History of Hereford cattle

Preface To First Edition

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 " Aberdeen-Angus Cattle," where the prevailing views are set forth and discussed.

The present work is confined to matters which more immediately 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 preparing the chapter on the Breed in the Show-yard. Professor Boyd Dawkins ; Mr. John Hill, 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. Haywood, Blakemere ; Mr. John H. Yeomans, Stretton Court ; Mr. William Tudge, Leinthall ; Mr. Ralph Palmer, Nazeing ;. Mr. T. L. Miller, Beecher, Illinois, and others have also afforded us valuable aid, which we would here acknowleds^e.

Preface To Revised Edition

The first edition of the History of Hereford Cattle was published in 1886, and in the course of a few years the issue was sold out. Since that time numerous requests have been made by breeders at home and abroad for a revised edition. These applications latterly became so frequent that it was ultimately decided to re-publish the book in a new and enlarged form. The necessary alterations and additions have involved a good deal of work, but it is hoped that, with the materials available, a fairly comprehensive account of the development of the breed in the intervening period has been given.

Acknowledgment is made in the preface to the first edition of aid received from a number of breeders and others. In connection with the revision it is desired specially to thank Sir John Cotterell, Bart., Mr. Wm. Tudge, Mr. A. P. Turner, Mr. W. G. C. Britten, Mr. T. T. GalHers, Mr. John Hill, Mr. R. Christison, Mr. James Stuckey, Mr. John Neilson, Mr. J. H. D. Beales, and Mr. F. S. Prosser. Mr. W. H Bustin, Hereford, has allowed us to select from his large and representative collection of photographs of famous breeders, their homes and their cattle. A number of photographs by Mr. F. Babbage and Mr. G. H. Parsons have also been used.

Chapter I I

Origin of the Breed — Speed's evidence as to Herefordshire cattle in 1627 — "No place in England yieldeth more or better conditioned " — Statements of early writers on Herefords — Marshall's testimony, "The first breed of cattle in the island" — Hereford Fair in 178S, 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 history — Hereford cattle "long esteemed superior to most, if not all other breeds in the island " — T. A. Knight on Lord Scudamore's importation of red with white face cattle from Flanders about 1660 — Lawrence's speculations as to origin of the breed — His conclusion that with respect to profit no breed in England could stand in competition with it — Parkinson, Bingley, and Youatt — Later authorities— Rev. John Storer and Professor Boyd Dawkins on the Welsh white cattle with red ears — White-faced cattle of Holland — The TuUy white-faced bull (1750) — Lord Chesterfield's opinion— 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 longifrons — Herefords derive their white face from Bos primigenius, strongly accentuated by Flemish cattle — White faces frequent in eighteenth century — Recapitulation and conclusions — Hereford breed formed by judicious amalgamation of various good sorts

CHAPTER n

THE PIONEERS AND TPIEIR WORK

Cattle breeding in the eighteenth century — Stock reared principally for working purposes, beef and milk being secondary objects — Low prices of stock — Nine oxen sold for ;^52, or 5^ guineas each — Change of system produced by improvement of agriculture and industrial development of the country — Pioneer breeders of Herefords — The Tomkins family — T. T. Galliers' researches — Richard Tomkins in 1720 bequeaths a yoke of oxen, called Spark and Merchant, to his son Richard, and a cow, called Silver, to his son Benjamin — Historical account of the Tomkins family — Two breeders named Benjamin Tomkins, father and son — The elder Benjamin Tomkins (born 1 7 14, died 1789) — His work as a breeder begun about 1742, he being thus the first distinguished cattle breeder — The Galliers family — Sale at Wigmore Grange in

CONTENTS

1795 — Tully, Skyrme, and Haywood families; characteristics of their stock — High prices for TuUy cattle — Prizes at Smithfield — ^John Haywood, a breeder of Herefords in 1713 — The bull Prizefighter shown at Shifnal in 1800 against a Longhorn to decide a bet of loo guineas — Services rendered by the old breeders, who had their favourite sorts, these varieties having warm admirers and keen partisans . 32-48

Chapter III Benjamin Tomkins, The Younger

Benjamin Tomkins, the Younger (bom 1745, died 1815) — Low and Eyton on the 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 thought more important — Valuation of herd in 1808 — Notes on the Tomkins cattle — Sale of his herd in 1819 — High prices: a bull sold for ;^588 ; average for breeding animals, ;Ci49 — Alleged deterioration of Tomkins' herd — The Misses Tomkins — Final dispersion of herd in 1854 — Other members of the Tomkins family — Mr. T. C. Yeld's History of the Breed — His testimony as 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,ooo disposed of by auction — Mr. Welles on Price's cattle — Other breeders of Tomkins and Price strains — Lord Talbot, etc. — The remarkable record of the Tomkins family 49-79

