered more or less incapable of a supply of milk afterwards, and he thought much inattention on that head was often the case in the stock he alluded to. Another objection that might be raised against Mr. Price's stock was the shortness and rather mean appearance of the horns in many of his cows, not characteristic of Hereforiis in general, which had mainly arisen from his attention being devoted to more important quahties ; and as the family in which these were most concentrated was deficient in horns, he left them un- improved, thinking he might, in the pursuit of a non-esseatial, run the risk of loosing a valuable property ; still Mr. Welles believed the possession of good horns to be quite compatible with every other valuable requisite, and it was certainly a considerable advantage to the appearance of the animal. These observations prove that a prejudice had arisen in the county against Price's cattle, which, on the evidence of even a favourable witness like Mr. Welles, was not without some justification. But the variety was very far indeed from being even at the close of Mr. Price's career without substantial merit. As to the later appearance of Mr. Price's herd, we have the following interesting communication from Mr. George Smythies: — " I had no intimate acquaintance with the Hereford herd of Mr. Price. I never saw it until after he had given up farming. When I knew the herd it was kept in Lord Coventry's park the greater part of the year, and for a short EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 81 time in winter and spring the cattle were tacked out in straw- yards with anybody who would keep them. I once saw the best lot of 1-1 two-year-old heifers I ever looked at in a yard where they got nothing but stubble — that is the straw that remained after hand-reaping of wheat, only there was a little clover in it, the field it came from having been so\vn with seeds. During the last few years that Mr. Price kept his Herefords, he changed their form a good deal. The Tomkins breed, which, I believe, he used exclusively, were very wide over their hips and narrow on their shoulders. This he altered, getting his cows much wider on the chine with less gaudy hips. These characteristics were particularly exemplified in Dove, bought by my father at the sale in_1841 for 77 guineas, and by Tuberose, sold to Lord Talbot for 100 guineas. Mr. Price's cattle were some of them red with white faces ; some a beautiful roan as was Dove (Dove was a smoky roan, diifering from the roans as bred by TuUy), others being white backed with mottle faces. The bulls were brought up difEerently to what they are now, running, in almost a wild state, with the cows until they were fit for service, when most of them were let and kept from home as much as possible, Mr. Price having but little accommodation for them. Consequently they had a mean appearance as compared with the cows, which were magnificent animals." Cobbett, in his " Rural Rides," (1830) writes from Tewkes- bury: — " I am here among the finest cattle and the finest sheep of the Leicester kind that I ever saw. My host, Mr. Price, is famed as a breeder of cattle and sheep. The cattle are of the Hereford kind, and the sheep surpassing any animals of the kind that I ever saw. The animals seem to be made for the soil and the soil for them. The sheep are chicily of the Leicester breed, and the cattle of Hereford white face and dark bod)^ certainly the finest and most beautiful of all horn cattle." The Earl of Coventry says : — " The fame of John Price's Herefords still lives in this neighbourhood, and there are yet living people who speak of the noble herd with admiration, and describe them as being possessed of great scale and extraordinary constitution. They were accustomed to range 82 HEREFORD CATTLE. the pastures summer and winter, and were almost always to be seen in the well-known Cubsmoor, a large grass field of great repute amongst graziers. John Price had a bull which weighed 29 cwt. and a bull calf 9 cwt. at nine months old." OTHER BREEDERS OK THE TOMKINS AND PRICE ST]tAINS. In the appendix to Volume i. of the Herd Book a list is given of the principal breeders of the Tomkins and Price stock, from whom pedigrees had been received by Mr. Eyton. They were the Earl of Talbot, Ingestre ; Sir F. Lawley, Bart. ; Sir F. Goodricke, Studley Castle ; Mr. G. Drake, The Manor Farm, East Tytherley ; Mr. Shepherd, Eastwood House ; Mr. Thomas Juckes, Tern Farm ; Mr. N. Smith, Martley ; Mr. Pratt, New Field ; Mr. Gravenor, Wellington ; the Kev. W. P. Hopton, Bishops Froomo ; Mr. J. Smith, Shellesley ; Mr. T. P. Wight, Tedstone Park. Only a few of these were resident in the county of Hereford ; and of coui-se there are others who ought to have been included in the list — notably, the Rev. Mr. Smythies, Mr. Welles, and others. Lord Talbot, as we have seen, was a liberal purchaser at the Tomkins and Price sales. There has been considerable uncertainty as to the reason why he gave up his herd. Mr. George Smythies, Blarlow Lodge (son of the Rev. J. R. Smythies, Lynch Court), informs us that he was once at Ingestre about 47 years since, and naturally has not a very clear idea now of what he saw there, but he remembers he thought the land did not suit the Herefords. We are able to give in Lord Talbot's own words the explanation of the dispersion of the Ingestre herd, which quite confirms Mr. Smythies' impression. In a letter to I\Ir. George Tomkins, Eccles Green, Norton Pyon, dated March 4th, 1847, Lord Talbot fully states his reason for disposing of his herd, and as the communication has other interest, as showing the friendship existing between these two breeders, we print an extract from it. " Dear George," wrote Lord Talbot, "events of a very painful nature have occurred which have prevented our meeting, as we formerly did, in friendship and good fellowship. The remembrance of past times of this nature cannot but be most gratifying to me, and I feel not EAliLY IMPUOVEMENT. 83 otherwise to you What you will not, perhaps, expect, I have to inform you that I have resolved to give up being a breeder of Herefordshire cattle ; not, be assured, from any want of partiality to the breed, but simply that I find my land, having been now more or less attended to, and con- stantly depastured, is become too rich for a breeding stock. Accidents have been so frequent with slipping calf — with the apoplexy which over-condition is sure to produce, and other causes of disappointment, that, however painful the struggle, I have faced it, and have advertised my breeding stock for unreserved sale. The die being cast, what is to be done in future ? I wish to feed Hereford oxen largely, which inten- tion is, perhaps, fortified by the facility I have of sending up to Smithfield. The want of market, which formerly pre- vented my feeding these excellent cattle to the extent I wished, is now removed, and therefore I return with eager- ness to the project of feeding instead of breeding Herefords." Lord Talbot proceeded to ask Mr. Tomkins' co-operation in obtaining suitable cattle for feeding, and concluded by inviting him to his sale, which took place on October 24th, 1838. In addition to animals bred by Benjamin Tomkins and Mr. Price, or descended from their herds, the sale included specimens from the herds of the Misses Tomkins, and Mr. George Tomkins. We have not a list of the prices, which, however, were not extraordinary ; but the influence of the Ingestre stock still exists. Lord Talbot seems to have again collected a few pedigree Herefords, as we find him purchasing at Mr. Price's sale in 1841. Sir F. Lawley, as we have seen, also secured many of the Tomkins and Price cattle, and Mr. Duckham tells us he has heard fi-om old breeders that he had a very grand herd of heavy-fleshed mottle faces. He had a sale in 1839, of which Mr. George Smythies gives us the catalogue. Mr. Smythies attended the sale, when several of the lots were purchased by his father, and described as having been very good animals. Mr. Smvthies also supplies us with a priced catalogue of the sale of Sir ¥. Lawley's herd, which took place after his death. The prices were very low, the best being only 28 guineas. u 2 84 HEREFORD CATTLE. Lord Plymouth, Earl St. Germains, and others, had at one time very good herds of this variety, but they have long since been dispersed, and few traces of them now remain. In his Cirencester lecture, Mr. Duckham mentions that in 1863 Mr. Smith, Shellesley, sent some well-fleshed animals of the mottle- faced sort to the Worcester Show, but they were not successful. The last, he says, he remembers to have seen a winner was the heifer Superb, exhibited by the Earl of Radnor at Salisbury, and then purchased for the Royal herd, where she was put to the red with white face bull Brecon 918, and produced the heavily-fleshed bull Maximus 1650, winner of the first prize at the Warwick and Battersea Meetings of the Royal Agri- cultural Society of England. The marks on his face showed the transition from the mottle face and red with white face ; being larger than those of the mottle face, and fewer in num- ber. Mr. Smith used many of Mr. Price's best bulls. In 1856 he received a letter, stating that H.R.H. Prince Albert had been graciously pleased to patronise the Hereford breed, and an appointment was asked by the representative of H.R.H. in order that Mr. Smith's celebrated herd might be inspected. Mr. Duckham also mentions Sir F. Goodricke, Captain Rayer, Captain Peploe, Mr. Drake, and Mr. Jellicoe as having been breeders of this variety. EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 85 CHAPTER IV. EARLY IMPROVEMENT (continued). William and John Hewer. — A biographical account o£ the family. — Materials on which William Hewer founded his herd. — He expresses his indebtedness to Tully and Tomkins stock. — An old quarrel. — William Hewer's Silver 540. — Sovereign 404. — Dimensions of some of William Hewer's cattle. — John Hewer's removal to Purslow, Shropshire. — Character of Hewer stock about 1820. — Letting of bulls. — Thirty-five animals on hire at one time. — The white faces. — Influence of Hewer strains. — The tick faces. — John Hewer's management of his cattle. — His sales. — The Jeffries family. — Purchasers at Wigmore Grange in 1797, and vrinners of prizes in 1803. — The Jeffries' family pedigree. — Edmund Cheese Jeffries of The Grove. — Thomas Jeffries, the breeder of Cotmore 376. — Use of Hewer bulls. — Sale at The Sheriffs. — Presentation to Mr. Thomas Jefiries. WILLIAM AND JOHN HEWER. The student of the Herd Book will find that nearly every valuable strain of Herefords at the present day is full of Hewer blood. The influence of the Hewer cattle has indeed been remarkable. It is not merely that a few families that have become exceedingly valuable are of this line of descent, but that the modem character of the entire breed has to a large extent been determined by this variety, not alone as regards colour markings, on which the Hewer impress has been very powerful, but on the more essential matters of shape and quality. This being the case, it is needless to say that a most impor- tant section of Hereford history is that relating to tlie pro- ceedings of the Hewers. Here, again, however, reliable information is not over-plentiful. It may be explained that the original idea of the founder of the Herd Book was to confine it to a record of the Tomkins-Price stock ; but this manifestly would not have been a Herd Book of Hereford cattle, and the plan was so changed that aU the varieties 86 HEREFOED CATTLE. should be admitted. A Hereford Herd Book without the records of the Hewer cattle would certainly have been a curious production, comparable only to the performance of the play of " Hamlet " with the leading character omitted. This was evidently appreciated by Mr. Eyton, and so in volume i. 96 bulls bred by William and John Hewer were entered ; but Mr. Eyton was either unable to collect much information about the Hewer family and their herds, or he did not greatly trouble himseK about the subject. All that he has to say regarding them is that Mr. John Hewer in- formed him " that the breed he now possesses hag been in his family for many years. A great number of the principal breeders have had bulls from him. He at present possesses more bulls, most of which are let, than any other breeder in the county." Then if the pedigrees are closely examined, it wUl be found that so far as they are registered the Hewer cattle trac3 back to a bull called Silv-er 540, as to whom the only facts vouchsafed are that he was white- faced, was calved in 1797, and was bred by Mr. William Hewer of Hardwick. Obviously there was not within the covers of the Herd Book an adequate account of the Hewers and their cattle, nor had former writers on Herefords added any trustworthy information to these scanty details. An effort was there- fore made to find whether all the records had perished, and if it were really impossible to get some light thrown on this branch of the history of the breed. Although Mr. John L. Hewer, Aston Ingham, Ross, has most cordially seconded our efforts, we regret that owing to papers having been mislaid, and to the habit of the old breeders to look upon the sources and management of their herds as trade secrets which must on no account be disclosed, we have not succeeded quite so well as could have been wished. StUl, it is possible to remove much of the uncertainty and misapprehension in which the subject has been enveloped. The account of the Hewer family that follows is chiefly taken from communica- tions furnished by Mr. John L. Hewer. WUliam Hewer, the father of John Hewer, was a native of Gloucestershire, being one of the Hewers of Northleach, EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 87 and was descended from William Hewer, so frequently men- tioned in Pepys' Diary. He was born in 1757 and married a Monmouthshire lady — Miss Hughes of Court Morgan, near Abergaveimy. In order to be near his wife's family, he went to live at the Great Hardwiok, near Abergavenny, Mon- mouthshire. The date of his removal to Monmouthshire is uncertain, but it seems to have been about 1787. He occupied the Hardwick and Dobson's farms for 28 years, and then took a farm at Llanellen, about a mile from the Hardwick. About the year 1825 there was a kind of piinic amongst the banks, and one in which he had a large sum of money invested failed. William Hewer was so overcome by the disaster, that, with his eldest son William, he left the country for America, but he lived only about six months after he arrived, being quite bioken Iicartod. Ho died in New York in November, 1825, and was interred at the cemetery of St. Mark's Churchyard, Bowery, New York, on December 2nd, being at the time of his decease (W years of age. John Hewer was born on March 12th, 1787, and died on September 28th, 1873. His son, Mr. John L. Hewer, never heard him say positively whether he was born at Kilkenny farm, near Northleach, where his father resided before going to Monmouthshire, or at the Great Hardivick, Abergavenny. John Hewer, senior, assisted his father at the Hardwick, and it was then he formed the idea of having the Herefords of uniform colour and markings. During that time he had a few cattle of his own, and had the benefit of his father's experience. The statement that John Hewer went to his relatives in Gloucestershire in 1805, and remained with them for several years, is, we are assured, incorrect. He never left home, except on a visit, till about the year 1817, when he went to Purslow Hall, in Shropshire. Here he continued for several years. On his departure for America, William Hewer left his wife and the younger portion of his family in England. They took a farm called The Grove, in Monmouthshire, and John Hewer managed it for his mother, and did very weU until some mis- understanding took place between him and other members 88 HEREFORD CATTLE. of the family ; after which he went into Herefordshire, living first at Hni House, Aston Ingham. He subsequently pro- ceeded to Moor House, about a mile from Hereford, and from that place to Brandon Cottage, where he had some land. In 1835 he occupied Hampton Lodge, near Hereford, and Litley Farm. He gave up the latter holding in 1839, the date of his first great sale. He was at Hamptim Lodge until 1846 ; then at Lower Wilcroft, where he continued for two years. He was for two years at Palmer's Court, Holmer, whence in 1850 he went to Vern House, Marden, where he settled down, having purchased it in 1855. He resided at Vern House until 1873, when he sold it to Mr. H. Burr of Aldermarston, and took Paradise ViUa, Marden, where he died in. the same year and was buried in Hohner Church- yard. These are the salient biographical facts aa to the two Hewers. We were naturally very anxious to ascertain, if possible, where William Hewer originally procured his Here- ford cattle, he being a native of Gloucestershire, living in Monmonthshire, and never having resided in the county of Hereford. Mr. John L. Hewer says he cannot tell us where his grandfather obtained his stock, but he always understood from his father that his great-grandfather had a herd of Here- fords, and that William inherited them. Certain it is, says Mr. J. L. Hewer, he was a successful exhibitor at the Bath and West of England Shows before the close of the last century. Mr. Thomas F. Plowman, secretary of the Bath and West of England Society, has kindly searched the old records of that Society, and informs us that it was not until 1794 that cattle were exhibited at its shows as stock, not as beasts of draught or burden, and no mention occurs of a Hereford until 1799, when £5 5s. was awarded to Mr. W. Smith for the best Hereford heifer. Mr. Plowman adds that he finds no further allusion to the breed until 1810, when £10 10s. was awarded to Mr. Kemp for a fat cow of the Hereford breed. Any of the Hewer Herefords exhibited at the earlier meetings of the Bath and West of England Society must therefore have been draught oxen. In another letter, Mr. J. L. Hewer says, in reference to the character of his EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 89 father's and grandfather's cattle, that he believes they were principally red with white faces, and from what he has heard his father say, they must have been in possession of the family for some generations, as several of their relatives in Gloucestershire had the red with white faces before the present century came in. He has also heard Mr. John Hewer say that his father traced his best cattle back to the bull called Silver 5-10 (calved in 1797), which impressed them with the red with white face character, and also with that massive heavy flesh and full eye which distinguished all his late father's stock. It is, of course, not improbable that the Hewer family Lu Gloucestershire had, during the last century, obtained from the best breeders in the county of Hereford some good specimens of the breed, of the old red with white face variety. Marshall has told us that the Gloucestershire graziers got their oxen from Herefordshire, and it is not likely that the transfer of cattle from the latter county would be confined to oxen. The Gloucestershire farmers would also, doubtless, have secured a few of the cows that produced such excellent bullocks, and it may be assumed the Hewers were among those who did so. Besides, it is evident that the Herefords had penetrated, by the time of William Hewer's settlement there, into the county of Monmouth. There is nothing very definite in these theories as to the origin of the Hewer herds, and hope of being able to discover a more precise explanation had almost been abandoned, when aid was received from an. unexpected quarter. Going through the notes on herds contained in the appendix to the first volume of the Herd Book, we came across a statement in the notice of the stock of Mr. Yarworth, New House, Brinsop, to the efEect that " in 1814 he sold to Mr. Hewer a bull calf by Trojan 192 " ; while at his sale at New House in 1820, the one-year-old bull Alpha, by Trojan, dam Red Rose, was pur- chased by Mr. Hewer, Northleach. The bull calf sold in 1814 went to Mr. W. Hewer, Great Hardwick, but that transaction having occurred a good many years after he had removed to Monmouthshire, the fact did not help to an explanation as to the original foundation of William Hewer's herd. But connected 90 HEREFORP CATTLE. with this sale of a bull in 1814 is an incident that brought some welcome guidance. In the year 1821 there was a furious newspaper contro- versy between Mr. William Hewer and Mr. Yarworth. It is a matter of regret to have to refer to this unfortunate afFair, but it is desirable to explain the origin of the misunder- standing. It appears that Mr. Yarworth, before going to Brinsop, occupied the farm of Troy, near Monmouth. On leaving this farm in 1814 he had a sale, described as of " valuable Herefordshire cattle." William Hewer attended the sale, and purchased stock to the value of £14.'). In 1H21, Hewer and Yarworth, probably as the result of show-yard rivalries, quarrelled, and Yarworth then wrote to the " Gloucester Journal " (February 4th, 1822) a letter addressed to " Mr. W. Hewer, Llanellen, near Abergavenny," in which he referred to the cause of the misunderstanding between them, and, as was the custom in those days, challenged him for 100 guineas to show 2(J, 15, or 10 of his heifers above three years old, of his own breeding, and then in his possession, against the same number the property of Mr. White, Upleadon, which were descended from Yarworth's bull Trojan. Yarworth then proceeded to write to William Hewer as follows: — " I beg to inform you for the first time how the yearling bull, bull calf, &c., which you purchased at my sale at Troy in the year 1814 were bred, and fi-om which bulls your stock since that time is descended. The bull calf was got by Trojan ; his dam (which you bought) was got by the late Mr. WiUiam Smith's old bull ; his granddam by a bull bought of ^Mr. Tully of the Haywood ; his great-granddam by a bull bought of Mr. Ilowells of Hadnock, near Monmouth ; his great-great-granddam by a cross-bred bull of little value, out of an old brindled Gloucestershire dairy cow, which was purchased by my father (being an excellent milker) of my predecessor, Mr. Dew of Troy Farm, in the year 1797, for £8. The yearling bull was got by Trojan out of the granddam of the bull calf." Mr. Yarworth expressed sur- prise that Mr. Hewer had not asked for information as to the breeding of the stock at the time of the sale, and said " although they were only culls I then sold, I assure you EARLT IMPROVEMENT. 91 there were only four of them, but were well-bred ; three out of the four you made choice of — namely, the yearling bull, and the cow and her bull calf." Mr. Yarworth advised Mr. Hewer to part with his stock descended from the old brindled cow. He added: — "When Mr. Bluck asked how your bull was bred, you answered that he was got by your old bull, which you bought of old Tomkins, and that you had let him that season to two gentlemen in Breconshire for one hundred guineas, but I am soriy you forgot it was the bull you bought at my sale in 1814, then a calf. The two heifers you showed at Tredegar your son said were out of the two old cows you bought of old Tomkins. Now in a letter I received from Miss Tomkins of the Pyon, dated the 12th inst., she assures me you never bought any stock of her and her sisters, or, to her knowledge, of her father." In reply to this attack on the character of his stock, William Hewer wrote a long letter, in the course of which he said " Mr. Yar worth's bills of sale were headed thus : — ' Particulars of the valuable Herefordshire cattle, the property of Mr. James Yarworth of Troy Farm, near Monmouth.' Mr. Yarworth, in reference to my purchasing a bull calf at such sale, observes that it was a most strange and unaccount- able thing I did not enquire about the breed, and whether I did so or not, I cannot charge my memory at this distance of time, but it is a matter of no importance to me, as I had a stock far superior to any Mr. Yarworth possessed, and I had added to them five cows and heifers by a purchase I had made of Messrs. TuUy of Huntington, previous to Mr. Yarworth's sale at Troy. And as to my old bull being the calf I pur- chased at Troy sale, it is sufficient, in contradiction, to state one fact, viz., my old bull was calved at least a year before Mr. Yarworth's came into existence . I deny having stated to Mr. Bluck that I ever purchased any stock of Mr. Tomkins, though I can prove I have descendants from some of his prime cattle. . . . His (Mr. Yarworth's) advice to get rid of my stock descended from his brindled cow comes too late by many years, as I have none of them left." Mr. Hewer further expressed the opinion that Mr. Yarworth's stock sold at Troy were, as he himself had publicly described them, pure- 92 HEREFORD CATTLE. bred Herefords, and that the story as to the brindled cow was an invention. So that out of this very unfortunate squabble two most important facts are gleaned — that William Hewer had at a very early period in his career obtained five cows and heifers from TuUy of Huntington, and that he had in his herd descendants from some of " Tomkins' prime cattle." This, of course, is not a full explanation of the foundation of the Hewer stock, but it shows some of its principal ingredients, and clearly proves its descent in part, at least, from the herds of Tomkins and Tully, of which we have said so much. It is thus apparent, as had always been supposed, although until the discovery of these documents we had no means of verifying the impression, that the Hewer cattle were not a new or mysterious element imported into the breed, but mainly the result of a most skilful compounding of the old strains. In the Herd Book there are six bulls entered as having been bred by Mr. William Hewer, as follows: — Silver 540, of whom all the information given is, as we have said, that he was red with white face, and calved in 1797 ; Old Wellington 507, also red with white face, calved in 1801, by Silver 540, dam Primrose, bred by Wilham Hewer; Young Wellington 505, red with white face, calved in 1812, by Old Wellington 507, dam Silky by Waxy 403, gi-anddam Silk by SUver 540; Old Favourite 442, calved in 1819, by Young Wellington 505, dam Cherry by Wellington 507, granddam Old Cherry by Waxy 403; Waxy 403, calved in 1811, by Wellington 507, dam Strawberry; Alpha the Second 457, calved in 1814, by Young Wellington 505, dam Silk by Young Wellington 505, granddam SUky by Waxy 403, great-granddam Silk by Silver 540. No doubt some of these pedigrees which we have copied from the Herd Book are erroneous, and mistakes have also crept into the entries of several of Mr. John Hewer's cattle, arising partly from the evident desire of father and son to acknowledge no connection between their herds and other stocks. Both William and John Hewer were fond of giving animals the same name and not distinguishing them by rf w a. O o- < .2^ m '^ z S o 5 -^ EARLY IirPROVEMENT. 93 numbers, but merely stating that they were old and young — an exceedingly confusing system of nomenclature. Mistakes of identity therefore occurred, particularly in the pre-Herd Book days, when records were not carefully kept. There is little doubt, however, that both father and son , carried out a system of close breeding. In several of Mr. John Hewer's catalogues the following note is made : — "It may not be unworthy of remark that the celebrated and justly- admired bull Old Sovereign 404, the sire of Cotmore, the winner of the first premium for Herefords at the meeting of the English Eoyal Agricultural Society held at Oxford, July 17th, 1839, as well as the sire of Wormelow, the property of Sir H. Hoskyns, Bart., Harewood, and many others of equal merit, was bred by Mr. Hewer. His sire Favourite, grandsire Wellington, great-gi-andsire Old Wellington ; dam Countess by Wellington, granddam Cherry by Waxy, great-granddam Old Cherry. Much has been said and written by many of the most eminent breeders in the kingdom against the practice of ' breeding in-and-in,' as they term it ; but by referring to the above pedigree it wiU be seun that Old Sovereign was the offspring of an own brother and sister, and acknowledged by the first judges to be the best bull ever bred in the county of Hereford, and the sire and grandsire of more prize cattle at Smithfield and elsewhere than any bull in the kingdom. Old Sovereign was used by the following distinguished breeders, and died in his 15th year, viz., Robert Tench, Brom- field, Salop, three years ; Lord Sherborne, Gloucestershire ; Earl Ducie, ditto ; Thomas Wells, Hamnet, ditto ; Richard Kilmister, The Grove, ditto ; Messrs. Hewer, Northleach, ditto ; Sir H. Hoskyns, Bart., Harewood ; Thomas JofEries, The Grove ; Thomas Jeffries, jun., Cotmore ; Edmund Jeffries, The Grove ; Richard Yeomans, Howton ; John Turner, Noke ; Messrs. Rogers, Stemsbach ; and by the breeder." The pedigree is not quite clear. The other bulls bred by the Hewers were also let out in many of the leading herds, and their influence was thus widespread. Particulars we have obtained as to weights and measurements of some of William Hewer's cattle will be 94 HEREFORD CATTLE. interesting. " Weight of the bull Wellington, 1 ton 6 cwt. (29121bs.) in the year 1815. The weight of the cow Silk, 1 ton in the year 1820. Dimensions of the fat steer — length, from the nose to the setting on of the tail, 11 feet 1 inch ; girth, 8 feet 10 inches : across the hips, 3 feet 1 inch ; weight, 1 ton 6 cwt. (29121bs.). Hamlet, three years old and six months ; length, from nose to tail, 10 feet 10 inches ; girth, 10 feet 6 inches ; across the hips, 'd feet 2 inches ; weight, 1 ton 5 cwt. (28001bs.)." The document from which these details are taken is dated April, 1822. Another paper gives the dimensions of the bull Wellington as follows: — "Length, from the setting on of the tail to the end of the nose, 11 feet 4 inches ; girth, 11 feet 3 inches ; across the hips, 3 feet 2 inches ; length, from the tail to the hip- bone, 3 feet 2 inches." 'I'he dimensions of the bull Alpha are thus given: — "Length, from the setting on of the tail to the end of the nose, 10 feet 11 inches ; length, from the tail to the hip-bone, 2 feet 9 inches ; across the hips, 2 feet 9 inches ; girth, 9 feet 8 inches." William Hewer conducted his operations as a breeder under serious difficulties, arising from the nature of the land he farmed. He himself says, "notwithstanding the dis- advantages incidental to half mountain land and a sharp, gravelly soil, yielding almost sapless herbage, which I have encountered, I have frequently successfully opposed at various shows some of the first Herefordshire breeders." John Hewer had, as we have seen, assisted his father at the Hardwick. He had then a few cattle of his own, and had the benefit of his father's advice in their management. It has already been mentioned that early in the present century, John Hewer went to Purslow in Shropshire. The gentleman who owned the Purslow estate, Mr. Browning, bought a number of cattle from William Hewer. Ho also obtained his consent to John Hewer going to manage the estate and cattle. There is some imcertainty as to the date when John Hewer removed to Purslow, Mr. John L. Hewer mentioning 1817, while others say it was a few years later. Mr. George Smythies says : — "I learn that the whole herd of Mr. Hewer, The Hardwick, near Abergavenny, was bought by Mr. EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 95 Browning, who had purchased the farm of Purslow, near Craven Arms, Shropshire, and were taken there by Mr. John Hewer, who remained as manager of the cattle till the end of the year 1822, or the early part of 1823. Among the hulls taken to Purslow were the famous Welliag- ton, Favourite, and Old Sovereign. This last bull was purchased by Jlr. Tench of Bromfield, Shropshire, and was given by him to his son-in-law, Mr. Edmund Jeffries, and was the founder of his good herd. In 1824, Mr. Browning was obliged to sell liis stock and let the farm, the tenant taking the cittle. They were subsequently sold, and Mr. John Hewer bought some of them." The more probable date of John Hewer's removal to Shropshire is, we think, 1817, a view which is confirmed by the fact that Old Sovereign was calved at Purslow in 1820. The change to Shropshire, it will thus be observed, did not cause an interruption of his connection with his father's cattle. It was John Hewer who was responsible for the direction of Mr. Browning's herd, and it is not surprising to learn that it became the talk of the country, people going for mUes to see it. Mr. Lloyd Roberts, Corfton Manor, was introduced to Mr. Ilewer at this time, and he says he never saw a grander lot of cattle in his life than those he brought to Purslow. It was also when he was at Purslow that the late Mr. Bowen, Corfton, became acquainted with Mr. Hewer, and he used bulls of his blood for about 40 years. When ]Mr. Hewer returned to Monmouth, it would appear that he took with him a number of the Herefords of his father's strains that had sojourned for a time in Shropshire. It is a very important fact that John Hewer never lost his control over the stock, in the breeding of which he had been closely associated with his father. In the words of Mr. John L. Hewer: — " It was left to my late father (John Hewer) to finish what his ancestors had begun — to produce a race of cattle which were beautiful to look at and good rent-paying animals of great scale and splendid quality, and he bred and let more bulls than any other man. There is nut a single herd of Herefords iu existence but what traces back to his 9G HEREFORD CATTLE. stock. He was a great stickler for scale with quality, and some of the older bulls were immense animals, often weighing from 25 cwt. to over 30 cwt. The General 1251 was 32^ cwt. (3640 lbs.) when six years old. He was let for four seasons running for the sum of £84 per season. Governor 464, the sire of General, was let for £100 per season, and I have heard my father say he let Favourite for £200 per season, and Defiance 416 for £200. I have known him have 35 bulls let out at one time about the country, and he used to let bulls to go into Scotland. He occasionally sold bulls at long prices to go abroad as far back as 1835, and one Hampton 513 was sold for £500. He also sent a lot of cattle to Australia in the year 1840, and he saw afterwards, in an Australian paper shown him by a friend, that one of his bulls was sold out there for 1000 guineas. My father had what he called his four favourite strains — Countess, Lofty, lied Rose, and Fanny — and those are the ones from which his cattle are principally descended. Red Rose, by Chance from Rosebud, was his favourite cow. He kept her till she was 23 years of age, and I believe she bred him 20 calves. She had twins when 17 years old — a bull and heifer — by Governor 464. The bull Grateful 1260 was sold to the late Mr. W. Stedman, Bedstone Hall. There were several cases of longevity araong.st his bulls, es|jecially Bjrrington 435, who was a stock-getter at 21 years old; Sovereign at 15 years old ; and a more recent case. Above All 2910, which was only fed in the winter of 1883 by Mr. Jones, Preston Boats, Salop, at 17 years old." It would be impossible to give here the names of all the famous animals bred by Mr. John Hewer during his career as a breeder, which practically extended from about 1803 to 1873, a period of nearly 70 years. Mr. Eyton mentions in volume i. of the Herd Book that he was informed by Mr. Hewer that Pretty Maid, Primrose, Beauty, and Damsel were the four cows from which his herd was originally descended. Most of the following bulls bred by him were extensively used in the county, and have left their impress on the breed: — Sovereign 404, Lottery 410, Byron 440, Hope 411, Chance 355, Defiance 416, Prince Dangerous 362, Lot EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 97 364, Lottery 2nd 408, Young Favourite 413, Wonder 420, Fitzfavourite 441, Hamlet 512, Original 1st 455, Young Waxy 451, Purslow 446, and Conqueror 412. But the list could be largely extended, and the difficulty is to find n single animal of note in the present day that does not inherit Hewer blood. The sum received for the letting of Sovei-eign 404 was £640 18s., for Lottery 410 £710, for Lottery 2nd 408 £645 lis., and for Defiance 416 £525. The produce of Countess the Second was valued at £455 14s., and the pro- duce of the cow Lofty made £1289. As Olustrative of the weight of some of Mr. Hewer's cattle, it miy be noted that the live weight of the cow Rosy was 1 ton 1 cwt. 3 qrs. Mr. Hewer gained the first prize at the E.A.S.B. Show at Oxford in 1839, for the best heifer (Lady Oxford), and also the following year at Cambridge with Duchess of Cambridge. The wide.'^pread influence on the breed arose very much from Mr. Hewer's habit of letting out his bulls, as many as 35 having been, as Mr. J. L. Hewer has told us, let out at one time. In few herds was the Hewer influence more potent than in those of Mr. Thomas Jeffries of The Grove, who used Lottery, Sovereign, and Byron; Mr. Yeomans of Howton ; Mr. Yeomans of Moreton ; Mr. Bowen of Corfton ; Mr. Jones of Breinton ; Mr. Turner, Noke ; and Sir Hungerford Hoskyns. But in this respect again it is impracticable to make a full list without giving the names of neai-ly all the well-known breeders. In Mr. Jeffries' hands, however, as will be shown, the Hewer blood was most successful. The celebrated Cotmore 376, calved in 1836, bred by Mr. Jeffries, and winner of the first prize at the show of the Royal Agricul- tural Society at Oxford in 1839, was got by Mr. Hewer's Sovereign 404, and his dam was by Lottery 410. Then Chance 348, the sire of the wonderful bull Sir David 349, was from Victoria by Lottery 410, the granddam being Countess by Old Sovereign. Sir David's dam was also by Chance. Instead of going into elaborate details now as to the influence of the Hewer cattle, it wiU be more convenient to allow the facts to come out when we refer specially to the various herds. 98 UEHEFORD CATTLE. It has been somewhat positively stated that the whole of Mr. John Hewer's cattle, as well as those of his father, were white-faced. On this point Mr. John L. Hewer writes us: — " My grandfather's herd were not all pure white faces. He had some ticked- faced ones; also, I believe, a few a little mottled, and my father had one strain, which he prized very highly, of the ticked faces — the Lofty strain from which des- cended Governor 464, one of the best sires of his day; he was ticked very much. Mr. Bowen (who bred mostly from Hewer stock) had several ticked-faced ones in his herd des- cended from Governor, of which he thought a great deal. They are heavily fleshed, of nice quality, and with great aptitude to fatten; and, as I told you before, my father went in for great scale, with symmetry, weight, and quality. There were one or two tick faces at his last sale, but they early wore out from continually crossing with the white faces, although now and then one would crop up. It peems strange to you, no doubt, how my father managed to breed from his own stock for such a length of time, and so successfully to keep up the size and character of his herd. But that was his secret. lie used to s;ij he had five different .strains, which by judicious crossing kept up their stamina. Lofty, I may add, was also the dam of Wonder 420, used by the late Lord Berwick in his herd, also of a steer, winner of a first prize at the Rutland Show at Oakham in 1837, and first at Smithfield. Her produce realised £1289. I remember her very well; she was a favourite with me when a boy." The late Mr. Bowen, Corf ton, -vvrote: — " My first remembrance of the tick-faces in Mr. Hewer's herd was in 1838. I have heard him say there was a particular strain that had these face markings, namely, Old Lofty and the Lady Byron families. In Governor 464 the ticks were more blended than in any others. My old Lady Wiseman cow, by Cardinal Wiseman, dam a Governor cow, was also tick -faced; but out of 15 calves produced by her, there was only one ticked-faced. That was her last, named Leah, now in my possession. She is strongly marked with the ticks, but she has produced me four calves, all with white faces, so that I think with a continual crossing with white faces the ticks will disappear." Mr. Forester, Sherlowe, remarks — " Mr, Hewer's EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 99 stock were all what is commonly called red with white face. But this description is subject to a variety of which Mr. Hewer was rather fond, namely, a ticked-faoe — not what is usually termed a mottle face, that is one with spots such as could be counted, but minute ticks of a blueish tint. The bulls Wonder 420 and Governor 464 had it, and their dam Lofty by Original 455, in a marked degree ; also Above All 3909, and in a less degree his sire Abdel Kader 1837." But after all, the outstanding feature of Mr. Hewer's stock, as regards colour, was their white faces. This uniformity was doubtless produced by careful selection in breeding. We may assume that the animals originally obtained by William Hewer possessed the white face and other markings now so distinctly characteristic of the breed, and that in his case and that of his son, stock that reverted back to the other shades were not^-except in the strain of tick faces, to which we have referred — retained for breeding purposes. Size and quality also received great attention, and the impressive power of the Hewer sires in all these particulars was remarkable. The influence of the Hewer strains is very clearly brought out in an analysis of the pedigree of the prize cow Queen of Hearts, which was drawn up by the Earl of Southesk. It is seen from it how many of the best strains trace back to the bull Silver 540, which Mr. Duck- ham, in the revised edition of volume i. of the Herd Book, truly remarks, " appears to have laid the foundation of William Hewer's eminence as a breeder." Mr. John Hewer did not pamper his cattle. He kept them on plain fare, and aimed at developing robust constitu- tions. It is believed, indeed, that his system of management was of a somewhat rough description. At any rate, there were never any complaints as to his animals being dehcate. Mr. John L. Hewer tells us that his father's system of management differed very little from that of other farmers in the district. He tried to have most of his calves in the early summer. They ran with their dams in the pastures until they were weaned, and were then brought into the house and received a little cake, crushed oats, bran, and chaff, with a H 2 100 HEREFORD CATTLE. few roots. The cows were wintered in the yards on straw— frequently tacked out on straw. The only difference he made was with his young bulls. As yearlings he never liked to pamper them, but kept them in good growing con- dition, as he said they always lasted longer than animals that were pampered when young. He had some rough sheds put up in the orchards with thatch for covering. The bulls ran out in the orchards, and had those sheds for shelter from sun and rain. They had also an allowance of cotton cake and crushed oats daily. The only fault he had was that he was often over-stocked, and one or two of his bulls were some- times very poor in condition. " But that could not be altered," remarks our correspondent, " as we frequently had as many as 25 to 30 bulls let out all over the country. The consequence was that some of them came home in a shocking plight, and it took some time to get them into condition again, although I must give most of our customers credit for sending them home in good condition — indeed, some of them took a pride in sending them home in better condition than they received them." Consequent on his frequent removals and owing to other circumstances, Mr. Hewer had many sales of stock. The first of these was in 1839, at Hampton Lodge, when an average of about £58 was obtaiaed. The highest price was £346 10«. for the four-year-old cow Lady Byron, got by Chance, dam Fatrumps. The purchaser was Mr. Williams, Bristol. The cow Red Rose, by Chance, dam Rosebud, was sold to Mr. Williams, Bristol, for £105. Mr. Williams also bought the bulls Baron 418, by Byron 440, for £120 ; Dangerous 419, by Defiance 416, for £252 ; and Lot 364, by Defiance, for £267 15s. Mr. Lurasden, Auchry, Aberdeenshire, purchased the buU Matchless 415 for £105, while the bull Wonder 420 made the same price. Another sale was held at Hampton Lodge in October, 1843, when the cow Lady, sire Chance 348, dam Lady Byron, was sold for 100 guineas; and the bull Dangerous 419, by Defiance 416, made 105 guineas. A sale was held at Lower WUcroft in October, 1846, and sales also took place at Vern House in 1855, 1861, and 1866, EAKLY IMPROVEMENT. 