. History of Hereford cattle : proven conclusively the oldest of improved breeds . Hereford cattle. 16 HISTOEY OF HEEEFOED CATTLE shire Agricultural Show and gave a challenge of £100 to any one who would show an equal number against him. His nephew, George Tomkms, after traveling over Herefordshire and other parts of England, among cattle breeders, when he came home, reported to his uncle that of all the cattle he had seen, there were none equal to his. Mr. J no. Price, of Eyall, about the year 1804, became acquainted w^th the cattle of Mr. Benjamin Tomkins, from whom he bought a few cows, usi
. History of Hereford cattle : proven conclusively the oldest of improved breeds . Hereford cattle. 16 HISTOEY OF HEEEFOED CATTLE shire Agricultural Show and gave a challenge of £100 to any one who would show an equal number against him. His nephew, George Tomkms, after traveling over Herefordshire and other parts of England, among cattle breeders, when he came home, reported to his uncle that of all the cattle he had seen, there were none equal to his. Mr. J no. Price, of Eyall, about the year 1804, became acquainted w^th the cattle of Mr. Benjamin Tomkins, from whom he bought a few cows, using them to bulls descended from Mr. Walkers stock. He first attempted to improve the Tomkins cattle by crossing them with the larger stock of Mr. Walker, with a view of increasing their size, but the result was so unfavorable 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 the Tomkins blood. So that, upwards of seventy years at least, this strain, iirst in possession of Benjamin Tomkins, and then in that of John Price, was bred continuously without an out-cross. It would appear that Mr. Tomkins was en- titled to the position of leader in the improve- ment of the breed, and for giving a fixed char- acter both as to quality, color, and markings. and at the same time, the Hewers, William and John, were close seconds. It was peThapa to be expected that their friends would take sides, and a feeling of rivalry should grow up among them for the time being; but ultimately as these different lines expanded and new men took the places of the early rivals, the best of each were brought together. Mr. John Price of Eyall and other eminent breeders ^acquired bulls and cows of the Tom- kins breed and they soon spread widely over the country. In October, 1808, Tomkins had a large sale at the Court Farm, Wellington, which the auctioneer, Mr. AVilliam James, an- nounced in these words: "
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