Chapter IV

William and John Hewer — A biographical account of the family — Materials on which William Hewer founded his herd about 1787 — He expresses his indebtedness to Tully and Tomkins strains — An old quarrel — William Hewer's Silver 540 — Sovereign 404 — Dimensions of some of William Hewer's cattle — John Kewer (born 1787, died 1873)— His removal to Purslow, Shropshire, about 181 7 — Character of the Hewer stock about 1820 — Letting of bulls — Thirty-five animals on hire at one time — The White-faces — Influence of Hewer blood — The tick faces — John Hewer's management of his cattle — His sales— The Jefiries family — Purchasers at Wigmore Grange sale in 1797 — Winners of prizes in 1803 — The Jeifries family pedigree — Thomas Jeftries, the breeder of Cotmore, first prize bull at the Royal Show at Oxford, 1839 — Edmund Cheese Jeffries— Use of Hewer bulls— Sale at the Sheriffs— Presentation to Thomas Jeffries ........ 80-97

Chapter V

Mr. Yeld's account of early herds — Prizes at the Herefordshire Agricultural Society's Shows, commencing 1798 — Thomas Andrew Knight of Downton — A successful and scientific breeder — His herd founded on

CONTENTS xi

PAGES

Tully, Tomkins, and Skyrme blood — Principles and objects of breeding — Sells stock to the Emperor of Russia in 1802 — James Yar worth of Brinsop ; commenced breeding 1S02 — Walker of Burton, his herd said to have been the best in the county at the time — The Yeomans family — Royal and Countess — Sir J, G. Cotterell, Bart., Garnons — Mr. Tench, Bromfield — Rev. J. R. Smythies, Lynch Court, commenced breeding in 1806 — Won first prize for cows adapted for dairy purposes at the Royal Show, 1839 — Messrs. Williams, Thinghill and Brinsop — Messrs. Turner, Aymestry and Lynch Court — Mr. Jones, Breinton — Mr. Weyman, Moreton and Stockton — Mr. Parry, Old Court — Sir Hungerford Hoskyns — Theophilus Salwey, of Ashley Moor, and the Knight strains — T. C. Yeld, The Broome — Thomas Longmore, Walford — Mr. Carpenter, Eardisland ......... 98-1 19

Chapter VI

In the hands of the graziers — Weight of oxen — ^J. H. Campbell of Charlton — Westcar of Creslow — Prizes for his oxen from 1799 to 181 1 — Twenty sold for an average ;^io6 each— Challenges — Tomkins drives twenty cows to Hereford and offers 100 guineas for an equal number superior to them — Crickneck and Prizefighter — Challenges by Mr. Price of Ryall and Mr. Turner, Aymestry — In the showyards — Successes at Smithfield — Agricultural Society of Hereford — First Royal show — Extension of the breed — Feeding experiment — Division in the ranks, on colour chiefly — The dispute about white face and mottle face, ending in the adoption of the uniform red with white face— Establishment of the Herd Book — Formation of the Hereford Herd Book Society — Its Presidents and Vice-Presidents — -The Secretaries — Hereford Cattle Breeders' Association and its absorption by the Herd Book Society — Questions as to terms of registration in Foreign Herd Books — The American, Canadian, New Zealand, South African, and other Herd Books — Books and publications on Hereford cattle . . . 120-147