101 THE JEFFRIES FAMILY. It is appropriate that a notice of the Jeffries family should follow that of the Hewers, but it is necessary to explain that before the cattle bred by the Hewers had attained the great reputation which they ultimately possessed, members of the Jeffries family had taken a prominent position as breeders of Herefords. " The name of Jeffries," says Mr. Welles, " has been eminent among Hereford breeders for many years. Those of the latest date were Edmund and Thomas, both having been taken ofE at rather premature ages, deriving their stock of cattle chiefly from those of their father and uncle. For many of the last years of his life Mr. Thomas Jeffries had restricted himself to the white-faced breed solely — those of his brother Edmund having been more of the mottled breed." Mr. Welles, of course, knew that a celebrated strain of cattle had been in the possession of the JefEries family for a long period, and he did not, as some have done, fall into the mistake of imagining that their success began with the victory of Cotmore 376 at the first show of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England at Oxford in 1839. From the early records of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society, it is found that in 1803, at the October show, the second prize for a three-year-old heifer was awarded to Mr. Jeffries, Lyonshall. In 1805, Mr. Jeffries, Pembridge, was first for aged bulls, and in the same year Mr. JefEries, The Grove, was first for two-year -old heifers. At most of the succeeding early shows the names of Messrs. Jeffries, The Grove and The Sheriffs, are to be found in the prize lists ; their success, indeed, being beyond comparison the greatest of any group of breeders. Mr. Haywood, it will be seen, informs us that the Jeffries obtained their first Herefords from the Haywoods of Chfton- on-Teme. This opinion is confirmed by the fact that the Jeffi'ies originally came from that part of the country. But it is not necessary to trace the family history any further back than to Mr. Edward Jeffries of The Sheriffs, Lyons- hall, who is known to have been a breeder of Herefords, and who was probably the winner of the prize at Hereford in 1803. As a considerable amount of misconception has pre- 102 HEREFORD CATTLE. vailed as to the exact relationship of the various members of the Jeffries family who were breeders of Herefords, it may be useful to introduce a genealogical table, for the prepara^ tion of which we are indebted to Mrs. Davis, Dowks Rectory, Bewdley, daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Jeffries of The Grove, who, with her brother Mr. Henry Jeffries, Guildford, has most courteously lent ua assistance in procuring informa- tion regarding the connection of their family with the im- provement of the breed. There were thus, it will be observed, three generations of the Jeffries family who were famous breeders of Hereford cattle. Mr. Edward Jeffries of The Sheriffs, and Mr. Thomas Jeffries of The Grove, sons of Mr. Thomas Jeffries of The Grove (bom 1720, died 1807), were both purchasers at Mr. GalHers' sale at Wigmore Grange in 1795, and there cannot be the slightest doubt that their herds were at that time, and for many years subsequently, among the finest in the county. These were the days prior to the Herd Book, and no record other than the prize lists exist as to the breeding or doings of their herds. The three brothers, Edward, Thomas, and Edmund Cheese, sons of Mr. Thomas Jeffries of The Grove (bom 1759, died 1840), stiU further advanced the good work accom- plished by their father and uncle, continuing to breed from the old strains at The Grove and The Sheriffs. Mr. Edward Jeffries occupied The Sheriffs, where he died prior to 1841. Mr. Edmund Cheese Jeffries was at The Grove, and died in 1836. Mr. Thomas Jeffries was first at the Church House, Lyonshall, and then succeeded his two brothers at The Grove and The Sheriffs. The herds were brought to their highest point of perfection under the direction of Mr. Thomas Jeffries. The other two brothers, although Mr. E. C. Jeffries used Hewer bulls, among them the famous Sovereign, were not so decided in their operations as regards the promotion of uniformity of colour. Among the other bulls used by Mr. E. C. Jeffries were Fitzfavourite 441 and Noble 453, by Sovereign 404, both from Mr. Hewer's herd ; while of the more celebrated animals he bred were The Sheriff 356, by Sovereign 404, a prize buU at Gloucester and sold to Mr. Mason at The Grove ale in 1836 for £60 ; Portrait 372, by Lottery 410, sold in Sm ise. o [ < S P'crES '5 o H — |gS2.'g;:rgS o-o-nm p o » w 0g^ 3 O CD e CL Edmund Chee bom 23rd Mar 1797, ied 6th July, 1 g i £■-» 1- n B. g a 3% *w al~ S&ffi S.pg'a. 9 I Pis tloPg-J P C rt> m s-t to S Ht^ X 1-3 Q ►^ o O o w O W hH IS CO Iri EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 103 1836 to Mr. Rogers for £52 ; Grove 370, sold at the same sale for £80 ; and Conservative 270, sold for £70. Mr. Thomas Jeffries is acknowledged to have been one of the most successful and skUf ul breeders of Herefords. Begin- ning with the old JefEries blood, he seems to have perceived that the best course for him to pursue was to infuse a large proportion of Hewer blood. He had on hire Mr. John Hewer's grand bulls Sovereign 404, Lottery 410, Byron 440, and Fitzfavourite 441. The cattle thus bred were of the very highest merit, being of large size, good form, splendid quality, and generally uniform in colour markings. He did more than any other breeder to spread abroad the fame of the Hewer stock, and encouraged by his success many of the best breeders of the day imitated his example and crossed their stock with the Hewer buUs. Indeed, it is not too much to say that it is largely owing to Mr. Hewer, Mr. Yeomans, and Mr. Thomas JefEries that the uniform colour markings of the breed were established, but of this more anon. It is not necessary here to go into much detail regarding the many impressive sires that were distributed over the country from The Grove herd. In notices of other herds reference will be made to most of them. Cotmore 376, calved in 1836 (got by Hewer's Sovereign 404 when he was 15 years), dam by Lottery 410, is considered to have been one of the finest Hereford bulls ever seen. Besides gaining first prizes at Hereford as a two-year-old, three-year-old, and in the aged class, he was the first prize winner at the Oxford Show of the R.A.S.E. in 1839 ; his live weight was 35 cwt. (3920 lbs.) ; Byron 380, calved in 1842, by Confidence 367, dam by Hewer's Byron 440, was sold at The Grove sale in 1844 for £75 to Mr. Pitt, his dam going for £84 to Mr. Price ; Confidence 367, first at the Derby Show of the E. A.S.E., was sold for £100 at The Grove sale to Mr. Smith ; Faugh-a-Ballagh 368 ; Regulator 3^0, by Sovereign 404, dam by Lottery 410, the latter well known in connection with the Monaughty herd ; and Hope 439, by Byron 440, from the same dam as Cotmore 376, from which many of Mr. Carpenter's (Eardisland) winners were descended, may be mentioned a? intimately related to some of the best stock of the present day. 104 HEREFORD CATTLE. In October, 1841, Mr. Thomas Jeffries tad a large sale at Tlie Sheriffs, comprising the whole stock of his brother, Mr. Edward Jeffries, and a portion of his own herd. Of this sale Mr. Heni'y Jeffries, GuUdford, has supplied us with a priced catalogue. Among the more noteworthy transactions were the followiag: — Damsel by Sheriff, sold to Mr. Corbett for £56 ; Beauty by Young Chance, Mr. Franks, £63; Countess by Young Chance, Mr. Franks, £50 ; Sweeting by Old Sovereign, Mr. Yeomans, £51 ; two-year-old heifer by Picture, Mr. Yeo- mans, £55 ; bull calf by Cotmore, Mr. Williams, £43 ; buU calf by Young Cotmore, Mr. Rogers, £46 ; bull Charity by Byron, Mr. Blissett, £71. The sum realised for the lot, comprising 16 calves, was £2167 10s., the average being about £31. Another sale was held at The Grove in 1844, when Mr. Edwards purchased Moss Eose by Original for £70 ; Mr. Price, Lady Byron by Byron, dam by Lottery, for £84 ; Mr. Morris, Miss Grove, for £40 ; Mr. Forester, Miss Fitz- favourite, for £70, and a three-year-old heifer by Charity 375 for £50 ; Mr. Bum, Lady Derby, for £50. Mr. Smith gave £100 for the bull Confidence 367 ; Mr. Harris £60 for The Printer ; Mr. Pitt £75 for Byron ; Mr. Beddoes £85 for Conquest ; and Mr. Forester and Mr. Eyton £135 for the bull calf by Confidence 367, dam Lady Grove, afterwards known as Faugh-a-Ballagh 368. The average for 54 head sold (not reckoning several animals bought in at high prices — such as Cotmore for £100, Lady Grove for £80, and Miss Chance for £90) was about £41 14s. Mr. Thomas Jeffries' services were not overlooked by his contemporaries. A subscription list, prefaced by the follow- ing notice, appeared in the Hereford papers in 1839 : — " Many admirers, as weU as breeders, of Hereford cattle having viewed with feelings of pride the success of Mr. Jeffries of The Grove in obtaining at the first meeting of the English Agri- cultural Society, held at Oxford on Wednesday, the 17th day of July, 1839, a prize for exhibiting the best Hereford bull, desire to present him with a piece of plate, as an expression of the high estimation in which his services are held as a breeder of Herefords." A very handsome response was made, and Mr. Jeffries, at a dinner to which he was entertained at EARLY IMPROVEMENT. 106 Kington, presided over by Sir Robert Price, was presented with a magnificent service of plate. The service, along with a large number of cups, are in the possession of Mr. Henry Jeffries, Guildford, who treasures them, not only as evidence of the skill of his father and other members of the family in breeding Herefords, but also as testimony of the esteem in which Mr. T. Jeffries was held by a wide circle of friends. 106 HEREFORD CATTLE. CHAPTER V. A GEOUP OF EARLY IMPROVERS. Mr. Yeld's account of the early herds. — Prizes at the Herefordshire Society's Shows. — Mr. T. A. Knight's herd. — Yarworth of Brinsop. — Walker of Burton. — The Yeomans family. — Rev. J. R. Smythies, Lynch Court. — Williams of Thingehill. — Turner of Aymestry and Noke Court. — Salwey of Ashley Moor. — Other breeders. The most eminent of the early improvers who come in chronological order next to those already mentioned, may be appropriately introduced by continuing the account drawn up by the late Mr. T. C. Yeld of The Broome, from which a quotation was made in a preceding chapter. " No one," says Mr. Yeld, " ever bred better cattle than the late Mr. T. A. Knight. There was no one who knew the principles of breeding cattle better, and he took great pains to try various crosses ; the only success being with Scotch heifers. His White Bull [entered in the Herd Book as Snowball or Knight's White Bull 246] was used after Mr. Turley by Mr. Rea of The Rock, and, I beheve, by his son Mr. Rea of Monaughty, by his son-in-law Mr. Taylor of Eye, by Messrs. HiU and Trumper of Orleton, and after- wards by Mr. Yeld of The Broome. " There were very few stocks at this time fit to breed bulls from besides those named — Tomkins, Skyrme, TuUy, Knight, &c. There were also Mr. William Galliers of Frogdon ; Mr. Proctor, Blaokhall; Mr. Martin, Wistaston; Mr. Sheward, Little DUwyn ; Mr. Yaxworth, Brinsop, in what may be termed the Pyon district ; and in Pembridge district Mr. Parry, Birley ; Mr. Fairer, Luntley ; Mr. J. Jones, Char- brook; Mr. Jones, The Lowe, Pembridge; Mr. Powel, Marston; A GROUP OP EARLT IMPROVERS. 107 Mr. JefBries, The Sheriffs ; Mr. Jeffries, The Grove ; and Mr. Turner, Aymestry. On the Hereford side was, first, Mr. Weyman, Moreton; succeeded by Mr. Chute Hayton; Mr. Clarke, Lyde ; Mr. Walwyn; Sir John Cotterell ; Colonel Matthews, Belmont. I am speaking now of the first 20 years of the present century. All the above-named herds possessed form and quality. There was another class of Heref ords which appear to have been bred solely for working purposes, being large in size, with very heavy bone .... There was a third class of what were termed Welsh Here- fords, red and white faced, but that carried no flesh, and when grazed on the best land would never stretch .... " During the French revolutionary war, and up to 1821, the return to cash payments, everything sold high, and farmers could pay high rents ; but with the winter and spring of 1820-21 Peel's Monetary Bill came into full force. Down went the manufacturers, down went the bank, and down went the farmers. At this time scores were ruined by force of circumstances ; and those farmers who had not real property to fall back upon were bound to go to the wall. I have seen whole streets filled with cattle in the years 1821-22-23, and no one asked what they were brought for. I well remember the stock of Mr. John Jones of Charbrook, sold in 1822. They were as good as anything I ever saw ; the cows and heifers magnificent. Cows sold from £7 to £12 each; most beautiful two-year-old heifers from £6 to £8 each. There was as good a cart-team as it was possible to find ; the highest price was £11. At Hereford Fair, ia 1822, some very splendid barren cows, bred by Colonel Matthews of Belmont, were bought by a neighbour of mine at £6 7s. 6rf. each. " At this time graziers found they could make no profit by feeding, rarely making more than £1 for summer profit over price, and farmers began to pay more attention to breeding. After 1820 among the very best breeders were Mr. Hayton, Mr. Smythies, Mr. Monkhouse, and especially Mr. John Turner of Noke, who not only bre 1, but managed his stock in a highly creditable manner, and his three-year-old steers were always very greatly admired. I may also mention two gentlemen who never pushed themselves into notice, but who brought 108 HEREFORD CATTLE. out some of the best steers I ever saw, viz., Mr. Richard Hill and Mr. Trumper of Orleton. Besides those before named, there were many others possessing very excellent herds, namely, Mr. Davis, Ladycott ; Mr. Davis, Oxhouse ; Mr. Joseph Edwards, Kingsland ; Mr. W. Wheeler, Ivington Park. "At this time (1825) several new stocks were creeping into notice and eventually took a leading place, viz., Mr. Roberts, Ivingtonbury ; Mr. James Bowen, Monkland ; Mr. Yeld, Broome; Mr. John Morris, Stocktonbury; Mr. W. Bennet, Stretford ; Mr. John Thomas and Mr. Vaughan, Cholstrey ; also Mr. William Perry; Mr. J. Williams, Kingsland; Mr. Samuel Peploe, and others. " Few people at this time had better stock or were better judges than the Rev. J. R. Smythies. He began about the year 1820, and, regardless of price, bought the best he could find. He bought the remainder of Mr. WiUiam Galliers' stock. Aftet retiring from business, Mr. Galliers took the Lynch House and a portion of the meadow land, and there took some of the very best of his herd, all of which were purchased by Mr. Smythies ; among them the celebrated bull Cupid, and the cows Venus and Browny, which were equal to anything ever bred in Herefordshire. Mr. Smythies also bought some of the finest of Mr. Yarworth's (of Brinsop) herd, among which were Countess and Larkspur. He also bought about the same time some of the very best of Mr. Sheward's (of Little DUwyn) herd, which certainly was on the whole equal to any other " In addition to the aid afforded by Mr, Yeld's statement, we are enabled to estimate the position of the leading herds during the first 20 years of the present century by analysing the prize lists of the shows of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society. These have been compiled from the advertisements and reports contained in the " Hereford Journal," the early records of the Society not having been discovered, if indeed they are in existence. It is necessary to qualify the record by mentioning that, of course, there were good herds whose owners did not exhibit — thus on only one occasion did Mr. Benjamin Tomkins send an animal for competition at the show. The list A GROUP OF EARLY IMPROVERS. 109 is, however, interesting and valuable evidence as to the relative position of the various herds. The records relate to the shows commencing 1798 and concluding in 1819. It appears that the largest number of first prizes for breeding stock was won by Mr. GaUiers, Frogdon, who, as previously stated, secured 13; Messrs. Jeffries of The Grove and The Sheriffs won 19 (nine falling to Mr. JefEries, The Grove, and five to Mr. Jeffries, The Sheriffs); Mr. T. A. Knight followed with nine; Mr. Watkins, Brinsop, nine; Mr. Yarworth, Troy and Brinsop, seven; Mr. Walker, Burton, six; Mr. Tench, Bromfield, five; Mr. Walker, Westington, five; Mr. Samuel Tully, Huntington, four; Mr. Moore, Wellington, four. Each of the following gained three first prizes: — Mr. Joseph TuUy, Haywood; Colonel Matthews; Mr. Yeoman, Howton; and E. Wainwright, Hereford. Those who gained two first prizes were Messrs. John Apperley, Withington; Skyrme, Stretton; Williams, Thingehill; Eev. J. E. Smythies, Lynch; Kedward, Westhyde; Williams, Brinsop; Smith, Gattertop; Deykin, Brierley; Weaver, Stretton; Hardwick, Weir; Jones, Fawley; Cooke, Wintercott. The winners of single first prizes were Messrs. Croose, Sugwas; Smith, Sufton; Powell, Titley; Downes, Hinton; Clee, Downlon; Downes, Ashford; Tomkins, Welling- ton; Croose, Ocle; Davies, The Eodd; Welles, Earl'a Croome; J. G. Cotterell; Barnet, Ledbury; Lowe, Gattertop; Prichard, Eaton Mill; Edward, DUwyn; Oakes, Leinthall; Downes, ManseU; Green, Stoke; Hughes, Marcle; Stevens, Cotmore; Hewer, Abargavenny; Woolaston, Lynch; Salwey, Ashley Moor; Proctor, Orleton; HaiTis, The Marsh; Wood, Bury-hill; Mason, Wooferton; Hanbury, Shobdon; Stevens, Brinsop; Rev. W. Baylej', Wormesley Grange; Bannet, Netherton; Turner, Bockleton; E. Jones, King's Caple; Preece, Leyecourt; Mrs. Berrow, The Green, Dewchurch; Symonds, Yatton; E. Walwyn Gravenor, The Parks; J. Purchas, Fownhope; Price, Norton Grounds; T. Barnaby, Brockhampton; Tomkuis, Dippers Moor; Parry, Birley; Wood, BurghiU, &c. All the gentlemen whose names have been given, and many more, were noted breeders during the first 20 years of the present century. Their number demonstrates that the Hereford breed can claim a broad and solid foundation. It 110 HEREFORD CATTLE. would be manifestly impoBsible to give an adequate notice of these many herds. It is, indeed, inadvisable to attempt to do so, as many of them have not exercised a recognisable or known influence on the modem character of the breed. Our remarks wiO, therefore, be confined to those old herds that may be regarded as forming connecting links with the present. As to the herds of Tomkins, Galliers, Tully, Skyrme, Hewer, and Jeffries, which are referred to in the list, all the material facts in our possession have already been given. It seems necessary to explain that the number of prizes won at the Herefordshire show is not alone a reliable indication of the relative positions of the herds exhibited, inasmuch as some of them — notably those of Galliers, Tully, and Skyrme — were dispersed a considerable time before the meeting in 1819, to which the list extends; whUe others were represented at the shows during the whole period. Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight of Downton was one of the most successful exhibitors at the early shows of the Hereford Agricultural Society. Mr. Yeld has told us of the estimation in which his herd was held by his contemporaries, and in a former chapter reference has been made to the investigations carried out by Mr. Knight as to the history of the breed. Born at Wormesley Grange on August 12th, 1759, Mr. Knight, after studying at Oxford, retired to his country seat, and devoted himself to the improvement of the leading industries of the county. Prior to 1806 he had become well known as a prac- tical agriculturist and an improver of Hereford cattle. He was instrumental in founding the Agricultuial Society of the county, and to the end of his life he was almost invariably present at its meetings. In the letter written by Mr. Knight in 1836, which Mr. Yeld has preserved, and which we have now before us, there is an account of the breeding of the buU Snowball 246, otherwise known as Knight's White Bull. From this it appears that Mr. Knight's herd was descended from the stocks of Mr. Skyrme, Stretton ; Mr. TuUy, Hunt- ington ; Mr. Isaac Martin, and Mr. Benjamin Tomkins. Mr. Knight evidently preferred the first-named to all the others, remarking that Mr. Skyrme " at that time possessed, in his opinion, by far the best breed of cattle in the county." A GROUP OF EARLY IMPROVERS. Ill In an article on the Ashley Moor herd of Mr. Theophilus Salwey, which appeared in " Bell's Weekly Messenger" in 1873, Mr. Housman remarked: — "The reader acquainted with more than the merest rudiments of Hereford history need not be reminded that the animals of Mr. Salwey were descended from those of Mr. Andrew Knight. In describing the Ashley Moor stock, we therefore shall have occasion to make frequent allusion to the old Downton Castle tribes. T^d here a tribute is due to the memory of a public benefactor, who was far in advance of his generation in perception of the principles of animal and vegetable reproduction, and of hereditary recurrences, and ever ready to inform and encourage the seekers of knowledge. His views upon stock-breeding are less widely known than his contributions to the stores of horticultural science ; yet upon the subject of which we now treat, he could speak as one who had made himself its master so far as patient observation, with long practical experience, could give an insight to its mysteries. " Sometime about the commencement of the latter half of last century Mr. Knight had determined to form a herd that should be well adapted to a somewhat poor and uneven locality, and for that purpose he visited all the best herds of the county, and selected from them according to the best of his judgment — without much regard to size, but keeping in view symmetry and good quality. He soon discovered that some very noble cattle of the larger sorts were not suited to his purpose on account of their inability to stand and walk as he knew animals should stand and walk. The setting of the legs, their shape, and the way of using them were great points with him, and often did he repeat to eager listeners, who availed themselves of his counsel, the avowal of his strong aversion to ' lambs' knees and sickle hocks,' which he said were ' quite unfitted to move upon Bringewood Chase ' (near Downton Castle), where his Herefords were kept. The result of this antipathy necessarily was that animals characterised by the unpardonable similitudes were mercilessly weeded out, and after various sifting processes, the final selection fell upon a few animals from the herds of Mr. Tully of Huntington, near Hereford, Mr. George Tomkins, and Mr. Skyrme — the grey element of the stock (afterwards celebrated as ' The Knight's 112 HEREFORD CATTLE. Greys,') deriving their blood solely from the Tully strain, the dark red from the Tomkins, and the pale red from the Skyrme tribes. None of these varieties contributed remarkably large animals, but the Herefords thus retained were invariably very thick, and stood particularly well on their legs, so that they could easily move up and down the steep pastures they occasionally had to live upon. So fastidious was Mr. Knight upon this poiat, that he would not choose a bull calf to rear for use as a sire until he had not only made him walk, but even trot; a practice which drew down upon him sometimes from the old neighbouring farmers remarfa of contemptuous merriment, which Mr. Knight most completely disregarded. The issue turned the laugh upon his side, as the progeny of his ' trotting bulls,' proved clever and free in their action to the very last stage of fattening. ' I well remember,' says a correspondent who in early life knew that original thinker and successful breeder, ' most of the leading points which Mr. Knight endea- voured to obtain were the following : — broad nostrils, small from the nostrils to the eyes, and fine; large eyes; broad bash [scope, or forehead down to the line of the eyes] ; open and weU-developed horns, a little dipping in the first instance, and then gradually rising. Large measurement of girth was always a sine qud non, and likewise that the shoulder should not be an upright one, but well lying back from the neck, the blade being very oblique, but lying open towards the chine. He would have his animals thick through the heart, with the fore- legs going straight down like two pegs (the opposite of ' lambs' knees ') ; ribs broad and well arched, especially the last ribs at the joining of the quarters; the table-bones of the sirloin long, flat, and well developed, particularly the one adjoining the ribs, thus making a strong, weU-formed back, and joining the quarters. Hips were always considered to be secondary in importance, though he never wished to see them prominent but so formed and placed as to stand tolerably even with the sirloin and ribs. The catch [pen-ends, pin-ends or Fools' point] he wished to see well developed, with not the slightest prominence of frame between the catch and the hips [i.e., the packing of hind-quarters], nor anything in that region which might come under the denomination of gaudy. Indeed his A GKOUP OF EARLY IMPROVERS. 113 ambition was to see an animal as true in its formation and level as possible from the catch aU the way over the back, loin, chine, shoulders, and as far up the neck as possible ; thighs true, deep, and thick; purse full and very well spread over the abdominal region, with indeed a disposition to fatten all the way up to the brisket (lengthwise imder the body) ; thick, mellow skin, and long, soft hair.'" Mr. Welles has placed it on record that the variety called grey or roan would obviously arise from an intermixture of the red with those possessing a large proportion of white. They obtained their greatest celebrity from their being favour- ites with Mr. Andrew Knight, much of whose stock were of that colour ; one of the earhest being a white cow from which he bred one or two celebrated bulls. " That he pursued his object with judgment as well as ardour," says Mr. Welles, "■ has been evinced by prizes having been awarded of late years to many descendants of his stock, among others, the ox bred by Mr. Hill, Orleton, which obtained the gold medal at Smithfield in 1839, for the best beast in the yard." Few of Mr. Knight's cattle have been registered. Of these Snowball 246 has already been referred to. Lawton 223 was also bred by Mr. Knight, and used by Mr. Downes, Aston Hall, in 1811. Stretford 264 is entered as having been from Mr. Knight's " celebrated white cow," and The Gtatley Bull 501 was of his breeding. Among those who obtained stock from biTn were Mr. Eea, Monaughty ; Mr. Turner, Aymestry ; and Mr. Salwey, Ashley Moor. Through aU these herds the Knight blood is still represented. Mr. Salwey pur- chased from Mr. Knight four heifers, from which a valuable progeny descended. Lord Berwick and Mr. Evans, Swanstone, obtained animals of this line at the Ashley Moor sale, and the Knight blood has thus been somewhat widely disseminated, constituting the principal material in Mr. John Hill's fine large herd at Felhampton Court, and being also represented in Mr. Evans' herd at The Hill, in Lord Coventry's herd at Croome Court, as well as in others in tliis coimtry and the United States. Mr. Boughton Knight of Downton Castle, some years ago, attempted to found a herd of the old Knight grey colour, but finding the red with white faces were more 114 HEREFORD CATTLE. easily disposed of, he abandoned the strain. Mr. J. A. Rolls, The Hendre, Monmouth, is one of the few gentlemen who now keeps the stock of the old colour. In other herds possess- ing the Knight blood, the markings have not been retained, although the fine quality and true shapes, for which the sort was celebrated, are as conspicuous as ever, the heads being true to the old type. Mr. Duncumb, in drawing up his report on the agriculture of Hereford for the Board of Agriculture in 1805,. relied almost exclusively on Mr. Eoiight's information for his descrip- tion of the management of cattle. In his observations on this subject, Mr. Knight said the Herefordshire breeder had " sacrificed the qualities of his cow to those of the ox. He does not value the cow according to the price which the grazier would give for it, but in proportion as it possesses that form and character which experience has taught him to be conducive to the excellence of the future ox. Hence the cow of Herefordshire is comparatively small, extremely delicate, and very feminine in its character. It is light fleshed when in common condition, but is capable of extend- ing itself universally in a short space of time when fattening. Experience seems fully to have proved that these qualities in the cow are necessary to perfection in the ox ; and that when the cow is large and masculine in its character, and heavily loaded with flesh, the ox will be coarse and brawny, and consequently unkind and tedious in the process of fattening. It may here be remarked that there is an extraordinary difference between the weight of a Herefordshire cow and the ox bred from her. Perhaps other sorts, eminent for producing fine oxen, are similarly distinguished, but it is a fact that the Herefordshire cow will not unfrequently be the mother of an ox of nearly three times her own weight." Mr. Knight, in fact, was convinced that the true function of the Hereford breed was to produce first-class beef. He did not believe in attempting to develope the milking properties of the race ; considering that it was sufficient if a cow gave milk enough to keep its calf fat, and unless it could do so, it was disqualified for breeding a good ox. What he says descriptive of the cows bred in Herefordshire, appears to A GROUP OF EARLY IMPKOVEES. 115 mean simply that preference should be given to neat, small- sized animals. The system in Leicestershire of bestowing most of the attention on the improvement of the cow, and making her an excellent animal for the purpose of the grazier, was in his view unsound. We do not know L£ he succeeded in accurately conveying his meaning on this subject. It would seem he did not, if one is to judge from the exaggerated representation of his statements which is contained in Youatt's book on Cattle. In 1802 a Mr. Davidson was sent to England by order of the Emperor of Russia to procure some of the improved breeds of cattle and sheep fou. the Imperial farm. He was recom- mended by Sir Joseph Banks to Mr. Knight, through whose means a selection was made of stock of other celebrated breeders as well as his own. This commission was executed so much to the satisfaction of the Emperor, that on Mr. Davidson's return to St. Petersburg a letter was received by Mr. Knight, signed N. NovossUzofP, in which reference was made to the very handsome way in which he had parted with a heifer and several of his valuable flock of sheep. In 1799, Mr. Knight received a gift from George III. of a merino ram. Mr. Knight died in May, 1838. James Yakworth, Brinsop. — Mr. James Yarworth, first at Troy Farm,, near Abergavenny, and subsequently at New House Farm, Brinsop, Hereford, distinguished himself as a breeder of Herefords. Mr. Eyton stated, on Mr. Yarworth's authority, that he commenced breeding in 1802, and that his final sale took place in 1820. Duriag the time he was a breeder he sold upwards of 120 bulls and bull calves. In 1814 he sold a bull caK by Trojan 192 to Mr. Hewer ; in 1816 a Tomkins bull, out of Margaret, the dam of Trojan, to Mr. Yeomans of Howton ; and also in the same year to Mr. Knight a yearling bull by Trojan. He likewise sold bulls to Mr. White, Upleadon (who had a somewhat celebrated herd), and to Mr. Joseph Hili; Red Martley. The buU sold to Mr. HUI became the property of Mr. Rayer, who refused £260 for him. The most celebrated animal bred by Mr. Yarworth was Trojan 192. This buU was calved in 1811, and was got by Smith's Old BuU 322, dam Margaret, bred by Mr. B. Tomkins, I 2 116 HEREFORD CATTLE. by the Silver Bull 41. Smith's Old Bull was out of a cow bred by Mr. B. Tomkins, and was either brother or half brother to Mr. Walker's famous bull Crickneck 175. Trojan was exhibited at the Hereford show in 1816, when the com- mittee for deciding the merits of the cattle reported that he was the finest animal ever shown before the Society. It is stated that he weighed 28 stone per quarter, although he never had any other food than grass, hay, and turnips. Mr. Yarworth's stock appears to have been chiefly of the Tomkins blood, some of the Tully strain having also been intro- duced. It is evident that he bred from near affinities, yet he was not afraid to infuse fresh blood. We have seen that some of the animals sold by him at Troy in 1814 had a far-off strain of Gloucestershire blood. The bull Hector 197, bred by Mr. Yarworth, got by Trojan 192, had for dam Pink, which is entered by Mr. Eyton in volume i. of the Herd Book as bred by Mr. Yarworth by a bull bred by Mr. TuUy of Haywood, " out of a very spendid cow, Mr. Yarworth informs me, between the Devon and Hereford breed." It is uncertain what was the exact date of this slight infusion of the Devon blood which originally, as we have attempted to show, was very similar in its composition to that of the Hereford. Hector must have been calved some years before 1814, and his dam Pink, which was out of a " cow between the Devon and Hereford breed," would have been born either before the close of the last century or at the beginning of the present. Hector was used by Mr. Downes in 1814, and he was the sire of Crabstock 303, well known in connection with Mr. Rea's herd at Monaughty. Mr. Yarworth was fond of trying experiments in breeding, and no great harm resulted in these early days when the lines of breeds were less sharply drawn than at present. Althi.ugh he seems to have retained too long the information as to the breeding of some of the animals pur- chased from him by Mr. William Hewer in 1814, he candidly informed Mr. Eyton as to the outside strain of Trojan. Mr. W. Walker, Burton, and his son, Mr. J. Walker, Lulsley Court, Worcester, have been mentioned by Mr. Yeld as successful breeders. Mr. Eyton obtained from Mr. J. Walker a memoir of the late Mr, Walker, Burton, which we A GROUP OF EARLT IMPROVERS. 117 reproduce from the appendix to volume i. of the Herd Book: — " The estate of Burton, lying near Clifton-upon-Teme, in Worcestershire, Mr. Walker took in 1780, at 7s. per acre. The land, being of inferior quality, was not adapted for feeding cattle, and Mr. Walker therefore turned his attention to breeding Herefords ; and may fairly be said to have been one of those who began breeding on his own foundation. He had no one to look to for assistazice in bulls to improve his herd, but was obliged to rely on his own judgment and perseverance. He did not allow any opportunity to slip whenever he saw an animal likely to do him good, and never left it on account of price ; so that in a few years he had a very good herd of cattle. " The Burton breed was soon allowed to be the best in the county, and was in great demand. Mr. Walker reared several bulls every year, and generally disposed of them as yearlings at from £30 to £60, and sometimes £100 each. This plan he pursued until his death in 1817. He never had any public sale. His draught cows were sold as barrens. " The following notices will show in some degree the estimation in which his breed was held: — Mr. Smith of Little Shellesley once gave Mr. Walker £20 each for 20 barren cows ; the same gentleman at another time gave him £35 for a barren cow. Mr. Walker was in the habit of working oxen, and often s. o ~ o ~ o O CD § o 3 < > a> J J CD o EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 209 him by Mr. Thomas Penn, Stonebrook House. Five of the animals so selected were bred by Mr. Fenn himself ; four were bred by Mr. F. Southern, Kempton, Aston-on-Clun ; three by Mr. Price, The Vem ; two by Mr. Y. Marston, Lady Harbour ; two by Mr. Burlton, Luntley ; two by Mr. Pearce, Snodhill Court ; others by Messrs. Taylor (Thingehill), Eawlings, Cadle, Brewer, and Lowe. Downton Magnet 6912 was purchased as the first stock bull. Three cows were bought later on from Mr. Lutley, Brockhampton, and two from Mr. T. Nott, Buckton Park. The yearling bull Stockton Prince was purchased in May, 1885, from Messrs. Fenn and Tudge, who bought him as a calf at the Stocktonbury sale for 200 guineas. He is by Lord Wilton, his dam being Ruth. The other bulls used have been West- bury 8158 and Bonny Boy 8299. The herd comprises 33 breeding cows. A few bulls were sold to Mr. 6. Morgan for America. Amongst the prizes won were first at Newport in 1881, for Downton Magnet 6912, which was reserve at the Bath and West Show at Cardiff in 1882, and second at Aber- gavenny in 1882. Pink was the second prize cow, and Cyfarthfa Fancy the second prize two-year-old heifer at the Glamorganshire Show in 1885. The herd is reared at an elevation of 900 feet above the sea, and where the rainfall is over 60 inches per annum. DuNWOOD. — Mrs. CressweU's herd had its origin in animals of the Tomkins blood, and for the last 30 years has been entirely bred from the stock of Mr. George Pitt, late of Chadnor Court, the sires being Plunder 48-47, Sanjacinto 2209, Snowball 5608, and Speculum 5612. Rosebud 2nd by Granville 3854, Miss Charles and her heifer calf, with five other heifers, were sold in 1883 to Mr. Cook, Brookmont, Iowa, U.S.A. Eglwysnunyd, South Wales. — The foundation of this herd, now the property of Mr. W. S. Powell, was laid in 1853 by the late Mr. Powell of Eglwysnunyd. Some cows were bought at the sale of Mr. W. May berry, and others from Mr. Evans, Old Bank, Brecon, who was well known at that time as never having purchased anything but the best Herefords procurable. Subsequently cows were bought of Lord Bateman, Messrs. J. Rea ; Stedman, Bedstone Hall ; 210 HEREFORD CATTLE. J. llewer, Vern Hoiise ; W. Tudge, Adforton ; J. Baldwin, Luddington ; J. Rogers, Pipton ; Burlton, The Vern ; J. D. Brewer, and others. Several noted cows have also been pur- ctiased within the last ten years, the following being amongst the number : — Bannerette by Sir Roger 4133, bred by the late Mr. W. Tudge ; Sovereign 17th by Pipton 5501, bred by Mr. J. Rogers, Pipton ; Pollie 4th by Landseer 3202, bred by the late Mr. J. Baldwin, Luddington ; and Lady Grey 8rd by Alphonso 4305, bred by Mr. Brewer. One of the first sires used in the herd was Brecon 2974, by Young Hope 343, dam by Dangerous 493. Young Hope was by Chance 848, Sir David's sire. Brecon was succeeded by General 1251, bought at Mr. Hewer's sale in 1861 ; and although he was 13 years old when purchased, he proved himself an excellent getter, and was in use for two seasons. After General came Avon 2393, by General 1251, and with a pedigree running back to Silver 540. Avon was a most level bull and an excellent stock-getter. Constant 2480 was also used at that time ; his dam was Vesta, that took the first prize at the Bath and West, and many other shows. Prince Edward 3340, by the noted Franky 1243, waa then pur- chased from Mr. Duokham. Amongst other bulls used were Sir Cupis Ball 2761 by Sir Benjamin 1387 ; Unity 5092, bred by Mr. Duckham, a remarkably thick bull and a fine sire ; and Spartan 5009, purchased from Mr. Turner, The Leen, by Silver Boy 3419. He was a very good heifer- getter, and was the sire of some of the best cows sold at The Leen. Standard 6706 by Unity 5092 came next, and he proved himself very useful in the herd. He is now in the herd at Baysham Court. The bulls since used were Abbott 6775 by The Grove 3rd 5651, Nestor by The Grove 3rd, and Horace 7th 7724. Abbott was bred by Mr. A. P. Turner. The herd has been increased during the last three years, and now contains upwards of 50 breeding cows and heifers. The following are the principal tribes : — The Adforton, springing from Bannerette, closely allied to Lord Wilton 4740 ; the Becky, descended from Young Becky by Sir Benjamin 1387 ; the Bedstone Hall, possessing a deal of Hewer blood and all good breeders, Monaughty tribes are EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 211 descended from cowa by Old Court 306, Confidence 367, Sovereign 404, Portrait 372, Monarch 219, Cholstrey 217, Chieftain 930, Pilot 1037, Sir Benjamin 1387, and Zealous 2348. Several cows and heifers have been sold for exporta- tion to America and Australia. Messrs. Burleigh and Bod- well, Maine, U.S.A., bought largely. Mr. Culbertson, Chicago, has also been a purchaser ; and Mr. J. H. Yeomans, Stretton Court, has bought for exportation. Elsdon. — Mr. John Taylor's herd at Elsdon was founded in 1874 with 12 in-calf cows bought that year, 12 in-calf cows purchased in 1875, and six heifers and calves in 1876. The cows were by Sir Frank 2762, and in caK to Triumph 2nd 3553. The heifers were by Triumph 2nd 3553 and the calves by Sir Francis 3438, all being acquired from the late Mr. WUliam Taylor, Thingehill Court, Hereford. Among the sires used have been Regulus 4076 by Sir Roger 4133, bred by Mr. Tudge, Adforton; Moorcock 6078 by Regulus, bred by Mr. Robinson, Lynhales; Horatius 5390 by Horace 3877, bred by Mr. Robiason ; Horatius 2nd 5983 by Horatius, bred by Mr. Robinson ; Manlius 6559 by Hercules 2nd 6476, bred by Mr. Robinson ; Earl of Agincourt 7581 by Formosa Boy 3rd 5920, bred by Mr. P. G. Hughes, Leinthall; and Highland Laird 7015 by Horatius, bred by Mr. Robinson. There is now in use Elsdon Grand Duke 8564, a twin by Grand Duke 5343. The herd numbers upwards of 100 head, all being of the Thingehill tribes. Five bulls have been exported to America to Messrs. G. Leigh and Co. and Mr. Bertram. A number of cows and heifers have also been sold at good prices, and the animals have been successful on the few occasions they have been