Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-30

The truly magnificent Herefords eompris,
inc the new herd lately selected in England
bv Mr.. Hall c. Burleigh of Fairfield, Maine,
for Hon. ]. r. Bodwell Of Hallowell. Name
and himself. and which the London Agricui
tural Gazettee Of March lst calls the most
important purchase, in point OF NUMBERS
that has ever been made to cross the Auansic
from the herds of England, of any breed, al
any one time" reached ''Pine Grove farm
in HallowelI on Saturday. 10th inst. by spec
iaI train from Portland, having been dis
charged from the steamer Toronto OF the Al
Ian line. The acknowledgement IN mum
ber-were shipped from Liverpool Marcn
18th. and endured the long Journey by ran
and steamer, in all of twenty days duratloh'
remarkably well and with slight loss. Ihey
were visited on the Monday following by
representative of the New England Farmer,
and looked in excellent condition generally.
Some of the older animals were showing the
effects of the long and rather heavy passage,
but the young heifers appeared as much al
home in their new quarters, as they
could have possibly looked in the best
.'brve'' in Old England; and our read
ers must understand that the barns at ''Plne
Grove Farm are good enough to hold hing
cattle as they do indeed now give home TO
the Queens heifers.
The animals making up this herd are one
bull two wears old; one fifteen months Old;
twenty cows, none of which are over flve years
old: fourteen heifers two years old and past !;
ten heifers one wear old and past; nine calves
three to eight months old, and two young
calves. Without attempting now to speak OF
the particular merits OF the individuals form
ing the new herd. it is enough TO say that Mr..
Burleich went abroad, holding almost unllm-
tied orders for the purchase Of such animals as
commended themselves to his Judgment. (and
few men in New England surpass MIR. Burleigh
in his knowledge of neat cattle. OF the Hereford
and Shorthorn classes especially and that,
in selecting. he took ample time and visited
the most celebrated Hereford herds in Eng
land, purchasing with great care and only a1ter
the closest inspection A study of the animals
in the several herds from which they were Sc
lected was not only necessary, but along with
this was a laborious inspection OF pe"lgrees,
and herd books, and prize registers, in o der
that not only likely animals might be obtained
but those having the clearest unbroken de-
scent from worthy ancestors, and good share
of gold medal first prize, and other high
show-vard honors. When all these points of
merit were combined in one animal, 1t was
purchased regardless of price; and, for many
individuals bought, heavy advance was Of
fered by English breeders, if they could be
left at home The herds contributing to this
great purchase were those of Her Majesty
Queen Victoria, at the Royal Farms, Windsor
Castle, (where only two breeds. the HerefOrds
and Shorthorns, are kept Of Mr.. T. j. Car
warline, Stocktonbury, Leominster; Mr.. L.
Turner. The Leon, Pembridge; Mr.. Thomas
Duckham for years the editor of the Hereford
Herd Book, now member OF Parliament,
Baysham Court, Ross; Mr.. Aaron Rogers.
The Rodd, Kington, and his brother, Mr.
Rogers. The Grove, Pembridge; Mr.. W.
Price, The Veru, Bohemian, Leominster, and
Mr. A. P. Turner, Strangworth, Pembridge.
1t would be quite unnecessary, and not at all
intelligent or instructive to the readers Ofthe
Farmer, to give the Names pedigree numbers
and breeding Of all of these animals,
or even of the most prominent of them
and we will not attempt it. But 1t
may be mentioned that they are all from the
most celebrated herds in the Hereford dis
trict of England; all most carefully bred,
tracing back in almost every instance to high
prize winners, and generally animals possess
ing distinguishing evidences of superior mer-
it, aside from royal blood and first prize dis
tinctions. Some of the older animals were
rather spare-heshed; most had the plainly
distinguishing points ofthe Herefords in great
perfection; some had remarkably fine clean
ntckS anu HeduS, STRAIGHT DdCkS anu uIOdu
hips, and but tw or three were disfgured by the
presence of abnormal DETERMINATIONS, the
relics of some pampering process for show
yard competition. The statement can prob
ably be made with perfect safety, that so
large, so well-bred, and so magnificent aherd
of cattle ofany class, all imported animals,
does not now exist in this country, as that of
the Herefords at ''Pne Grove Farm" They
90 into quarantine for ninety days at ''Pine
Grove" at the expiration of which time it is
expected the herd will be increased by the
addition of from fifteen to twenty calves, at
ter the most celebrated Hereford bulls in
England: and it is understood the animals
will be divided at that time, a portion going
to Mr. Burleigh's farm at Fairfield Centre,
and the remainder remaining at Hallowell.
Wepresume there are several considerations
which have led these gentlemen to embark
in so extensive and costly on undertaking as
the formation of this great herd, all from i'm
ported animals, of this particular breed, and
at just this period. First, we understand, is
the fancy which they both have for elegant
cattle next is the strong love for the Here
fords, as a race, believing, as they do, that
they are the best animals for work and beef,
and for crossing with our thoroughbred and
grade shorthorns for obtaining not only beef,
but general purpose" animals. Again, they
are fully acquainted with the change in favor
of Ilerefords which has taken place in Eng
land as well as throughout the great West of
our own country. within the past few years
In England, the Herefords have been leading
the ShOrthorns at the great shows, while in
all the meat-producing sections of our coun-
try. Herefords are now in chief demand in
improving. by crossing the beef animals,
large numbers of which eventually find their
way across the atlantic, to English tables
For years to come, the Hereford must be the
leading breed in all the great grazing districts
of the West and Northwest, where superior
beef qualities, more than any other point, are
desired in the animals fed. Moreover, COM
munication between the East and West is now
so continuous and rapid, that the East might
as well furnish the West its best breeding an
finals OF this and other classes, as it now fur
nishes the capital to build its cities bridges
and railroads. Seeing this. Messrs Bodwell
and Burleigh are determined to occupy the
front rank, as breeders of herd which is
sure to become the leading and popular breed
of cattle throughout the meat-yielding Sec
lions of our country, for many years to come
And while the ''Pine Grove herd will give
high distinction to the East as a centre Of ex-
tensive breeding operations, it will also af-
ford our own Maine and New England farm
ers splendid opportunity to breed some