The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-06-19

t1mpOrfafi6AF06Ut311 into Kentucky,
thes5desCon6 Of which are still
known a the eFenteens." It was
the Patton aBd6sanders blood that
gave the first great impetus to cat
tie breeding and Feeding west of the
A1leghany Mountains. From 1880 to
184O, large numbers of high-class,
improved Shorthorns were imported
into Ohio and Kentucky by various
importing companies and enterpris-
ing individuals. In these operations,
the Messrs. Renick and the late r.
A. Alexander, of Woodburn, we're
prominent. Large numbers Of Short
horns were also imported into New
York and New England, but the
farmers of that region maintained
cattle mainly for dairy and "work"
purposes; hence, when the newer
West began to stock up with Short
horns the material for the fOunda-
ton of herds was drawn largely
from Kentucky and Ohio, the breed
ers of those States having, from the
first, been practical men, who stu
diously developed size, form, finish,
and beef-making qualities in their
cattle. Prior to our great Civil War,
there had been practically no specU-
lation in '~'pedigrees'' or the sO-called
fashionable Shorthorn families.
About 1870, however, a great wave
of speculation overlook the Short
horn trade on both sides of the At
lantic, in the course of which values
for certain strains attained most as
founding heights. At New York
mills, the bidding on one Duchess
COW did not stop till the enormous
price of $40, 900 was reached. Four
teen head of cattle of that family
averaged SIS, 1926 each. This was
in 1878. The boom" lasted until
late in the seventies, when it col
lapsed utterly, greatly to the advan-
tage of the breed. Then came the
introduction of the HerefOrds and
Aberdeen-Angus, together with the
establishment of the fat-stOck shows.
This recalled the breeders of Short
horns at once. to the necessity of
breeding cattle for practical pur-
poses, and they set about with a
firm determination to correct the
evils wrought by the period of in
fated values and extravagant specu-
latiOns. For the past fifteen years,
the ShorthOrn breeders of Great
Britain and America have adhered
rigidly to the most eXacting stand
ards of individual excellence in the
animal fairly regardless of the for
mer dictates of fashion as respects
blood lines. Feeding and fesh-mak-
ing characteristics have been placed
above all else, and such bulls as i'm
ported Duke of Richmond, Bar n
Victor, C~upbearer, Young Abbotts-
burn, Gay Monarch, and others of
that class, together with their prog
eny, successfully stemmed the tide
of Hereford and Aberdeen-Angus
shOw-yard conquest. Furthermore,
the breeders of Shorthorns in recent
years have shown more independ-
ence in the matter of color. The
prejudice that once existed against
the roans has gradually given way,
in the older States at least, to an
adequate appreciation of that one
distinctive Shorthorn color. 1t is a
well-known fact that the dark reds
possess nothing like the feeding
quality and thrift of the roans and
the yellOw-skinned reds, a point
which should not be overlooked in
the selection of cattle of this type.
In those States where a system of
mixed husbandry is followed the
Shorthorn occupies a commanding
position as d combined beef and dairy
type. The ShOrthorn is the only
known breed that furnishes winners
alike at leading fat-stock and dairy
shows. This it has accomplished
not only in Great Britain, but in the
United States and Canada. America
is a vast country. We have many
different soils and climates; many
different environments. We have,
therefore, need for a greater diver
sity of breeds than any other of the
great attle-producing nations. No
intelligent man of the present time
pretends to deny the outstanding
merit of good Herefords or Aber-
deen-Angus. The special value of
the former for grazing purposes and