exhibited at the local shows. Endale. — Mr. E. Yeld's herd was founded in 1873 by the purchase of six cows from the herd of his father, Mr. G. Yeld, Twyford, and from cows picked up at several sales ; notably from the herd of Mr. Symonds, Meers Place, Weobley, who had a very good stock descended from bulls bred by Mr. Roberts, Ivingtonbury, and Mr. Taylor, Stretford. Mr. Yeld's father's herd was established more than 50 years ago, and he used the same bulls as his late uncle, Mr. Yeld, The Broome, whose stock has already been described. The only p 2 212 HEREFORD CATTLE. females he has siuce bought were two cows at Mr. Turner's sale at The Leen — Primula and Luna 2nd. He also pur- chased two cows from Mr. Thomas, Monaughty, which had been bought at Mr. G. Yeld's sale. One of these is a great favourite, being out of Girl of the Period, a well-known prize winner. The sires used have chiefly been of Mr. Yeld's father's blood ; the first being Cheerful 5254, used for five years, and afterwards used in the Coxall and Croome Coizrt herds. Then followed Prince James 6118 ; Petruchio 6598 by Mr. Tudge, Adforton ; and Blucher 6312 by Mr. Turner's Corsair 5271. The sires recently in use were Tom WUton 9322, bred by Mr. Carwardine, by Lord Wilton 4741, and Endale Grove, from Primula, half-sister to the famous Rudolph. Another son of Lord Wilton (Gift WUton) is also intended for service iu the herd ; he is of the same strain of blood as Prince James 6118. The herd, when we heard from Mr. Yeld, numbered 80 head, comprising 34 breeding cows. But a portion of it was recently despatched to the United States, where Mr. Yeld, who is engaged in the business of pedigree cattle exportation, has taken a farm. Seventeen heifers, mostly by Blucher, were sold to Mr. C. W. Cook, Brookmont, Iowa. Prizes have been taken for steers at the local shows. In thus exhibiting, Mr. Yeld has followed the example of his father, who was very successful with steers at the Leominster and Hereford Shows. Ensdon House. — This herd was founded by the late Mr. Evan Bowen in 1855 with well-selected animals from con- temporary breeders, among whom may be mentioned Messrs. Thomas, Colebatoh; Stedman, Bedstone; Urwick, Felhampton; Tarte, The Baohe; and Wright, Halston. The first buU used was Breiddon 856. From this sire the larger portion of the existing herd (now owned by Mr. J. Bowen Jones) traces its descent. Breiddon was one of the best Cronkhill bulls of his day, being by Wonder 420, dam Beauty, going back to Mr. Knight's Old Betsy. Prizeman 4063, bred by Mr. J. B. Green, Marlow, by Zealous, dam Polyanthus by Albert Edward 859, was also used. The sires recently in service have been England's Glory 5314, bred by Mr. Percy, South Petherton, got by Chevalier 8746, dam Queen of the Roses; and Sylvester 8092, EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 213 bought at the sale of the Stocktonbury herd, in which he had been used. Last year 50 cows and heifers were put to the bull, and there were 25 yearling heifers and 40 calves. Mr. J. Bowen Jones' interest in the herd commenced in 1863, and the whole of the stock passed into his hands in 1873. The recent introductions to the herd have been principally of the Longner and of the late Lord Berwick's Cronkhill strain, of which blood so much had previously existed in the herd. Until three years ago, the males were steered and fatted off at two years old. Since the Herefords have increased in popularity the herd has been enlarged, and consequently no periodical sales have taken place. Consignments have been sold for the United States and for home breeders through Messrs. Russell, Birkenhead; Fenn, Downton; and Tattersall, London; and to Messrs. George and J. C. Bell, Buenos Ayres; Mr. L. B. Harris, and others. The herd has not been kept for exhibiting purposes heretofore, having been run thick on the ground for practical use. Etton-on-Severn. — This herd, of which some notice will be found in a former chapter, has been continued by Mr. G. H. Meire since 1883, when he succeeded to it. It numbers 128 head, and, with the exception of the stock sire Anxiety Arthur 8204, and a cow Compact (vol. xiv., p. 487) from Lord Ber- wick's herd, all the cattle are descended from the original females with which his father, the late Mr. T. L. Meire, com- menced in 1829 to 1833, and of which particulars are given elsewhere. No unregistered bulls have ever been used, and no females from the herd have been offered for sale for stock purposes, but many bulls have been sold privately. Mr. G. H. Meire tells us that in the opinion of the late owner of the herd Speculation 387 was by far the best stock-getter and the best bull used in the herd. Oxen by him won at Smithfield Show about 1842, when all breeds were shown in the same class. As next best it is believed Franky 1243 should be placed. He was the sire of the Smithfield Club champions, one of which was not bred by the late Mr. Meire, although he bred the sire and dam's sire. Members of Mr. Meire's family have at different times established in the Shrewsbury district fine herds of Herefords, but his is the only one of them 214 HEREFOKD CATTLE. remaining. The old herd of his family, owned by ids imcle, Mr. Samuel Meixe, Berrington, was swept away by pleuro pneumonia about the year 1843. The carcase of the bull Speculation is reported to have weighed more than a ton. Felhampton Cookt. — Herefords have been bred at Fel- hampton Court for more than a century, and Mr. John HUl, the proprietor of the herd there, still retains descendants of the old Urwick strains. The cattle that belonged to Mr. Urwick at Felhampton Court were of a light yellow red colour, and the appearance, in the '' Live Stock Journal," of a notice of the herd by "Pimpernel" in 1880, elicited from the Hon. A. B. Allen, New York, a letter in which he stated that, among the earliest importations of Herefords into the State of New York some 40 years ago or so, he noticed a few thus coloured. They were on shorter legs, thicker and more compact bodies, with ample soft furry coats, and handled much better than those of a dark red. The cows were altogether better milkers than those of the latter colour, and he was confident they were better feeders and matured a little the earliest. The next addition made by Mr. HiU was from the herd of Mr. Green of Mai'low, noted for its great scale and good proportion of lean meat when fed. From it came the Zeal, Cherry, Duchess, and other families, of which there are still specimens in the herd. The Monaughty, Coxall, The Leen, Benthall, and Sherlowe herds have also been laid under tribute. But the most important point in connection with the herd was the introduction of the Cronkhill blood. The Polyanthus family, descended from Mr. Eoiight's Old Betsy, had been a favourite sort with the late Lord Berwick and his brother, the late Hon. H. Noel Hill, the latter of whom purchased Polyanthus at the sale held after the death of Lord Berwick in 1861. At the sale of the Hon. H. HiU's herd, on his death in 1870, Mr. John Hill purchased Apricot, the granddaughter of Polyanthus, and twin sister to Nectarine, which latter cow he also afterwards acquired. At the outset the Marlow blood was crossed with the Cronkhills at Fel- hampton Court to gain .size. This had also been done by Mr. Robert Burton at Longner HaU, among his Cronkhills, by the US3 of Kina; Dick, oat of one of the Marlow Dachesses. One m 30 30 ■< s bj o •S > 30 o I 01 C5 05 "■ 1 1"' « -vi.;,it' EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 215 of the Marlow bulls used by Mr. Hill was Dauphin 2nd 3783, got by Zealous 2349, who was a son of the famous Sir Benjamia 1387. Dauphin 2nd was a bull of extraordinary size, his weight in March, 1877, having been no less than 25 cwt. 2 qrs. 12 lbs. He did not, however, do the herd much good, being rather big and coarse. Another Marlow bull was used, both before and after Dauphin 2nd, with much greater success. He was Hopeful 2nd 3876, by Eenown 2719, from Hardy by Zealous 2349, Eenown having been bred by Lord Berwick. Hopeful 2nd was a grand getter, and his quality was wonderful. A number of his get are still in the herd, and they are all good breeders. Renown was bought by Mr. Smythies, late of Wetmore; from him by Mr. Green, Marlow; and he was the sire of some of the best stock in the Marlow herd. A very large addition of Cronkhill blood was made at the Longner HaU sale in 1881, when, besides a number of cows and heifers, the bull Merry Monarch 5466 (got by Triumph 3rd 4211, dam Peach, out of Polyanthus) was purchased. Here the Rarities and Bright Ladys were acquired. Both these go back to Mr. T. A. Knight's Cherry 1st, the former branching off at Dorcas by Ashley Moor White Bull 870, and the latter at her half-sister, Damsel, by Cholstrey 868. Mr. HUl not only bought largely at the Longner Hall sale, but he has since picked up nearly all the specimens of the CronkhUl herd then disposed of that were not exported. The result is that of the 115 cows and heifers, whose pedigrees were given in the catalogue of the Pelhampton Court herd for 1884, 47 were of Cronkhill descent. The proportion is now larger, and Mr. Hill's a'im appears to make this element stUl further predominate in his herd. Mr. HUl, who has been a diligent student of Hereford history, had early seen that the animals selected by Lord Berwick from Mr. Salwey traced from the very oldest and best strains in existence. The career of the founder of these families, Mr. T. A. Knight of Downton, has already been sketched, and it will be remembered that he obtained his stock from the most eminent breeders of the last century. Mr. Hill has rendered a service of great value to the breed by devoting his attention to these grand old sorts, and proving 216 HEREFORD CATTLE. that they still possess all their former excellence. There are usually at Felhampton Court about 150 head of cattle, and the character of the various families is strikingly maintained. For several years the bull Merry Monarch 5466 has been used. He was the highest-priced animal at the Longner Park sale, and has been a most successful sire. Mr. Housman's description of this noted animal may be reproduced: — " Merry Monarch is really a noble specimen of the high-bred Hereford. His broad forehead, full eyes, flat-rooted horns, with their wide and downward bend, give him great character, even when only his head is seen, but his head is a faithful index of the mass that follows it The front is immensely deep and grand to look at, the neck is full of masculine strength, without excess or coarseness, the breast large and bulging, yet not throwing any other part into insignificance. The bull, in no forced condition — only fair working order — has beef everywhere, very heavily packed behind the shoulder (where most buUs are deficient), ample, for a lean bull, over the crops, thickly covering his strong loin and level hind- quarters, and filling every nook and corner of the frame. The depth at the flank, and armful of heavy flank (it is much more than a handful, and hangs out by its weight), balance the depth of fore-quarters, and the ribs fore and aft, while they spring out boldly and at once, and allow abundance of room for the vital organs, are not in too great a hurry to curve in again, but extend low enough to give great depth of side." Merry Monarch has recently been assisted by his son Cronkhill Monarch 6885, from Rarity by Conqueror 1929, and thus in- heriting a double share of the Knight or Cronkhill blood. The two young bulls intended as the future sires of the herd are Royal Monarch and Felhampton Grove, both bred in the herd. Royal Monarch, by Merry Monarch, is out of Gladys, by The Grove 3rd 5051, purchased at The Leen sale for 110 guineas, and representing the best of Mr. Philip Turner's bull-breeding tribes, her dam being by the Royal prize bull Spartan 5009. Felhampton Grove is also by The Grove 3rd, and out of Columbine, bought at The Leen, and got by Silver Boy 3419, who was bred by the Hon. and Rev. H. N. Hill, and got by Young Conqueror 3612. He also thus owns the Cronkhill EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 217 blood thi-Qugh his dam's sire. Mr. Hill does not exhibit hia cattle, but in many ways he has done yeoman's service in advancing the interests of the breed. Foreign buyers early discovered the merit of the Pelhampton Court herd, and they have made heavy drafts from it. The extent of this demiand is best shown by the number of private sales in 1882 and 1883, of which a full list lies before us. It appears that during these years no fewer than 104 pedigree animals were sold from the herd. Among the foreign buyers may be mentioned the Hon. M. H. Cochrane, HUlhurst, Canada; Mr. T. L. Miller, Beecher; Messrs. George Leigh and Co., Beecher, Illinois ; J V. Farwell, Chicago; C. M. Culbertson, Canada; J. W. Bookwalter, Ohio; Senor C. Quesada, Buenos Ayres; Messrs. Estill and Elliott, U.S.A.; Hon. J. H. Pope, Canada; Professor Brown, Canada; Mr. H. Mackem, Buenos Ayres; Messrs. Gudgell and Simpson, Missouri; Mr. S. Martin, Buenos Ayres; Senor L. Pintos, Buenos Ayres; Senor A. Casares, Buenos Ayres; Senor J. Gomez, Buenos Ayres; Senor Salas, Buenos Ayres, and others. In the hands of several of these gentle- men, cattle bred by Mr. HOI have been shown with much success, the latest example of which is the high honours they obtained at the Buenos Ayres Exhibition in 1886. Gattektop. — The Gattertop herd, the property of Mr. W. J. Smith, was founded in 1872, animals being purchased from the late Mr. E. Russell, Cholstrey — by Demetrius 2494 ; Mr. Bedford, MUton House— by Frank 2762 and Triumph 2337; Mr. J. Pinches, Hardwick— by Heart of Oak 2035; Mr. T. Williams, Brobury Court— by The Duke 4184; and Mr. W. E. Taylor, Thingehill Court — by PUot 5647. The animals since added have been five heifers from the herd of Mr. E. Davies, Palton, Much Wenlock, by Baronet 5208; and two heifers from Mr. W. E. Britten, Stapleton Castle, by Mars 12th 5457. The chief sires used have been Young Sir Frank 4274 by Sir Frank 2762, and Duke of Bedford 5030 by Croft 927. Recently, Pertly 5498 by Horace, Zulu Chief 6773, and Stockton Wilton by Lord Wilton, have been used. Young Sir Frank left his impress on the herd, hia stock being remark- able for size and symmetry. Duke of Bedford was also a very useful sire. Pertly fully kept up the reputation of his 218 HEREFORD CATTLE. noted sire Horace, many of his ofEspring going to America. The other two young bulls, Zulu Chief and Stockton Wilton, have also proved successful in the herd. The nunxber of breeding cows in the herd is 65, the chief families being the Spencers, Beauties, Statelies, SteUas, Jennies, Perfections, and the Countess Lees, the last going back to the Hewer blood. The sales have principally been to America — to Mr. Drimmie, Iowa; Thomas Lewis, Beecher ; the Wyoming Association, and the Hon. M. H. Cochrane, Hillhurst. Mr. Smith has exhibited only at the local Shows. He has gained two second prizes at the Herefordshire show, and during the last four years he has won ten first prizes at Leominster. Several cows have continued breeding until 19 years old. Great Campstone. — Mr. John Broad commenced his herd about 35 years ago by the purchase of six heifers from Mr. Thomas Powell, The Bage. Bulls bred by Mr. Hewer and Mr. Pitt, Kimbolton, have been used, and the herd now con- sists of 200 head. The cow Bella bred a calf yearly ■until she was 17 years old. Hampton Court. — This herd, the property of Mr. J. H. Arkwright, is one of the oldest in the country, having been begun in 1819 by Mr. John Arkwright, father of the present owner. The early sires used were chiefly from the strains of Mr. Yarworth, Mr. TuUy, Mr. Tomkins, Mr. Hayton (More- ton), Mr. Hewer, Mr. Smythies — in short, all the best herds of the time. Of the cows introduced a few may be specified. Harewood Beauty was bought from Sir Hungerford Hoakyns in 1835, and from her springs the Ivington Lass tribe; the Graylass and Lady Leicester families trace from Curly by Reliance 278, a bull bred by Mr. Yeomans, Moreton, and son of the celebrated prize bull Royal 331. The Orange Blossom sort goes back to a cow by Jupiter 1289, bred by Mr. Turner, Court of Noke. The Curly family had its origin in a cow called Hickman's Pleasant by Reliance 278, bought from Mr. R. Hickman, Wintercott, in 1845. The Gipsy strain is from a cow by Quicksilver 2nd 6126 ; the Oyster Girl from a cow by Reliance 278 ; the Silks from a cow by Jupiter. Welcome, calved in 1854, and bought from Mr. E. Price, Pem- bridge, was got by Young Confidence 653, and has founded a EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 219 valuable strain. At the late Mr. Tudge's sale at Adforton, Beatrice by Lord Hythe 3937, her heifer calf Beatrice 2nd by Maresohal NeU 4760, and the grand show cow Rosebud (bred by Mr. Rogers, The Grove), got by Sir Thomas 2228, were purchased. A cow named Perkins' Beauty, by Young Royal, 1470 was bought in 1863 from her breeder, Mr. Perkins, Woodhouse, Bodenham, and founded the well-known Hampton Beauty sort. Prom Nosegay, by Treasurer 1105, and full of the old Rea blood, acquired at the Westonbury sale in 1863, the Hampton Roses have been bred, while there are a number of smaller families. The herd has been exhibited with great success. Sir Hungerford 3447, a capital stock bull as well as a show-yard winner, was first at the Royal Shows at Leicester and Manchester, and also at the Bath and West of England Show at Southampton. Hampton Beauty, by Sir Oliver 2nd 1773, was first at the Leicester Royal. Gaylass 4th was first at the Bristol Royal in 1877 and second at Kilburn and Carlisle. Abigail was first at the Kilburn Meeting. Conjuror 5264 won 12 first prizes, three of them at the Royal. Sir Oliver 2nd 1733, a son of Sir Thomas 2228, was first at the Royal at Worcester in 1863. Rosebud gained many Royal firsts, her son Rose Cross 7237 having been first at the Bath and West, and second at the Royal Show in 1884. Pearl 3rd was first at the Royal at Carlisle. One of the most impressive bulls used in the herd was Ivington Boy 4662 by Mr. Tudge's Orleans 2661, dam Ivington Lass. The Lord WUton buU Iroquois 7039, bred by Mr. A. E. Hughes, Wintercott, has recently been in service. He is from the same dam as the bull Washington, exported to America, and on Jime 17th, 1885, he weighed 1 ton 4 cwt. (2688 lbs.). The bull Sir Richard from Hampton Rose, bred by Mr. Arkwright, and sold to Mr. D. Pierce, Ohio, in 1870, left a most excellent progeny in the United States; he and his offspring having done much to attract the favourable notice of Americans to the Hereford breed. A large portion of the herd was sold in August, 1885, at a time when prices of stock were very low in this country, and when there was a lull in the foreign trade. The average for 135 head was about £31, the highest price being 110 guineas 220 HEREFORD CATTLE. for the bull Hampton Wilton 10037, purchased for Mr. Bissell, U.S.A. When we last heard from Hampton Court the sires in use were Iroquois 7039, Lord Chesterfield 8833, Hampton Court 8707, and Cherrystone 9700. The number then in the herd was 82, comprising representatives of the Ivington Lass, Gaylass, Curly, Gipsy, Oyster Girl, Silk, Beatrice, Beauty, Hampton Rose, Pearl, and Lively famiUes. A word should be added in commendation of the admirable system of keeping records of his herd adopted by Mr. Arkwright. Hatfield. — This herd was founded in 1881. Owing to the difficulty experienced in getting good tenants in the de- pressed state of farming, the trustees of the late Mr. Thomas Ashton — viz.. Major Howarth Ashton and his brother — determined on taking into their hands a farm of 500 acres on the estate, then without a tenant. They engaged the services of that experienced judge of Herefords Mr. George Bedford, Leominster, as manager, and this good choice was justified very soon, for the first year Princess beat everything at the shows as a heifer, being first at the RoyaJ, Bath and West, and Shropshire Meetings, and was sold at a high price to Mr. Culbertson, U.S.A. She was by Marquis out of Moss Rose. Major Hatfield won first for yearling buUs at Ledbury in 1884, the animal being sold to go to America. The breeding cows have been picked up here and there as opportunity offered, but no cow has been bought that has not had an undeniable pedigree. The principal sire used has been Prophet by Moses. Moses was bred by Mr. Henry Bailey, Rowden Abbey, Bromyard, and so named because he was dropped in the bullrushes by a pond at the place where Mr. Bailey was then living. The herd numbers about 60. Henwood, Dilwyn. — Mr. George Bray, jun., succeeded the late Mr. Morris here iu 1862, when he commenced breeding Herefords with females bred by his father at Haven. The herd numbers about 50 breeding cows, and bulls of very high breeding have been used. Recently the bull Ruthmulla by Bangham, dam Rose Bloom (Mr. George Pitt's), and ZuUus by Broadcloth 6830, have been used, and females have lately been purchased from Mr. Goode, Ivingtonbury, and Mr. Burlton, Luntley Court. EXISTING HERDS IK ENGLAND. 221 HiLLHAMPTON Parm. — Mr. William E. de Winton founded this herd in 1883 by the purchase of cows from Major Kearney, Clonmellon, Ireland. They were descended from animals acquired in 1863 from Mr. James Rea, Monaughty, tracing from Old Court 306, of the Tully blood, and from a cow named Miss Severn by Severn 1382, bought in the same yeax from Lord Berwick. The herd numbers 41 head, or about 20 breeding cows. Mr. de Winton is using the bull Robin Adair 9137, bought from Mr. A. P. Turner when 11 months old for 150 guineas. He was considered one of the best bulls of his year. Hill of Eaton. — Mr. W. Jones commenced breeding Hereford cattle about 20 years ago with cows purchased from Capt. Power, Hill Court. They were descended from cows bred by Mr. Phillips, Bryngwyn. Cows were also bought from Mr. John Hewer, Marden. Bulls bred by Mr. Hewer have been used, and at present Wallace, bred by Mr. Duck- ham, is in service. Holme Lacy. — Since the division of the Ashton herd in 1876, mentioned elsewhere, Mr. Herbert R. Hall has added few females to the portion of it he removed to Holme Lacy, other than those bred from the old strains. The buUs he has chiefly used have been Patentee 4003, Patentee 2nd 6592, Adi-ian 5713, Dale Tredegar 5856, Defender 5866, Hohne Tredegar 7016, Chancellor 5246, Hotspur 7726, and Thickset 8107, the last two being lately in service. Patentee was bred by Mr. B. Rogers, The Grove, got by the renowned Sir Thomas 2228, dam Miss Stanton by The Grove 1764. Adrian was bred by Mr. S. C. Good, got by Disraeli 3006, from a cow by Severus 2nd 2747; Dale Tredegar, bred by Mr. H. J. Bailey, Rosedale, was sired by the splendid show bull Tredegar 5077, his granddam having been by Sir Thomas. Dale Tredegar was himself a Royal first prize winner, and was sold for 120 guineas for exportation to New South Wales, where he has gained the champion prizes. Defender, bred by Mr. H. Mason, was by the well-known Commander 4452, and was a Royal winner at Reading; while Holme Tredegar, got by Dale Tredegar, was also a prize buU. Chancellor was a son of Horace, and was bred by Mr, John 222 HEREFORD CATTLE. Price, Court House. He was exhibited three times, gaining first pri^e at the Hereford Show of the Bath and West of England Society, where he was sold at a long figure to Mr. Evans, Old Court. A good many of the cows acquired when the herd was divided were got by Preceptor 4030, bred by Mr. P. Turner, The Leen, by the Royal first prize bull Bachelor 2941, bred by Mr. Kobinson, Lynhales, and out of Eglantine. The stock sires recently used were Hotspur 7726 and Thickset. Hotspur, bred by the late Mr. Carwardine, got by Lord WUton, dam Eosaline, and thus full brother to Mr. Adams Earl's celebrated Romeo 6646, made his mark in the show-yard, having been first at the Royal at Preston, first at the Bath and West at Brighton, and first at the Hereford- shire Show at Monmouth last year. He was sold at a very high price to go to America, but died during the voyage. His stock were very promising, and he was justly regarded as one of the best Lord Wilton buUs. Thickset, calved in October, 1881, was bred by Mr. W. Thomas, The Hayes, Cardiff. Mr. Hall has sold largely for exportation, and he has won many prizes in addition to those already mentioned, his herd having supplied the first prize group of four cows at the Herefordshire Society's Show at Ledbury in 1884, while Pretty by Preceptor was second at the Royal Show at Preston for cow and produce. HoLMER House. — Mr. Philip W. Taylor's herd was got together by his father, the late Mr. Taylor, Showle Court ; some animals being drafted out of his own herd, and others being purchased at the sale of Mr. H. T. Taylor at Holmer. The Holmer stock had been crossed with buUs from Showle Court for upwards of 30 years. The sires recently used comprised Adamant 5710, Treason 5662, Emperor 5890, The Monckton Lad 5646, Hannibal 6282, and Tradition 7316, now in use. Two heifers were sold to Don Carlos Cassares, South America, and five heifers to Mr. C. W. Cooke, Brook- mont, Iowa. The herd numbers 70 head. Leighton Park. — Mr. Naylor's herd at Leighton Park was established about 1850 by the purchase of animals from Mr. Yeld, The Broome. The chief animals since added were bought at Brockhampton, Pipton, Edenhope, Snodhill, and EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 223 Coxall. Silvester 797, bred by Mr. Price, Pembridge, was the best stock-getter wben the herd was established. There are now in use Prince Imperial 2nd 9067, Zulu Chief 8173, and Liberator by Lord WUton 4740. The herd numbers about 80 head. Eight buU calves were sold in 1884 to Mr. J. H. Yeomans for exportation to America. The herd was suc- cessfully exhibited from 1854 to 1861, when prizes to the value of £308 were gained, including first prizes at the Paris Exhibition, the Royal, Smithfield, and Birmingham Shows. Leinthall. — Ml-. William Tudge commenced a herd at Coston Hall in 1869 with stock got from his father (the late Mr. Wm. Tudge, Adforton), whUe the use of the Adforton bulls was obtained. The herd was largely increased shortly after Mr. Tudge's removal to Leinthall in 1876. At the Adforton sale about a dozen first-rate cows and four bull calves were selected. With the exception of a few animals purchased at Mr. Longmore's sale, Mr. Tudge has wisely clung closely to the Adforton blood, and the principal families now in his herd are the Adforton Ladies, Bonnies, and DarlLags. What the Lady and Bonnie tribes are capable of doing as breeders is shown by the two grand bulls Lord WUton 4740 and Regulator 4898. Besides the Lady and Bonnie families, Mr. Tudge also, as has been remarked, owns specimens of the Adforton Darling family, as weU of The Grove Rose family. The Longmore cattle at Leinthall are also exceedingly well bred. The herd comprises Roseleaf, by Lord Hythe 3937, dam Rosebud by Sir Thomas 2228, and her two sons, Prince Rose 7191 and Leinthall, both third prize winners at Royal Shows, and her daughter Rose of Leinthall. Other cows are Victoria, bred at Adforton, by The Doctor 5045, and descended on the dam's side from the old Adforton cow Darling; Red Rose, bred by Mr. Longmore, by Cannon BaU 4399, descended from a cow by Young Walford 1820; Cinderella, also by Caimon BaU; Rustic, bred by Mr. Longmore; Belladonna, bred at Adforton, dam of Regulator 4978 (a remarkable breeder), and her daughter BeUa; Regalia, a daughter of the Darling cow Victoria and Down ton Grand Duke; Buttercup, of the May- flower tribe, by Pirate, purchased at Mr. Turner's sale at The Leen; Rhea, by Romulus 5542, out of Rhoda by Sir Roger 224 HEREFORD CATTLE. 4133; Day Dream, by Cannon Ball, own sister to Ethel, sold to Mr. Culbertson, and considered one of the best cows in America; Rebe, by Napoleon, and her daughters Rowena and New Year's Gift, by Auctioneer, winners of the first prize at the Royal Show at Preston in 1885 as best cow and offspring; Minnie, by Lord Wilton 4740, dam the splendid cow Mermaid 2nd, sold last spring to the Hon. Mr. Pope, Canada, at a high price, and a frequent prize-winner at the Dominion shows. Among the bulls recently used have been LeinthaH 8801, by Auctioneer 5194, dam Roseleaf ; the prize bull Prince Rose, out of Roseleaf and got by Westonbury ; Auctioneer, and Lord Wilton. We have mentioned only a few of the numerous prizes gained by Mr. Tudge, who has sold a large number of cattle for exportation. Letton Court. — Mr. S. H. Atkinson acquired this herd in 1880. It had been founded in 1873 by Col. Bridgford of Kinnersley, who commenced it by purchasing 14 cows and heifers from the Lynhalea herd, chiefly by Mr. B. Rogers' Luxury 3233, and in calf to Regulus 4076, from the Adforton herd. Bulls of approved blood and character have been used. Lodge Farm, Nazeing. — When Mr. Ralph Palmer took this farm in Essex into his own hands in the summer of 1881, he had to keep a few Hereford bulls prior to shipment to Jamaica. Seeing how heartily they did, he asked Mr. J. H. Arkwright of Hampton Court to send a truck-load of common heifers in calf. These cost £12 10s. per head. He took the calves from them and sold the dams, after 15 months' run, as fat stock at 26 guineas. Mr. Palmer's experience of the breed was so satisfactory that he decided to form a herd, and in 1882 and 1883 bought pure-bred heifers from Mr. S. J. Holder; Mr. W. J. Smith, Gattertop; Mr. P. W. Morris, Shucknall; Mr. F. Piatt, Bamby Manor; Mr. Hankey, Breinton; Mr. Powell; Mr. Carwardine, Stocktonbury; and Mr. Hughes. The Lord Wilton bull Rose Stock has recently been in service. Lynch Court. — This herd, the property of Mrs. M. Turner, was commenced in 1851 by the late Mr. D. Turner with cows bred by his late father, Mr. P. Turner, Aymestry Court; having thus sprung from the same stock as thsit of Mr. P. Turner, The Leen. All the animals now in the herd axe EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 225 directly descended from the Aymestry Court stock, with the exception of the Daisy tribe, which traces from a cow bred by Mr. W. Child, Wigmore Grange. Amongst the bulls used were Andrew 3rd 908, StockweU 2793, Bolingbroke 1883, Bachelor 2941, Draco 3795, and Meteor 6072. Some of the sires have been bred on the farm, viz., Logic 2079, Rustic 3402, and Energy 1982. Two were bred by Mr. W. ChUd, Westonbury, viz.. Quack Doctor 8368 and Zurich 4281 . Among others used may be mentioned Cassio 1528, Newton 1667, Earl Derby 2nd 2510, Burton 1159, The Rover 2821, The Doctor 1083, Standard Bearer 3471, Comet 4449, and Prince Charming 5514. The sire in use now is a yearling bull Hamlet, by The Grove 3rd 5051, bred by Mr. A. P. Turner, The Leen. In 1884 Meteor 6072 and Captain Cuff 7469 were used. Meteor weighed 23 cwt. alive. The herd numbers about 80 head, and consists of specimens of the Aunt Esther, Daisy, Linnet, Strapper, Peacock, and Plum tribes. Sales have been made to Mr. Burleigh, Vassalbro, Maine, U.S.A., and to Mr. E. Yeld, Endale, for exportation to America. 226 HEREFORD CATTLE. CHAPTER IX. EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND (oontinued). Herds at Lynhales, Marlow Lodge, Marston, Monkhall, Montford, Nanhoron, New House, Northeaton, Pathada, Pencraig, Sherlowe, Showle Court, Shrawardine, Stapleton Castle, Stonebrook House, Stretton Court, The Grove, The Hellens, The HUl (Kings Pyon), The Leen, The Rodd, The Whittern, Trelonk, Trescowe, Trethiok, Wetmore, Wintercott, Zeals, &c. Lynhales. — The Lynhales herd was established by Mr. S. Robirison in 1865. In September of that year a considerable number of heifers were bought at the sale of Mr. Roberts, Ivingtonbiiry. Spinster was the first number in Mr. Roberts' private catalogue. She was one of four heifers that gained first prize in 1862, with her sire Sir Thomas 2228, at Ludlow and Leominster, and was dam of the Royal winner Bachelor, bred by Mr. Robinson and used at The Leen. There were also purchased at Ivingtonbury Prize Daisy by Sir Benjamin 1387, Princess Royal by Sir Thomas 2228 (a prize-winner at Leominster, Worcester, and Hereford in 1863), Duchess of Gloucester by Sir Thomas 2228, Rose of Warwick by Lord Warwick 2093, Fairmaid 2nd by Master Butterfly 1318, Frailty 3rd by Sir Thomas, with others having in their veins the Sir Benjamin and Sir Thomas blood. In 1869 the herd was strengthened by the purchase of three heifers from Mi-. Rogers, The Grove, viz.. Rose by North Star 2138, Spark 4th by Longhorn 3216, and Damsel 5th by Longhorn 3216. The Ist-named cow bred Horatius 5390 by Horace 3877. Mermaid EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 227 by Luxury 3233, dam of the grand cow Mermaid 2iid, sold for exportation, was, at 15 years old, when we last had intelligence from Lynhales, still breeding. In 1875, Cherry 19th by Prizeman 4063, was bought from Mr. Green, Marlow. She has bred eight live calves, and was dam of one of the heifers shown in the class of four that took third prize at Shrewsbury in 1884. The bulls used at Lynhales include Sir Thomas 2128, Douglas 2505, Luxury 3233, The Major 3514, Provost 4067, Bachelor 2941, Regulus 4076, Moorcock 6078, Horatius 5390, Valerius 6229, Highland Laird 7015, and Eose Stock 6651. There were at the date of our communication upwards of 50 breeding cows and heifers in the herd, including 12 by Eegulus, 11 by Horatius, four by Rose Stock 6651, and one by Highland Laird 7015. There were also two cows purchased at The Leen sale — Primrose by Dauphin 3058, and Diana by Spartan 5009. Animals have from time to time been sold to American breeders and shippers. Among the sales in 1885 were three cows and calves to Mr. R. Green, The Whittern, ten heifers to Mr. Pearce EUis, six heifers shown at the Royal (five of which were prize-takers), and six bull calves to Mr. W. E. Britten for exportation. Among the prizes awarded io 1884 were the third at Shrewsbury Royal for heifers and first for heifer calves at Newport (with Luna). Mr. John Andrews was awarded first prize and £50 for best Hereford in the yard at Birmingham in 1884 with an ox bred at Lynhales, sii-e Valerius 6239, dam Fairmaid 4th by Douglas 2505. Marlow Lodge. — Mr. J. B. Green established this herd upwards of 40 years ago with animals bred by the late Mr, Thomas JefEries and Mr. John Hewer; those acquired from the former being by Sovereign 404, and those from the latter by Mark 424. Subsequently he made purchases from Mr. Jones, Lower Breinton, and Mr. Perry, Monkland, at their sales in 1847. The cows and heifers bought at Mr. Jones' sale were by Lottery 2nd 408, Defiance 416, Berrington 435, Peter Simple 342, and Discount 339. At the same time Mr. Green bought the bull Zest of Oxford 2352 by Lottery 2nd 408, dam Lady Oxford, winner of the first prize at the first meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England at Oxford in 1839. Q 2 228 HEKEKOUD CATTLE. This bull was used for a number of years at Marlow. The cows and heifers bought at Mr. Perry's sale were by Gold- finder 383, Derby 209, .\Ionkland 552, and Commerce 354. Reference to the Herd Book will show the individual merit of these bulls. For msmy years Mr. Green had afarmin GwemafEel, at which he kept about 80 pedigree breeding cows and heifers. The following bulls were principally used at GwemafEel: — Sir Benjamin 1387, Loadstone 3213, Agriculturist 1842, Lord of the Manor 2622, Zealous 2349, Renown 2719, and Character 2nd 3011. When Mr. Green gave up this farm, he had sales in 1874, when the cattle stock (including between 30 and 40 young calves, making a total of 1 2 1 head) averaged £44 lis. Hd., the highest price being 130 guineas. In the year 1877 Mr. Green took his nephew (Mr. G. H. Green) into partnership, and the herd since that date has been in the joint names of Messrs. J. B. and G. H. Green. The present Marlow herd numbers about 140, including 53 breeding cows and heifers, 34 having recently been sold for exportation, in addition to those sold to home customers. The sires now in service are Mars 7844 by Regulus 4076, Spartan 5009 by Silver Boy 3019, Gambit 8639 by Conjuror 5264, and Merry Monarch 5466 by Triumph 3rd 4211. Messrs. Green have seldom been exhibitors in the show-yards, not considering it wise to sacrifice size for that purpose. They have always bred large, bulky animals, with plenty of quality and room to make heavy weights. They have sold four-year-old heifers that have weighed over 15 score per quarter (1200 lbs.), and a short time since they had a young bull, 14 months old, killed on account of accident, that weighed over 10 score per quarter (800 lbs.). Messrs. Green have always been in the habit of keeping the favourite old cows as long as they would breed, particularly of late years, when there has been such a demand for young heifers for exportation. There are several cows in the herd from 15 to 1 7 years old that breed regularly and have young calves now. Duchess 10th, upwards of 13 years old, produced twin calves last year, which she brought up without any extraneous assist- ance. The following are a few notes as to remarkable incidents in the old days of the herd: — Governess by Sovereign 404 was 33 years old when she was slaughtered, having produced 30 EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 229 calves. Her offspring reached great ages. Zealous 2349 was in regular service until his 15th year, when, owing to the effects of foot-and-mouth disease, he had to be slaughtered. Dowager bred regularly until 18 years old. Lady and Curly, the former produciag 16 calves, the latter 17, were, sold to the butcher when 19 years old. The cow Duchess by Zealous 2:349 was purchased by the late Mr. R. L. Burton at Mr. J. B. Green's sale at Gwemaffel in 1874 for 130 guineas. She was repurchased by Messrs. Green at the late Mr. Burton's sale at Longner in 1881, and is dam of Duchess 12th, sold as a yearling to Mr. Thomas Clark, Beecher, U.S., for whom she obtained first honours at the Illinois State Fair. Lady 8th by Zealous is dam of Eoyal 16th 6655, sold as a yearling to Messrs Earl and Stuart, Indiana, U.S.A., and has won numerous prizes at the American State Fairs. Cherry 4th by Zealous is dam of Cherry 24th, that gained first prize at the Shropshire and West Midland Show in 1878, and first in her class at the meeting of the same Society in 1879, when she was also first at the Herefordshire Society's Show. She was sold to Mr. F. Morgan, Hereford Park, Illinois, and during the numerous times she was shown in America she was, with only one exception, placed first. Marston. — ^Mr. H. Langston's herd was established by his father, Mr. W. Langston, in 1869 with four cows bought for him by Mr. B. Rogers, The Grove, at the sale of Mr. Thomas Williams' herd at PennywoUed Hall. The cows were Stately, Jinny Lind, Pyne, and Patti, all by Rover 4911, and were descended directly from the famous Newton herd. Mr. H. Langston succeeded to the herd in February, 1883. Cows were also bought from Mr. G. Yeld, Twyford, and Mr. P. Turner, The Leen. The cows were sent to Mr. B. Rogers' Sir Thomas 2228, and Su- Roger 2nd 4993, Mr. P. Turner's Provost 4067, Spartan 5009, and Silver Boy 3419. Cheei-ful 6351 by The Grove 3rd, and Mr. A. P. Turner's Hogarth 7714, were recently used; and the sire now in use is Chieftain, bred by Mr. A. P. Turner, by The Grove 3rd, dam by Pirate 6105. The herd numbers about 50 head, representing the following tribes: — Stately, Jinny Lind, Pyne, and Beauty Spot. 230 Hereford cattle. MoNAUGHTT. — Mr. Edward Thomas' herd was begun in 1844 by the purohaae of pure-bred Hereford cows without pedigree. He has since added to it by obtaining the cow Hebe 2nd at Mr. J. Rea's sale at Monaughty, and Lucy 6th at Mr. T. Rea's sale at Westonbury. In 1869 Melody 3rd was bought at Mr. Taylor's sale at Stretford; in 1883 Orange Blossom at Mr. Turner's sale at The Leen. The sire in use is Charity 2nd 5810, and pedigree bulls have always been used. The herd numbers 110 head, exclusive of calves. MoNKHALL. — Major T. MiUard Bennett purchased a cow at the sale of Mr. James Rea, Monaughty, in 1863, and two cows at the sale of Mr. Monkhouse, The Stow, in 1866, and fi-om these and their descendants he has formed a herd of over 80 breeding cows. Among the bulls may be mentioned Sir Oliver 2nd 1773, Sir Hungerford 3477, and Avon 2393. Hector 5961 was used during the last three years, and the bull Cornhft 5270 was purchased at the Hampton Court sale in 1885, taking the strain back to the old blood of Sir Oliver 2nd and Sir Hungerford. A number of cows and heifers have been sold to Mr. Barneby, Saltmarsh Castle, and five bulls sold to Mr. James Kay, The Limes, went to America. MoNTFORD. — This herd was commenced in 1856 by the late Mr. Henry Matthews, and the bulk of it was bought by the present proprietor Mr. T. S. Minton in 1876. Among the sires used previous to his ownership were Milton 2114, Early Purl 3084, and Vanquisher 5102, and since then Prizeman 4063, England's Glory 5314, Broadstone 5236, Assistant 6788, and Launcelot 7772, have been used, the sires at present in service being Assistant 6788 by Osman Pacha 5489, dam Miss Chance 3rd by Grateful 4622 (the dam of the champion bull Archibald 6290), and Launcelot 7772 by The Grove 3rd 505 1 , dam Belle by Spartan 5009. Among the few females bought was Agatha by The Grove 3rd, purchased at The Leen sale. The families principally represented in the herd are the Rosebud, Rebecca, Lady, Lucy, and Effie Deans. About 40 cows and heifers are kept for breeding purposes. MoRETON-ON-LuGG. — Mr. R. H. Ridler commenced the formation of a herd in 1860 by the purchase of females at Lord Bateman's sale at Shobdon. Some of the animals were EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 231 aired by Carlisle 923 and others were descended from the herd of the late Mr. Turner, Court of Noke. Cows and heifers were also bought from Mr. Price, Pillington, these being bred from Hewer buUs. The first sire used was Garibaldi 2004, bred by Mr. George Pitt, Chadnor. Defiance 1957 was secured from Mr. Benjamin Eogers, The Grove. Further purchases were made iu 1862 from the late Mr. John Eogers, The Stocken, two having been by Sir Benjamin 1387. In 1863 the herd was strengthened by purchases at the sale of Mr. James Rea's herd at Monaughty. BuUs from the Marlow, Wintercott, Adforton, and The Rodd herds have since been used. Nanhoron, North Wales. — This herd, the property of Mr. F. Lloyd Edwards, was commenced in 1846, when the buU Sunflower and six heifers were bought from Mr. Gough, Gravel HUl, Salop. Other animals were purchased from Mr. R. W. Price, Rhiwlas. In March, 1849, Gipsy by Trueman was acquired from the Rev. J. R. Smythies ^ her dead weight when slaughtered was 988 lbs. Marjory by Count, and Emmeline by Chancellor, were also bought at Lynch Court. Purchases were made at Stone Acton in 1856, Shobdon in 1860, The Buildings, Baachurch, in 1865, Rosedale in 1879, Brockhampton in 1880, Maesmawr in 1880, and Comberton in 1882. Bulla have been carefully selected, including several of CronkhiU, Baucott, and Coxall blood. Regent 6135, bred by Mr. Turner; The Leen, was also used. New House, CRA^1:N Arms. — This herd was started in 1828 by Mr. Richard Dawes, father of the present owner (Mr. Wm. M. Dawes), with some weU-bred cows given him by his father, and others purchased at sales and from some of the best herds. The bulls used in the early days of the herd were Young Tytheman by Old Tytheman 6th; a bull of Mr. Bowen's of Hewer blood; a bull by Fitzfavourite 442, Young Favourite by Old Favourite 441, Young Hector by Hector 535, Clungunford 869a, and Young Cotmore 334. Up to 1842 a very correct record of the animals had not been kept, but from that time to the present Mr. Dawes has kept an accurate statement. Good buUs have been used since 1842, many of them of considerable celebrity and of choice strains. 