CHAPTER Vn

LATER IMPROVEMENT AND PROMINENT BREEDERS

Progress and later improvers — Lord Berwick's herd at Cronkhill — Walford 871 and Sir David 349— Silver — Adforton — Mr. W. Tudge's career as a breeder— The bulls Sir Roger 4133, Lord Wilton 4740 and Regulator 4898 — The Adforton sale in 1877 — Messrs. Rea, Monaughty, and Westonbury— Mr. Monkhouse of The Stow — Sir Thomas 2228, sold in l866 for ;^409 10s. — Mr. Roberts, Ivingtonbury — Mr. Edward Price, Court House— John Price, Court House — His purchase of Horace 3877 — Mr. William Taylor and the Showle Court herd — Longhorns 471 1, sire of Anxiety 5188 — Mr. Philip Turner, The Leen — The Grove 3rd 5051 — Sold for 810 guineas at the successful sale in 1883 — Mr, George Pitt, Chadnor Court — His famous sale in 1883 — Mr. William Hall, Ashton — Mr. Thomas Edwards, Wintercott — Leonora, the gem of the herd — Mr. T. J. Carwardine, Stocktonbury — Description of Lord Wilton 4740— The historic sale in 1884, realizing a total of;i^22,987 13^'. — Samuel Goode, Ivingtonbury — W. E. Britten, Stapleton — ^John Burlton, Luntley Court— T. L. Meire, Cound Arbour — K. L. Burton, Longner— Frederick Piatt, Barnby Manor, and the

CONTENTS

PAGES

bull Horace 3877 — ^J. T. Cooke, Moreton House — S. W. Urwick — Rev. Archer Clive — E. Bowen, Corfton — ^J. Bowen Jones and the Ensdon herd — G. Child — T. Duckham — T. Fenn, Stonebrook House — G. T. Forester, Sherlowe — E. Grasett, Wetmore — R. Green, The Whittern — J. H. Arkwright, Hampton Court — H. Haywood, Blakemere — J. Hill, Felhampton Court — E. J. Morris, Stapleton Castle — T. Myddleton, Beckjay — Rees Keene, Pencraig Court — A, Rogers, The Rodd — Benjamin Rogers, The Grove, and the famous sires he bred and used — E. Yeld, Endale— J. H, Yeomans, Stretton Court— W. Price, The Vern — Pictures of old time Herefords ..... 148-223

Chapter VIII

The Royal herd at Windsor — Herds at Baucott ; Berrington Hall ; Brampton Bryan ; Broadward ; Bryngwyn ; Buckenhill ; Buckland ; Claston ; Clehonger Manor ; Croome Court ; Dovi^nton Hall ; Duxmoor ; Evesbatch Court ; Eyton-on-Severn ; Ffrwdgrech ; Finstall Park ; Garnons ; Hardwick Court ; Hardwicke Grange ; Hill House, Newton ; Hinton ; Holme Lacy, Ashton and Marsh Hall ; Ivingtonbury ; Kenswick ; Kinnersley Castle ; Knightwick Manor ; Llanwern Park ; Lodge Farm, Nazeing ; Leinthall and Summer Court ; Lower Eaton ; Lynch Court ; Lynhales ; Marlow Lodge ; Wigmore Grange ; Marston ; Marsh Brook House ; Monkton Court ; Montford ; Moreton Jeffries Court ; Onibury ; Orleton Manor ; Paunton Court ; Penoyre ; Perton Court ; Poston Court ; Pipton ; Rush Court j Saltmarshe Castle ; Sheepcote Farm ; Shelsley Bank ; Showle Court ; Shrawardine ; Stansbatch ; Staunton Old Court ; Tarrington ; The Farlands ; The Field ; The Leen ; The Lowe ; The Willows ; Trebarried ; Thinghill Court ; Uphampton ; Wall End ; Westonbury ; Wintercott ; Woofferton ; Zeals, etc. . 224-280

Chapter IX

Widespread distribution of the breed — Herefords in Scotland — Mr.Lumsden's herd — Mr. Harvey's herd — The Earl of Southesk's herd — Mr. Copland's experiences — In Ireland — Mr. R. Reynell — The Killynon herd — The herds of Mr. Kearney, Mr. Pollock, Mr. Fetherstonhaugh — Many new herds — The breed in America and Canada — Early importations — Popularity of Herefords in America — T. L. Miller's work — Adams Earl — A. F. Freeman — C. M. Culbertson — Fowler and Co. — George Leigh and Co. — The Hon, M. H. Cochrane — Numerous herds — American Hereford Association — Prices in U.S.A. — Herefords at the Columbian Exposition, 1893 — Some Noted Sires: The Grove 3rd ; Sir Richard 2nd ; Sir Bartle Frere ; Anxiety — Herefords and the Test — Some Large Imports — Prize steers in U.S.A. — Noted Breeders — Polled Hereford in U.S.A. — The breed in South America — Herds and Shows in the Argentine — An Argentine Sketch of Hereford Prospects — Typical Argentine herd — San Gregorio — The Liebig's Extract of Meat Company's extensive herds on the River Plate — • Australasian Colonies — Mr. Reynolds, Tocal — The Breed in Queensland— Mr. R. Christison— New Zealand — Mr. Stuckey — ^Jamaica — The Knockalva herd — South Africa — British East Africa— France, etc. 281-355

