SECRETARY'S REPORT. 127 



along their tops, makes them what they are — ' models of perfection.' 

 Of course, we here speak of the best-bred animals. Some object to 

 the North Devon, and class him as a small animal, with the remark, 

 ' He is too small for the grazier.' In saying this it should ever be 

 remembered that the Devon has its particular mission to perform, 

 viz., that of converting the produce of cold and hilly pastures into 

 meat, which could not be done to advantage by large-framed ani- 

 mals, however good their parentage." 



The Devons have been less extensively, and more recently, intro- 

 duced into Maine than the Short-horn, but the universal experience 

 of those who have fairly tried them fully sustains the opinions given 

 above, and they promise soon to become a very favorite and pre- 

 vailing breed. The usual objection made to them by those who 

 have been accustomed to consider improvement in cattle to be 

 necessarily connected with enlargement of size, is, that they are 

 too small. But their size instead of being a valid objection, is be- 

 lieved to be a recommendation, the Devons being fully as large as 

 the fertility of Maine soils generally are capable of feeding fully and 

 •profitably. 



Their qualities as working oxen are unrivalled, no other breed 

 so uniformly furnishing such active, docile, strong and hardy 

 workers as the Devons, and their uniformity is such as to render 

 it very easy to match them. Without possessing so early maturity 

 as the Short-horn, they fatten readily and easily at from four to 

 six years old, and from their compact build and well balanced pro- 

 portions usually weigh more than one accustomed to common cat- 

 tle would anticipate. 



Among the earlier introducers of Devons into Maine, were 

 Messrs. Percival of Waterville, and Tufts of Paris. The largest 

 herds at present, so far as my knowledge extends, are those of 

 Messrs. Wentworth of Poland, and Anderson of South Windham. 

 Mr. Wentworth's stock were selected and have been propagated 

 chiefly with reference to produce in beef and labor, while Mr. 

 Anderson has labored assiduously and successfully to secure in- 

 creased dairy properties in addition to these. The Devons are not 

 generally deep milkers but the milk is richer than that of most 

 other breeds, and some families, where proper care and attention 

 have been given to this quality in breeding, yield largely. It is, 

 however, as a breed for general use, combining beef, labor and 

 milk, in fair proportion, that the Devons will generally give best 

 satisfaction, as they are not only hardy enough to suit the climate, 