232 HEEEFOED CATTLE. The young bulls, Earl Wilton by Lord Wilton 4740, and Wilton Grove by Argyle, dam Amethyst by Lord Wilton, were purchased in 1885 at Mr. Goode's sale at Stocktonbury. Sales have been made for exportation, eight heifers having in 1884 gone to Senor Salas, Buenos Ayres. NoETHEATON, Leominstee. — Mr. T. Davies Burlton's herd was commenced in 1878 by the purchase of five cows and heifers from Mr. H. N. Edwards, Broadward. In 1879 four cows and heifers were bought from Mr. H. J. Bailey, Rose- dale, and in 1883 four were obtained from Mr. Burlton, Luntley Court. Bulls fuU of Lord Wilton and The Grove 3rd blood have been used. A number of animals have been sold to Mr. T. Clark, Beecher, and Messrs. Earl and Stuart, Lafayette, U.S.A. At the Leominster Show in 1883 four heifers from this herd gained the first prize. They were Augusta by Lord WUton 4740, Wild Goose by Eemus 5535, Stroke by Tele- scope 5630, and Meaty by Eemus 5535. Old Court, Beedwaedine. — Mr. Thomas L. Stokes' herd was established in 1878 by the purchase of 15 cows at Mr. Holloway's sale at Leighton. Purchases have since been made from Mr. Ward, Fairtree ; Mr. John Hewer, Marden; Mr. Badham, Arkston Court; Mr. Williams, Brobury Court; and Mr. Goode, Ivingtonbury. The first sire used was Hermit 5369, bred by Mr. John L. Hewer; and he was followed by Brampton 5231, bred by Mr. Thomas Nott, and Whitfield 5692, bred by the Rev. A. Clive. The herd numbers about 100 head. Pathada. — Mr. J. S. Tucker, Pathada, Cornwall, commenced his herd in 1874, when he visited the late Mr. Evans, Swanstone, and purchased three heifers. Curly, Adelaide, and Miss Cornwall. Curly and Adelaide were by Royal 4093, and Miss Cornwall was by Sir Oliver 4th 4982. They were three very useful heifers and were much admired at the Cornwall Coimty Show in 1875, Adelaide being acknowledged to be the best heifer of that year. The buU first used was Cupid 4486, bred by Mr. Duckham. Mr. Tucker also in 1874 bought two cows with heifer calves from Mr. Grose, Penpool, Wadebridge — Barmaid and Cheerful. The principal bulls in service since have been Trehurst 5667; H.R.H. 5988, bred by the late Mr. Evans, EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 233 Swanstone; and Mortimer 7130, bred by Mr. W. Tudge, LeinthaU. Mr. Tucker would now have had a large herd, but he has been very unfortunate with cows and heifers aborting, many of his best animals having had to be fattened on that account. Pencraig. — This herd was founded between the years 1830 and 1840 by the late Mr. Rees Keene of Pencraig, who then added to his own breeding cows a number of animals from the herds of the leading Hereford breeders of the day ; notably Lord Hereford, Mr. Poles of WooUaston Grange, &c. Pedigrees have since been kept, entries having been first made in vol. iii. of the Hereford Herd Book. The animals lately added to the herd have been as follows: — Lady Blanche, first at the Royal Show at Bristol and first at the Bath and West of England Show at Oxford in 1878, purchased at the sale of the late Mr. Wairen Evans, Llandowlais ; Snowdrop, also acquired from Mr. Evans : Jeffrey 6th and her daughter Beatrice, bred by Col. Fielden, Dulas Court, Hereford ; PoUy 7th, bred by Mr. R. L. Burton, Longner HaU; and My Lady and her daughter, purchased from Mr. E. Lister, Cefn Ha. Among the more noted sires used were Tredegar 4210, first at Newport in 1871, beating the Royal winner Von Moltke 4234; Arrow 3661, bred by Mr. B. Rogers, The Grove, a son of Sir Thomas, winner of the first and special prize as best animal in the yard at the Brecon Show; Lord Waterford 6045, a son of Lady Blanche, his son Reward having been first at the Royal and Bath and West Shows in 1 8 8 1 , and Return 6639, second at the Royal and Bath and West Shows in 1881. The later sires in use have been Rosebery 7235, another son of Blanche, whose stock have turned out exceedingly well, and Bangham 6793, by Lord Wilton 4740, purchased at the sale of the Chadnor Court Herefords in 1883, whose calves are also very promising. The herd numbers 40 breeding cows and heifers. The first animals exported from the herd were sent to America between the years 1845 and 1850 ; another lot was exported to America in 1850. Since then animals have been sold to Messrs. Adams Earl and Co., Lafayette; Mr. W. E. Britten for exportation ; Mr. Thomas Fenn, and others. A large number of prizes have been gained at the national and local shows. 234 HEREFORD CATTLE. Preston Court. — In the frequent references to the famous bull Horace 3877 will be found an indication of the stock at Preston Court, where this remarkable animal was bred by the late Mr. J. Davies. There are in the herd several animals of the same blood as Horace. The bull recently used was Attila 6790 by The Grove 3rd. Preston House. — Mr. Richard Jones, in the foundation of his herd in 1873 and 1875, selected cows from Mr. Pills, PosenhaU; Mr. Meredith, Heldre; Mr. J. Hewer; Mr. Rogers, CoxaU; Mr. J. E. L. Hewer, and others. Bulls from Showle Court, Vem House, Wintercott, and Court House have been used. Above All, bred by the late Mr J. Hewer, was used in the herd from 1875 to 1883, and was kUled at the age of 17 years, his weight being 17^ owt. The herd numbers 35 breeding cows. Pudleston Court. — This herd (Mr. Anthony Benn's) was established in 1881 by purchases at the Brockhampton sale and from the herd of Mr. Price, The Vern. Brave Beauty, bred by Mr. Bailey, Rosedale; Vesta, bred by Mr. Turner, The Leen; and Lady Alice, bred by Mr. Carwardine, have since been purchased, as well as animals from Mr. Mason, Comberton. The principal sires have been Hannibal 6463, CeDarman 6852, and Hamilton 8705 by Lord Wilton. Sherlowe. — Mr. G. T. Forester began breeding Herefords from purchases made at the sale of the late Mr. Thomas Jeffries at The Grove, Pembridge, on October 22nd, 1844. Of the five females bought there he has descendants of three, viz.. Lady Chance (lot 7), Miss Fitzfavourite (lot 16), and a daughter of Lady Chance (lot 30). He also bought at that sale the bull calf Paugh-a-Ballagh 268, winner of the first prize at Leominster that year. The cow Miss Fitzfavourite, with her calf and the buU Byron 380, were also first in their class at Hereford in 1844. In 1845 Mr. Forester bought from Mr. Carpenter, Eardisland, a two-year-old heifer by Hope 439, commended at Hereford. In 1847, at Mr. Carpenter's sale, a cow bred by Mr. D. Williams, Newton, by Mr. John Turner's Chance 348, was acquired. In 1867, at the sale of Mr. Thomas Morris, Therrow, Breconshire, a cow Rosebud — subsequently named by Mr. Forester, Norma — by Druid 1220, EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 235 was purchased; in 1868, at the sale of Mr. Ashwood, Downton, the cow Her ffighness, by Triumph 1779, was secured. Mr. Ashwood's herd was of the blood of his landlord Mr. Knight, Downton Castle, but Triumph was bred by Mr. Gravenor, who, as far as Mr. Forester knows, was about the last to possess a herd of the pure Tomldns' and Price blood. This cow. Her Highness, proved an excellent breeder, and curiously enough, though herself of grey blood on both sire's and dam's side, she brought only one grey calf. From the above-mentioned seven females the whole of the Sherlowe herd is descended, except that, at the Stocktonbury sale. Mi-. Forester bought the four- year-old cow Peg by Lord Wilton 4740, that has since brought him a capital heifer calf by Sylvester 8092 ; and a one-year- old heifer, Miss Ruby, by President Arthur 7177, out of Euby by Lord "Wilton 4740. The first bull used was Faugh-a^ Ballagh 368 (bought at The Grove sale), who died of pleuro pneumonia the following year, to replace whom, in 1847, Hope 439 was purchased from Mr. Carpenter. Since then the bulls used have been chiefly those of Mr. John Hewer's breeding, viz., Governor 464, Wonder 420, Darling 1202, David 1204, Doctor 1964, Mameluke 2nd 2632, Abdel Kader 1837, Above All 2910, and Abernethy 2908. At Lord Berwick's sale in 1861, Mr. Forester bought Severn 1382, by Walford 871, out of Mr. D. Williams' Eebecca by Mr. Hewer's Governor 464. From the Hampton Court herd in 1872, Minstrel 3256, by Sir Oliver 2nd 1733, dam Minnie by Sir Benjamin, was secured ; in 1874, Charm 6424, bred by Mr. Green, Marlow, was obtained; and in 1880, Downton Grand Duke 5878, bred by Mr. Price, Court House, was used. Occasionally also a home-bred bull has been used, notably Khapsodist 4902, by Minstrel 3256, out of Angelica Kaufmaim by Abdel Kader 1837 ; and Acheron 5177, by Charon 6424, out of Hetoera by Severn 1382. These two were very good getters and should have been used more freely in the herd. The bulls now in service are Othello 6092, own brother to Mr. Turner's prize bull Pirate 3368, purchased in 1881, and Plough Monday 9034, also bred by Mr. Turner, by iThe Grove 3rd 5051, out of Ehodia, and purchased at The Leen sale in 1883. Showle Court. — ^Mr. H. W. Taylor has not permitted the 236 HEREFORD CATTLE. reputation of the Showle Court herd to decline since he suc- ceeded his father as a breeder. On the contrary, he has in the course of the few years that it has been in his possession added to the fame of what has been for many years one of the most successful herds in the country. The composition of the herd has been sketched in a preceding chapter, and except by the use of one bull bred elsewhere Mr. Taylor has changed the blood very slightly. His selection of a sire was, however, inost fortunate. This animal, Franklin 6961, was calved in 1881, bred by the late Mr. Carwardine at Stocktonbury, got by Lord Wilton 4700, dam Coral by Rodney 4907. He made a decided impression on the Showle Court herd, and Mr. Housman, in the official report of the Shrewsbury Show, was justified in. saying that the style and quality of his offspring seemed to mark him as a sire whose influence was, perhaps, not less powerful for good than that of Lord Wilton himself. Unfortunately he died in 1884, when only three years old, so that his stock are more distinguished by merit than numbers. Of the more celebrated ajiimals in the herd a few may be enumerated. Adelaide, own sister to Modesty, was second to her at the Royal at York. She was by Tredegar, from Lovely, by Tenant Farmer 2806. Modesty won three first prizes at Royal shows at Derby, Reading, and York. Rosamond, by Taunton 5035, from Monkton Beauty 3rd by Mercury, was third at the Royal at York (where Mr. Taylor's herd supplied the first, second, and third prize winners in the cow class), first, with offspring, at Shrewsbury, first at Dublin, and second at Southampton in 1885. Modesty, Rosamond, and Adelaide, with Monkton Beauty 3rd, gained the first prize as best four cows at the Hereford County Show in 1882. Vanity 4th, by Adamant 5710, is dam of Vanity 7th. Empress, out of Young Beauty, and got by Tredegar, was second at the Royal at Bristol, and won prizes at several other places. Lady Led- bury, from Beauty by Holmer 2043, and got by Mercury 3967, being own sister to Tredegar, was purchased at Mr. Piatt's sale at Bamby Manor in 1883. Duchess 4th, by Tredegar, is the dam of Maidstone 8875. The heifer Vanity 7th was adjudged the champion female two years in succession at the Hereford County Show, and was also first at the Royal EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 237 shows at Shrewsbury and Prestwn. The three-year-old Maid- stone is one of the best bulls of the time. He was first two years in succession at Royal shows, and has gained several champion prizes. Both Maidstone and Vanity 7th are by the Lord WU- ton sire Franklin. Several younger animals have also been very successful in the show-yard, and the herd at the present time contains more first-class specimens tlian at any previous time in its history. Shrawardine. — Although a herd of pure-bred Hereford cattle had been kept at Shrawardine by the late Mr. James Crane for more than 50 years, the foundation of the present herd (now belonging to Messrs. Crane and Tanner) was pur- chased by him in 1868 at the Hopton Castle sale. The subsequent introductions were acquired from Mr. T. Rogers, Mr. S. Jones, Mr. T. Fenn, Downton, and in 1884, to obtain an infusion of the Lord Wilton blood, two females — Cassandra, by Lord Grosvenor 7804, a son of Lord WUton 4740, and Kathleen, breeding to that sire — were selected at the Stockton- bury sale. The bulls in service are Launcelot 7772, bred by Mr. P. Turner, The Leen, by The Grove 3rd 5051, dam Belle, of the Moreton tribe, and Good Boy 5942, bred by Mr. Aaron Rogers, The Rodd, by the champion bull Grateful 4622, from Lady Bertha by the Royal first prize btill Stanway 2790. Bulls have been sold to Mr. J. Bell, Buenos Ayres; Mr. Ned Price, U.S.A. ; The River Plate Land and Farming Com- pany, and heifers have gone to several of these buyers, as well as to Mr. W. B. Ives, Sherbrooke, Quebec. Stapleton Castle. — This herd, the property of Mr. E. J. Morris, numbers about 130 head of breeding animals, exclusive of 30 steers. It was originally started at Stanley Pontlarge, in Gloucestershire, some 25 years ago, on a farm the property of the Earl of Wemyss and March, where Mr. Morris resided for 18 years. Animals used in the formation of the herd were bred by Mr. B. Rogers, The Grove ; the late Mr. Rogers, The Stocken; Mr. Fenn, Stonebrook House; the late Rev. Archer Clive, Whitfield; the late Mr. W. C. Morris, Whitwick; the late Mr. Roberts, Ivingtonbury, and others. In the spring of 1875 Mr. Morris removed his herd to Gwernaffel, a large, hilly, poor farm, near Knighton in Radnorshire, At the 238 HEREFORD CATTLE. memorable sales of Mr. J. B. Green (Marlow Lodge), who was the outgoing tenant at GwemafEel, at which 120 cattle averaged nearly £44 each, Mr. Morris purchased 22 animals, mostly sired by or in calf to the wonderful bull Renown 2719, and including animals of the celebrated Cherry, Lady Mary, Vanity, Violet, Pearl, Old Governess, Cora, and Zoe tribes ; also Jessie and Satin from Mr. Gibbons, Hampton Bishop, the last two strains, through Shamrock 2nd 2210 and The Admiral, being closely allied to Horace 3877. From the late Mr. Tudge, Adforton, Mr. Morris acquired Dowager by Pilot 2156, Hermia by The Doctor 5045, and Picnic by The Doctor. At the sale of Mr. T. Eogers at CoxaU in 1878, Mr. Morris pur- chased Maid of Lome 2nd by Longhoms 3216, her twin heifer calf Louise of Lome by Cheerful 5254, and Tiny by Horace 3877. From Mrs. Edwards, Wintercott, came Dowager by Royalist 4921, and also Silver by the same sire. At the sale of Mr. J. Rogers at Pipton in 1881, two of the Sovereign tribe were purchased. The sires chiefly used by Mr. Morris at GwemafEel were Victor 4th 6116, by Renown and out of Mr. Green's Old Vanity; Baron Gulliver 5204, by Baron 4th 4326, purchased from Mr. T. Myddleton, then at Lynaven; The Duke 5638 and Charity 5249, home-bred buUs; and Royal 13th 6154. In 1882 Mr. Morris removed to Stapleton Castle, and his herd has greatly benefited by the change to a warmer climate and better soil. At Mr. W. E. Britten's sale at Stapleton Castle, Mr. Morris purchased seven females sired by Mars 12th 5457, Colerado 5257, Horatius 5390, and King of the Lilies 3892. At The Leen sale in 1883, he bought at very high prices Diadem by Corsair 5271, and Emerald by Provost 4067, both in calf to The Grove 3rd 5051. Both cows produced heifer calves, but unfortunately Emerald's was lost at birth. Another wonderfully good cow has lately been added in Pink 2nd, by Cremome 5279, pur- chased at the sale of Mr. Goode, Ivingtonbury. The sires now in use are Youngster 6269, bred by Mi-. T. Myddleton, Beckjay; Columbus 8024, by The Grove 3rd, out of Colum- bine, bought at The Leen sale by Mr. Hill, Pelhampton Court; and Captain Frere 8362, by Sir Bartle Frere 6682, for which £210 was paid at the Stocktonbury sale, Yoimgster has been EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 239 used for four seasons, and weighs nearly 24 cwt. He has proved a valuable sire. The younger bulls mentioned are of high promise. Charity 3rd 6350, by The Grove 3rd, has also been used, as weU as Mr. A. Rogers' Albany by Lord Wilton. Mr. Morris does not exhibit, as he considers it is more profit- able to keep a very large head of cattle and sheep on his farm iu a store state. That he does so is shown by the fact that on a farm of 540 acres he has generally about 150 cattle, and prior to the autumn drafts of store ewes beiug sold, between 800 and 900 Shropshire sheep, although nearly 200 acres of the farm are arable. It may be added that Mr. Morris belongs to a family well known in Hereford annals, his father's eldest brother, the late Mr. P. Morris, Newbury, having won first prize for aged Hereford bulls at the meeting of the E.A.S.E. at Liverpool in 1840. His uncle and cousin also successively occupied Stocktonbury, and bred many prize animals. Mr. Morris has sold largely for exportation, the following having been purchasers: — Mr. J. W. M. Vernon, Tustingham House, Quebec, Canada; Messrs. G. Leigh and Co., Beecher, Illinois ; Messrs. Mackie and Drew, Oshawa, Canada; the Iowa Cattle Company, Cheyenne, U.S.A ; Mr. Adams Earl, Lafayette, U.S.A., &c. Stonebrook House. — Among the breeding animals in Mr. Thomas Fenn's herd at Stonebrook House may be men- tioned Lady of the Teme, which was exhibited as a calf, and was winner of first prizes at most of the shows, viz., at the Royal at Wolverhampton, the Gloucestershire, the Leominster, and the Ludlow Meetings. She has since been shown as one of a pair of breeding cows, her own sister Queen of the Teme being her companion at the Shropshire and West Midland Meeting held at Ludlow, where they were awarded first prize. Both these cows, with Cornelia and Lady Stanton, were ex- hibited in a class of four breeding cows and gained first prize; the three first-named cows being still in Mr. Fenn's herd. Queen of the Teme is the gi-anddam of Downton Rose, which took first prize as a two-year-old at the Bath and West of England Show at Worcester. She was also first at the Royal in 1881 as a • two-year-old first at the Herefordshire Show, and first at the Shropshire and West Midland in the same 240 HEREFORD CATTLE. year. Downton Rose was afterwards sold for exportation to America. Brecon, still in the herd, is dam of Downton Baroness, which had reserve numher as a calf at the Eoyal. Cornelia ia the dam of a hull calf hy Auctioneer 5194, sold for exportation to America, and there disposed of for 124 guineas. She is also the dam of three or four heifers which have gone to America. Hopbloom is dam of Downton Hop- bloom, sold to go to America for 200 guineas. Mr. Fenn has also Spot, bought at Major Peploe's sale for 110 guineas, and a cow from Stocktonbury for which he gave 130 guineas. A heifer has been sold for 300 guineas for exportation to America. About 50 cows are generally put to the bull. The sires recently used have been Auctioneer 5194 by Horace 2nd 4655, Lord Wilton 4740 (of which Mr. Fenn was the joint proprietor), Downton Boy 5877, Downton Grand Duke 5878 by the champion bull Grateful 4622, and Sir Garnet 9236, the last a son of Lord Wilton. Downton Boy won second prize at the Royal at Kilburn. Auctioneer has never been shown, but he has proved himself a capital sire. Lord Wilton has been referred to elsewhere. Mr. Fenn has been selling cattle for the last five or six years for exportation to the United States, Canada, and Australia, the purchasers including Messrs. Gudgell and Simpson, Messrs. Burleigh and Bodwell, Mr. Cook, Brookmont, Mr. T. L. Miller, and Mr. C. M. Culbert- son, in the United States, and the Hon. J. H. Pope, Hon, M. H. Cochrane, and Mr. Gibb, in Canada. A steer bred by Mr. Fenn by Romulus 5542, sold to the Hon. M. H. Cochrane, won the sweepstakes, value £100, for best carcase of any breed at the Chicago Fat Stock Show in 1882, when he was exhibited by Mr. C. M. Culbertson. Among the sires that have most im- pressed their character on the herd are Severus 2nd 2747; Blakemere, bred by Mr. Haywood ; Silver Chief, bred by the Hon. H. Noel Hill ; Romulus 5542, bred by Mr. Tudge ; and those whose names have been given as recently in service. Stretton Court. — A long notice of Mr. J. H. Yeomans' herd at Stretton Court would be required were it not for the fact, that in March, 1882, Mr. A. H. Swan of Cheyenne, bought nearly the whole of the stock, numbering 95 head, only a few old favourites being retained as the nucleus of a EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 241 second herd, which has already attained considerable dimensions. The connection of the Yeomans family with the improvement of the breed has been referred to in another portion of the book. Mr. Yeomans' herd was chiefly descended from the stocks of Mr. John Hewer, Mr. G. Tomkins, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. John Yeomans, Mr. Peren, and others. The Hewer blood was held in especial esteem, and there was a very beautiful family of Ivington Roses, tracing from Mr. Peren's grand cow of that name. At the time of this large private sale Mr. Yeomans' yoimg stock were mostly by Helianthus 4641 and Lord Wilton 2nd 6562; the former, bred by the Earl of Southesk, was got by King of the Lilies, a son of Mr. J. D. Allen's Royal winner Queen of the Lilies, and out of Mr. T. Rogers' Queen of Hearts. At ten years old he weighed 3024 lbs., and his stock were so fine that he has continued to be kept in service. Lord Wilton 2nd was by Lord WUton, from Mr. Carwardine's Charity 2nd by Longhorns 4711. There are still a few members of the Hinton family (deep in Hewer blood), and some good animals came from Mr. Piatt's at Barnby Manor. Other purchases have been made from the best breeders, so that the new herd is already of goodly size, and selections have been most carefully made. Mr. Yeomans haa in his possession paintings representing the famous bulls Sovereign 404 and Lottery 410, which were presented by Mr. John Hewer. An engraving of Sovereign is given in this work. The Bury, Stoke Prior. — ^Mrs. Bazley's herd was es- tablished by her late husband Mr. John Bazley, then at Lower Wickton, in April, 1870, by the purchase of 14 cows and heifers at Mr. Thompson's sale at the Oxhouss, Shobdon, several of them having been bred by the late Mr. Price, Pem- bridge. The Hampton Court bulls were used, as well as one each bred by Mr. Bray, DUwyn; Mr. T. Roberts, and Mr. ChUd, Westonbury. The herd numbers 60 head. The Grove. — It is nearly half a century since Mr. Benja- min Rogers commenced at Doluggan, in Radnorshire, to lay the foundation of the herd that, since its removal to The Grove, Pembridge, has exercised such a remarkable influence- on the Hereford breed. This is, indeed, one of the historic 242 HEREFORD CATTLE. herds of cattle, and to do justice to it would require a greater amount of space thati is at our disposal. In 1837 he obtained four heifers by Cupid 198, selected from the herd of his brother, the late Mr. John Rogers of PiUeth, and six heifers by Batch 468, from Mr. Ricketts, The Batch. In the pedigrees of the earlier sires used by Mr. Rogers on the heifers acquired from Pilleth and The Batch will be found a powerful infusion of the blood of Mr. John Hewer's Sovereign 404. The first bull used by Mr. Rogers was Sovereign 2nd 1739, calved in 1837, bred by Mr. Rogers, Pilleth, got by Sovereign 404, dam Lady by Cupid 198. Then followed Charity 375, bred by Mr. E. Jeffries, by Byron 440, dam by Sovereign 404. A few of the other early sires used may be mentioned: — Portrait 372, bred by Mr. E. Jeffries, by Mr. Hewer's Lottery 410 ; Charity 2nd 1535, by Radnor 1366, of Tully blood ; Old Court 306, bred by Mr. Parry, and also of Tully blood ; Gay lad 2nd, by Gaylad 400, dam by Old Court ; Prince 251, bred by Mr. Yeld, descended from a cow by Mr. Knight's White Bull 246 ; Severus 1062, bred by Mr. Rea, Monaughty; and Young Royal 1470, by Mr. Rogers, The Stocken, by Royal 331, a son of Cotmore 376 (who was by Sovereign 404, dam by Lottery 410). Mr. Rogers' Prettymaid 2nd, as the result of a visit to the famous Sir David 349 in 1855, produced in February, 1856, the remarkable bull Sir Benjamin 1387 ; while Damsel, by Gaylad 2nd 1589, calved in March, 1857, the bull called The Grove 1764. Both Prettymaid 2nd and Damsel were descended from Curly, one of the heifers pur- chased from Mr. Ricketts in 1837. Mr. Rogers did not long retain Sir Benjamin, which was sold to Mr. Rea, Weston- bury. At The Grove he became the sire of Bolingbroke 1883, dam Damsel, who was also the dam of The Grove 1764. Bolingbroke was sold to Mr. Turner, The Leen, and was used very successfully in his splendid herd. From Mr. Rea, Mr. Rogers acquired one of Sir Benjamin's sons, Sir Richard 1734, which became the sire of North Star 2138, largely used in The Grove herd, and who was afterwards disposed of to Mr. Bannister, Weston. Besides The Grove 1764 and North Star 2138, The Doctor 1964, bred by Mr. EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 243 John Hewer, by Defence 1207, was employed in the herd during this period. Mr. Rogers next purchased Sir Thomas 2228, bred by Mr. T. Roberts, Ivingtonbury, and got by Sir Benjamin, for £409 1 Os. Sir Thomas left at The Grove a collection of magnificent stock. He was the sire of Sir Roger 4133 (from a dam by North Star 2138), which had such a beneficial influence on Mr. Tudge's herd at Adforton, where, among his offspring, were Lord Wilton 4740, Regulua 4076 (the sire of Mr. Price's Hotspur 7028), and Giantess, the dam of Lord Coventry's Good Boy 7668 and Golden Treasure. Mr. Rogers sent the cow Blossom, by Sir Thomas, for service by Horace 3877, and the issue was The Grove 3rd 5051, who became the sire of perhaps as many prize animals as any buU living. The Earl 2nd 5048, by Sir Thomas 2228, from one of the Strapper family, and Grand Duke 5342, bred by Mr. John Price, by Horace 3877, have since been in the herd. The sires in use at The Grove are Assurance 5193, bred by the late Mr. Carwardine, Stockton- bury, sire Longhorns 4711, dam Florence by De Cote 3060 ; and Charity 4th 7480, by The Grove 3rd, dam Daisy by Sir Thomas. Assurance, calved in 1876, was the sire of Tre- grehan 6332, one of the best bulls in the United States. la a note from Mr. Rogers he remarks : — " I have sold between 300 and 400 young bulls at an average of about £50 each. They have been distributed in 13 counties in England and Wales, besides Ireland and Scotland, and a good many have been exported to America and other parts of the world, and I am happy to say they have given general satisfaction." The number of pure-bred Herefords owned by Mr. Rogers at The Grove and at the adjoining farm of Stansbatch is about 200. These notes merely indicate the material of which the herd is composed. An account of what Mr. B. Rogers has done for the breed must be sought for in the notices of the Ivingtonbury, Adforton, The Stow, The Leen, Westonbury, Monaughty, and many other herds. The Haven, Dilwtn. — Mr. George Bray, sen., commenced breeding Herefords about the year 1830, with strains from his uncle, Mr. George Tomkins, Wistaston. He continued with the same stock for years without a change, never pur- B 2 244: HEREFORD CATTLE. chasing a female except of the Tomkina blood. He, however, crossed with bulls from such breeders as Perry, Cholstrey ; Monkhouse, The Stow ; and Carwardine of Stocktonbury. The Helleks.— Mr. C. W. RadcMe Cooke's herd at The Hellena was founded in 1882 by the purchase of a cow and heifer calf from Mr. Moore, Monksbury Court. The cow Wood Pigeon was bred by the late Mr. Taylor, Showle Court, and was typical of his strain of animals ; also by the purchase in the same year of three cows and calves, and three heifers in calf from the herd of Mr. S. Jones, Broadstone. The calves were by Mr. Jones' bull Columbus 6359, and the heifers were in calf to the same sire. At the sale of Mr. Mason's herd at Comberton, a cow and calf were also purchased. The calf was got by Earl 3rd 5049. The bull Hero 7011 by Kimbolton, dam Lilian by Rodney 4907, was also bought. The chief animals since added have been the heifers Plum and Playful 2nd, bred hy Mr. Turner, The Leen. At the Stocktonbury sale the bull calf Professor by Lord Wilton, dam Tidy by Longhorns 4711, was purchased for 300 guineas. Lydia Vanguard was bought at Mr. Price's sale at The Hawthorns. It may be added that Hellens has always been celebrated for its Hereford cattle, and Mr. Rad- chfEe Cooke has prize cups won by his grandfather, the late Mr. Edward Wallwyn, in 1805 and 1811. The Hill, Eyton. — This herd was founded many years ago by the late Mr. R. Griffiths, Devereux Wooton, sires having been used from Mr. Tomldns and others. In 1852 his son, Mr. W. P. Griffiths, Hyard Samesfield, commenced breeding with heifers from his father's herd, all of which were mottle-faced, but from continual crossing with the best sires they have for nearly 20 years become red with white faces. At the death of Mr. W. P. Griffiths the herd was sold in 1881, when the present owner (Mr. R. T. Griffiths) bought 21 cows and heifers. Amongst the sires used were Wellington 1113, bred by Mr. Edwards, Wintercott; Young Protector 1816; Abdel Kader, bred by Mr. Hewer; Antagonist 2927, another of Mr. Hewer's ; King John 6504, and others. Recently Hilarity 8734, a son of The Grove 3rd 5051, has been in service. The herd numbers 80 head. EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 245 The Hill, King's Pton. — In 1844, when the herd of Mr. Theophilus Salwey, Ashley Moor, was sold, the late Mr. H. R. Evans, Swanstone, purchased two heifers — one by Young Trueboy 1475, from Lovely by Ashley Moor White Bull 870; the other by Ashley Moor 791, from Primrose by Ashley Moor White BuU 870. They both traced, on their dam's side, to the herd of Mr. T. A. Knight, Downton Castle, of which a detailed account will be found in an earher chapter. The descendants of these formed the Lovely and Primrose families. The Rose family came from the herd of Mr. Edward Price, Court House ; and that of Silver, crossed with bulls of the Knight- Salwey stock, has produced several prize-winners. Bulls from Chadnor Court, Monaughty, Court House, and other first-class herds have been used, and in the late Mr. Evans' possession a very high position was taken in the show-yard, among the winners being Lady Oxford, subsequently sold to Mr. Gibson, Reedy Creek, InvereU, New South Wales, who shortly after her arrival in that colony refused £700 for her. She was by Chieftain 2nd 1917, from Beauty, a descendant of Lovely. Prince of Wales 4059 by the same sire, and from Lofty, a cow of the same family, after gaining first prize at Hereford was sold to the Hon. James White of Martiadale, Hunters River, Sidney, and was considered one of the best bulls ever imported into New South Wales, his stock proving first- rate. This bull was a grandson of Stately 2nd, a Royal winner of whom the late Mr. Henry Corbett remarked in his paper upon " Heads," in the " Journal of the R.A.S.E." — "One of the kindest heads I ever saw on a Hereford was that of Stately 2nd, the property of Mr. Evans, Swanstone." When, on the death of her husband, Mrs. Evans removed to The Hill, she took the herd with her, and under her management, assisted by her son Mr.H. R.Evans, the stock have maintained their high character, although showing has been rarely resorted to. Animals have been sold to go to the Royal herds at Windsor as well as to foreign breeders. Recently the sire in use has been Adforton 5179 by Mareschal Neil. The Leen. — Mr. A. P. Turner, now at The Leen, founded his herd at Strangworth, near Pembridge, in 1876, by select- ing 12 cows and heifers from the herd of his father (Mr. 246 HEREFORD CATTLE. Philip Turner, The Lean). As has already been mentioned the original herd was established in 1780 by Mr. A. P. Turner's great-grandfather, Mr. James Turner, Aymestry Court, and has been bred from the same stock by his grandfather, Mr. Philip Turner, Aymestry Court, and liis father, Mr. Philip Turner. Few crosses have been introduced except through the purchase of bulls. At the sale of his father's herd, Mr. Turner pur- chased three cows — Belle by Spartan, Lemon by HUdebrand 4646, and Comely by Prince Arthur 3345, together with her heifer calf Camelia by The Grove 3rd 5051. Belle traces back to a cow purchased from Mr. Hayton, Moreton, by Mr. P. Turner when he begun breeding in 1839. Mr. A. P. Turner was anxious to obtain this cow, as he had none of her tribe in his herd, and she has proved to be a good breeder. The sires used have been Spartan 5009, bred at The Leen, by Silver Boy 3419, bred at Cronkhill, out of Eglantine, by Bolingbroke 1883; Corsair 5271, bred at The Leen, sire Dictator by Regulus 4076, dam Rhodia by Subaltern 2794; Pirate 6105, bred at The Leen, by Corsair 5271, dam Dorcas 4th by Leominster 3910 (Pirate was first at the Royal Show at Derby in 1881, and won numerous first and special prizes at other meetings in 1880 and 1881); The Grove 3rd 5051, bred at The Grove, by Horace 3877, dam Blossom by Sir Thomas 2228. We have referred to The Grove 3rd in notice of Mr. P. Turner's herd. The price at which he was sold at the sale at The Leen (810 guineas) was the highest that had, up to that time, been paid for a Hereford; his son Rudolph 6660 having made 700 guineas. Other bulls used have been Hogarth 7714, sire The Grove 3rd, dam Helena by Corsair 5271; Osman Pacha 5489, bred by Mr. John Price, Court House, by Truro 5677; Assurance 5193, bred by Mr. Car- wardine, Stocktonbury, sire Longhorns 4711, dam Florence by De Cote ; and recently Sir Edward, purchased by Mr. A. P. Turner at the Stocktonbury sale for 185 guineas, has been employed. He is by Lord Wilton 4740, dam Delight by Sir Frank 2762. The fame of The Grove 3rd is well known, and both Spartan and Corsair left some beautiful young cows. The herd numbers 106 head, including 13 steers. The tribes represented are the Aymestry Court strains from Daisy, May- EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 247 flower, Fairmaid, and Almond; the Wigmore Grange tribe descended from Beauty by Old Coiirt 306, and introduced into the herd in 1885; the cow BeUe and her heifer Hyacinth by The Grove 3rd, of the Moreton tribe; and Lemon, tracing back to The Grove herd. Sales have been made to Messrs. Burleigh and BodweU, Maine, U.S.A.; Messrs. Gndgell and Simpson, Missouri, U.S.A.; Messrs. Nelson and Son, Liverpool, for exportation to U.S.A.; Messrs. George Leigh and Co., Illinois, U.S.A.; Hon. M. H. Cochrane, HiUhurst, Canada; and various other foreign and home buyers. In the spring of 1884, 12 bull calves were sold by auction and averaged £83 5s. 3rf. each. Four were purchased by Messrs. George Leigh and Co. for exportation to U.S.A., and the remainder were distributed among home breeders. Three of the buUs made 150 guineas each. Since then Mr. Turner has taken The Leen farm, which is larger than the one he previously occupied, and he has been unable to part with any females, but several bulls have been sold. In 1882, at the Herefordshire Show, and at the Shropshire and West Midland Show, Mr. Turner gained first prize for best four yearling heifers with Ethel, Beatrice, Rosina, and Hawthorn; in 1883 he was also first at the Here- fordshire Show for four yearling heifers with Portia, Bertha, Victoria, and Nina, being second at the Royal at York with Portia; in 1884, at the Herefordshire Show, he was, for the third time, first for best four yearling heifers with Kathleen, Hilda, Violet, and Millicent, taking the same high honour at the Koyal at Shrewsbury. In that year, at Lord Tredegar's Show at Newport, he was first for yearling heifers with Kath- leen. At the Herefordshire Show in 1885 he was second for four yearling heifers with Bstelle, Eugenie, Hortense, and Galatea. Kathleen was second at the Royal at Preston in 1885, and gained first and champion prizes at Lord Tredegar's Show at Newport. The prize for four yearling heifers at the meetings of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society has been given by the Hereford Herd Book Society, and Mr. Turner won it, as we have seen, three years in succession. The Limes, Peeston. — Mr. James Kay brought a number of Herefords into Lancashire, purchases being made chiefly from Mr. James W. Ford, New House, Brinsop. Most of 248 HEEEFORD CATTLE. these were bred to go to America, but Mr. Kay has again collected a number of good specimens. The Lowe. — Mr. John Bound's herd at The Lowe, Pem- bridge, was commenced 30 years ago by the purchase of a cow from Mr. J. S. Bannister, Weston. Her produce was put to biills bred by Mr. Bray, Lower Haven; Mr. Cranston, Little Dilwyn; and Mr. Burlton, Luntley Court. Eighteen years ago a cow of the Tomkins blood was bought from Mr. Merrick; and one from Mr. Bryan, LyonshaU, bred by Mr. Kogers, CoxaU. Other cows have been pui'chased from Mr. Higgins, Norton Canon, and Mr. Turner, The Leen. The buEs used have been from the herds of Mr. Burlton, Luntley Court; Mr. Langston, Marston; Mr. A. P. Turner, The Leen; Mr. B. Kogers, The Grove; and Mr. J. Morris, Lulham Court. The bull from The Grove was Cheerful 6351 by The Grove 3rd 5051, and that from Mr. Morris, Tokar 9319, that had reserve number at the Royal at Shrewsbury. A bull by the Lord Wilton sire Torro 7313 was purchased at the Ivingtonbury sale. The Eodd. — Mr. Aaron Eogers cormnenced his herd at PiUeth, ia the county of Radnor, about 27 years ago, by the purchase of cows from his father, then residing at The Stocken, in the same county, and who owned a capital herd of pedigree Herefo'rds, in whose veins ran the blood of Cotmore 376, Sovereign 404, Portrait 372, Confidence 367, and Young Royal 1470, bred by Mr. Rogers, which had been mated with females from the herds of Mr. Ricketts of The Bach and the late Sir F. Lewis of Harpton Court. Mr. Rogers, sen., is said to have been the last breeder who used the celebrated Sovereign. It wlQ thus be observed that in these early Stocken cattle the Hewer strains were very strongly infused. Subsequently Mr. A. Rogers purchased five heifers by Trump 2842 from the late Mr. Price, M.P., of Norton Manor, and he also obtained the cows Silvery and Morella from the herd of Mr. Edwards of Wintercott. In 1866 Mr. Rogers bought, at the sale of his uncle, Mr. David Rogers of The Rodd, some females of the old family strains, and in the following year four others from the herd of his brother, Mr. Thomas Rogers of CoxaO, one of them being Purity, bred by the late Mr. Eea of Monaughty, EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 249 another being Silver, bred by his uncle, Mr. Benjamin Rogers, at The Grove, and a third beiag Lady Court Lass, bred by his father, and the dam of the famous prize bull Grateful 4622. The first buU he purchased was ViUage 1791, bred by Mr. Eea, Monaughty, who allowed Mr. Rogers to send some cows to Sir Benjamin 1387 ; he also used Magnum Bonum 2097, Sir James 3448, Gratitude 3147, Stanway 2790, a prize buU bred by Mr. Tudge, Adforton, and afterwards sold to Sir Joseph Bailey, M.P., for 200 guineas; Grateful 4622, winner of £371 in prizes; Marquis of Waterford 5454; Bredwardine 5233, by Horace; Osman Pacha 5489, by Truro 5677, the well-known son of Horace; Charity 3rd 6350, by The Grove 3rd 5051; Archibald 6290, from Miss Chance 3rd; Albany 7364, got by Lord Wilton, and from Maude by Marquis of Waterford; Painter 2nd 8976, got by Archibald 6290, and from Pip ton Lass by Hildebrand 4646 ; and Pleasant 7167, by Osman Pacha. Grateful and Archibald were two of the finest show bulls ever seen, and gained numerous prizes at Royal and other shows. At the Hereford Coimty Show, Albany, when one year old, was put before his half-brother, Monarch, belonging to Mr. John Price, and he was second as a two-year- old to Mr. Hughes' Washington at the Royal at Shrewsbury. Mr. Rogers has sold a large number of animals for exportation, the purchasers having included Messrs. Gudgell and Simpson, Hon. M. H. Cochrane, Messrs. George Leigh and Co., Messrs. Burleigh and Bodwell, and Mr. P. W. Stone, &c., while he has a constant demand for his bulls from the best home breeders. The Whitteen. — A very choice herd has been established withia the last few years by Mr. Richard Green, The Whittem. At The Leen sale in 1883 nine females were purchased, viz., Triaket by Spartan 5009, Pearl 2nd by Spartan, Maggie by Silver Boy 3419, Duchess 5th by Corsair 5271, Rosa by Cruickshank 5849, Laura by Spartan, Gipsy Queen by The Grove 3rd 5051, Belladonna by Spartan, and Graceful by Plantagenet 5503. The cows Sarnsfield Cherry 3rd by Bidney Boy 6310, Cherry Pie by Docklow, and Luna Star by Sir Watkin 4999, were acquired from Mr. Robinson, Lynhales. At Mr. Carwardine's sale at Stocktonbury, Beatrice by Long- horns 4711, Perfection by Rodney 4907, and Bertha by 250 HEREFORD CATTLE. Rodney, were bought, while five females were selected from Mr. Arkwright's herd at the sale at Hampton Court in 1885 : — Ivington Lass 9th by Mareschal Neil 4760, Orange Blossom 7th by Maxeschal Neil, Orange 6th by Conjuror 5264, Pearl 4th by Ivington Boy 4662, and Beauty 11th by Con- juror. At Mr. Burlton'a sale at Luntley Court, Cowbridge Lass by Pertly 3498, and Gaylass 5th by Pertly, were pur- chased, while Bedford 2nd by Cremorne 5279 came from Ivingtonbury. The bulls now in use are Alexander, dam Linnet, sire Lord WUton; and Whittem Grove by Silver Boy, Highland Laird, Rose Stock, and Hogarth have also been used. There is such a combination of choice blood and good looks here as should ensure the success of the herd. Trelasker. — Mr. W. G. Hotten's herd at Trelasker, Corn- wall, was established in May, 1871, by the purchase from Mr. Duckham, Baysham Court, of Dainty 7th (vol. viii., p. 191) and her heifer calf Beauty by Avon 2393, and Jewel (vol. viii., p. 224) with heifer caM Jewess by Avon 2393. At the same time WaterHly, by HUdebrand (vol. xv., p. 335), and her heifer calf Lotus by Beguildy 4342, were bought from Mr. Thomas Nott, Buckton Park. Spangle by Cincinnatus 3749, bred by Mr. Nott,'and Dart 4th by King of the LUies 3892, bred by Mr. W. E. Britten, Stapleton Castle, were also acquired. The buU Gamester 3118, bred by the late Mr. Gibbons, got stock with thick, heavy flesh and good constitution. Viceroy 5679 left useful animals, dark in colour, well fleshed, and deep milkers. Grand Duke 5342, Ethelred 6421, and Hartington 6468 have also been used; and the sire recently used has been Brampton 5231. Several cows and heifers have been sold to the Iowa Hereford Cattle Company, and bulls have gone to Buenos Ayres. The cow Jewel bred until she was 1 6 years old, her last calf promising to be her best. Trelonk. — Mr. John T. PauH's herd at Trelonk, Cornwall, was begun in 1865 by the purchase of Ringdove, by Great Eastern 1598, from Mr. Richard Davey, Palsue House, Cornwall, and, in the same year. Dairymaid by Conservative 1931, bred by the late Mr. W. Dingle, Trelonk. Li 1878 the herd was increased by the acquisition of Patch 2nd by