CONTENTS xiii

Chapter X Pages

Characteristics of the breed — Their distinctiveness and uniformity — The White face — Its fixity — Hereditary power — Conformation — The Hereford Herd Book Society's Report and Description — Mr. John Hill's description of typical Hereford — Wealth of flesh — Grand yard cattle — Hardy constitution — Improvements in form — Mr. A. P. Turner on the breed and its qualities — Mr. Terry's experiences of the breed — Mr. E. J. Morris on their merits — Mr. W. G. Hotten and Mr. J. S. Tucker on the breed in Cornwall — Notes by Mr. Ralph Palmer, Mr. J. K. Hyslop, etc. — Milking properties and the Zeals herd • 356-373

Chapter XI

Practical notes on systems of management by Mr. A. P. Turner, The Leen ; Mr. G. T. Forester, Sherlowe ; Mr. S. Robinson, Lynhales ; Mr. G. Child, Court of Noke ; Mr. W. Tudge, Leinthall and Summer Court ; Mr. James, Mappowder ; Mr. W. S. Powell, Eglwysnunyd ; Mr. G. H. Meire, Eyton-on-Severn ; Mr. Rees Keene ; Mr. T. Davies ; Mr. T. S. Minton, Montford ; Mr. Holder, Trelasker ; Mr. E. J. Morris ; Mr. Purdon, Lisnabin ; Mr. J. H. Arkwright, Hampton Court ; Lord Coventry ; Mr. R. W. Hall ; Mr. John Rawlings ; Mr. Morris, The Field ; Mr. J. Hamar : Mr. W. S. Russell ; Mr. G. Butters ; Mr. B. Rogers ; Mr. T. C. Yeld, etc., etc. ..... 374-397

CHAPTER Xn

Local show records — Challenges — Foreign competitions — Smithfield Club shows — Summary — Hereford prizes at Smithfield shows — Weights at Smithfield shows — Birmingham shows — Bath and West, and Southern Counties shows — Royal Agricultural Society's shows — First-prize winners in adult classes and champion animals at the Royal Shows, 1839-1908 — Mr, W. Tudge on champion Herefords from 1886 to 1908 398-450

CHAPTER Xni

Sketch of improvement — Work of the early breeders — The colour question — High reputation for work and other good qualities — Successes at Smithfield — Influence of soil — The Tomkins cattle and sale — John Hewer's work — Practical objects — Infliuence of shows — The Herd Book — Famous sires — Introduction and spread in the United States — Successful sales in 1883 and 1884 — The boom period — Influence of the breed in the Western States — Higlily popular cattle in America — Extension in South America — The breed in Queensland — Prominent xiv CONTENTS

PAGES

breeders on the position and prospects of the breed — Views of Sir John Cotterell, Mr. A. P. Turner, Mr. Win. Tudge, Mr. A. E. Hughes, Mr. J. Hamar, Mr. Morris, Mr. R. Edwards, Mrs. Nugent, Mr. A. Tanner, Mr. J. R. Hill, Mr. G. Butters, Mr. R. W. Hall, Mr. H, Lang3ton, Mr. R. H. Ridler, Mr. J. Rawlings— Mr. John Clay's, Mr. A. H. Sanders', and Mr. W. S. Van Natta's opinions of the breed's prospects in U.S.A. — Mr. C. H. Eady on Herefords for grazing — Freedom from disease — Milking qualities — The outlook a promising one 451-477

CHAPTER XIV

List of over 140 existing herds in the United Kingdom, giving date of foundation, leading sires, principal families, and numbers usually kept 478-490