Truro 5677, from Mr. John Price, Pembridge; and Bulb 2nd by EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 251 Banquo 2nd 5199, from Mr. H. N. Edwards, Broadward. The bulls used have included Gamester 3118, Duke of Cornwall 4530, Mariner 2nd 5688, Grand Duke 5342, Eoseknd 6151, Grand Duke 2nd 7675, and Clinker 9718 by Eose Stock 6651, the last named being now in use. Patch 2nd has done well in the show-yard and also as a breeding cow. Bulb 7th, dam Bulb 2nd, won first prize in her class at the Penzance Meeting of the Royal Cornwall Society, also first at the Devon County Show and first at the Sherborne Show in 1885. The Dairy tribe, descended from Dairymaid, has also produced several prize-winners. Trescowe. — This Cornwall herd, belonging to Mr. R. S. Olver, numbers from 120 to 150 head, and was founded by the late Mr. Thomas Olver about the year 1844, when he purchased some pure-bred Herefords from the Earl of St. Germans, who at great expense had founded a large herd principally from the stock of Mr. Hewer, Hampton Lodge, and used the following bulls bred by Mr. J. Hewer, viz.. Lot- tery 2nd 408, Defiance 416, Baron 418, and St. Germain 430. About 1855, Mr. Olver bought from the old-established herd of Mr. Lobb, Lawhilton, Cornwall, Beauty (vol. iv., p. 82), my (vol. iv., p. 142), and Honeysuckle (vol. vi., p. 220), all by Eory O'More 1711, bred by Mr. P. Turner, The Leen. In 1857 he bought at the sale of the herd of Mr. J. Y. Cooke, Moreton House, Princess (vol. iii., p. 204), Cheerful (vol. iii., p. 137), Patience (vol. iii., p. 196), Victress (vol. iv., p. 203), and Brunette (vol. v., p. 139). He also bought from Mr. E. Price, Court House, Queen (vol. iii., p. 206); in 1858, at the sale of the herd of Mr. T. Longmore, Buckton, he purchased Blossom (vol. v., p. 133), Fanny (vol. v., p. 187), Dove (vol. v., p. 172), Ringdove (vol. vi., p. 302), all by Young WaMord 1820, who was by the noted buU Walford 871. Daisy (vol. vii.,p. 230), bought at the sale of Mr. R. Davey, Polsue, Cornwall, was by Zippor 2354, a son of Sir Benjamin 1887, and was bred by Mr. Rea, Monaughty. Pure-bred bulls from the best herds have always been used, and those now in service are Merlin 7851 by The Grove 3rd 5051, bred by Mr. Turner, The Leen; and Dunbar 8550, a grandson of Lord Wilton 4740, bred by Mr. Carwardine, Stocktonbury. For many years the cows 262 HEREFORD CATTLE. were milked at the dairy, the butter sold, and the calves reared on skim milk, the steers being run on coarse pasture during the summer, and sold fat at three years old, sinoilar to the ordinary Devon cattle of the district. The cows were found to be good milkers, and the steers very hardy and capital graziers. In 1865 Mr. T. Olver took PenhaHow Farm and put a part of his Hereford herd there; his eldest son, Mr. E. S. Olver, remaining at Trescowe and continuing to breed Hereforda. Trethick. — The nucleus of this herd, belonging to Mr. A. Legh Olver, was acquired from Mr. T. Olver, late of Trescowe, Bodmin, about 30 years ago. The families are descended from Dove, bred by Mr. T. Longmore, Buckton; Strawberry, bred by Mr. Jeffries, The Grove; Cheerful, bred by Mr. Cooke, Moreton House; and Miss Coningsby, bred by Mr. Addis, Nockerhall. Mr. Olver has been using bulls belonging to breeders in the neighbourhood, viz., Mr. Goose's Champion 3733, Premier 4852, Proctor 5523, Victor 6244; and Mr. R. S. Olver's Grand Turk 3853, Gambler 3116, Kinsman 2nd 4688, Duke of Cornwall 5883, and Winstanley 6258. The bulls recently used have been Mr. R. S. Olver's Merlin 7851 and Dunbar 8550. Wetmore. — A considerable portion of Mr. E. Grasett's fine herd at Wetmore traces straight back to the earliest Herefords of which we have any record, being descended from the cele- brated stock of the late Rev. J. R. Smythies of Lynch Court. Mr. Grasett was for eight years in partnership with Mr. George Smythies, son of the gentleman just named, and on his retirement became sole proprietor in 1878. Sires of capital blood and good personal quahties have always been used. Among the more recent of these may be mentioned Spark 5th 5008, bred by Mr. J. B. Green, Marlow, got by Dauphin 3058, of the Spangle tribe; Roarer, by Mr. Taylor's grand show bull Tredegar 5077; Downton Star 4522, bred by Mr. T. Fenn, Stonebrook House; Romulus 5542, bred by the late Mr. Tudge, by The Doctor 5045, dam Bannerette by Sir Roger 4133, bought at the Adforton sale for 120 guineas; Benjamin 7th 4350 and Blakemere 5227, bred by Mr. Haywood, Blake- mere House; Victory 4th 5117, bred by Mr. Green, by EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 253 Renown 2719; Fairy Prince 5319, bred by Mr. Lutley, Brockhampton, by Coriolanus 3769, going back on the dam's aide to the best Hewer blood, and winner of first prize at the Royal Show at Truro in 1880; Hartington 5858, bred by Mr. Rogers, The Grove, by The Grove 8rd 5051; his son Head- strong 5960; Horace 4th 5388, by Horace 2nd 4655; Horace 6th 5027, by Horace 3877; and Rocket 2nd, by The Grove 3rd. The strains thus skilfully worked into the herd are the very choicest, and the blending of the Sir David and Sir Thomas blood with that of Horace is a decided feature, the result of mingling the two most famous modem lines with the old Lynch Court sorts being very successful. Mr. Grasett's herd generally numbers from 38 to 40 breeding cows. Locket 2nd by Spark 5th is descended from Mr. Smythies' Lovely, the early sires in the pedigree being Trusty 15, bred by Mr. Price of Ryall, a son of his famous cow Toby Pigeon, and Goliah 37, also bred by Mr. Price, and full of the best Tomkins blood. It is mainly from this family that the speci- mens of the old Lynch Court herd now at Wetmore are derived, and the heavy flesh for which the old Tomkins cattle were celebrated is still retained. The bulls recently used have been Horace 4th 5388, by Horace 2nd 4655, dam Sunflower; Horace 6th, by Horace 3877, dam Gillyflower by Wolver- hampton Boy 4198; and Hartington 5358, bred by Mr. B. Rogers, The Grove, got by The Grove 3rd 5051, dam Gay by Longhorn 3216. The winner of three first, five second, and one champion prizes, Hartington has been sire of many prize- winners both at home and abroad, some of his stock having been particularly successful in Canada, and he has established for himself the reputation of being one of the leading sires of the day. He was sire of the best Hereford in the show- yard at Smithfield in 1883, and of Miss Annie, the heifer that gained the silver medal as the best heifer in the Dominion of Canada, open to all comers. Mr. Grasett has sold largely for exportation, a number having gone away a week or two ago. Prior to the more recently exported lot he disposed of a large number of animals to the Hon. M. H. Cochrane. HUlhurst, Canada; Mr. C. Cook, Iowa; Messrs. Gudgell and Simpson, Messrs. Leigh and Co., Messrs. Smythies and Strange, South 254 HEREFORD CATTLE. America; Messrs. Swan and Co., Wyoming; Mr. G. F. Morgan, Mr. T. L. Miller, Mr. BisseU, Mr. Culberton, Mr. Stevens, South America; and Mr. DanieU; while 15 were disposed of to Mr. L. L. Bridges, Ontario, Canada. White House, Brinsop. — Mr. Norman Edwards has a choice small herd at White House, representing strains procured from Mrs. K. Edwards, Mr. Dearman Edwards, Mr. Mason, Comherton; Mr. PauU, Trelonk; Mr. Taylor, ThingehiU; Mrs. Yeomans, Stretton Court; and Mr. Britten, Stapleton Castle. The Comberton sorts are full of the blood of the well-known Commander 4452, and those from Stapleton Castle are of the Strapper famUy. The younger animals are by Silverston 6174, bred by Mr. John Price, got by Regulus 4076; and Defender 5866, a Royal winner, bred by Mr. Mason, got by Commander 4452. Whitton. — Mr. Edward Taylor's father commenced breed- ing Herefords in 1833 and used buUs from some of the best herds of the day, but no records were then kept. In 1857 Mr. E. Taylor began to keep a herd book, and used buUs from the herds of Messrs. Taylor, Roberts, Tudge, Sheriff, A. R. B. Knight, B. Rogers, J. B. Green, T. Penn, T. Rogers, P. Turner, and T. J. Carwardine. Among the bulls used were Titterstone 1775, Severus 2nd 2747, Battenhall 2406, and Franklin 3223. Mr. T. J. Carwardine, Stocktonbury, commenced breeding from heifers by Titterstone 1776, his famous Helena, a Royal winner and dam of Anxiety 5188, tracing back to this bull. Franklin 3823, by Sir Frank 2762, was used in the Stocktonbury herd. WiNTERCOTT. — Mr. AUen Edwards Hughes has enhanced the celebrity of Wintercott as a breeding establishment since he acquired the herd, and his name is rarely absent from the prize lists of the priacipal shows. As to the strains represented in the herd a few notes wiU be found elsewhere. Among the animals now at Wintercott a few of the more celebrated may be mentioned. Beatrice 4th, out of Beatrice by Commander 4452 ; Bluebell, also by Commander, and from a half-sister of Beatrice; Beatrice 3rd, by Tredegar 2nd, dam Beatrice 2nd; Spangle 6th, by Tredegar 2nd from the prize cow Spangle ; Laurel 3rd, by Commander; the Royal winner Modesty, by EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 255 Commander; and Beatrice 2nd, by Royalist, the first prize winner at Liverpool. Her son, Sergeant-Major 9199, is a favourite bull m America, and will keep alive the fame of bis sire Rudolph 6660, whose death was such a loss to the herd of the Wyoming Hereford Association. Rudolph was bred by Mr. P. Turner, The Leen, got by The Grove 3rd 5051, dam Primrose by Spartan, and, after leaving some excellent stock at Wintercott, was sold by Mr. Hughes to go to America. Linnet, by Commander, from Laurel by Winter de Cote, was the dam of Ladybird, the first prize yearling heifer at the Royal Show at Preston in 1885, but which has since died. Others are the fine old cow Sonnet, by Leominster 3rd, from whom the Spangle family is descended; Purity by Royalist; Newton Plum by Rudolph, dam Plum 3rd; Snowdrop by Rudolph, from Spangle 6th; Luna by Commander. One of the most valuable cows in the herd is Plum 3rd, by Commander. She was dam of President 6111, sold to Mr. Cochrane after winning first prizes at the Royal, Bath and West, and Shropshire and West Midland Shows. Her next bull calf was Iroquois, by Lord Wilton, in Mr. Arkwxight's herd at Hampton Court; then she produced Washington, by Rudolph, which, after winning first prize at the Royal Show at Shrewsbury, went to head the herd of the Iowa Company. Last year's calf was sold to Messrs. Swan and Co. The four- year-old Sunflower, by Commander, dam Spangle 4th, first prize winner at the Royal and several other shows, has been much admired for her wealth of fiesh, symmetrical form, and rich coat of hair. Sunflower gained the champion prize over all breeds as best cow or heifer at the Bath and West Show in 1886. The young stock by Washington are very promising. Garfield 2nd, the sire recently in service, was bred by Mr. Price, Court House, got by Old Court 6086 (a son of Horace 3877), dam Plum 3rd by Challenge 3005a. Through him and Rudolph the Horace blood has been pretty freely infused into the herd. WooFERTON. — This herd was established in 1835 at Stoke Farm, Tenbury, by the late Mr. Thomas RawHngs (father of the present owner, Mr. John Rawhngs), his cattle being of great size and heavily fleshed, comprising a few mottle faces. 256 HEREFORD CATTLE. In 1847 the management came into Mr. John Rawlings' hands. Sir John 3454 left a decided impress on the herd, and both he and Sir John 3rd 3456 were the sixes of prize-winners. Longbow 3214, a son of Mr. J. B. Green's famous cow Governess, was also used. Most of the cows now in the herd are by Aston Court 6787. At The Leen sale Marcus 7840, a son of The Grove 3rd, was purchased, and Pipton Sovereign 6603 is now in use. Several animals have been sold to Messrs. Leigh and Co., U.S.A. WooDMAJfTON. — The first bull introduced to the herd was Hector 6470, purchased from Mr. Wilcox, Ledbury. The aire lately used has been Mr. Robinson's Lord Wilton bull Rosestock, which was used for a season, and there has been collected the nucleus of what promises to be a very fine herd. Zeals, Wilts. — This herd, belonging to Mr. John White, was begun in 1819 by the purchase of pure-bred Herefords from the most eminent breeders. Subsequent additions have included the cow Quickset by Sir Thomas 2228, bought at Mr. Roberts' sale at Iviogtonbury. Among the sires used were Hero 2040, bought from Mr. T. Edwards, Wintercott ; Young Hopeful 5701, bred at Zeals, dam Quickset by Sir Thomas 2228, sire Berrington 2414, by Sir Thomas 2414 ; Justice 5404, bred by Mr. J. D. Allen, out of the magnificent cow Queen of the Lilies ; Helianthus 4641, bred by the Earl of Southesk : Garnet 5928, from a half-sister of Lady Blanche, a Royal winner, bred by the late Mr. Warren Evans, Llandowlais, by Cheerful 5254. Bulls have been sold to home breeders, and five cows were disposed of to Messrs. Burleigh and Bodwell for exportation. Mr. White has not recently exhibited his stock, but in former years a great num- ber of prizes were won by the Zeals herd. The herd is quite exceptional in its character, two dairies of 90 pure-bred Here- ford cows being kept. The foregoing notes do not give any particulars regarding many useful herds, but we have endeavoured to use the greater part of the information that has been received. It will not be attempted even to mention several herds that are deserving of detailed description, but it may be stated that, in addition to those enumerated, there are good stocks belonging to Lord EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 257 Bateman, Shobdon; Sir J. R. Bailey, Glanuak; Mr. T. Nott, Buckton Park; Dr. Morris, Madley; Mr. Handley, Portwillim Mr. Lewis, Shobdon; Mr. Gough, Bordesley; Sir Joseph Bailey; Mr. Jones, Broadstone; Mr. Boughton Knight, Downton; Mr. C. Nott, Bury House; Mr. Lewis Loyd, Monks Orchard, &c. 258 HEREFORD CATTLE, CHAPTER X. CHARACTERISTICS OP THE BREED AND SYSTEM OP MANAGEMENT. Charaoterietios of the Breed. — Their distinctiveness and uniformity. — The " white face." — Its fixity. — Hereditary power. — Colour. — Con- formation. — Mr. John Hill's typical Hereford. — Their wealth of flesh. — Well mixed meat. — Its quality. — Herefords as graziers. — Grand yard cattle. — Hardy constitution. — Dairy properties. — Improve- ments in form. — Mr. Terry's experiences of the breed. — Mr. E. J. Morris on their merits. — Mr. W. G. Hotten and Mr. J. S. Tucker on Herefords in Cornwall. — Mr. White on Herefords in Wilts. — Systems of management in the herds of Mr. A. P. Turner, Mr. G. T. Forester, Mr. Robinson, Mr. George Child, Mr. John Hill, Mr. Tudge, Leint- hall, Mr. James, Mappowder, Mr. W. S. Powell, Mr. G. H. Meire, Mr. Rees Keene, Mr. T. Davies, Mr. T. S. Minton, Mr. E. Yeld, Mr. E. S. Fetherstonhaugh, Mr. Hotten, Mr. Adam Lee, Mr. W. J. Smith, Messrs. Crane and Taimer, Mr. R. W. Reynell, Mr. E. J. Morris, Mr. Purdon, Mr. A. L. Olver, Mrs. Turner, Lynch Court, Mr. John Broad, Mr. John Taylor, Mr. Lloyd Edwards, Mr. J. H. Arkwright, Lord Coventry, Mr. R. Olver, Mr. J. T. Paull, Mr. R. W. Hall, Mr. John Rawlings, Mr. W. Griffiths, Mr. Naylor, Mr. T. C. Yeld, &o. Hereford cattle are remarkable for the distinctiveness and uniformity of their outward characteristics and general attributes. The red curly hair, and broad, kiadly-looking white face mark the trail of the Hereford wherever the breed has roamed. In former times, as we have seen, the mottle- faced and grey strains were cultivated, but all these have disappeared, and now the "white faces" reign supreme. This distinguishing feature would seem to be indelibly stamped in the breed. The ever-present outward and visible sign of the breed, it forms a striking instance of the remarkable power and reliability of undiluted, long-sustained hereditary influence. It tells us also that wonderful results may be achieved by persistent, skilful, and methodical breediiig, and gives us CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 259 confidence as to the future of our valuable races of stock, whose useful properties are cultivated with sustained energy and sound judgment. The almost unique permanency of the white face is the strongest possible evidence as to the purity of the Hereford breed. Hereditary power is the surest sign of purity of descent; and it maybe doubted if any characteristic in any of our domesticated varieties of farm live stock is more firmly fixed than the white face of the Hereford. And there are other features in Hereford cattle almost as well established as the white face. Who that visits our live stock shows does not admire the beautiful rich red curly coats of the Herefords ? They are noted also for their quiet, docile tempera and kindly expression of face, features of some practical importance, for they are indicative of good fattening properties. The prevailing colour is red, from moderately light to dark in shade, with white face, and white on the shoulder top and in the underline. Some prefer the deep rich i-ed, while others favour the paler shades. In conformation, the breed displays nearly as much uni- formity as in colour. The most striking features in this are their broad level back, deep wide chest and brisket, hanging dewlap, light thighs, and great wealth of flesh. We have often heard strangers remark upon what some of them have designated the " wedgy " appearance of Herefords — their great development in front, broad loins, and thin thighs. The light hind leg, as well as the great development in the fore parts, are heritages of the good old times when Herefords were beasts of burden, when they tilled the fields and " carried the harvest." The broad back, wide rib, and wealth of flesh have been cultivated for the purpose of meat production, but the old characteristic of light thighs, though less apparent than it 'has "been, is still a noticeable detect m man-j aMioala. Tlte more successful of modem breeders have with good results given careful attention to the removal of this deficiency. In the introductory chapter we have reproduced in full Marshall's portrait of the typical Hereford of a hundrtd years ago. That representation so nearly corresponds with the Hereford of to-day that it would be read with interest in this connection. As to the features that are looked for in the s 2 260 HEREFORD CATTLE. modern typical Hereford, we do not think we can do better than quote the following from the pen of Mr. John Hill of Felhampton Court.* " In judging Hereford cattle at breeding shows, in my opinion too little attention is frequently paid to the question of whether the animals brought into the ring are in a healthy breeding condition or not. I believe that the judges should first satisfy themselves on this point, especially in the older classes. If they have been fed abnormally fat, and cannot walk freely and easily, and are bad upon their legs and feet, or even go cramped and crippled, I should certainly vote for their rejection at once. When judging a bull, I should look for a good masculine character, and a pronounced style and good carriage, which would intimate that he is likely to stamp his progeny with his own form and attributes. A bull with- out these characteristics is almost sure not to be a good and impressive sire. " The head should be well set on — ^not carried too low and stuck on like a pig's, as some are. It should not be narrow or too long, but wide between the eyes, which should be full and prominent, yet mild, showing a quiet disposition and apti- tude to fatten. I like a good wide muzzle and clear nose. Usually a good body follows a good head. I would never give a prize to a bull with an effeminate weak head if I could find another in the class at all passable, and failing such, I would withhold the prize. The crest should be well developed, and have a good white mane. I do not fancy any Herefords without some white on their shoulders, although, of course, its absence is no great point against an animal ; and I dislike a bull with narrow crops, and think this a very bad fault, for Herefords are most emphatically a beef breed, and narrow chines are most objectionable where beef is wanted ; on the other hand, the narrow chine is a special attribute of the deep milking sorts — for example, the Jerseys. A young bull, having good crops, wide between the top of shoulder-blades, and having a good fore-flank, will, even if he is not quite filled up behind the shoulder, nearly always ' come ' in that • How I Judge Herefords. By Mr. John Hill. Agricultural Gazette Almanac, 1885. CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 261 place as he matures, so tliat it should not be thought a very- great fault if he is slightly deficient there. " A good back is a point that should carry a gi-eat deal of weight with the judges. A bad-backed one should be put on one side, as most of the best outs of beef worth most per pound come from that part. I think there is a difEerence between a low loin and a weak loin. The former may be well covered and packed with flesh, and is not such a fault as one that is bare and lean. If an animal has rather prominent hips and is high on the crup, the loin often looks lower than it really is ; as also, when the ribs are especially well sprung the hollow behind the shoulder looks more than it really is. These points should be well tested before awarding the order of merit. Long full hind-quarters, and well-developed wide thighs, well let down to the hooks, should score many points, and narrow thighs should be always considered one of the gravest faults. " Perhaps I should have mentioned before that I consider quality counterbalances a multitude of other faults, and I should always reject an animal that did not handle well, as, failing in this, they can never feed. Good hair, and plenty of it, is also a great desideratum. Of course, at the summer shows many animals have cast their coats, but there is always some evidence of what their winter coats are, which a practised eye can tell at once. I like a beast that stands over plenty of ground, and with his legs well outside him, the belly line as close to the ground as possible, without being ' tubby.' A big bony animal is certainly to be avoided, but a little size as well as quality must be an advantage to all concerned, for ' when you have done weighing you have done selling.' " In the case of cows and heifers, it is difficult to ignore the fact that they are in a breeding condition when they have calves by their side, even though they may be grossly over- fed. Still there should be a limit, and I think it an objection to an animal being shown as a breeder, if it is in a fit state to be shown immediately afterwards at a fat stock show. I like a clean-cut dehcate head, ydih the same features that I men- tioned above for bulls, but with nice feminine character instead of the bull's masculine appearance. A ' gay ' head 262 HEREFORD CATTLE. need not be objected to, provided the horns are not cocked up and turned back — ' up-tumed ' horns are very different from ' cock ' horns. A bull-like coarse head is the worst kind, to my mind, as it gives no style and smartness to the animal. I am not fond of the very dark reds, as I believe those of a lighter colour — not too pale — feed quicker, and are usually of better quality. Beauty of form and symmetry should be always considered by the judges as two strong points in the favour of animals possessing them." An important characteristic in Hereford cattle is that they carry flesh most heavily on the parts of the frame from which the best meat is cut. Their broad backs are usually loaded with meat of the very finest quality, and the average Hereford carcase is found to have its fat and lean mixed in the most admirable manner. Butchers and consumers alike hold Hereford beef in high esteem. ' ; Indeed the gi-ass-f ed Hereford beef enjoys quite an enviable reputation, and brings top figures in the best markets of the country. The perfect mixing of Hereford beef has been notorious for generations, and has frequently been illustrated both by brush and pen. The proporition of lean to fat is exceptionally large, and the whole is juicy, tender, and choicely flavoured. Hereford cattle are unsurpassed as graziers. Robust in constitution, quiet in temperament, kindly feeders, and large growers, they thrive and fatten admirably on pasture land. Mr. Charles Howard of Biddenham, a leading Shorthorn breeder, every year buys a lot of Hereford steers — " they are such grand yard cattle," And his experience is corroborated by that of many others who rear and fatten " white faces." No variety of cattle will give a better return for the run of a yard, and moderate feeding during winter — say pulped roots, straw chaff and a few pounds of cake or grain. It is well known that Herefords are exceptionally robust and hardy. They suffer less than most other varieties from exposure to cold and wet, and it would appear that their share of the common ailments of the cattle kind is comparatively light. Abortion is of rare occurrence, and Hereford cows even when submitted to extreme high pressure in feeding breed with remarkable regularity. CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 263 It has been noted in earlier chapters that the dairy properties of Herefords were at one time of a high order. In Culley's "Observations on Live Stock " (1794), it is stated that a good cow after reariag her calf 11 or 12 weeks — ^when it is weaned and turned to grass — "will produce from 6 to 8 lbs. of butter a week for three or four months after taking off the calf, and double that quantity of skimmed milk cheese. They do not give so large a quantity of milk as Suffolk cattle, but it is much richer in quality." In the "Farmer's Magazine" of 1844, there is an account of some experiments as to the relative dairy properties of Herefords and Shorthorns which were conducted by a gentleman in Leicestershire, who kept a large dairy. The Shorthorn gave the larger quantity of milk, but that of the Hereford was much the richer, both in butter fat and curd. Unfortunately these good dairy properties have not been maintained in the maia body of the breed. As will be seen presently, those gentlemen in Cornwall who have taken up Hereford cattle have kept milk production carefully in view, and there the breed enjoys a good name in the dairy as well as in the feeding house. But in the old home of the Hereford attention has been too exclusively devoted to beef production, with the result that while the quality of the Hereford milk is as rich as ever, the yield is rather less now than formerly. The system of allowing cows to suckle their calves is unfavourable to the development of large milk production, and this practice has long been prevalent in Herefordshire. Still the experience in Cornwall and in other instances, where the dairy has been an important consideration, shows] that with skilful cultivation the dairy properties of the Hereford might be raised to a useful standard. Mr. A. P. Turner writes: — "My father [Mr. P. Turner] tells me that for symmetry and quality the modem Hereford is far before the Hereford of 50 or 60 years ago. The cattle bred in those days were of great size, with narrow chines, wide hips, thighs generally rather thin, immense horns spread- ing out and giving the animals a very grand appearance, heavy bone, and an immense weight of good flesh, but more unevenly laid on than at present. The oxen were rarely sold under three years old. The chief improvements now are that they 264 HEREFORD CATTLE. have less bone, more even flesh, mature eaxlier, and consume less food. In 1804 my great-grandfather ofEered to show an ox bred and fed by himself, for £100, against any ox in the county of Hereford. The challenge was not accepted. He had the ox slaughtered and sold out in joints. I have full par- ticulars of the prices received for each joint, which, altogether, including hide, tallow, &c., amounted to £81 9«. id. His dead weight, sinking the ofEal, was 24 score 8 lbs. per quarter. I believe he was about five years old, and fed on grass. My cousin, Mr. P. W. Turner, of Lynch Court, Pembridge, has a good painting of this ox." As to the grazing capabilities of the breed, we have some notes from Mr. Joseph P. Terry, Berry Field, Aylesbury, who buys annually about 200 Hereford steers, generally about two and a haK and three years old. The cattle are grazed entirely on grass in fields varying from 20 to 100 acres, and are bought in the months of March and April, costiog last season (1885) from £18 to £23 each, being lower in value last spring than for some years past. He has given as high as £25 to £26 for a drove. He Kkes them very much for grazing purposes. They fatten quickly, " I may say more quickly than any other breed, get to heavy weights, and always find a ready sale for them, being good butchers' beasts. I commence selling them in July. Those that do not get fat, which are only inferior animals, are stall fed in November. I may add that I graze about 100 head of other breeds, but my preference is for Herefords. I cannot find the Shorthorns sufiiciently well bred, and they cost more money when bought, and are much more for money when sold. I buy the principal part of the Herefords in Herefordshire and Shropshire ; some from the farmers who winter or breed them, and others at the different fairs and markets. I may add that I have two brothers who feed each about the same number as myself. I see nearly the whole of them bought and sold, and they are all fed in a similar way to my own — nothing but grass. Herefords crossed with Shorthorns also make excellent grazing animals." The fattening properties of the breed are vigorously set forth by Mr. E. J. Morris, Stapleton Castle, Presteign, who writes CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 265 as follows : — During my residence in Gloucestershire, I liad ample opportunities of testing the merits of the Hereford with those of their great rivals the Shorthorns. I am speaking now more particularly as to the relative value of the two breeds as beef producers, for although many Hereford cows are very excellent milkers, and the milk of the breed is generally far richer than that of the Shorthorn, I am not prepared to say that the Shorthorn is not the more valuable breed from a dairyman's point of view. But I contend that the Hereford will produce more beef in proportion to the food consumed, that is, it will make more beef per acre. I do not say I ever went into the details of weighing the animals and the food they consumed, but although my test was one of capacity and not of weight, it was equally conclusive to my mind and it never varied. It was my custom to have Hereford cows on one side of a long cow-house, and Shorthorns on the opposite, in the winter, when none were giving milk. They were fed chiefly upon chafB with a few roots pulped among it. This was given to the cows in a " wisket" or " kipe," and given to them in equal quantities, but the Shorthorn could always eat a feed or two after the Hereford was satisfied. Then again the Hereford has the greater amount of roasting to boiling meat, and generally of better quality, as proved repeatedly by the reports of our great meat markets, where at the end of the report one very frequently sees added the words, " A few Heref ords made one farthing per lb. more." With regard to proportion of meat to offal, there cannot be two opinions, the bone of the Shorthorn being very much the heavier and larger. As a sire for crossing purposes I consider the Hereford by far the most impressive, and the Cheltenham butchers have told me the best bullock they hang up is a cross between the Heref ords and the Shorthorn — so much lean meat in proportion to fat, and of the best quality and grain. But then you must mind which way you cross. I speak from experience when I say it makes all the difference in the world whether the Hereford is the sire or the dam. 1 say he must be the former. Whoever saw a more beautiful beast than the champion at Islington in 1884 ? He was bred from an ordinary Shorthorn cow by a pedigree Hereford buU. Bred in this way, the 266 HEREFORD CATTLE. calves generally favour the sire much more than when the cross is in the contrary way, and I look forward to a great demand for pure-bred Hereford buUs to cross with dairy cattle. Of the heifers when they calve, the best milkers can be kept for the paU and the remainder fattened off. As the Americans say, the Herefords are much the best " wrestlers "-::^ that is, they can better fight for a living. Nature has provided them with good constitutions and warm coats, which enable them to bear the cold weather and poor food of the more exposed districts better than the more tender breeds. Then they are generally more docile and placid than most breeds. Another trait in their favour is their comparative freedom from disease. Although I have bred and owned some hundreds of cows, yet I never knew a Hereford cow have milk fever or the drop after calving, so common among Shorthorn cows ; neither a disease called the " yellows,'' a very common and troublesome complaint. Pleuro also I believe them to be freer from than any other breed — at least it has never come under my notice, whUe I have known many instances among other breeds. The hoose or husk among calves is almost unknown amongst them. Another dis- tinguishing point in favour of the Hereford cow is her longevity or power to bear age. At ten years old she looks no older than a Shorthorn at half the age. It is nothing uncommon for cows of this breed to arrive at 20 years old, and breed regularly, and instances of still greater age are not rare. It is supposed that old Governess lived to be 33 ! and only a few years before she bred the twin bulls Zeal and Zealous. She was bred by the late Mr. Jeffries of The Grove (who alao bred Cotmore), and was purchased by Mr. J. B. Green of Marlow, at the sale of Mr. Moore of Newton. Unfortu- nately the catalogue of the sale is lost, so there is no authentic record of her age, but there is no doubt it was very great. Cotmore, juat mentioned, weighed no less than 35 cwt., probably the heaviest beast ever bred in England, and as good as he was great. Another notable Hereford was the renowned Admaston bullock. I have the catalogue now before me of the sale of the stock of the late Mr. John Haynes of Admaston, near Wellington, Salop, on the 9th of November, 1857. The CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 267 bullock was known then to be over 20 years old, and his description is as follows: — " The renowned Admaston bullock, supposed to be the largest in the kingdom. Dimensions: height 6 ft. lin.; in length from the nose to the setting on of the tail, 10 ft. 6 ins. ; girth 10 ft. 2 ins. ; breadth from point to point of horns 3 ft. 3 ins. Supposed weight 24 scores per quarter." — (1920 lbs). He was purchased for show purposes by a friend of the writer's, but he began to pine away as soon as he was removed, refused to eat, and set up a continual moaning, and died in a few days (it was believed) from a broken heart. Mr. W. G. Hotten, Trelasker, Tregoney, Cornwall, states that a gentleman having an estate adjoining his farm has been breeding Shorthorns, some of which were descended from the best Shorthorn sires that have been brought into the county. A few years ago this gentleman sent two or three of his inferior heifers to try a cross with me of Mr. Hotten's Hereford bulls. These half-breds were sold at two years old, and pure Shorthorns at three years old, to the same dealer, after having been kept alike in everj- respect. The two-year-old half-breds realised 20«. per head less than the three-year-old Shorthorns. Mr. Hotten thinks this a most conclusive proof of the superiority of the Hereford cattle over Shorthorns as beef producers, and it is only one of many instances that have come under his notice. With him Herefords fatten more readily and attain greater weight in a given time on less food than any other breed he has yet met with. He finds they are increasing in favour with butchers, as they produce more lean meat, and consequently more saleable joints. He says there has been and stiU is a great prejudice against Hereford cattle in Corn- wall, and consequently they are in few hands. But they are steadily progressing, and -mil no doubt be the dominant breed in the county, as they are, in his opinion, eminently adapted to the exposed hill aides and the humid, fickle climate of the county. Answering a question particularly as to the milking properties of the breed, Mr. Hotten says that when he took the farm of Trelasker he had several Jersey and Shorthorn crosses. Some of them were put to Hereford bulls, and he has found their milking qualities fully retained. He has 268 HEEEFOBD CATTLE. occasionally taken a Hereford cow when required to give mUk for the house, but only in one instance has he tested them. That was in the case of Jewess, bred by Mr. Duckham ; she produced 1^ lb. cream per day, making 1 lb. 6 ozs. butter. He finds the cows require a good deal of attention for sometime after calving, to keep the milk under. If pedigree Hereford cows were treated like ppdigree Shorthorns, he considers them at least their equals in yield of milk and butter. He has not tried the Shorthorn on Hereford, as he thinks it would be the wrong cross. The dairy is quite of secondary importance with him, but he gets a large number of cows sent to his Hereford bulls — these cows are kept principally for dairy purposes. For the last three years he has had about 70 thus sent per annum. Mr. J. S. Tucker, Pathada, Cornwall, finds the pure- bred Hereford will make beef faster than any other breed he has tried. Many people in Cornwall are prejudiced against them, saying butchers do not like them; but, observes Mr. Tucker, in my opinion that arises from Hereford cattle being sold before they are ripe. They so quickly look fat that graziers are apt to sell too soon. I have found, when fed fairly well, they are quite as heavy as they are called, and have never had a complaint from a butcher when kUling pure- bred Herefords. The breed is increasing in Cornwall, and I have no doubt it will still continue to do so. There are now some very good herds in the county, and I feel sure if we are to face the increasing competition in our markets, it will only be successfuly done by breeding first-class stock, and I know of none better than heavy-fleshed Herefords. With regard to the general management of Herefords in Cornwall, I find for rearing calves the better plan is to let the calves suck the dams for three or four months. We like to get our calves in early spring. They are then strong to face the winter. In crossing Herefords for general purposes we find that the Hereford bull put to a South Hams cow produces a better beast than any other, the Hereford giving quality to the large, roomy South Hams. The great object Mr. White, Zeals, Wilts, has had in view during the many years his herd has been in existence, has CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 269 been to select animals for their milking qualities, as well as their aptitude to fatten. In this he has succeeded, as the cows in his herd are undeniably good milkers as well as beef producers. The young stock are kept in open sheds during the winter with plenty of yard room, as it is found that young animals kept too much in confinement are not so hardy and do not do so well when turned out to grass. The cows are put on straw when not being milked at the fall of the year, and are kept on hay, a little cake, and roots after calving, until the grass time, when they are turned out. The heifer calves are weaned by the dairyman, who has one quarter's rent per cow allowed him for each calf well reared. The bull calves are reared by foster-mothers. The cows that are intended to be fattened are well kept during the summer months, and it is remarkable what they wOl do for themselves and their calves. In Mr. White's experience Herefords are extremely hardy, a death seldom occurring in the herd. Last winter 150 were wintered, and not one was lost. The services of a veterinary were not required, and only one or two cows calved prematurely. Grazing beasts are fattened from four to seven years old, and sold irregularly. Pure- bred Herefords have been in the dairy for 16 years and upwards, during which time they have produced yearly a calf. For 66 years pure-bred Herefords have been kept on the Manor Farm, Zeals, as dairy cows, and their milking qualities have been greatly improved by special attention to the selection of animals descended from good milkers. A number of cows are also let, the greater part of them being pure-bred Herefords, and they give great satisfaction to dairy- men. Going from the south of England into the north-east of Scotland, we have from the Earl of Southesk and Mr. Cop- land, Milton of Ardlethen, Aberdeenshire, strong testimony as to the excellent fattening and other good properties of the Hereford. The communications in which this testimony is contained will be found in chapter xi., as also further similar evidence from Ireland, America, and other distant lands where the Hereford has found a resting-place. Regarding the systems of management pursued in Hereford 270 HEREFOKD CATTLE. herds we axe able to present some interesting notes with which we have been favoured by leading breeders and graziers. Mr. A. P. Turner, The Leen, says he endeavours as much as possible to get the calves dropped in the spring months — February, March, April, and May. They run in the pastures with their dams until autumn. The heifer and steer calves are then weaned and fed upon hay, roots, and about 2 lbs. of crushed oats and cake each a^day. Those intended for bulls of course get more liberal treatment. When turned to grass the following spring the young stock get no extra food. In the second winter they are fed upon straw and turnips, with sometimes a little hay. The cows get straw and a few roots until they calve ; sometimes a little hay in addition. The stock bulls are kept inside, but are not fed at all highly. When above two years old they usually live upon hay and roots, and in the summer upon cut grass, vetches, clover, &c. Mr. Turner houses all his stock in winter in open sheds, cow-houses, and stalls. His buildings are all con- structed of wood, and ai-e very draughty and cold. It is almost Tinnecessay to say that he has not buildings of this character from choice ; but because his landlord will not put up more convenient erections. At the same time he thinks cattle do better in them than they do in covered yards and close boxes ; they are hardier and less liable to chills and other diseases. The cows and heifers get a few hours' run in the pastures daily during winter. Abortion is almost unknown in The Leen herd, and during the 40 years Mr. Turner's father was engaged in breeding he never had more than one case a year, and that could generally be traced to an accident or some other cause. This immunity is attributed in a great measure to the regular system of feeding. He always endea- vours to keep the cows in about the same condition. The steers are generally finished at grass, and sold at ages varying from two years to two years and six months. They weigh from 9 to 11 score per quarter when fat, and have been sold at prices ranging from £25 to £35 each. Mr. G. T. Forester, Sherlowe, says his cows are due to calve — as nearly as they can be brought to do so — about CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 271 February, if possible not later tban the end of March; hia object being to breed steers for tbe butcher and to get them off at two years old, after the second winter's keep, when they usually make from 10 to 11 score per quarter (800 lbs. to 880 lbs.). The calves are run upon the cows during summer and are weaned as soon after harvest aa convenient, the younger ones — those that may not have been dropped till later in the spring — ^being kept by themselves as far as a rather limited accommodation will allow. The cows are turned out in winter during the day to graze any rough grass that may have been left, and at night lie in the open yards; except that in very rough weather those that have recently calved, or are about tc do so, are housed as far as space admits. They have a feed of turnips night and morning, and as much straw as they like to consume. Mr. Forester has discontinued pulping as a trouble- some and expensive operation. After calving, the cows have a little hay until the grass is ready. The calves get from 1 lb. to 1^ lb. of linseed cake a^day, and the yearling steers a mixture of hnseed cake and' cotton cake, beginning with 3 or 4 lbs. and ending with 6 lbs., sometimes eked out towards the end of their time with 2 or 3 lbs. of ofEal com. Mr. Robinson, Lynhales, informs us that in his herd the custom formerly was to have no calves dropped before the 1st of April in each year, so that a flush of milk might be secured from the newly sprung grass. This practice has been now altered for the following reasons : — (1) To secure a market from Americans and others for bull and heifer calves, which are often shipped before they are a year old. For this reason he endeavours to arrange for the cows to drop their calves as early in the year as possible. (2) He finds that the calves which are steered are much more easily sold aa yearlings if they are born early in the year. A great advan- tage also accrues to the breeder if he wishes to feed off his bullocks, as they can be made fit for the butcher at about 18 months old. Mr. Robinson proved this during the past year. (3) The Royal Agricultm-al and other societies now calculate the age of show animals from the 1st of January in each year. Mr. Robinson observes that under the above practice it is necessary to give the early calvers, especially the younger 272 HEREFORD CATTLE. COWS and heifers, extra food either ia the shape of pulp or corn. A small allowance of this character prevents the cattle from sinking in condition, and it has also the effect of increasing the flow of milk, which proves a great advantage to the calf. In his herd, as in most others, the calf is allowed in winter access to the cow at least twice in the 2-1: hours, and it may be mentioned that when a cow is found to yield a large supply of mUk, it is the custom of the cowman to allow a calf to share it whose dam is but an indifferent milker. In the cots the calves have before them at an early age a little ground oats and linseed cake, with some sweet hay. This food they are not long in learning to partake of, and it is surprising how soon this treatment shows itself in the im- proved condition of the youngsters. It appears to many breeders that caK meals and spices, at present so much adver- tised, are too expensive for the result which they produce. The bull and heifer calves intended to be matured at an early age are not turned out to grass, but this plan necessitates the bringing in of the mothers to suckle the calves twice a day. The calves which run with their dams in the pastures have no extra food allowed them beyond the grass they pick up, but it has often occurred to Mr. Robinson that it would be desirable to have pens in the fields, where corn could be supplied to the calves. Should any of the calves be observed to be doing badly they are inmiediately brought to the house and put into the cots, where they soon improve in condition, as the result of the extra food they receive. The calves axe weaned when they are from six to nine months old. They are then put together in covered yards, where they have a liberal allowance of crushed oats, cake, pulped turnips, and some hay. They are kept in growing condition ; never being allowed to lose what is termed their " sucking flesh." In this way they are carried on until the following spring, when they are turned out to grass. Carrying out the idea of early maturity, the yearlings have an allowance of 3 lbs. of decorti- cated cotton cake daily. This practice keeps them in a thriving state, and is found to improve the condition of the pastures. Under this treatment the heifers are at 18 months old in good condition, and ready to be put to breeding pur- CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 273 poses, whicli is now the uauaj custom at Lynhales. The heifers contiaue to receive assistance in the shape of decorti- cated cotton cake, as well as other nourishing food, until they are three years old. Mr. George Child, Court of Noke,'who has bred and fed several Smithfield and Biugley Hall winners, tells us that the heifers in his herd are as a rule put to the bull at about 16 months old, and afterwards bred from as often as they come into service. He endeavours to get as many of his calves as possible to come in the months of March and April ; still a calf is always welcome at any time of the year. The spring calves run with their dams tiU the autumn, when they are weaned at about six months old. Those intended for steers are castrated when about four or five months old. After weaning they are retaken to the house ; steers and heifers are separated ; and both fed exactly alike until the spring. Oil cake and the best of ground oats and peas, as much as they will eat, are given to those likely to make show animals. The others have second-class wheat and barley or both mixed with theii- food, commencing with 2 or 3 lbs. each of the mixture per day given in two feeds. The quantity is increased by degrees, as the cattle get older, up to 5 or 6 lbs. in the spring. About the first week in May, steers and heifers are turned to grass. The latter have their corn in gradually diminishing quantities for about a fortnight or so, when it is taken ofE them entirely, and they never receive any more during their lives, but have the run of some of the best meadows during the summer. They are fed with good hay and pulped swedes, with oat-straw in summer and inferior hay in winter, and are turned out in first-rate condition the following spring, about which time they drop their first calf. The steers are generally treated, after going to grass, in much the same manner, except that towards the end of September they have an allowance of cotton cake and groimd com, wheat, barley, or oats, usually home grown, receiving about 4 lbs. to commence with. In the end of September they are taken to the house and have the best hay and pulp, the same as the heifers, and as much on cake, cotton cake, and crushed corn in two feeds as they will eat — ^say about 8 or 9 lbs. This year, as cake and corn T 274 HEREFOED CATTLE. were cheap, and grass scarce, the steers had 4 lbs each of cotton cake and meal, but it is not his usual practice to give this food. By Christmas the earlier calves are quite fit for the butcher, being then from 18 to 20 months old. They always make the top price current. Mr. Child mentions that he has no accurate means of telling their weights, as he always sells them at home by hand, but he thinks their weights would be about 8 score per quarter ; some more, some less. The best of the male calves are kept for bulls, except two or three that promise to make show steers. There are many calves dropped in the herd aft other times than spring. Mr. Child's object is never to let them lose their sucking flesh, but keep pushing them on fi'om birth to finish. His cows are always in a half fat state, and most of them fit for the butcher soon after becoming dry. Many of them have good milking qualities and yield more than sufiicient milk to supply the house at all times of the year. Mr. Hill, Felhampton Court, says the idea he endeavours to carry out in the management of his herd is to maintain the steady growth of the animals from birth to maturity, and to perpetuate and encourage their natural hardy constitutions by a careful even management, that never unduly forces or hampers them by over feeding, or overcrowding in hot or badly ventilated buildings. The cows are usually put to the buU as soon as April comes in, with the object of getting early calves if possible, hut in a large herd it is found impossible in practice to carry out this entirely, and if a cow happens to turn to the bull, she is never allowed to lose time whatever part of the year it is — as it is expensive to keep them doing nothing. The early heifer calves, say those dropped up to the end of May, are served in October of the year following, when they are from 18 to 20 months old. No bad effect is apparent from this practice, provided the heifers are well done to, especially after calving, when they require extra food to lessen the drain on their strength from suckling their calves. The later heifers are not served until the following spring. Before the calves go to grass they are fed as soon as they can eat (they begin when a fortnight old to pick up a little) with hay, pulped swedes, or a few cut into finger lengths with CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 275 a little cake (Waterloo round or good linseed) and crushed oats. The allowance of cake and meal is increased as they get older to half a pound each per day, and before the summer is over up to 2 lbs. per day. They, of course, suck their mothers, and no nurse cows axe kept except when from some cause the cow cannot rear the calf, or if there is some special favourite that requires extra attention. There are several cows in the herd thst rear two calves annually. In May they are turned out into pastures with their dams, but are brought in at night and get their cake and meal. When the days become hot about July, they are brought in during the heat of the day, and are turned out at nights. The bull calves are separated when they begin to become troublesome, and put in a field by themselves with their mothers. On part of the farm there are sheds into which the calves can run and eat their cake, placed under a rail that stops the cows. The calves are usually weaned when about six months old, and never miss their dams, having been accustomed to be separated from them all their lives, and by this time they can eat their cake and meal well. The calf flesh is by this means preserved, a most important thing to observe when breeding for beef and early maturity. The yearlings and two-year-old heifers are never allowed to sink in the autumn when grass begins to fail. If there is not enough grass or early turnips, cake is given on the pastures and a few turnips are drawn out to them. During the winter they get pulped swedes, hay, and straw, and, if necessary, 3 lbs. per head of cake and meal. No fixed rule can be given, but by constant attention they must be kept in the same condition, never being allowed to sink nor to become too fat. The early calving cows are put up at nights about November and fed with straw — a little hay and a few turnips if they can be spared. When they calve their food is increased, perhaps a little meal is added — to keep up the supply of milk in the winter, this is often necessary. The late calves are wintered entirely out of doors on the pastures, where there are rough sheds. These fields are allowed to grow well in the autumn and get full of " feg." Last winter about 50 cows were thus wintered and had no assistance before February, when they received a little straw and rough hay drawn on to t2 276 HEREFORD CATTLE. the fields in the morning. As the cows spring for calving they are brought up. They came through last winter and the winter before in excellent condition — many of them quite fat. As a matter of fact they hardly used the sheds, preferring to lie round the woods and high hedges surrounding the pastures. The old cows are sold off as beef, requiring little or no feeding after their calves are weaned in the autumn. Any bull calves that are not good enough for stock purposes are sold to the butcher when 12 months old. They then weigh on an average about 600 lbs. carcase weight when dressed. Of course these are the inferior ones. Last year a few were steered to send to districts where Herefords have not been tried before. The old bulls in service are turned out in the pasture every summer with a few cows to keep them quiet. By this means their health is maintained and they are kept good on their legs. Mr. Tudge, Leinthall, writes: — I prefer having my calves in the spring of the year, so that by the time the grass increases the dams' milk they are able to take it, and then by autumn the calves can be weaned, and the cows go dry and get up a bit in condition before winter ; and they can then be kept- much more economically, getting some oat or barley-straw night and morning, and being out in the day-time in a pasture near. This, I find, answers very well until they calve, when I generally give them a few pulped turnips and cut the straw to mix with it. That, with the majority of Hereford cows, does very well until the grass comes, when they and their calves go off together. Of course, in many instances, the calf cannot take all the mUk imtil two or three months old. I keep the calf in until it can do so for fear of garget or bad udder, for it is quite a mistake to think the Herefords are not good mUkers ; but the less people know of them the more prejudiced they are against them as milkers. For example, at the Shrewsbury Show I entered my Hereford cow Roseleaf in the class for the best cow of any breed in mUk. She was then in full milk and gave sufticient to make from 12 to 14 lbs. of butter per week regularly, but the judges passed her by, the steward not having her out ; and when I complained that they had not done so, the judges came and looked at her, and CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 277 very coolly said they did not believe in Herefords as good milkers — they were beef animals. At the same time there was her full udder to show what a good milker she was, as well as a good cow. At the Worcestershire Meeting at Dudley she took the first prize in a good milking class; and there are many Hereford cows, thoroughbred, equally as good milkers as the best Shorthorns. As to what I consider a good Hereford, I may say I like good scale, quahty, and form, with a thick, mellow hide and a glossy, curly coat, both denoting plenty of weight of flesh, hardihood of constitution, and early maturity; in colour a red, body not too light, with a white mane, white tip of the tail, flank, &c. Mr. James, Mappowder, Blandford, Dorset, supplied the following notes to Mr. Duckham, which are given in his Cirencester lecture (1863). " Our herd of Herefords has been established nearly 30 years, and so far from their having degenerated with us, they are much improved, and Hereford dairies are becoming very common in this county. In proof that they are good for mUk with us, we let nearly 100 cows to dairy people, and if I buy one of any other breed to fiU up the dairy, they always grumble, and would rather have one of our own bred heifers. Our system is — we let our cows at so much per year, finding them in land and making the hay ; the calves being reared by hand with skim milk and linseed until three months old, when we take to them and allow a quarter's rent of the cow for the calf at that age ; they are then turned into the pasture." Mr. W. S. Powell, Eglwysnunyd, South Wales, allows his calves to suckle their dams until they are about six months old. They are fed during the winter months on pulped turnips and chafE. When the steers are fed ofE, they are allowed 3 lbs. to 6 lbs. of meal per day. They are sold at from two to three years old, and always make top price. Not many of the herd have been exhibited, as over feeding has been found injurious to stock-breeding. Mr. Powell finds a good local demand for young Hereford bulls, farmers dis- covering that their produce from the common cow is much improved, fatten quickly, and are very hardy — in fact, quite as much so as the native black cattle. The farm is much 278 HEREFORD CATTLE. exposed, being subject to fierce channel blasts. Some of the grass land is very wet, but not withstanding these drawbacks, Herefords have kept up their good character for hardiness and quick maturity, and Hereford beef is well known in South Wales as being of first quality. Mr. G. H. Meire, Eyton-on-Severn, Shrewsbury, states that from 1829 to 1882 the cows in the herd generally calved in the open fields during September and October, and in the house during November. They were not put to the buU in 1882, but allowed to run by for six months, so that now calves are produced in the spring. He believes the object of the old-fashioned plan, which used to be the rule, was to have the young stock more than one year old before the attempt was made to pass the winter without the help of the dam's nulk, the use of cake or com being unknown or considered too expensive. By the modern an-angement less cost is incurred in wintering a breeding cow, and if the buildings will allow, more of them can be kept. But it is much more difficult to get a rear of calves of the same age unless the bull is turned out with the cows and calves, and Mr. Meire finds there is more trouble to keep the calves healthy. Spring calving cows can be kept hard duriag the early part of the winter upon a few turnips and barley-straw. As they approach the time of calviag, hay is added. Before calving, cake or corn is given, and after calving the cow is forced if the calf can take her milk. Hay and water are found to be the best food for bulls, but a good one will sometimes become too heavy if too much of the former is allowed. As regards housing, boxes are best for all cattle where expense is no object. He has not found any plan of housing cows, whether calving or not, equal to a properly constructed cow-house in which to tie them up in double stalls. The bullocks, after having twice been to grass, have been fattened in the winter on swede turnips, straw, hay, and up to 6 lbs. of cake and meal. They are sold when under two years and six months old, and in March last the price obtained gave an average of £27 10s. Mr. Rees Keene, Pencraig, rears his calves the first year with great care, and they are afterwards fed in the ordinary CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 279 way witli straw roots and the poorest hay. Early calving cows are fed during the winter with hay and roots; barrens with straw and roots. The bulls are generally taken care of for sale purposes, and fed on cake, hay, and roots. The cattle are housed in open sheds and yards. Mr. T. Davies Burlton, Northeaton, Leominster, says his farm consists of about 150 acres of the highest and bleakest land in the county (where it was said, when the farm was first taken, no cattle but the inferior animals born and bred there would live), and a somewhat smaller quantity of meadow land of finer quality in the parishes of Leominster and Kimbolton, some five or six miles distant. The latter was never before occupied as a separate farm, has inadequate buildings upon it, and, therefore, all the cattle have to rough it very much, most of them running out all the winter with nothing but an open shed to go into. Calves are reared by their dams, which generally calve in the fields. The cows get little or no artificial food, but live mainly on grass and hay. The bulls and young stock sometimes have a few oats. Pure-bred bullocks are generally fattened on grass only, and are sold when barely two years old, when they weigh from 600 lbs. to 700 lbs. net meat, realising £24 to £26 a head. In the herd of Mr. T. S. Minton, Montford, 40 cows and heifers are put to the bull early in April. The custom formerly was for the heifers to have their first calf at two years old, but now they calve at three years old, as under the old system it was found that the growth of the heifer was much injured and it was necessary to keep her higher. The best bull calves are saved and either sold near home or for exportation. Cows and calves run together on the grass in the summer and until autumn, when they are weaned and put in small yards and loose sheds, and fed on a small allowance of roots, hay, and 2 lbs. of cake and com mixed. The cows are left out until the rough weather sets in, and some have been out during the whole winter, receiving a httle hay en the grass once a day. Those folded receive barley-straw and a few roots, and run on the grass in day. The calves, at the end of the first winter, when 15 to 16 months old, are put on the best grass until October, when they axe gradually accustomed 280 HEREFORD CATTLE. to the yards again; the steers and draft females being fed on roots, straw, and 5 to 6 lbs. of cake and meal. If they do well they weigh 9 score per quarter when two years old. The best of the heifers intended for the herd receive roots and straw. Mr. Minton says that in his district they require a much heavier-fleshed sire than the Plerefordshire breeders do, as the land is light and more adapted for sheep. The Horace strain meet their requirements. Mr. E. Yeld, Endale, Leominster, winters his cows with nothing but straw and a few common turnips, which they cut for themselves. The calves run with the cows, and when weaned have a little linseed cake and crushed oats tOl they go to grass and for a month after, which he thinks is most important, as many people leave ofE when they turn them out and let their calves lose flesh, " which is the greatest mistake that can possibly be made." He never feeds his steers, only keeping them in a fair growing state, and he has sold them for stores, the last two years previous to last year, at £24 a piece at one year and ten months old. He last year sold them at 15 months old for £17 per head. Mr. R. S. Fetherstonhaugh, Rockview, KiUucan, Ireland, keeps his cows out all the winter, only taking them in when they are going to calve. The two-year-old heifers are also kept in the fields and get hay. The calves when weaned are placed in a field where there is a shed, and receive some cake and hay. Mr. Fetherstonhaugh has crossed the Hereford bull with the cows of the country, and has found the produce wonderful cattle to feed, being always first ready for the market on the same keep as the animals he buys at the fairs. He has also used Hereford bulls on Kerry cows, and the calves always have white faces, and are most thrifty, some of them having been sold at prices up to £24. He sells his pure-bred bullocks at thi-ee and a half years old fed on grass, an allowance of cake being given to them about two months before they are sent to market. For them he receives from £32 to £40 a head. Mr. Hotten, Trelasker, likes to get his calves in the early spring. They are kept on the cows untU the first week in October, excepting those cows used in the dairy, CHARACTEEIStlCS AND MANAGEMENT. 28l in which case the calves are fed by hand. The cows are shut up for a week on straw and water in order to reduce the mUk as quickly as possible. They are then turned out on the worst pasttire and remain out until about the middle of November, or sometimes con- siderably later should the weather continue open. They are then housed at night with a little straw until about January of the next year, when the greater part are allowed hay at night. By day the cows are out in the pastures. By this treatment I find they keep themselves in good healthy condition, and as a rule parturition is a very light afEair with them. After weaning, the buU calves are separated from the heifers ; both lots are turned on pastures that have been reserved for that purpose, either a field of seeds (new grass), or meadows that have been cut for hay, or pastures that have been eaten bare and then unstocked. They have open sheds in which they may retire during rough weather, or at night. In the early winter they have hay in the house and are fed with a little crushed oats mixed with a little of the best linseed cake. Later on in the season a few roots are thrown about the pas- tures, and as the spring gets advanced the bulls are taken to closer quarters. In the early summer, or as the grass begins to spring, the heifers and steers are sent to the second-rate pastures to graze with the sheep. The second winter their treatment is very similar, with the exception of no com or cake and less hay, but a few more roots being given. The pure- bred bullocks are fattened on roots, straw, and hay alone. Mr. Adam Lee, Walcot Park, Lydbury, North Shropshire, informs us that the Earl of Powis feeds about 100 Herefords yearly on the Walcot Park Farm. The practice is to buy two-year-old bullocks in the spring, of the purest blood obtainable at a fair price. These are grazed during the summer, and some are sold in the autumn, and the remainder are winter fed and sold in the early spring. Occasionally Lord Powis exhibits at some of the fat stock shows, and has been successful in obtaining some of the highest prizes ofEered in the kingdom. A fact showing the extraordinary influence which one animal may exercise on a herd — in fact, on a whole breed — ^may be mentioned. Lord Powis has taken the 282 HEREFORD CATTLE. following prizes : — 1876, first prize for pairs of steers at Bath and West of England Show at Hereford, first prize for pair of steers at the Shropshire and West Midland Show at Oswestry, second for pair of steers at same show, first for steer under two years and six months old at Smithfield Club, second in the same class at that show, first and second for steer under two years and six months old at Bingley Hall ; 1877, first for steer under four years old at Bingley Hall, second for steer under four years old at same show, second for steer under three years old at same show, and first and third for steer under two years and six months old at Smithfield; 1878, first for steer under tliree years and six months old at Smithfield, and second for steer under two years and six months old at Smithfield. And, adds Mr. Lee, " strange to say, all the animals with which these prizes were taken were sired by the since celebrated bull Horace 3877, and, as is now a well authenticated fact, the blood of this extraordinary animal is at the present tinae running in the veins of most of, if not all, the noted herds of Herefords, not only of this country, but also of America." Mr. W. J. Smith, Guttertop, allows his calves to run with the cows out in the summer, and in the winter all the stock are fed on turnips and hay. The bullocks are sold at the age of two years and realise from £26 to £28. In the herd of Messrs. Crane and Tanner, Shrawardine, about 30 calves are annually dropped in the spring. They run out with their dams in very rough, poor pasture for the summer months, and are weaned about the latter end of September. The cows when dried scrape the rough pastures and then live on barley-straw for the winter. The young stock have better keep, a little cake, swedes, hay, &c. Most of the bulls are sold for stock purposes, but a few of the worst are castrated and sold to the butcher at two years old, at prices varying from £23 to £29 each ; £25 would be the average. Mr. E. W. Keynell, Killynon, Westmeath, Ireland, tells ua that the herd there is kept out during the summer on grass, and in winter with hay. 'Jhe calves are always reared on their dams. The bulls are housed in winter and fed on roots, hay, and cake. Pure-bred bullocks have been sold ofE the CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 283 grass at two and a half years old for £20 each. The half- bred Herefords reared in Killynon dairy are generally the first cattle fat at two years old off the grass in June. In reference to the more special subject of manage- ment, Mr. E. J. Morris, Stapleton Castle, Presteign, writes: — The custom chiefly adopted by Hereford breeders is to allow the calf to suck its dam and run out with her during the summer months. In many cases where cows are more than ordinary milkers she is put to rear two calves instead of one. The best time for the cow to drop her calf has been the subject of much controversy among breeders. Formerly the E.A.S.E. and other societies calculated the age from the first of July, consequently those who bred to show were compelled to get their calves dropped as soon after that date as possible. This plan was objectionable for at least two reasons. One was that with the Hereford cow's great aptitude to fatten she got into high condition before calving, and consequently the risk at that time is much greater to both. Another reason against that period was that the cow calving when in high condition and grass abundant she would give more milk than the young calf could take, and thus caused much trouble and damage, while, when the calf became older and used more milk in the autumn, the supply necessarily diminished. Now, however, that the first of January is substituted for the first of July by most societies, breeders get their calves chiefly in the spring months, and thus, as the calf gets older, the flush of grass causes the cow to give an increased quantity of milk to the growing calf. The calves are weaned in the autumn at the age of eight or nine months, and their dams are then put into the straw-yard until calving time. It may be thought that it is an extravagant plan to rear calves sucking their dams, but it must not be forgotten that where this method is adopted cows are kept very thick upon the ground, and often with many sheep also. There is little or no trouble in feeding calves night and morning on prepared food of various kinds, and when weaned they are strong and hardy, and their calf flesh can easily be retained. Mr. Purdon, Lisnabin, Ireland, treats his cattle in a natural way. The cattle have to " rough it," and evidently 284 HEREFORD CATTLE. flourish under the process. They are out in the fields all the year round, none being housed, even when snow lies thick on the ground, except cows at calving time. Mr. Purdon grows no turnips and uses no cake. The pastures, which are of the celebrated Westmeath fattening description, afford the sole fare, with the addition of a little straw or hay in winter, when the grass is shortest. Even with this plain nourishment the cows have to be noticed carefully in spring and summer, in order to check their decided tendency to lay on fat; and to counteract any injurious results on their breeding properties, they are sent to the worst fields on the farm. Mr. Purdon aims at the combination of size and quality, and his efforts have been attended with success. Lisnabin carries a large number of cattle. When fully stocked there are usually on it about 500 cattle, in addition to 1000 sheep. They are all finished on the grass without the aid of turnips or feeding stuffs, and the three-year-old bullocks make about £30 each. Mr. Purdon carefully selects his fattening cattle at the fairs in the neighbourhood ; but he breeds about 40 calves, using the Hereford bull to cross-bred cows. The calves come uniformly with the '' white face " and other Hereford characteristics, and the lot we saw on the pastures were a high testimony to the potency of the Hereford blood. There has generally been diificulty in disposing of the pure- bred bull calves, and those not kept for use in the herd or taken by other breeders have been steered, and they, of course, make capital bullocks. Two years ago a pair of three-year-old Hereford oxen, specially picked from the herd for exhibition at the Royal Dublin Show, were sold at £37 10s. per head. Mr. A. Legh Olver, Trethick, Bodmin, Cornwall, rears all his calves by their dams. He gets them calved in the spring and lets them run on the pastures with their dams during the summer. They are weaned in November and run in open sheds during winter, being fed on hay, cut turnips, and corn. He usually gives his steers some cake and corn on the pastures, and sells them when about two years and six months old at from £20 to £22 each. Mrs. Turner, Lynch Court, Pembridge, states that her cattle CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 285 are fed with, roots, hay, and straw. The calves having a little linseed cake and oat or pea-meal mixed with pulped stuff. The cows are tied up in cow-houses and the weaned calves are kept in loose boxes or houses, about six or eight being in each place. The bullocks and two-year-old heifers are kept in opened folds, having covered sheds to go into. They quickly fatten and eat less food than animals of other breeds. Mrs. Turner has fed a Shorthorn cow alongside half-a^dozen Here- fords, and the cowman told her that he had to give her nearly as much food as to two of the others, and then the others were fat first. The bullocks are sold at two years old, and in store condition, the prices received having varied from £13 to £24 each, according to the trade. Mr. John Broad, Great Campstone, near Abergavenny, does not house any of his cattle with the exception of the cows, and then only during the night for about two months before calving. All his other stock lie out in the meadows with sheds to run in. During the winter months a little hay night and morning is given. The calves run with their dams for eight months. The draft stock are sold at two years old in store condition at from £18 to £20 each. Mr. John Taylor, Elsdon, gives his in-calf cows cut straw and hay with pulped turnips night and morning, and they run in the meadows by day. The young stock are kept in the yards, and have cut straw and pulped swedes with a little cake and crushed oats. The steers are kept in the yards during the winter months, and are fed on cut straw and hay vnth pulped swedes, and a little cake and crushed oats. They are sold in the spring to the gi-aziers about one year and ten months old, the prices ranging from £20 to £23 each. Mr. Lloyd Edwards, Nanhoron, Pwllheli, grazes all his cattle, except the bulls, in the summer. They are in and out during the winter, and are fed on hay and pulped Swedish turnips, without any meal or artificial food. The calves are reared on their dams for five months, and are given meal, comprising barley or oats mixed with Indian meal, and some- times linseed cake mixed with hay and pulped turnips. The bulls are treated in the same way and are kept in well ventilated houses. Several fair experiments have been made 286 HEnEFORD CATTLE. in feeding the Hereford and the native Welsh breed together, and it is, has always been, remarkable to observe the quick improvement in the former, while the Welsh produces beef slowly, and one could scarcely believe that they had had the same treatment. The first cross between Herefords and Welsh answers well for dairy and feeding purposes, but it is injudicious to continue the cross further. The buUocks are fattened out on grass in the summer, without meal of any kind, and are put in about November 11th, being then fed on hay, barley meal, or oats, mixed with Indian meal and sliced Swedish tTimips. They are sold in the following April ; the average weight is 180 lbs. per quarter (720 lbs.) ; price about £25. In Mr. J. H. Arkwi-ight's herd at Hampton Court, the cows are generally left to a state of nature, subsisting on grass only from May to November, and suckHng their calves in the open meadow. At the end of November, according to the weather, they are housed by night and fed on roots and straw. As they calve in the spring of the year they are fed on hay in place of straw, and they continue to get roots. The calves are weaned at about six months old. They are housed during winter and fed with a mixture of linseed cake, oat flour, and roots, and a little sweet hay. They are turned out to grass and shift for themselves about the middle of May, and if cold and wet they are fed with a little cake and flour for the first fortnight. Very few cows are stall fed. The stock buUs are fed as follows: — Good hay three times a day, and two feeds of roots ; instead of roots they receive cut grass in summer. The young stock are turned out to grass about the middle of May, as already mentioned, and continue on the pastures till the end of November. They are then housed in open sheds. The yearlings are fed on roots and hay the first winter, and the two-year-olds and in-calvers on straw and common turnips. When they calve they receive a more generous treatment, hay being substituted for the straw. The steers are fed the same as the heifers as described above till they are two years old. They are then allowed the run of the best meadows, to feed, and are generally sold in September or October to the butcher, and at that time average about two years CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 287 and three months old. They usually attain to the weight of 9 score, or 180 lbs. a quarter. In 1882 and 1883 the steers averaged £25 each; in 1884 they averaged £22 10s. each; in 1885, in consequence of being overstocked with pedigree animals, which were sold in August last, Mr. Arkwright had no steers for sale. In Lord Coventry's herd at Croome Court, where the system of management is in other respects somewhat similar to that described as prevailing in other stocks, great care is exercised in mating the animals — that is, bulls which are unusually good in particular points are put to cows which may be weaker in those points. The cows are usually brought to the homestead about a month before calving, so that, if necessary, they may receive extra care and attention, and their condition be improved. The milking properties of the cows are kept up by the practice of stripping the cow while the calf ia young, and when it does not require — and would not take — the whole of the milk which the cow would give. Attention to this would probably improve the milking qualities of the Hereford cows generally, as the ordinary practice is merely to leave the cow to suckle her own calf and do nothing more ; and a cow, which might otherwise m.ilk well, will soon cease to give more milk than the calf will take if she is not required to do so, but careful stripping keeps up the milking properties and has also the advantage of preventing any of the quarters of the udder from becoming stanked, from not being used by the calf, which leads in time to the quarter being lost. Mr. Kichard Olver, Trescowe, Bodmin, writes as follows : — I occasionally put a cow to rear two calves, and take a few cows into the dairy, but I generally allow each cow to suckle her own calf for six or seven months. Young heifers get their first calf during the summer when two and a half years old, and cows at all times of the year, but it is preferred that they should have their calves during the spring months. About 40 calves a-year are bred. They are taught to eat a little cake or meal before being weaned, and during their first winter get hay, a few cut roots, and a little meal, running in yards with Itnhays. They go to grass the following summer, and the next winter get straw roots and a larger 288 HEREFORD CATTLE. quantity of meal in open yards with linhays. The steers receive cake during the next summer, and are sold fat from the grass when a little over two years old, averaging about 7 cwt. each. Many acres of dredge corn are grown, a mix- ture of two-thirds corn and one-third barley, which produces a heavy crop, and is found very healthy feed for cattle. The dry cows run on the pastures until about Christmas, when they are taken into the yards, and get straw and roots. Some cows run on the old pastures most of the winter, getting a little rough hay at night. Since 1879 very few females have been fattened, most of the heifers having been sold either for breeding at home or for exportation to the United States and South America. Several young bulls are bred annually, and sold for use in the district or for exportation. BuUs are sold for crossing with Devon and Shorthorn cows in the district, and the produce are found to be capital graziers and good milkers. When Devons were kept on Trescowe farm, many cattle died annually from dysentery and black- leg. Since Herefords have been kept there has not been a single case of the former disease, and only very few of the latter. For the last three winters one ounce per week of sulphite of soda has been mixed with the corn of each calf, and not one has died of black-leg. Salt is also occasionally mixed with their food. Mr. John T. Paull, Trelonk, Grampound Road, Cornwall, says he gets his calves from January to July; a few later. About half run with their dams and half are brought up on skim milk at the tub. At two years old he sees little difference in the animals. The calves when weaned get a little ground oats and oat-chaff, straw, and roots, through the winter. The cows have a few roots in the mornings and evenings, with plenty of straw by night. Thej' are in open yards by day, with plenty of water, and they do well thus treated, keeping their coats on better than if housed altogether. The steers are fed off at about two years and three months old, and make from 6 cwt. to 7^ cwt. dead weight. They get a full supply of roots and straw, a little hay, one gallon of corn, for four to six weeks, to finish them off. He has no grass-land to fatten m summer. Mr. Paull never fairly tried CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 289 his cowa for the dairy. But the cow Dairymaid, by Conservative 1931, he tried one summer on grass alone, when she made 2^ lbs. of butter per day. He milked four cows last summer and got about 4 lbs. of butter per day. Mr. R. W. Hall, Ashton, infoiTis us that in the time of his father (Mr. W. Hall) the breeding stock were managed so as to keep as many as it was possible to maintain on little food. They never had any cake or corn in any shape or form. The steer and heifer calves received pulped roots and cut straw with a little hay in a cratch, and were out in the pasture in the day-time. " The second winter these were all taken to another farm Mr. Hall had in hand, and, I should think, one of the poorest and coldest spots in the county of Hereford. Nothing but their sound constitution and hardy nature could have carried them through in such a place, browsing about among the rough and bushes in the day-time and in the fold at night. They had what little straw and hay as were grown at the place. The next winter the heifers received nothing but straw and were kept on the poor land on account of their aptitude to grow too fat. The steers were fed principally on pulped roots and cut straw at the home farm, and the next summer were grazed on the best grass, growing to great weights, and were sold the following summer. The cows always lived on straw and the greater part would calve in May or June, and would get fat with the calves rvmning with them in summer time. There has been much said about the Herefords being bad milkers, but had there been a dairy kept at Ashton no better milkers would have been required to make it a great success. As it was a great deal was done with the dairy, the cows giving much more mUk than the calves would take the greater part of the summer. Since Mr. W. Hall gave up the business the herd has been managed in the same way, as nearly as possible, with the exception that sitice the trade with America sprang up the young stock have been done better and, instead of steers, bulls and heifers have been reared, the latter being sold to go to America at about 12 to 18 months old, making between 60 and 60 guineas each; the buUs being sold, with the exception of a few of the best, for ranch purposes." 