ILLUSTRATIONS PORTRAITS

FACING PAGE

TOMKINS, Benjamin Frontispiece

Arkwright, John H .176

Berwick, Lord 1^2

BouGHTON, Sir Wm. Rouse 240

Britten, W. E, 176

cotterell, sir john r. g i44

Coventry, The Earl of „ . 144

DucKHAM, Thomas 1^2

Galliers, Wm. (King's Pyon) 32

Galliers, Wm. (Wigmore Grange) 32

Haywood, Henry 1^2

Hewer, John 32

Heygate, Captain E. L. A 144

Hill, John , 175

Hughes, Allen E 14^

Jeffries, Thomas . . , , 32

Knight, T. A . -32

Miller, T. L 176

Price, John (Ryall) •••...... 32

Robinson, Stephen 152

Russell, H. F. 240

Smith, J. W 240

Taylor, H. W. 240

Taylor, Wm 176

Tudge, Wm. (Adforton) 152

TuDGE, Wm. (Summer Court) 240

Turner, Arthur P. 144

Turner, Philip

Yeomans, John H 176

HOMES OF THE BREED

Brook House 49

Court House 272

Croome Court 232 xvi ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGB

DowNTON Hall 193

Flemish Farm, Windsor 224

Garnons 232

Hampton Court i93

Sheepcote Farm 226

Stretton Court 209

Stocktonbury Sale (1884) I74

The Leen 272

The Leen Sale (1883) 168

The Stow 162

Wellington Court 49

Wintercott 209

WiSTASTON 162

NOTABLE HEREFORDS

Ancient Briton 15034 248

Cameronian 23934 280

Commandant 22040 248

Cotmore 376 . 88

Earlsfield 19387 224

Fire King 22135 224

Good Boy 7668 312

H.M. the King's Prize Steer 408

Lady Betty (Vol. XXXIL, p. 235) 193

Leonora 432

Lord Lieutenant 22323 270

Lord Wilton 4740 160

Maidstone 8875 448

Merry Monarch 5466 384

Monarch 7858 384

Pearl King 24192 464

Protector 19660 280

Rare Sovereign 10499 448

Rosewater (Vol, XVIIL, p. 285) 432

Shotover (Vol. XXXV., p. 709) 270

Silver Cow (Bred by George Tomkins) 16

Sir J. R. G. Cotterell's Prize Steer 408

Sir David 349 88

Sovereign 404 16

The Grove 3RD 5051 312

Truthful (Vol. XXV., p. 141) 360

Wintercott Plum (Vol. XXVHL, p. 436) 360

Bulls at Hampton Court 193

Cows AT Zeals Farm 369

Chapter I

With the exception of a brief general reference by Speed * in the year 1627 to the fact that the climate of Herefordshire "is most healthful, 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 historical allusion to the Hereford breed prior to or during the seventeenth century. This omission is explained by the circumstance that it was not until about the end of the eighteenth century, when British agriculture raised up its own chroniclers, that 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, Campbell, Garrard, Duncumb, Knight, and others, have all had something to say regarding the origin and early character of the breed. But the accounts they have given, in so far as they relate to its origin, appeared to be so contradictory, that, in addressing the students at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester in 1863,1 Mr. Thomas Duckham, 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 that Mr. Duckham's complaint as to the absence of reliable information concerning the history of

* " England, Wales, and Scotland described." By John Speed, London, 1627.

t " A Lecture on the History, Progress, and Comparative Merits of the Hereford Breed of Cattle." By Thomas Duckham, Baysham Court, Ross. 1863.

B

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 connected 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 is 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 the breed at the time when it made its appearance at the shows of the Smithfield Club at the end of the eighteenth century. But to have adopted that course would scarcely have been satisfactory, and the first object will 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 facts we have been able to obtain, bring out such conclusions as seem to be sufficiently v/ell established.

Views of Early Authorities

There is a long interval between the time of Speed, in 1627, and Marshall, our next authority, who wrote in 1788. The latter was one of the first to deal with the subject in a published book, and thus to break the silence that had prevailed from the time of the erudite tailor of 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 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 directed his attention mainly to

* William Marshall, the eminent agriculturist and writer on Rural Economy, was baptized at Sinnington, near Pickering, Yorks, on July 28th, 1745. He died September i8th, 1818, and was burried at Middleton on the 24th of the same month. His tombstone is still in Middleton churchyard, and there is also a monument to him in the church at Pickering.— [i^r. George Scoby, Beadlam Grange, has furnished these notes.]

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 and collected facts illustrative of the agriculture of the various districts, making particular inquiry 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 still 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 more especially of the cattle of Devonshire, 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 from that celebrated breed, except in the greater cleanness of the heads and fore-quarters, and except in the inferiority of size."

Marshall published his " Rural Economy of Gloucestershire, etc.," in 1789,1 and here he dealt particularly with the breed that now engages 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

* "The Rural Economy of the West of England." By William Marshall. 1796-98.

t " Rural Economy of Gloucestershire, etc." By William Marshall, 1788-89.

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. 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 £\2\.o £1^ an ox. " The most valuable collection I have met 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 — provincially ' 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."