290 HEREFORD CATTLE. Mr. John Rawlings, Wooferton, rears about 30 calves each year. Very few are kept for bulls. The steers are sold at two years old or rather before to kill. Three years since he averaged £26 5s. each for them, but as the price has gradu- ally become lower he could only realise £22 10«. last year. The heifers generally go on for breeding. Cows calve from May until the end of the year out in the fields, where they remained till the calves are weaned at the end of October. The cows are allowed to go dry, and are kept on straw and pulped roots untU the spring. Little hay is used. The calves are wintered in an open yard and fed on pulped roots, a little ground oats, and linseed cake, and turned out in May following. For the first few months Mr. Rawlings gives them a little cotton and linseed cake mixed on the grass — about 1 lb. of each sort per head, which he finds keeps ofE hoose, as before he adopted this plan he used frequently to have to drench them at the end of the summer, and he finds prevention better than cure. Mr. William Griffiths, Brierley, Leominster, mentions that his calves generally run with their dams until they are old enough to wean, and afterwards during the first winter they are fed liberally with hay, turnips, and swedes. The cows generally graze on the shortest pastures in summer, and are fed on straw and a few roots, and run out on pasture by day. The young stock run ui open yards, and are fed upon hay and roots. The bullocks are usually sold in May as stores at about two years old, for about £20 each. Mr. Naylor, Leighton Park, has his cows fed on mangolds, hay, and linseed cake. Most of the calves are dropped in April, May, and June, When the calves are weaned they are fed upon hay, roots, and linseed. The pure-bred bullocks are mostly fattened on the grass with about 5 lbs. of linseed cake and cotton cake each per day. They are sold at three years old and weigh on an average about 15 cwt. live weight. When sold they average £30 each. The following notes by the late Mr. T. C. Yeld, The Broome, were written 15 years ago, but they are stLU not without interest and value ; although the directions he gives for forming a herd cannot now be carried out: — I once heard CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 291 an old man and successful breeder remark " it was much easier to buy a good stock than to breed one ; " and there may be much truth in this, but the generahty of young farmers start in life with less than £1000, and it would be madness in such cases to give £20, £30, £40, and even £50 for a few cows. By far the better plan is to go to market and pick up the most useful heifers, or what is better, young heifers with calves, because these calves stand for the first year's rear. These are generally to be met with about May, and by attending the fairs in Herefordshire at that time an energetic man will find no difficulty in meeting with as many as he wants ; and it should be borne in mind that an extra pound for an heifer under such circumstances is not so much to be considered as when the animal is bought by a grazier for feeding. The next consideration is a good bull, and this is most essential. The writer has known many bulla that have been the making of the stock they were used in, and I would always prefer buying an aged bull when hia stock could be seen than buying a buU calf or yearling, however good. In fact the system now (1870) of forcing young bulls for sale destroys their generative powers, and in numberless cases they prove useless. Old- fashioned breeders never dreamt of using a bull under two years old, and a bxxll kept in a healthy growing state till that age and never used will wear tLU he is 20 years old. I could mention numbers within my own knowledge, and it is quite a mistaken idea to suppose old bulls are too heavy for small heifers. It is always well to examine a bull's stock before purchase, and they should present to the hand and eye one uniform character, good form and quality. Although there are thousands who know what good quality in an animal is, I never met with any one who could describe it, but a judge of quality should know in handling a poor animal every point that would improve and ripen into perfection in feeding, because where there is really a bad point, all the keep in the world will not make that point a good one. It is very easy to know where an animal is fattest, that is, already made fat, because we can evidently feel a substance or quantity of fat on all those parts denominated the fattening points, but the difficulty is to explain how we know or distinguish animals in u2 292 HEEEFOED CATTLE. a lean state, which wOl make fat and which will not, which a person of judgment in praetice can tell as it were in- stantaneously, but the same person out of practice cannot form the same correct judgment as those who are in. We say this beast touches nicely upon its ribs, hips, &c., because we find a pleasant mellow feel on those parts, but we do not say soft because there are some of this same sort of animals which have a soft, loose handle of which we cannot approve, because, though soft and loose, they have not that mellow feel above mentioned, for though they handle loose and soft yet we know " that one will make fat and the other will not." And in this distinction we recognise good quality, which is as pleasant and enjoyable to the judge of stock as is the finest music to an amateur musician. This must all be learnt by the young fanner, and by observing good judges selecting stock in mnrket and afterward handling them for himseK, he will soon gaiu experience. Much is said now-a-days about pedigree, but there is no difiiculty whatever in seeing whether an animal is well bred by his touch and general character, as there is in picking out a well-bred gentleman from a herd of men. EXTENSION OF THE BREED. 293 CHAPTER XI. EXTENSION OP THE BREED IN OTHER COUNTRIES. Herefords in Scotland. — Mr. Lumsden's herd. — Mr. Harvey's herd. — The Earl of Southesk's herd. — Mr. Copland's experiences ol the breed. — In Ireland. — Mr. R. Reynell's Herefords. — The Killynon herd. — The herds of Mr. Kearney , Mr. Pollock, Mr. Fetherstonhaugh, and Mr. Purdon. — The breed in America and Canada. — Early im- portations. — Popularity of Herefords in America. — Mr. T. L. Miller. —Mr. A. Earl.— Mr. H. C. Burleigh.— Mr. A. P. Freeman.— Mr. C. M. Culbertson. — Messrs. Fowler and Co. — Other American breeders. — Herefords at Ontario College.— Hon. M. H. Cochrane. — Mr. Benson.— The noted bull Sir Richard 2nd 4984.— The breed in South America. — Notes from Mr. Huergo. — Herefords in Australia. — The Oressy Company's Herefords. — Mr. G. Reynolds of Tocal. — Mr. Lyall. — Messrs. Barnes and Smith. — Mr. G. Loder.— Mr. J. Nowlan. — Hon. James White. — Mr. C. Price. — Messrs. McConnell and Wood. — Mr. Angas. — Mr. R. Wyndham. — Proposed Hereford Herd Book in Australia. — The breed in Jamaica. — Mr. Malcolm's herd at Knockalva. The Hereford breed has attained a good name and firm footing in many parts of this country beyond its own native districts, while in foreign lands it has won favour which is rapidly extending. This is not to be wondered at, for the inherent properties of the breed render it well worthy the attention of all cattle owners whose main purpose is the production of high-class beef. A striking feature in the history of Hereford cattle is the remarkable loyalty of the Herefordshire farmers to their county breed. Prom generation to generation the farmers of Hereford have clung to the old love of the county, priding themselves upon their fine herds of " white faces," whioh they have cultivated with eminent skill and success, giving little heed to the vaunted merits of other varieties, never for a moment wavering in their affection. This speaks well both for the men and the cattle ; the cattle are good and the 294 HEREFORD CATTLE. Hereford farmers have had the sense to stick to them. Those valuable properties which have planted the breed so firmly in the affections of its old supporters, cannot fail to win fast friends for the " white faces " wherever they put in appearance, and it may be safely predicted that " in fre.sh fields and pastures new," as well as in its old haunts, the breed has before it a brilliant and useful future. SCOTLAND. Although the breed has never attained an extensive footing in Scotland, it has been reared with success in several districts north of the Tweed. The late Mr. Lumsden, Auchry House, Aberdeenshire, was, perhaps, the first to take Hereford cattle to the far north. Writing to Mr. Thomas Duckham in 1863, he said : — " I have been a breeder of Hereford cattle 25 years and continue to do so, as I find they pay better for their keep than any other breed, or at any rate than those I have tried against them, viz.. Shorthorns and Aberdeens." He found the Herefords hardy and well adapted for tlie northern climate. He was able to bring them to the highest condition with grass and turnips without the aid of cake or grain ; and while he had never been able " to raise either the pure Shorthorn or the cross with the Shorthorn and the Aberdeen, above 216 stone of 8 lbs. at four years old, he had raised the cross cow between the Shorthorn and a Hereford bull to 238 stone." Mr. Lumsden purchased his first Hereford cows at the Hereford October Fair, and he subsequently procured six weU-bred cows and bulls from leading breeders. He was specially careful as to the selection of his bulls, some of which were obtained from Mr. Hewer. The famous buU Sir David 849 was taken by him to the far north of Scotland, where he proved so valuable as a sire that he was purchased by Mr. Turner, Noke, and brought back to his native parish, in which he did noble service, becoming the sire of the celebrated Sir Benjamin 1387, and other noted animals. Sir David was no doubt much the better for his sojourn in the cold bracing regions of the north, from which he returned full of health and vigour. The last bull Mr. Lumsden used was Cato 1902, bred by Mr. Duckham. For EXTENSION OF THE BREED. 295 some time after the death of Mr. Lumsden, the herd was continued by his son Mr. F. C. Lumsden. Some choice young bulls were reared in the Auchry herd, and for these there was a fair demand among the neighbouring farmers for whom, with the mixed bred cows of the district, they produced an excellent class of fattening cattle. Another Aberdeenshire landowner, Mr. Harvey of Carnousie, Turriff, bred Herefords for some years, and was likewise very successful with them. He made his first purchases in 1868, and these consisted of Carnousie 3004, bred by Mr. Duckham; Fair Maid 7th, bred by Mr. J. Gregg, Pencote Abbey, Leominster ; and Eona, bred by Mr. P. Turner, The Leen, Pembridge. In the year 1869 the Earl of Southesk founded a choice and valuable herd at Kinnaird Castle in Forfarshire, where the " white faces " throve admirably and were greatly admired for their symmetry, substance, and wealth of good flesh. In response to an application the Earl of Southesk favoured the authors with an account of his herd, which is appended in full. His lordship says : — " It was in 1869 that I began to form a herd of Herefords. My herd of Polled Aberdeen- Angus had been swept off by rinderpest in 1865, and in making a new venture in high breeding it occurred to me that the English breed I had so long admired might thrive on my then home farm, the Haughs of Kinnaird, the rich soil and old red sandstone formation seeming to be suitable for such cattle, while the winter climate was not particularly severe. " With this idea I attended the Bath and West of England Show at Southampton, and there bought from Mr. Allen of Tesbury (her breeder) the first prize cow Queen of the Lilies, with a bull calf at foot, for £120, conditionally on her remaining the property of the seller till after the approaching Royal Agricultural Show at Manchester. On that occasion also she was easily winner of first honours in the aged class. People said she was the best Hereford cow in England. At Manchester I bought from their breeder, Mr. Tudge, Adforton, Ostorius, first prize yearling bull, and Diadem, first prize two- year-old heifer. These animals all reached Scotland ia safety. 296 HEREFORD CATTLE. Soon afterwards I made various purchases of females of the same breed, and eventually established a pretty large herd. The best cows, perhaps, after those just mentioned, were Emily, bred by Mr. Tudge, and Queen of Hearts, bred by T. Rogers, Coxall. " The two Queens (in no way nearly related) were large cows, and, by comparison, high on the legs ; but Queen of the Lilies was far more symmetrically formed, especially about the quarters, than the other, and might be quoted as an almost faultless specimen. Diadem and Emily were lower set, smaller, and rounder in type. The latter had double-curved horns, resembling those common in the High- land breed, and was extremely pretty, though not on a par with Diadem. All of these (especially the prize-takers) dis- played the ample white bosom so characteristic of the Here- fords and so beautiful, as well as the vast table-like back and quarters, which are found in the best specimens of the breed, unaccompanied with much tendency to patchiness. Emily and Queen of the Lilies (if I rightly remember) were good milkers ; but as a rule the cows are not remarkable in that way ; perhaps rather the reverse. " My young first prize bull Ostorius was a fine-looking animal, though not on a level with the prize cows. Unluckily he proved a disappointment, being useless as a breeder, except as regarded one oldish cow, which alone proved capable of winning his attention. From Mr. Tudge, however, we bor- rowed an extremely serviceable bull named Orleans, which sired the herd until King of the Lilies, the bull caK bought with his dam at Southampton, was mature for use. Orleans was a characteristic sample of the breed — short in leg and excessively (to unaccustomed eyes, ludicrously) long in body — ' long as a rope-walk,' to quote from the old proverbial description of a perfect Hereford buU. King of the Lilies, his successor, was perhaps less lengthy, but of size and sub- stance, very level and symmetrical, an entirely handsome animal, good all over. I was offered 150 guineas for him, but declined to part with him until the general sale of the herd two or three years afterwards, when he brought 130 guineas. He was a very sure and good stock-getter while EXTENSION OF THE BREED. 297 ■with US, and I lately saw a Hereford sale catalogue where his name was mentioned with praise as a still useful sire. " In the year 1874, determining to give up my large home farm, it became necessary to part with the Herefords. The experience of these five years justified the belief that no breed could be better adapted for our soil and climate ; for a more healthy, prosperous, true-breeding herd than mine all along showed itself, it would be almost quite impossible to find. Time hardly served for breeding prize-winners, yet the only animal we exhibited, Desdemona, Diadem's daughter by Orleans, bred at the Haughs of Kinnaird, won the Royal Agricultural Society's first prize as a three-year-old heifer at Hull in 1873. She was very much like her dam ; low, round, and level, and of remarkable symmetry and sweetness, as may be seen in her portrait in the volume of the Hereford Herd Book. She fetched only 60 guineas at the sale — far below my expectations ; but the distance from the Hereford districts, and the isolation of any northern herd (for except by a few in Aberdeenshire the breed is, I believe, unrepresented in the north), form terrible obstacles to a breeder in our part of Scotland. There is not only the diffi- culty of getting more than bare market prices for high-bred animals if sold at home, or inadequate prices for those that may be sold elsewhere, but the impossibility of meeting temporary needs by exchanges of bulls' services with neigh- bouring breeders. Of this we had experience in the case of Queen of the Lilies, after Orleans returned to his owner, his successor, King of the Lilies, her own son, being the only available bull. This piece of in-breeding had a curious result — the cow, who had previously produced none but buU calves (in some six or seven calvings) now produced a heifer, perfect to all appearance, but with an internal defect which caused its early death. After this I bought (as assistant to King of the Lilies) a bull named Cato — a good anim.al, but of much less style and breeding than either of the others used in our herd — and to him Queen of the Lilies resumed her habit of producing male offspring. "My sale in 1874 was conducted by Mr. Thornton, and there was no lack of buyers from England. The prices were 298 HEREFORD CATTLE. fair, as prices then ranged, but somewhat below our expecta- tions. The best bull of my own breeding, Helianthus 4641, got by King of the Lilies out of Queen of Heaxts, fetched 50 guiaeas ; I have lately heard of him as still in service and well spoken of in the Hereford counties. King of the Lihes was secured at the sale by Mr. W. J. Britten of Staple Castle, Hereford, for 135 guineas ; Helianthus going to Mr. John White, Zeals, Bath. Several animals went to Aberdeenshire, and others remained in my own part of Angus, where a few of them, or of their unmistakeably marked descendants, may yet be seen. " Regarding the character and value of the Herefords as a breed, it would seem hard to speak too highly. As with other breeds, there is a vast difference between the unimproved and the improved Hereford. The latter (as I have seen it among the lots of feeding oxen we sometimes brought from England) is a coarse, rough, bony animal, whose ugliness is intensified by its conspicuous markings ; but the former in its female type is (to my eye) more absolute symmetrical than any other breed ; exceedingly handsome likewise in its male type, though over long for abstract beauty — and in that case the rich red or auburn body-colouring strongly contrasted with the pure soft white of the face and chest and under-markings, seems to me as ornamental a garb amidst the proper surroundings of trees and hedges and fair green pastures as could well be conceived. It is needless for me to enlarge on the merits of Hereford cattle from the feeding point of view ; but it is right to say that our local butchers did not rank them as equalling in quality of meat either the Polled Angus, Aber- deen, or the Highlanders ; this, however, applied to ordinary oxen, not to those of special strains. Mr. Charles Lyall of Old Montrose, in my own district, was highly pleased with the first cross between the Hereford bull and the pure Shorthorn cow, having tried it on several occasion with much success, and I venture to believe that a similar Hereford cross with any good breed would have excellent results. At present I am engaged in trying the experiment of crossing a few pure-bred Highland cows with a very promising pedigree Hereford yearling buU (Caradoc by name), lately procured from Mr. EXTENSION OP THE BREED. 299 Hill of Felhampton's well-known herd. One other remark occurs to me ere ending these details of my short (too short) experience of the Herefords — they are wonderfully gentle, quiet, and good tempered. Orleans and Cato were types of placid tameness, and Caradoc seems to be of the same disposition. I can remember no show of Hi-temper from any bull of the breed. With one exception the same may be said of the cows — the exceptional one having a dislike to all women, though otherwise quiet enough — and special favourites like Queen of the Lilies, Diadem, and Desdemona had none of the capricious nervousness I have sometimes noted among petted cows of other varieties." The average obtained for the 43 animals sold at his lord- ship's sale was £34 15« 6rf. Many Scotch farmers have used Hereford buUs amongst Shorthorn and Polled crosses with excellent results, and it has often been -remarked that a very large percentage of the produce of such unions exhibit the Hereford markings — notably the characteristic white face. The late Mr. R. Copland, Milton of Ardlethen, Aberdeenshire, was eminently successful with this cross, and he was good enough to favour us with the following notes as to his practice and experience. He said : — " My reason for beginning to use a Hereford bull was that my cattle were losing flesh and constitution. This was a very general complaint over the country. My cows were crosses from pure Shorthorn bulls and cross and Polled cows, the cross blood predominating ; so I resolved to try a Hereford buU in order to improve the constitution and put on more flesh. I applied to Mr. Gueriner, cattle salesman, London, to pur- chase a Hereford buU for me, and he sent me one bred by Mr. Hewer, Gloucestershire, which turned out a large animal, a sure stock-getter, light on his loins and thighs, but heavy on his fore-quarters. His stock very much resembled himself, and although a little rough, the steers when rising two years old were sold to the butcher for £26. After using the bull for two years, I ordered a bull and two heifers from Mr. Brebner, manager on the Queen's Farm at Windsor. They were very different from the former; they were much smaller, 300 llEREFOED CATTLE. but very much neater, and very apt to fatten — such was the difEerence that in two years of drought the grass was burned brown, and the Shorthorn crosses got leaner, whereas the Hereford crosses pasturing along with them could at any time have been sent to the butcher. I got other four bulls and several heifers from the Queen's Farm, and they all did equally well; but foot-and-mouth disease broke out amongst my breeding stock, and although I lost none of them, I found there was no use in keeping on my cows, as the greater part of them either slipped or had no calf, so that at last I had to put the most of them away. I sent four of the cows one day to a sale in Aberdeen, and they brought £30 each. I never saw any breed leave their mark so distinctly as the Herefords did. I never had a calf from any cow after a Hereford buU that had not a white face and all the characteristics of a Hereford. The effects of the foot-and-mouth disease obliged me to put away upwards of 20 of my cows, but I have the -Hereford blood in a good many of them still, and I am now crossing them with a Shorthorn bull, and I sold last year a pair of steers from the.se cows for £80 the pair." IRELAND. Hereford cattle have been bred in Ireland for more than a hundred years. Mr. Richard Molesworth Reynell, who went from England to manage the Irish estates of the Duke of Bedford (who was an enthusiastic admirer and active supporter of the Hereford breed), founded a herd of Herefords at Reynella, County Westmeath, about 1775, only nine years after Benjamin Tomkins bred his celebrated buU Silver. The establishment of the Farming Society of Ireland, and the large money prizes it offered, gave a great impetus to the introduction of improved stock into Ireland. At the earlier meetings of that Society, Longhoms were usually placed first in the list, and they appear to have held their own tUl about 1820, although the Shorthorns, the Herefords, and the Devons, patronised by Lord Farnham, were steadily increasing. In those days the October Pairs of the Society were held at Ballinasloe, and although the reports of many of these meetings have been lost, we find that Mr. Richard Reynell's Hereford EXTENSION OF THE BllEED. 301 oxen were the admiration of the whole country, and that he received gold medals and prizes for the best ox exhibited in each of the years 1813, 1814, 1815 and 1818. Mr. Reynell had a celebrated imported bidl called Parmer, with which he won the £50 prize, and which, after declining many tempting offers for him, he sold to Mr. Battersby. That gentleman would seem to have had a high appreciation of the value of this famous animal, for when a friend offered him a noted thoroughbred horse in exchange for the bull, he replied that he "would not part with ReyneU's bull for all the thoroughbreds in the country." Among others who were early breeders of Herefords in Ireland were Mr. Pollock, the Earl of Meath, Mr. J. Kobinson, Mr. Thomas Eobinson, Sir Hugh Crofton, Mr. John N. Gerrard, and Lord Castlecote. As to the strains of Hereford blood first introduced into Ireland there is no exact information. At that time the miottle-face variety was all the fashion, and the star of Benjamin Tomkins was in the ascendant. More than likely, therefore, it was the blood of this strain that was first trans- ferred to the pastures of Westmeath. Prom the glimpse we get of the early Eeynella cattle through the records of the Farming Society it is evident that Mr. Reynell had established his herd of good material and had maintained it of high character. No records exist as to the Hereford herd which once browsed on the Earl of Meath's umbrageous parks at KUruddery Castle, but the supposition that it was composed of Tomkins' mottle-faced sorts would seem to be well founded. We are enabled to be more exact as to the original blood in the herd of Mr. J. N. Gerrard of Gibbstown. That ardent admirer of Herefords was an extensive purchaser from the veteran breeder Mr. John Price of RyaU, whose herd was like- wise principally derived from Benjamin Tomkins. At Gibbs- town Mr. Price's stock bred very successfully, so that Mr. Gerrard's herd obtained a wide reputation, taking the leading show-yard honours for several years. AH these earlier Irish herds have long since ceased to exist, but they were succeeded by others that still flourish and very creditably represent the excellent properties of Hereford cattle. The Reynell family have bred Herefords constantly since 302 HEREFORD CATTLE. the first introduction of the breed about 1775, but the old stock were cleared out by pleuro pneumonia. Mr. R. W. Reynell, Killynon, Westmeath, who now represents the family, obtaiaed a valuable herd of Herefords from his father, who brought some of the original ReyneUa stock to Killynon, but pleuro pneumonia swept away the whole of that herd with the exception of one cow, which survived and bred afterwards. At the ripe old age of 26 years, this fine cow was sold to the butcher for £26. None of her produce was kept on. The present herd at Killynon was founded by the purchase of Cherry 13th at Lord Berwick s sale in 1861, the only females subsequently purchased being Mistletoe from Mr. T. Rogers, Coxall; Pigeon, bred by Mr. J. Burlton, Luntley Court ; and Flora from Mrs. J. B. Green, Marlow. The stud bull is Marquis of Waterford 5454, bred by Mr. Evans, Llaadowlay, and his predecessors were Fright 5924, Prince of Madley 4055, Stanway 2nd 4154, and Eton Montem 3813. The herd numbers over 80 head, and the animals are thick, well- fleshed, and of a thoroughly useful stamp. The young bulls have, as a rule, been purchased by Irish breeders, some of them for use amongst pure-bred Hereford cows, and others for crossing purposes. A few bulls and females have been sold for exportation to America. In recent years the herd has won a good many prizes in Irish show-yards. One of the most successful breeders of Herefords in Ireland was the late Mr. P. J. Kearney of Miltown House, County Meath, who imported some animals of choice blood. After his death the herd, numbering 86 head, was dispersed on November 14th, 1877, by Messrs. Rogers and Hamar, the well- known Hereford salesmen. In the preface to the catalogue of that sale, the auctioneers thus ■ described the herd: — "If not the best, at all events without a superior in the whole range of Hereford herds, either in Ireland or Great Britain. As regards descent it is unquestionably the best Messrs. Rogers and Hamar have ever had the privilege to ofEer. The blood flows in a direct line from the earliest known fountains of these remarkable and renowned cattle, and with the able guidance of an experienced judge, the animals included in the Miltown herd may be said to have reached a degree of perfection EXTENSION OF THE BREED. 303 aerdom equalled and never surpassed. The well-known and justly appreciated blood of the wonderful Monaughty strains of the latS" Mr. James Rea is largely infused into Mr. Kearney's celebrated stock." Mr. Kearney had been formerly a breeder of Shorthorns, but disposed of them to make room for the " white faces." His first purchase of Herefords was the bull Sir Cupis Ball 2761, bred by Mr. James Eea of Monaughty, and six highly-bred heifers selected frem the herds of Lord Berwick and Mr. Eea. Subsequently he introduced animals representing the strains of the Jeffries, Turner, Tudge, Eogers, Pitt, Gilliland, SherifP, Longmore, and Green. The prices obtained at the dispersion were not very high, varying from 20 to 70 guineas. Several were purchased to remain in Ireland by Mr. Fetherstonhaugh, Mr. Purdon, Mr. Eeynell, and others. A fresh herd was established at MUtown House by _ the present representative, Major Kearney, who has bred several excellent specimens of the breed. The late Mr. J. O. G. Pollock established a valuable herd by purchases from the herds of Lord Berwick; Mr. Price, Court House, Pembridge; and Mr. Rea, Monaughty. His selections from the Cronkhill herd were Jessamine and Verbena, both got by Attingham 911, and of the celebrated Eebecca tribe. The herd was maintained with much success, and was sold in its entirety to Mr. W. S. Gamett, WUliamstown, Kells, County Meath. Mr. E. Fetherstonhaugh's herd of Herefords at Eockview, Killucan, County Westmeath, Ireland, would stand well in average merit, even among the most highly esteemed herds in the county of Hereford. Founded in 1861, it has been main- tained with good judgment and liberality, and the animals have thriven admirably. The first purchases were Adelaide, Heliotrope, and Helica from Lord Berwick's herd ; Grace and Gaiety from Mr. Stedman of Bedstone Hall ; and Castanet and Solo from Mr. Powell of Great Brampton. Silence, the dam of Adelaide, was the dam of Carlisle, winner of the Eoyal first prizes at Carlisle Chelmsford, and Salis- bury ; of Beauty, a Eoyal winner at Salisbury and Warwick, and first in bull, cow, and offspring class at Hereford ; of Ada, Eoyal winner at Warwick ; and of Agnes, Eoyal winner 304 HEEEFOKD CATTLE. at Canterbury — a wonderful succession of Royal winners certainly ! Subsequent additions to the Rockview herd were Cherry Branch from Cherry Fruit, bred by Mr. Kea, Monaughty, and Cherry, from Mr. Green of Marlow. The principal sires used were Silverstream 2214, bred by Lord Berwick ; Sir Harry 2767, bred by Mr. Gibbons ; Lord Nelson 3223, bred by Mr. Rogers ; Chieftain 3017, bred by Mr. Kearney ; Cyprus 4494, bred by Mr. Green ; King KofiEee 4682, bred by Mr. Evans ; Victor 5881, bred by Mr. Edwards ; Staxs and Stripes 7284, bred by Mr. Car- wardine, and got by Lord Wilton ; and CronkhUl 7th. Sir Harry, Lord Nelson, and Victor were exceptionally good sires, while the young stock from Stars and Stripes are very promising. The last-named bull is assisted among the 50 cows in the herd by a half-brother to Arthur, obtained from Mr. Price of Court House. Many of the bulls reared have been sold for crossing with the cattle of the country around,' while several have gone to America. Mr. Fetherstonhaugh has not been in the habit of exhibiting, but at last year's Spring Show of the Royal Dublin Society he obtained second prize for the yearhng heifer Grace 17th, third for the yearling bull Farming Boy, and first with fat Hereford ox. Farmer Boy's two brothers. Farmer 2nd and Fair Profit, are both in America, and he himseK was sold in Dublin for crossing with Shorthorns and daii-y cows. Mr. Fetherstonhaugh has been very successful with his pure and cross-bred Hereford oxen, which he fattens chiefly on grass. At Lisnabin, also in Westmeath, the late Captain Purdon established an excellent herd of Herefords from a single cow purchased from the Reynella herd, but about 1 840 the whole of this valuable stock were swept away by a fierce attack of pleuro pneumonia. The present owner of the estate, Mr. G. N. Purdon, had been much impressed by the beauty of his father's Herefords, and accordingly in 1871 he began to buUd up a fresh herd, which he has estabhshed with great success, and which has produced some of the finest Hereford buUs seen in recent years. The first animals purchased were the cow Crinoline and the heifer Blossom 2nd, from the herd of Mr. John Morris, Town House, Madley, Hereford ; and the heifers EXTENSION OF THE BREED. 305 Spangle 4th and Lady 4th from the splendid herd of Mr. J. B. Green, Marlow Lodge, Leintwardine, Herefordshire. The herd was further increased by the purchase of the cow Young Lady 2nd, and the two heifers Lovely 3rd and Medora, from the choice and prize-taking stock of Mrs. Sarah Edwards, Wintercott, Leominster, Herefordshire ; and by the purchase of two heifers, Cherry 13th and Beauty 6th, in the same year from Mr. Green of Marlow. It was again augmented in 1876 by the acquisition of two cows, Picture 2nd and Picture 3rd, from Mr. Prosser of Honeybourne Grounds ; a heifer, the Queen of the Ocean, was got from Mr. Thomas Rogers of Coxall, Bucknell, Salop ; and in 1877 a cow and calf, Cordelia and Sweetbriar, were bought from Mr. W. Tudge of Adforton ; another cow and calf being added from Mr. Thomas Rogers. In 1878 a two-year-old heifer. Spot 3rd, by the celebrated Horace 3877, and two yearling heifers, Spot 4th and Tidy, by the champion bull Truro 5677, were bought from Mr. John Price, Pembridge. At first Mr. Pur- don did not keep a stock sire at Lisnabin, but sent his cows to the bulls belonging to his neighbour Mr. R. Reynell of Killynon; the earlier calves bred in the herd, excludiag cows that had been mated prior to their purchase, being got by Prince of Madley, bred by Mr. Morris, Madley, and Stanway 2nd 4154, bred by Mr. A. Rogers, The Rodd, both of which were the property of Mr. Reynell. Since that time Mr. Pur- don has relied on his own herd for sires. When the herd was still young he bred Sultan 5033, after Stanway 2nd 4154, and out of Blossom 2nd ; Czar 4496, after Prince of Madley, and out of Spangle 4th; and Punch 4882, after Stowe 3478, and out of Blossom 2nd. The first noteworthy achievement, as regards bull breeding, for which the herd has become so famous, was the production of the renowned Rifleman 5538, calved in March, 1875, after Sultan 5033, and out of Lady 4th. He was followed by Bezique 5761, his son ; and then came Favourite 6430, the son of Bezique. As a proof of the excellence of the Herefords bred by Mr. Purdon, we may here mention some of the chief prizes gained by him at the Royal Dublin Society's shows. In 1872 Mr. Purdon was first for heifers giving rmlk with Blossom 2nd, and first for cows with Crinoline. In 1873 he was second for yearling bulls with 306 HEREFORD CATTLE. Punch 4882, first for heifers with Lady dth, and second for cows with Spangle 4th. In 1874 he was first for yearling bulls with Czar 4496, first for two-year-old bulls with Punch, and first for cows with Lady 4th. In 1876 he was first for yearlings with Valentine (out of Lady 4th and after Punch) and first for two-year-olds with Czar. Eifleman 5538 (after Sultan 5033, and out of Lady 4th) made his first appearance as a yearling in 1 876, when he occupied the premier place, being noticed as very handsome -and nicely fleshed. In 1879, Bezique 5761 (after Rifleman, and out of Mistletoe) came to the front, winning first honours. The crowning victory was attained in 1880, when Eifleman stood first and gained the Chaloner Plate as best bull at the show, beating Major Kearney's Truro, which was subsequently champion at Ball's Bridge. Bezique, his son, was first prize two-year-old, and Fusilier, a full brother of Bezique, was first prize yearling on the same occasion. This was a unique honour for the breeder, and stamped the Lisnabin herd as one of gi-eat value. In 1881 Mr. Purdon was first for aged bulls with Bezique and first for yearlings with Favourite 6430 (out of Spot 3rd, and after Bezique) ; while in 1882, Favourite was first in the two- year-old class, and Bezique second in the aged class, having to give place to Truro. In 1884 he was first with Eector in the yearling bull class and first with Favourite amongst aged bulls, and also won the Gibbs cup ; while in 1885 he was again first with Favourite, and won the Gibbs cup, which thus became his own property, he having won it on three occasions. It is a remarkable fact that Mr. Purdon, with bulls of his own breeding, has been able to obtain first honours at the Eoyal Dublin Shows over all the fine Hereford sires that have recently been imported to Ireland. Major Gardner of Glanmore Castle, County Wicklow, main- tained successfully for a few years a well-bred Hereford herd; while by Mr. GUliland of County Derry, Mr. G. A. Stephens, County Dublin, and others in Ireland, the breed has been cultivated with gratifying results. AMERICA AND CANADA. The Hereford breed has gained a great reputation in the Western States of America as well as in Canada. Its excellent EXTENSION OF THE BREED. 307 properties as grazing stock have been heartily appreciated by the shrewd stockmen of Canada and the far West, and manifestly the breed has great prospects before it in the American Continent. The first shipment of Herefords to America of which there is any record was made in 1817, when two bulls and two heifers were taken out by the Hon. Henry Clay of Kentucky. Nothing is known of the breeding of these, but from the statement that the sum paid for the four was only £105, it is concluded that they could not have been of the highest character. It is interesting to note that an important consign- ment of Shorthorns went out in the same ship with these four Herefords, and that the supposition that the two breeds had been allowed to intermix on their way helped to fix upon these Shorthorns and their produce — notoriously known as ''Seventeens" — the stigma that they were not "thoroughbred." One of the Hereford bulls died on the journey between Baltimore and Kentucky, and it is stated that from the other animals the produce was not very numerous, and gradually merged into other varieties. In Mr. Duckham's Record, part i. and ii., Mr. Sandf ord Howard gives some interesting notes as to the earlier importations of Herefords into America, and from these we produce the follow- ing extracts : — " In 1824 Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, of the Royal Navy , a native of the islandof Nantucket, presented to the Massa^ chusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture a Hereford bull and heifer. They were bred by Sir J. G. Cotti?rell, whose stock was from Mr. Yarworth, and his from Benj. Torakins, the first noted breeder of Herefords. The heifer never bred. The bull left a valuable progeny of half-bloods, particularly in the vicinity of Northampton, where he was kept for several years by the late Hon. I. C. Bates. The cattle feeders along Connecticut river stated that after they had fed some of the half-blood Hereford oxen, they would gladly pay from five to ten dollars a head more for them than for other cattle of equal size and condition, knowing that they would be amply re- munerated for the additional cost in the gain the animals would make for the food consumed, and in the extra price the beef would bring. X 2 308 HEREFORD CATTLE. " In 1840, Corning and Sotham of Albany, N.Y., imported 17 cows and heifers, and five buUs. They were from the herds of Mr. J. Hewer and Mr. Walker. A portion of this herd finally passed into the hands of Mr. E. Coming, jun., who added to it by importations of several fine animals from the herd of the Rev. J. R. Smythies, and subsequently others from different herds. Probably the breed has been more dissemi- nated through the country from these importations than from any others. "About the year 1852 the Hon. L. A. Dowley, then re- siding at Brattleboro, Vt., imported a bull and two heifers. They were from the herd of the late Lord Berwick. The progeny of these animals was scattered up the Connecticut Valley somewhat, and in a few instances went into Lower Canada. The bull Cronkhill, a very fine animal, passed into the hands of George Clerk of Springfield, Otsego County, N.Y." The introduction of the improved Herefords into Canada is described in the following communication which Mr. E. W. Stone of Moreton Lodge, Guelph, Ontario, addressed to Mr. Duckham: — "I am an extensive breeder of Shorthorns, which breed I think very highly of; yet I trust I shall answer your enquiries without prejudice. From what I remembered of the Herefords in my youth, and seeing the poor animals exhibited here for two or three years as Herefords, I thought they bore a striking contrast to them, and upon my visiting the Royal Agri- cultural Society of England's Show at Canterbury I was so much pleased with those I saw there that I resolved to purchase some, and send out to let the people of Canada see what pure- bred Herefords were. I therefore commissioned my brother to purchase at the sales of Lord Bateman and Lord Berwick's herds. My herd now numbers 23, are good specimens, and attract the attention of all who see them. They readily became acclimatised and retain their general character. I believe them preferable on the whole to otlier breeds as grazers. Those I have appear at all times fit for the butcher, and I should think they would be most profitable for the western prairies. I have not had any experirnce in stall feeding, but, during our long winters they seem to equal, if not to surpass, others in EXTENSION OF THE BREED. 309 condition, and I think them as hardy as any breed, and very suitable animals for this climate, which is very changeable; sometimes in 24 hours it varies 30 to 40 degrees. Our cattle generally have to put up with it without any attention, excepting ia very stormy weather in the autumn, when we put them up, and during the winter keep them in stables or yards. The Herefords stand these changes equal to any, and, I believe, will be of great service in crossing the stock here as they become knswn. They are not generally known here; but most people who have seen mine are very pleased with them, and I think they will be more appreciated." Of the more recent American and Canadian importations we cannot attempt to give a detailed account. This, indeed, woul-granddam Almond, bred at Aymestry Court. This is the foundation of the Almond tribe, so long in the possession of the Turner family at Aymestry Court, Westhide, and The Leen. The bull Curly, who has no Herd Book number, and the next sire. Lottery 2nd, were both bred by Mr. John Turner, Court of Noke. Lottery 2nd had the same sires as those recorded in the pedigree of the dam of Chance, Sir David's sire, namely, Lottery and Sovereign, both Mr. John Hewer's; and Viscount, bred by Mr. Carpenter, was a son of Mr. T. Jeffries' Hope. WINDSOR, 1851. BuU, Walford 871, calved December, 1846; bred by Thomas Longmore, Walford, near Ludlow, exhibited by Lord Berwick, CronkhiU, Shrewsbury. Cow, Duchess of Norfolk, calved October 16th, 1847; bred and exhibited by Lord Berwick. Vol. iii., p. Ill, Walford, a son of Dawes' Grey Bull 1954a, alias Clungun- ford 862a, traced to the stocks of Messrs. Morris of Stockton- bury, Beddoes, Yeld, and T. A. Knight. He ranks among the very best of Hereford show bulls, and, in the opinion of many eminent breeders, was as near the true ideal of perfection as an animal could be. Besides winning the Ludlow challenge sweepstakes, open to the United Kingdom and to aU breeds, flEREFORDS AT THE SHOWS. 359 and many other prizes in England, he took the gold medal as the best bull of any breed at the French International Show, held in Paris in 1855. Duchess of Norfolk, red with spotted face, was a daughter of Tom Thumb 243, a grey bull, and belonged to the Cherry family of Ashley Moor, bred from the stock of Mr. Knight. Tom Thumb, lot 38 at the Ashley Moor sale, February, 1844, where, by Mr. Theophilus Salwey's permission, he was entered by his breeder, Mr. Thomas of Cholstrey, was bought by Lord Berwick, then the Hon. Richard Noel Hill, whose intention* in selecting him was to perpetuate the grey variety. This intention was afterwards abandoned, in deference to the strongly prevailing fancy for the red with white face. Duchess of Norfolk was also first in her classes at the Norwich and Exeter Meetings, 1849-50, and was the dam of Napoleon 3rd, the premier bull at Chelmsford, 1856. LEWES, 1852. Bull, Pembridge 721, calved February 6th, 1848 ; bred and exhibited by Edward Price, Court House, Pembridge. Cow, Grey Daisy, grey, calved November 30th, 1848 ; bred and exhibited by Lord Berwick, CronkhiU. Vol. iv., p. 129. Pembridge, by Sir David 349 (see Norwich, 1849), dam by Mr. J. Hewer's Hope 411, granddam by Mr. J. Hewer's Sovereign 404, was a winner at Ludlow, Hereford, and, as a calf, at the Norwich Royal Show, where his sire won the first prize in the aged class. Grey Daisy was by Tom Thumb 243, the sire of the Windsor prize cow Duchess of Norfolk, and, like that cow, belonged to the Salwey-Knight tribe of Cherry. GLOUCESTER, 1853. Bull, Albert Edward 859, calved January 7th, 1850 ; bred and exliibited by Lord Berwick, CronkhiU. Cow, Winifred, eight years and eight months ; bred by * This ia avowed in a letter written by him April 7th, 1844, to Mr. Salwey's son, the late Mr. Humphry Salwey, to whose family I am indebted for the courtesy of permission to make use of it. — W. H. 360 HEREFORD CATTLE. James Rea, Monaughty, exhibited by John Monkhouse, The Stow. Vol. iii., p. 230. Albert Edward, by Mr. J. Hewer's Wonder, was from the Southampton Royal prize cow Victoria. He was second in the two-year-old class at Lewes. Winifred, by Monaughty 220, from Venus 4th by Duke 304, was the winner of many prizes, and was the first Here- ford that twice took the first prize in the full-aged cow class of the Royal Society, winning at Carlisle, two years later, the same position as at Gloucester. LINCOLN, 1854. Bull, Magnet 823, calved August 22nd, 1851 ; bred by Thomas Yeld, Bodenham, exhibited by Edward Price, Court House, Pembridge. Cow, Nell Gwynne, calved December 20th, 1850 ; bred and exhibited by Philip Turner, The Leen, Pembridge. Vol. iii., p. 125, produce under Belle. The Royal first prize bull and cow of this year, although from different herds, were half-brother and sister, and had the influential blood of Sir Andrew 183 through their sire The Knight 185, bred by Mr. Monkhouse. Magnet, by The Knight 185, was from Spot by Mr. Wm. Pitt's Big Ben 248, whose dam. Blossom 3rd (a winner at Hereford, vol. iii., p. 128), was also the dam of Mr. George Pitt's Northampton 600, the first prize yearling bull at the Northampton Royal Show, 1847. NeU Gwynne, by The Knight 185, dam Belle by Mr. Car- penter's Sir Walter 352 (a son of Hope 439), granddam Myrtle by Mr. T. Jeffries' Commerce 354 (also a son of Hope 439), great-granddam Sylph by Mr. Parry's Old Court 2nd 1341, — Damsel by Mr. John 'Turner's Curly, — Almond, bred by Mr. P. Turner, Aymestry Court, is of the same tribe which produced the Exeter Royal prize cow, 1850. CARLISLE, 1855. BuU, Attingham 911, calved September 4th, 1852; bred and exhibited by Lord Berwick, CronkhUl. Cow, Winifred, ten years and seven months; bred by James HEREFOBCS AT THE SHOWS. 361 Kea, Monaughty, exhibited by John Monkhouse, The Stow. Vol. iii., p. 230. Attingham, by Walford 871, the winner at Windsor in 1851, from Damsel 2nd by Tom Thumb 243, is of the same tribe which produced Duchess of Norfolk, the first prize cow at Windsor, and Napoleon 3rd 1019, first prize buU at Chelmsford. He was the sire of many of the winners in the CronkhUl herd. The Herd Book erroneously gives him Eoyal honours at Shrewsbury. Winifred was first winner in the same class at Gloucester, 1853. She was the dam of Madoo 899, a winner at Ludlow, Knighton, Leominster, and Hereford. CHELMSFORD, 1856. BuU, Napoleon 3rd 1019, bred and exhibited by Lord Berwick, Cronkhill. Cow, CarHsle Beauty, calved October 14th, 1852; bred and exhibited by W. Perry, Cholstrey, Leominster. Vol. iii., p. 135. Napoleon 3rd was the ofEspring of the two Royal first winners in the full-aged classes at Windsor in 1851, WaJford and Duchess of Norfolk. A medal for superior merit was awarded to him at the Paris International Show, 1855, where his sire won the gold medal. Carlisle Beauty, sire Noble Boy 751 (a son of Mr. J. N. Carpenter's Coningsby, the York premier bull, 1848), dam Gloucester by Mr. E. JefEries' Marden 564, &c., was the winner of a second prize in the two-year-old class at Carlisle, 1855, and the first prize in her class, and gold medal, at Paris, 1856. SALISBURY, 1857. Bull, Radnor 1366, calved October 24th, 1854; bred and exhibited by Edward Williams, Llowes Court, Hay. Cow, Carlisle, calved February 28tb, 1854; bred and ex- hibited by Lord Berwick, Cronkhill. Vol. iv., p. 93. Radnor, by Mr. E. Williams' Dewshall 2nd 1215, descended on the dam's side from the stocks of Messrs. Vaughan of Cholstrey, Carpenter of Eardisland, Jeffries, Hewer, and Tully. He was first also as a calf at Carlisle and second as S62 HEREFORD CATTLfi. yearling at Chelmsford, besides winning several county and local prizes. Carlisle, by Albert Edward 859, the Eoyal first prize bull at Gloucester, 1853, was from SUver by Emperor 221, the Shrewsbury Royal first prize bull, 1845. Silver was also the dam of Beauty, second winner in the yearhng class at Salis- bury, and again at Warwick as a cow, in 1859; of Ada, second in the two-year-old class at Warwick; and of Agnes, winner of the third prize in the two-year-old class at Canterbury, 1860, and dam of Adela and Adelina, both Royal winners. Carlisle was sold to Mr. Duckham, and at Baysham Court bred some noted animals, including Commodore 2472, a winner of first honours at the Royal, and first and the championship at the Tredegar Show, 1864, besides other prizes. CHESTER, 1858. BuU, Goldfinder 2nd 959, calved m July, 1852; bred by John Perry, Much Cowame, exhibited by Edward Price, Court House, Pembridge. Cow, Yoimg Broady, five years, seven months, and three weeks ; bred and exhibited by Edward Williams, Llowes Court, Hay, Breconshire. Goldfinder 2nd is entered as the son of Witchend 1118, who was calved in the year 1852. Whether the paternity or the date is in error does not appear. Goldfinder 2nd was purchased in 1855 by Mr. B. Price from Mr. Wm. Perry of Cholstrey, the brother of Mr. John Perry of Much Cowame. But for the difference of exactly one year in age, Young Broady would appear to be identical with the offspring of Broady, vol. iii., p. 132, in November, 1851. The Chester prize list gives the cow's age as stated above, which would make Young Broady, the winner, precisely 12 months younger than the same breeder's Young Broady in the Herd Book. WARWICK, 1859. BuU, Claret 1177, calved August 24th, 1856; bred and exhibited by Richard Hill, Golding Hall. Cow, Bella, calved December 1st, 1855; bred by James HEREFORDS AT THE SHOWS. 363 Rea, Monaughty, exhibited by Thomas Rea, Westonbury. Vol. v., p. 130. Claret had the Sir Andrew blood through his sire The Knight 185, the sire also of the first winners at Lincoln ia 1854 ; his dam was by Mr. A. Dawes' Sibdon 1385, and his granddam by Sir Andrew 183, The Knight's sire. Bella, the first prize two-year-old at Chester ia 1858, and a wianer at the Herefordshire and Leomiaster Shows, was by Mr. James Rea's Grenadier 961, whose pedigree under his own name in the fifth volume differs somewhat from that given id the entry of his dam, Venus 5th, on pages 225-6 ia the same volume ; but whichever record be accepted, the line is that of the Monaughty Venus and Winifred tribe. The dam of Bella, Mr. J. Rea's Cherry, was by his prize bull Regent 891, and his granddam by Mr. T. Jeffries' Commerce 354, also a well-known winner. CANTEEBURT, 1860. Bull, Leominster 1634, calved September 14th, 1857; bred and exhibited by Thomas Edwards, Wintercott. Cow, Fancy Leominster, calved August 25th, 1853; bred by John Taylor, Slretford Court, exhibited by James Taylor, Stretford Court, Leominster. Vols, iv., v., pp. 119, 186. Leomiaster and his sire WeUiagton 1113 both traced to dams by Mr. W. Pitt's Big Ben 248, a son of his Blossom 3rd (vol. iii., p. 128), one of the four foundation cows of Mr. George Pitt's herd at Chadnor, and dam of the prize buU Northampton 600. Leomiaster had the Sir Andrew blood through his paternal grandsire Croft 937, and through his sire was also descended from Mr. Carpenter's Coningsby 718, the winner at York, 1848. Fancy Leomiaster, by Kiag John 830 (a son of The Knight 185, and thus owning the blood of Sir Andrew 183, and remotely that of the Rev. J. R. Smythies' stock) was from a cow. Countess, bred by Mr. James Bowen of Monkland. LEEDS, 1861. BuU, Sir Richard 1734, calved November 1st, 1858 ; bred and exhibited by Mr. Thomas Rea, Westonbury. 364 HEEEFORD CATTLE. Cow, Laura, calved July 25th, 1856; bred and exhibited by- John Naylor, Leighton Hall, Welshpool. Vol. v., p. 217. Sir Richard, by Sir Benjamin, the second winner at Chester, 1858, and first at the Hereford, Ludlow, and Leominster Shows, was thus a grandson of Sir David 349, the winner of first prizes at Newcastle, 1846, and Norwich, 1849. His dam, Primrose, was by Glendower 898, granddam by Cholstrey 217, great-granddam by Grallant 239. Laura, a Bath and Wells winner, was by Mr. Edward Price's Silvester 797, a son of Pembridge 721, first in the yearling class at Norwich in 1849. Pembridge was by Sir David 349. BATTERSEA (iKTERNATIONAL), 1862. Bull, Maximus 1650, red with spotted face, calved July 12th, 1868 ; bred at his H.R.H. The Prince Consort's Flemish Farm, Windsor, exhibited by the Hon. Col. Hood, Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Park. First prize. Bull, Milton 2114, calved August 6th, 1859 ; bred and exhibited by Richard Hill, Gelding Hall, Shrewsbury. Gold medal. Cow, Matchless, calved January 6th, 1856 ; bred and exhibited by Henry Coate, Sherborne, Dorset. Vol. v., p. 232. First prize and gold medal. At this International Meeting gold medals were given for the best buU and the best cow or heifer respectively in any of the Hereford classes. Although Maximus was the Royal first prize aged bull of the year, the gold medal was awarded to Milton in the next following class. Particulars of both bulls are therefore given. The Royal first prize cow was also the winner of the gold medal. Maximus, from the Royal herd, had been first in his claas at the Society's Warwick Show. One of the judges at Battersea, whose comments are incorporated in the official report, observed that the spots on the face and legs of Maxi- mus, as weU as his general appearance, indicated his relation- ship to the Tomkins mottle-faced Hereford. The sire of Maximus was Brecon 918, bred by Mr. W. Maybery; and his dam. Superb, bred by the Earl of Radnor, was the winner of a first prize in her class at the Salisbury Meeting, 1857. HEREFORDS AT THE SHOWS. 365 Milton, the gold medal bull, first in ids class at Leeds in 1861, was a son of Lord Berwick's Chanticleer 1173, by Attingham, the Carlisle winner in 1855, and he by Walford 871, the Windsor Eoyal first prize bull in 1851. Matchless, a winner at the Sherborne, Yeovil, Crewkeme, and Sturminster Agricultural Societies, and first at the Wells Show of the Bath and West of England Society in 1862, was by Young Protection 2334, bred by Mr. E. Williams, Llowes Court, her dam by Venison 2nd 1442, bred by Mr. Stedman of Bedstone Hall, and sold to the Earl of Radnor. She -was the dam of the bull Ranger 2 182, a winner of first and champion honours at various shows in the counties of Somerset and Dorset. At this show, the judge mentioned above remarks, " eight of the winners out of the 24 were either bred by or indirectly descended from the herd of the late Lord Berwick." — " Journal R.A.S.E.," vol. xxiii., p. 379. WORCESTER, 1863. Bull, Sir Oliver 2nd 1733, calved October 20th, 1858; bred by Thomas Eea, Westonbury, exhibited by John Hunger- ford Arkwright, Hampton Court, Leominster. Cow, Beauty, calved July 10th, 1859; bred and exhibited by WLUiam Perry, St. Oswald, Cholstrey. Vol. v., p. 140, produce under Bury 3rd. Sir Oliver 2nd combined the blood of Sir Benjamin 1387, Regent 891, Caractacus 619, and Hope 439. By the sire he was half-brother to Sir Richard 1734, the Royal first prize bull at Leeds, 1861, and grandson to Sir David 349, the Royal first prize bull at Norwich, 1849. Beauty, by Noble Boy 1337, bred by Mr. John Perry, Much Cowarne, dam Bury 3rd by Mr. W. Perry's Noble Boy 751 (son of Mr. Carpenter's Coningsby, the York winner, 1848), had in the earlier generations the strains of Messrs. Jeffries, Hewer, Turner of Noke, and Tomkins. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, 1864. Bull, Tambarine 2254, calved August 17th, 1860; bred by Lord Bateman, exhibited by William Taylor, Showle Court, Ledbury. 366 HEKEFORD CATTLE. Cow, Spangle 2nd, calved September 16th, 1860; bred by James Rea, Monaugbty, exhibited by Louisa Woodgate Rea, Westonbury. Vol. vi., p. 321. Tambarine, by the Earl of Radnor's Carlisle 923, dam Little Beauty by Andrew 2nd 619, &c., had through his dam's sire the blood of Sir Andrew 183, whose descendants have gained many honours at the Royal shows. Tambarine was a winner at several shows of the Royal and Bath and West of England Societies. Spangle 2nd, by Mr. Philip Turner's Wellington, from Spangle by Mr. Stedman's Chieftain 930, &c., became the property of Mr. Baldwin of Luddington. PLYMOUTH, 1865. BuU, Colesbome 2467, calved February 22nd, 1862; bred and exhibited by James Marsh Read, Elkstone, Cheltenham. Cow, Duchess of Bedford 2nd, calved September 24th, 1861; bred by Thomas Roberts, Ivingtonbury, exhibited by John Baldwin, Luddington, Stratford-on-Avon. Vol. v., p. 175, produce under Duchess of Bedford. Colesbome, by Lord Berwick's Caliban 1163, a son of Attingham 911, was from Washington, a prize cow, bred by the Earl of Radnor from a family long established at ColeshiU. Duchess of Bedford 2nd, by Sir Thomas 2228 (son of Sir Benjamin 1387, and grandson of Sir David 349), dam by Arthur Napoleon 910, traced to the stock of Mr. Vaughan of Cholstrey. [The Royal Agricultural Society of England had no exhi- bition of cattle in 1866, nor in 1867, on account of the cattle plague.] LEICESTER, 1868. Bull, Battenhall 2406, calved July 27th, 1862; bred by Thomas Roberts, Ivingtonbury, Leominster, exhibited by Thomas Rogers, Brampton Bryan. Cow, Hampton Beauty, calved July 2nd, 1864; bred and exhibited by John Hungerford Arkwright, Hampton Court, Leominster. Vol. vii., p. 268. Battenhall, by Sir Thomas 2228 (son of Sir Benjamin and sire of the Plymouth Royal first prize cow, 1865), was from a HEREFORDS AT THE SHOWS. 367 dam by King James 978, granddam by Andrew 2nd 619, combining in these generations the blood of Sir David, Walford, and Sir Andrew. Hampton Beauty's sire, Sir Oliver 2nd 1773, the Royal first prize bull at Worcester in 1863, gave her the blood of Sir Benjamin and Sir David, the Royal first prize bull at Norwich in 1849 ; and her dam, lineally descended from the stock of Mr. D. Williams of Newton, through that of Mr. S. Perkins of Woodhouse, Bodenham, had from her sire Young Royal 1470, that of the Bristol, 1842, Royal first prize cow and bull, Countess and her son Royal 331. Collateral branches of Hampton Beauty's family at Hampton Court have been remarkably successful in the show-yard. MANCHESTER, 1869. BuU, Sir Hungerford 3447, calved August 24th, 1865; bred and exhibited by John Hungerford Arkwright, Hampton Court. Cow, Queen of the Lihes, calved October 11th, 1862; bred by James Rea, Monaughty; exhibited by James D. Allen; Tisbury, Wilts. Vol. vii., p. 347. Sir Hungerford's sire, Dan O'Connell 1952, was a son of Sir Thomas 2228, and thus, by the direct male line (tracing through the sires). Sir Hungerford was fourth in descent from Sir David 349. The dam of Sir Himgerford was by Mortimer 1328, bred by Mr. John Williams of Kingsland, his granddam by Mr. John Turner's Jupiter 1289, &c. Sir Hungerford was the winner of many prizes, including first in his class at Leicester, 1868, and first at the Bath and West of England Show at Southampton, 1869. Queen of the LUies, by Sir Benjamin 1387, was a grand- daughter of Sir David 349, her dam by Mr. Rea's Borderer 1153. After winning first prizes at the Bath and West of England Show at Southampton, and the Manchester Royal Show, she was bought by the Earl of Southesk, and at the Kinnaird Castle sale in 1874 was purchased by Mr. Philip Turner, to whose herd at The Leen she added a family. In Scotland she bred, besides other animals. King of the LUies 3892, the sire of Helianthus 4641, Hildebrand 4646, &c. 368 HEREFORD CATTLE. OXFORD, 1870. Bull, Stanway 2790, calved September 11th, 1864; bred by William Tudge, Adforton, exhibited by Sir Joseph Bailey, Bart., Glanusk Park. Cow, Silk, seven years and nine months ; bred by David Rogers, The Rodd, exhibited by Thomas Rogers, CoxaU. See Silk 2nd, vol. viii., p. 287. Stanway, in the male line direct, was third in descent from Sir David 349, the Norwich premier bull, 1849 ; thus: — Sir David — The Grove — Pilot — Stanway. His sire Pilot was from a cow by Mr. Longmore's Yoimg Walford, her dam by Mr. Longmore's Nelson, a descendant of Confidence and Emperor, the Royal first prize bulls in 1843 and 1845 ; the next sire, Turpin, was by Albert, the cup-winner at Hereford in 1841, closely related to the famous Leominster fat cow of 1838, and beyond this was the Tully blood. The female line direct of Stanway shows Carbonel, The Doctor (Mr. James Rea's), Orleton, and Nelson. Carbonel has the same sires which appear in that and Pilot's lines, and he was the ancestor of many of the Adforton prize-winners. His daughter Dar- ling, Stanway's dam, was also the dam of Brandon 2972 and Landseer 3202, both Royal first winners in their respective classes at the Leicester Show, 1868, and of Deborah, own sister to Stanway and dam of Diadem, winner of the Royal first prize at Manchester, 1869, and other honours. Stanway was the sire of Mr. Tudge's Oxford Royal first prize heifer Silver Star, sold to Messrs. Barnes and Smith, New South Wales. Silk, by Mr. Benjamin Rogers' Interest 2046, dam by Mr. Edward Price's Protection 794, granddam by Young Royal 1469, was the dam of Silk 2nd, winner of a Royal second prize at Cardiff; and of Silk 3rd (see vol. ix., p. 23, No. 4376), winner of a £50 prize at Hereford and a £20 prize at Wor- cester, against all breeds. WOLVERHAMTON, 1871. Bull, Monaughty 3rd, 3262, calved December 15th, 1867; bred and exhibited by Warren Evans, Llandowlas. Cow, Ivington Rose, calved August 28th, 1864 ; bred by HEEEFORDS AT THE SHOWS. 369 Thomas Roberts, Ivingtonbury, exhibited by William Burchall Peren, Compton House, South Petherton, Somersetshire. Vol. vii. p. 274. Monaughty 3rd, by Mr. H. Gibbons' Hopeful 2045, dam by Mr. Stedmaa's Chieftain 930, &c., was also a first prize winner at the Guildford Show of the Bath and West of Eng- land Society, and of some local prizes. His sire was by Shamrock 2nd, the grandsire of Horace 3877. Ivington Rose, by Sir Thomas 1228, from Red Rose by Master Butterfly 2313, &c., won the first in the cow class at the Royal show three years consecutively, 1871-2-3, and other important prizes. Sir Benjamin, Sir David, Arthur Napoleon, and Mr. Vaughan's Cholstrey supplied the principal materials in her composition. CARDIFF, 1872. Bull, Bachelor 2941, calved April 2l8t, 1867; bred by Stephen Robinson, The Moor, Kington, exhibited by Thomas Fenn, Stonebrook House, and John Harding, Bicton. Cow, Ivington Rose, calved August 28th, 1864; bred by T. Roberts, exhibited by W. B. Peren. Vol. vii., p. 274. Bachelor, a son of Mr. W. Tudge's Douglas 2505, from Spinster, bred by Mr. T. Roberts, by Sir Thomas 2228, granddam by Master Butterfly 1313, &c., won a second prize at the Wolverhampton Meeting, 1871, when exhibited by Mr. Philip Turner, who used him in his herd at The Leen. He was the sire of Mr. Turner's Provost, winner of a third prize at Wolverhampton, second to his sire at Cardiff, and first at Hull. Ivington Rose here for the second time took Royal first honours in the cow class, see 1871 and 1873. HULL, 1873. BuU, Provost 4067, calved June 23rd, 1869; bred and exhibited by Philip Turner, The Leen, Pembridge. Cow, Ivington Rose, calved August 28th, 1864; bred by T. Roberts; exhibited by W. B. Peren. Vol. vii., p. 274. Provost, a son of Bachelor 2941, the first prize bull at Cardiff, from Rhodia by Subaltern 2794, belonged to Mr. Turner's Moreton tribe, originally from the stock of Wm. Hayton of Moreton. He won aoany prizes. BB ■ 370 HEREFORD CATTLE. Ivington Eose here won for the third time her Royal first honours in the^ow class, see 1871-2. BEDFORD, 1874. Bull, Winter de Cote 4253, calved August 10th, 1870 ; bred by Thomas Edwards, Wintercott, exhibited by Sarah Edwards, Wintercott, Leominster. Cow, Rosaline, calved July 21st, 1870 ; bred and ex- hibited by Thomas Thomas, St. Hilary, Cowbridgei Glamor- ganshire. Vol. X., p. 296. Winter de Cote, by Leominster 3rd 3211, the first prize yearling bidl at Manchester, 1869 (and he by Mr. Monk- house's Tomboy, a son of Sir Thomas by Sir Benjamin, by Sir David), was from Pinky 3rd by Young Grove 2888, a son of Mr. W. Tudge's Adforton. He gained first prizes at Hereford in 1871-2-4, and at the Royal shows of 1873-4-5. Rosaline, by Sir John 3rd 3456 (male line — Sir John, Plato, Sir Benjamin, Sir David), from Fairy by Mr. Edward Price's Shamrock 2750, traced further to Goldfiider 2nd 959, the Royal first prize buU at Chester, 1858, and to Young Royal 1469, a son of Royal 331, the Bristol winner, 1842. Besides her prize at Bedford, she won in various classes at the shows of the Royal Agricultural Society of England the following prizes: — First at Cardiff, second at Taunton and Birmingham, and first with two of her offspring at Bristol. At the Bath and West of England, Gloucestershire, Glamor- ganshire, and Hereford Shows she also gained many prizes. TAUNTON, 1875. BuU, Winter de Cote 4253, calved August 10th, 1870 ; bred by T. Edwards, exhibited by S. Edwards. Cow, Lady Stanton, calved July 10th, 1871 ; bred and exhibited by Thomas Fenn, Stonebrook House, Ludlow. Vol. ix., p. 341. For Winter de Cote see Bedford, 1874. Lady Stanton's sire, Severus 2nd 2747, was a son of Mr. B. Rogers' Severus, from a half-sister to Mr. Longmore's (Lord Berwick's) Walford. The dam of Lady Stanton, Miss Stanton 5th, bred by Mr, B. Rogers, was by Sir Thomas HEREFOEDS AT THE SHOWS. 371 2228, and traced to The Grove, Severus, &c. Lady Stanton had previously won the first prize in the two-year-old class at the Bedford Royal Show. BIRMINGHAM, 1876. Bull, Tredegar 5077, calved December 3rd, 1872; bred and exhibited by WOliam Taylor, Showle Court, Ledbury. Cow, Kosebud, calved in July, 1868; bred by Benjamin Rogers, The Grove, Pembridge, exhibited by William Tudge, Adforton, Leintwardine. Vol. viii., p. 283. Tredegar, by Mr. PhUip Turner's Mercury 3967, dam by Holmer 2043, &c., traced by the male line, through Jupiter and Franky, to Walford, the Windsor first prize bull, 1851. His sire, Mercury by Jupiter, was from Mr. Turner's Rhodia, the dam of Provost, winner at Hull, 1873; and Franky, the sire of Jupiter (and son of Walford), was the sire of the Smithfield gold medal oxen of 1863 and 1868. The dam of Franky was by Mr. T. L. Meire's Speculation, the sire of The Duke, the winner at Newcastle in 1846, and of other Royal winners; also of two winners at the Smithfield Club Show in 1842. Tredegar won first prizes at the Royal shows of 1874-5-6-7, besides prizes and champion honours elsewhere. Rosebud, twice the Royal first prize cow and winner of many other honours, was a daughter of Sir Thomas 2228 and Rose by North Star 2138, granddam by The Grove 1764, tracing to Sir David through each of those sires severally by the male line of descent. She was purchased by Mr. J. H. Arkwright of Hampton Court, at the Adforton sale, Septem- ber 20th, 1877. LIVERPOOL, 1877. Bull, Tredegar 5077, calved December 3rd, 1872; bred and exhibited by W. Taylor. Cow, Rosebud, calved in July, 1868; bred by B. Rogers, exhibited by W. Tudge. Vol. viii., p. 283. The two wiuners at Birmingham, 1876. BRISTOL, 1878. BuU, Thoughtful 5063, calved September 25th, 1874; bred and exhibited by William Taylor, Showle Court. 372 HEREFORD CATTLE. Cow, Lady Blanche, calved in February, 1874; bred by Warren Evans, Llandowlas, Uak; exhibited by his represen- tatives. Vol. ii., p. 222. Thoughtful, a son of Mercury 3967, was therefore half- brother to Tredegar, the winner in 1876-7, and like him a male line descendant of Walford; his dam by Sir Francis 3438, a son of Mr. Thomas Rea's Sir Frank, whose sire. Sir Eichard, the Leeds first prize bull, 1861, traced through Sir Benjamin to Sir David. Thoughtful was a Royal winner also as a yearling and a two-year-old, and at the Kilburn Inter- national Show, following Bristol, stood second to the champion bull. He was also a constant winner at the Bath and West of England and the principal shows of the Hereford and neigh- bouring districts. Lady Blanche is erroneously entered in vol. ii. as a daughter of Von Moltke 2nd 4234, the number being that of Von Moltke, the sire of Von Moltke 2nd, and the error is repeated in some of the entries of her progeny; but in the entry of her son, Roseberry 7235, in vol. xhi., the name of Von Moltke 4234 is given. That bull was the winner of the first prize in the two-year-old class at Cardiff, 1872. The dam of Lady Blanche was by Prince Alfred 3342, a prize bull by Mr. H. R. Evans' Hope, of the prize-winning Stately and Lovely family, bred at Swanstone Court from the old Ashley Moor stock. KILBURN (international), 1879. Bull, Grateful 4622, calved June 23rd, 1873; bred and exhibited by Aaron Rogers, The Rodd, Kington, Hereford- shire. First prize £30 as best bull in his class, and champion prize £50 as best Hereford male. Cow, Leonora, calved in August, 1875; bred and exhibited by Sarah Edwards, Wintercott, Leominster. Not entered in H.B. For pedigree see her own brothers. Commodore 4455 and Student 5030, vol. ix., pp. 42, 177. First prize £20 as best cow in her class, and champion prize £50 as best Here- ford female. Grateful by Sir Thomas 2228 (male line — Sir Benjamin — Sir David), was from Lady Lizzie by Jupiter 3191 (Franky — Walford — see Tredegar, Birmingham Show, 1876), granddam HEREFORDS AT THE SHOWS. 8?3 Lady Court Lasa by Mr. John Hewer's David 1204, &c. Grateful won also champion prizes at the Oxford Show of the Bath and West of England Society, 1878, and at the Shropshire and West Midland Shows ia 1877 and 1878, besides other prizes. Leonora, by Winter de Cote 4253, the winner at Bedford, 1874, and Taunton, 1875, was from Lovely by Tomboy 3546. In addition to many class prizes she took champion honours at Oxford (Bath and West), Hereford, Kington, the Shropshire and West Midland, and the Tredegar Shows. The judges, in their official report upon the KUbum Show, wrote: — " We consider her the best Hereford cow we ever saw, and probably a more perfect specimen of any breed is not ia existence." CAELISLE, 1880. Bull, Grateful 4622, calved June 23rd, 1873; bred and exhibited by A. Eogers. Cow, Nannette, calved March 14th, 1876; bred and exhibited by Thomas Myddleton, Beckjay, Aston-on-Clun, Salop. Vol. ii., p. 246, produce under Miss Notible'em. For notes on Grateful, see Kilbum, 1879. Nannette, a winner of many prizes, was sold to Mr. G. P. Morgan of Hereford Park, Douglas County, U.S.A. Her sire. Baron 4326, was bred by the Rev. Archer Clive, and her dam. Miss Nobble'em, by Mr. J. B. Green's Nobleman 2652, a son of Zeal 2342 (Sir Benjamin — Governess, the 30-year-old cow), bred several noted winners. DERBT, 1881. Bull, Pirate 6105, calved May 8th, 1878; bred and exhibited by Philip Turner, The Leen, Pembridge. Cow, Modesty, calved August 14th, 1875; bred and exhibited by William Taylor, Showle Court, Ledbury. Vol. ii., p. 304. Pirate was by Corsair 5271, a half-brother to Provost, the HuU winner, 1873, and to Mercury, the sire of Tredegar and Thoughtful, winners 1876-7-8; aU those three bulls being sons of Mr. Turner's noted cow Khodia; and the dam of Pirate, Dorcas 4th, by Mr. T. Edwards' Leominster 3910, 374 Hereford cattle. was from a cow by Bachelor, the winner at Cardiff, 1872. He was sold at The Leen sale, September 6th, 1883, to Mr. George Leigh of Eliiiois, U.S.A. Modesty, a daughter of Tredegar 5077, the winner at Birmingham and Liverpool, 1876-7, dam by Tenant Parmer 2806, a son of Tambarine, winner at Newcastle, 1864, was the Koyal first prize cow three years consecutively — 1881-2-3. READING, 1882. Bull, Horace 4th 6490, calved July 17th, 1878; bred and exhibited by Frederick Piatt, Bamby Manor, Newark, Notts. Cow, Modesty, calved August 14th, 1875; bred by WUliam Taylor, exhibited by Henry William Taylor, Showle Court. Vol. ii., p. 304. For notes see Derby, 1881. Horace 4th, by Horace 3877, a sire remarkable for an extraordinary faculty or unvaring abihty to impress upon his offspring his own characteristics, and to impart to his immedi- ate progeny the power to further reproduce them, probably owed to the male parent the particular merits which brought him into the first place of honour at Reading. However good, however distinct in excellence the dam might be, the stock of Horace (so far as the contributor of these notes has been able to observe and to learn) always bore the mark and developed the special type of that sire. The family antece- dents of Horace will necessarily engage attention in the body of the work to which this chapter is contributed. The dam of Horace 4th, Nutty 2nd, bred by Mr. F. Evans of Old Court, was by Cbolstrey 1918, an ancestor of Horace himself. By an unfortunate oversight in nomenclature, two bulls bred by Mr. Piatt appear as Horace 4th. The other is entered under the number 5387, and was calved in August, 1877. A third, Horace 4th 5388, was bred by Mr. Thomas of St. Hilary. YORK, 1883. Bull, Fisherman 5913, calved May 25th, 1878; bred by Thomas Rogers, Coxall, exhibited by the Earl of Coventry, Croome Court, Severn Stoke, Worcestershire. Cow, Modesty, calved August 14th, 1885 ; bred by W. Taylor, exhibited by W. H. Taylor. Vol. ii., p. 304. See Reading, 1882, and for notes see Derby, 1881. HEREFORDS AT THE SHOWS. 375 Fisherman's male line traces back to Walford, thus : — Conservator 5265 — Jupiter — Franky — Walford. For notes on Jupiter and Franky, see Birmingham, 1876. Conservator's dam was by Sir Roger, a male line descendant of Sir David; Fisherman's dam by Langdale 3203, another lineal descendant of Sir David by the male generations. Fisherman was second to Horace 4th at Reading, where the third prize bull in the class was Mr. H. W. Taylor's Trafalgar, who at Derby, 1881, was first in the two-year-old class, Horace 4th being there the second winner. Fisherman was also second at Shrews- bury, 1884, and was a first winner at the Bath and West of of England and two years together at the Gloucestershire Shows. SHREWSBDRT, 1884. Bull, Archibald 6290, calved May 3rd, 1880; bred and exhibited by Aaron Rogers, The Rodd, Kington, Hereford- shire. Cow, Golden Treasure, calved May 25th, 1878; bred and exhibited by the Earl of Coventry, Croome Court. Vol. xv., p. 126. Archibald's sire, Dolley, so named after the place to which he went, near Presteign, was bred by Mr. A. Rogers, and was a son of Marquis of Waterford, who on the sire's side (by Mr. Rees Keene's Alphonso) had the blood of Monaughty 3rd, winner at Wolverhampton, 1871, and whose dam was the Bristol (1878) Royal prize cow. Lady Blanche. Dolley, on the dam's side, was of the family of Lady Court Lass, which was that of Grateful, the Kilbum champion bull, 1879. Grateful 4622, moreover, waa the sire of Archibald's dam; and Stan way 2790, the winner at Oxford, 1870, appears in the pedigree of both parents of Archibald. After distinguished successes in the show-yard, including champion honours, Archibald was exported to America. Golden Treasure's parents were both bred by the late Mr. W. Tudge of Adforton. Her sire, Mareschal NeU 4760, was by Lord Hjrthe, whose blood was almost identical with that of the famous Lord Wilton 4740, the two being by one aire. Sir Roger (a male line descendant of Sir David), and severally from Lady Flavia by the Royal prize bull Stanway, and Lady 376 HEREFORD CATTLE. Clare by Marmion. Lady Flavia and Lady Clare were both daughters of Lady Adforton, a winner at the Royal and other shows. Mar^schal Neil's dam, Rosebud, was the Royal prize cow at Birmingham, 1876; and the dam of Golden Treasure, Giantess by Sir Roger 4133, was the head of the first prize family at York, 1883, which included Golden Treasure. The dam of Giantess was by Battenhall 2406, the Royal first prise bull at Leicester, 1868. PRESTON, 1885. BuE, Hotspur 7028, calved May 24th, 1881; bred and exhibited by John Price, Court House, Pembridge. Cow, Golden Treasure, calved May 25th, 1878; bred and exhibited by the Earl of Coventry. See Shrewsbury, 1884. Hotspur's sire, Regulus 4076, was by Sir Roger (the sire of Lord Wilton 4740), and traced back in the male line through Sir Thomas and Sir Benjamin to Sir David. The dam of Hotspur was by Horace 2nd 4655, a son of Horace 3877 (see notes on Reaing, 1882), and an own brother of Hotspur, Hero 5964, was sold to Mr. Morgan of Hereford Park, Illinois, U.S.A., and subsequently to Mr. W. Constable of Beecher, in whose possession he gained champion honours on several occasions in America, including the show at Lafayette, Indiana, 1881, and, in a strong muster of Herefords and Shorthorns in competition, the championship at the Tippecanoe County Fair, 1882. Another own brother. Hector 6471, went into the herd of Mr. T. L. Meire, Eyton-on-Sevem. INDEX. 377 INDEX. An Old Breeder's Account, 65. Account of Hewer Family, 85. A Group of Early Improvers, 106. Agricultural Society of Here- ford, 137, Australian Colonies, Extension in, 322. British Cattle, 3, 15. " Bald Faces " in 1788, 5. Bingley's Description, 13. Bake-well's Work, 30, 34. Breeding Work Oxen, 32. Biography of TonikinsPamily,36. Bates, Thomas, on Hereford Cattle, 73. Berwick, Lord, 157. Birmingham Show, 345. Bath and West Show, 346. CuUey on the Breed in 1794, 6. Campbell .of Charlton, 7. Chesterfield, Lord, on Origin of Breed, 2B. Conclusions as to Origin, 25. Colour, 30. Confusion as to Tomkins Family, 35. Colour of Haywood's Cattle, 47. Colour of Tomkins' Cattle, 53. Challenge by John Price, 73. Cobbett on Price's (of Eyall) Herd, 87. Coventry, Earl of, on Price's Cattle, 87. Charlton Ox, 130. Challenges, 134. Characteristics of the Breed, 258. Cochrane, Hon. M. H., on the Breed, 316. Canada, Extension in, 316. Duckham, Mr., on Early His- tory, 2. Description of Typical Hereford, 1788, 5. Duncumb, Author of County History, 9. Dawkins, Prof. Boyd, on Welsh White Cattle, 20, 28. Devon Breed, 29. Description of J. Price's (Byall) Cattle, 79. Discussion between W. Hewer and Yarworth, 90. Dimensions of Early Hewer Cattle, 94. Division in the Eanks, 142. Duckham, Mr., and Herd Book. 153. Description of a Typical Here- ford, 260. Dairy Properties, 263, 268. Ellman, Mr., on Herefords in 1794, 6. Early Lnprovement, 32. Extension of the Breed in Eng- land, 139. Establishment of Herd Book,149. Eyton, T. C, Editor of Herd Book, 150. Existing Herds in England, 194. Experience in Cornwall, 267. Extension in other Countries : — Scotland, 294. Lreland, 300. America and Canada, 306. South America, 320. Flanders Cattle, 11. Foreign Origin ofWhiteCattle,22. Feedmg Experiments, 141. Fattening Properties, 264. First Shipment to America, 807. First Prize-winners at Boyal Show, 352. CC INDEX. Garrard's Prints of Cattle,8- Galliers, W., of Frogdon, 27. Gloucestershire Cattle, 29. Galliers Family, 37, 40. Galliers , W . , of Wigmore Grange , 40. Gwilliam's, Mr., Sale, 1808, 48. Grazing Capabilities, 264. Herefords in 1627, 1. Hereford Pair in 1788, 4. Hereford Oxen left by Will in 1720, 35. Haywood Family, 46. High Prices for Herefords, 60. Housman, W., on T. A. Knight's Herd, 111; on Herefords at the Shows, 335. Herd Book, 149. Hereford Herd Book Society, 154. Hill's, Mr. J., Description of Typical Hereford, 260. Herds:— Adforton, 163. Ashtou (E. W. Hall), 195. Ashton (W. Hall), 180. Aston Court, 196. Astonlngham (J. L. Hewer), 189. Atherton House, 197. Bamhy Manor, 190. Baucott, 197. Baysham Court, 198. Beckjay, 200. Berwick, Lord, 157. Blakemere House, 200. Bluch (Bromfleld), 124. Brierley, 202. Brinsop Court, 202. Broadheath, 202. Brockhampton, 203. Bryngwyn, 203. Carpenter (Eardisland), 129. Chadnor Court, 179, Compton House, 191. Corfton, 192. Court Farm, 204. Court House (E. Price), 176. Court House (John Price), 204. Court of Note, 205. H erds — continued. Coxall, 189. Cronkhill, 157. Croome Court, 206. Cyfarthfa Castle, 208. Dunwood, 209. Eglysnimyd, 209. Elsden, 211. Endale, 211. Eyton-on-Sevem, 213. Eyton - on - Severn (T. L. Meire), 188. Ensdon House, 212. Felhampton Court, 214, Galliers, 41. Gattertop, 217. Great Campstone, 218. Gwilliam, 48. Hampton Court, 218. Hatfield, 220. Hayton (Moreton), 124. Haywood, 46. Henwood, 220. Hewer, Wm. and John, S.t. Hillhampton, 221. Hill of Eaton, 221. Holme Lacy, 221. Holmer House, 222. Hoskins, Sir H., 125. Ivingtonbury (T. S. Goode), 185. Ivingtonbury (T. Roberts). 173. Jeffries, 101. Kedward (Westhide), 124. Killynon, 302. Knight, T. A., 110. Lawley, Sir F., 82. Leighton Park, 222. Leinthall (W. Tudge), 223. Leinthall (S. W. Urwick), 191. Letton Court, 224. Lisnabin, 304. Lodge Farm, 224. Longmore (Walford), 128. Longner 189. Luntley Court, 187. Lynch Court, 224. Lynhales, 226. Marlow Lodge, 227. INDEX. Herds — continued. Marston, 229. Monaughty (E.Thomas),230. Monaughty ( Westonbury) , 170. Monkhall, 230. Montford, 230. Moreton-on-Lugg, 230. Jlorris (Stocktonbury), 123. Nanhoron, 231. New House, Craven Arms, 231. Northeaton, 232. (Md Court, 232. Parry (Old Court), 124. I^athada, 232. I'encraig, 233. Preston Court, 234. Preston House, 234. Price (Ryall), 68. Pudleston Coui-t, 234. Jlockview, 303. Salwey (Ashley Moor), 125. Sherlowe, 234. Showle Court (H. W. Taylor), 235. Sliowle Court (W. Taylor), 176. Shrawardine, 237. Skyrme, 45. Smythies, Rev. J. 11., 120. Stapleton Castle (E. J. Morris), 237. Stapleton Castle (W. E. Britten), 187. Stocktonbury,' 183. Stonebrook House, 239. Stretton Court, 240. Talbot, Lord, 82. Tencb (Bromfield) , 120. The Bury, 241. The Grove (B. Rogers), 241. The Haven, 243. The Hellens, 244. The Hill, Eyton, 244. . The Hill, King's Pyon, 245. The Leen (A. P. Turner) , 245. The Leen (P. Turner), 177. The Limes, 247. The Lowe, 248, The Rodd, 248. 'Herds— cfmtimied. The Stow, 172. The Whittem, 249. Tomkins, 50. Trelasker, 250. Trelonk, 250. Trescowe, 251. Trethick, 252. Tully, 43. Turner (Aymestry), 122. Walker (Burton), 116. Weyman (Moreton), 123. Wetmore, 252. White House, 254. Whitfield, 192. Whitton, 254. Wilhams (Thingehill), 122. Windsor, 194. Wintercott (A. E. Hughes), 254. Wintercott (Thos. Edward=^ ) . 182. Wooferton, 255. Woodmanton, 256. Yar worth (Brinsop), 115. Yeld, T. C, 127. Yeomans, 118. Zeals, 256. Importation of Cattle from Flanders, 10, 11. Ireland, Extension in, 300. Jeffries Family, 101. Jamaica, Extension in, 331. Knight, T. A., on Hereford Cattle, 9, 10 ; Letter from, C7 ; As a Breeder, 110. "Knight Greys," 10. Lawrence on Herefords, 11. • Low, Professor, Accoiint, 16. Low on Tomkins Family, 37. List of Price's (Ryall) Cattle, 75. Lettings of Hewer Bulls, 96. Later Improvement, 156. Marshall on the Breed iu 1788-98, 3. Montgomery Cattle, 12, 29. Morris, Mr. E. J., on Pattenint; Properties, 264. Management, Systems of, 270. Miller, T. L., on the Breed ::'. America, 310. ;!8(» INDEX. M'Oonnell and Wood on Exten- sion in Australia, 324. Origin of the Breed, 1, 23. Old Herefords of Brown or Bed- dish Brown Colour, 17. Old Welsh White Cattle, 19. Objects of Breeding in Last Century, 32. Points of the Breed in 1788, 5. Parkinson on Hereford Cattle,13. Prices of Cattle in Last Cen- tury, 33. PioneerBreedersofHerefords,34. Prizes won by W. Galliera, 42. Price of Byall, 68. Price's Sale, 75. Prize-winners at Early Here- ford Shows, 108. Progress of the Breed, 130. Points of the Breed in 1886, 260. Prize-winners at B.A.S.E., 351. Bowlandson, T., on Origin of Breed, 17. Rea, Messrs., Monaughty and Westonbury, 170. Royal Agricultural Society of England, 351. Speed on Hereford Cattle in 1627, 1. Smith, Robert, on History of Breed, 18. Storer, Rev. J., on Welsh White Cattle, 19. Soudamore's, Lord, Importation of Flanders Cattle, 24. Silver Gow(Richard Tomkius) ,39. Skyrme of Stretton, 45. Sale of TuUy's Herd (1814), 45. Sale of Tomkins' Herd (1819), 60. Sale of Price's (of Ryall) Herd, 75. Sale of T. Jearies' Herd 104, Smythies, Bev. J. R., 120. Smithfield Club, 135. Show-yard SucceaseB, 135. Scotland, Extension in, 294. Southesk, Lord, on the Breed,296. South Amerioa.Extension in,320. Show-yards, The Breed in, 335. Smithfield Shows, 336. Systems of Management, 270. TuUy's Cattle, 14, 17, 44. Tully, White-faced Bull about 1750, 17, 25. Tomkins Family, 86. Tomkins, Biohard, 35, 36. Tomkins, Richard, Bequeaths his Cattle by Will (1720), 35. Tomkins of Weobley, 36. TomMns, Benjamin, sen., 36. Tomkins, Benjamin, jun., 37, 50. TomMns, B., jun.. Description of his Cattle, 58. Tomkins,B., Sale of his Herd,60. Tomkins, Misses, 62. Tomkins, George, 64. Talbot, Lord, 82. Tick-facesamongHewerCattle98. Tudge, William (Adforton), 162. Turner Family, 122, 177. Turner, P., on Improvement of Breed, 263. Terry, J. P., on Grazing Capa- bilities, 264. Ukraine Cattle, 26. United States, Extension in, 306. White-faced Bull about 1750,17. White or Bald-face, Character- istic of Breed (1788), 6. WhiteCattleof Wales,18,19,20,21 . Welle3,E.P.onOriginofBreed,18. White-faced Cattle of Flanders, 11, 19, 22. White-faced Bull from York- shire, 26, 41. White Paces among Longhoms, Shorthorns, and Norfoli Polls, 29, 30. Work Oxen, 32, 33. WiUof BichardTomkins(1720) ,35. Wigmore Grange Sale (1795), 41. Westcar's Prize Oxen, 45, 132. Walker of Burton, 66. Welles', E. P., Description of Tomkins' Cattle, 59. White Faces v. Mottle Faces,142. Weights of Hewer Cattle, 94. Young on Herefords, 7, 8. Youatt on Herefords, 14. Yorkshire, Bull from, 27. Yeld's, T. C, History, 65, 106. Yeomans Family, 118. Zeals Dairy Herd, 268. I M"llj;i{<;' ■m