FARMERS' REGISTER, 



217 



as is most erroneously alleired. If men, or other 

 ablo hanJs were liireJ to pluck leaves and lead 

 worms, we agree, tliere would be a great differ- 

 ence in the cost, of Ameiican and French or Ita- 

 lian labor. But ourinfiira and idle slaves will 

 furnish labor even cheajier than the cheapest in 

 Europe, because its whole expense must be, and 

 now is, paid for, whether employed or idle. 



Secondly. When a loss of one-half, or one- 

 fourth, or even one-ninth (the smallest loss report- 

 ed in the 39 trials in France,) of a brood of worms 

 occurs, and li'om causes operating on the whole 

 brood, the damage cannot be confined to merely 

 those which die, nor does the number measure 

 the proportion of loss. Where so many die from 

 causes acting on all, it necessarily follows that all 

 must have suffered greatly ; and that the surviving 

 worms either cost much more in food, in care, and 

 in time, or made less ultimate product, than would 

 have been from the same number in good health 

 and vigor. And further, it may be lairly deduced 

 from the general existing state of things reported 

 of France, that every existing stock of worms has 

 become more or less degenerate, and continues to 

 transmit hereditary feebleness ol" constitution, or 

 disease, because every preceding generation of 

 progenitors had been more or less enfeebled and 

 degraded by the deleterious effect of a bad climate. 

 The stocks produced from such eggs brought to 

 this country and bred from, have generally been 

 made still worse by the heretofore ignorant and 

 careless management. But with correct views on 

 this subject, and proper care, and availing of the 

 unsurpassed healthy climate of (especially) the 

 southern states, and with the remarkable quality 

 of the silk-worm to receive and transmit heredita- 

 ry vigor, as well as feebleness and disease, it seems 

 likely that these insects will become individually 

 more productive here than they have ever yet 

 been in Europe, as well as being more profitable 

 on the whole business. 



DEVON CATTLE. 



By Dr. R. VV. Gibbes, Editor of llie " Carolina Planter," Co- 

 lumbia, S. C. 



There are lew of this variety of stock among 

 us. The richness of the color and the symmetry 

 of form possessed by them are very attractive — 

 their hardiness it is said peculiarly fits them for 

 southern soils and seasons — and their value as 

 work cattle is not exceeded by that of any other. 



In England the Devons have been much 

 prized. Mr. Coke, the prince of Ifirmers, whose 

 practical judgment and persevering industry have 

 placed him at the head of agricultural improve- 

 ment, and made him literally, the lord of the soil, 

 gives them a decided preference over all others. 



In referring to their history we find that the 

 Vol.. VIII— 28 



north of Devon has been long celebrated for a fine 

 breed of cattle — and that Irom the earliest records 

 they have remained the same in their essential 

 characters. Within a iew years, attention and 

 belter keep have greatly improved them. 



They are of a deep mahogany red color, (if with 

 any white spots they are reckoned impure) with a 

 yellow rim around the eye, and muzzles of the 

 same color. They are fine in the bone, clean in 

 the neck, have horns of a medium length bent 

 upwards; are thin-faced and fine in the chops, 

 wide in the hips, with a tolerable barrel, rather 

 flat on the sides, tail small and set on very high; 

 they are thin-skinned and silky in handling ; feed 

 at an early age, or arrive at maturity sooner than 

 most other breeds. They are considered a model 

 for oxen bred for the yoke — being light-limbed 

 and exceedingly active and quick gaited. In 

 Smithfield market the meat is highly esteemed 

 Irom its fineness of grain. They are not remarka- 

 ble for size and are much less than the Durham. 



Several years ago, Mr. Coke, of Norfork, (now 

 Lord Leicester) sent out to Mr. Patterson, of 

 Baltimore, several pure blooded Devons of the 

 finest specimens, and from these have sprung the 

 stock now in that neighborhood. In Maryland 

 the Devons are much esteemed, and several gen- 

 tlemen are distinguished lor their beautiful stock. 



The Editor of the American Farmer, who has 

 for many years been familiar with stock of all de- 

 scriptions, considers the Devons as admirably 

 adapted for " the Atlantic and especially the slave 

 holding states." 



To sum up, in a few words, the grounds of pre- 

 ference of the Devon over all other cattle for all 

 the country east of the mountains, it may be said 

 that, for size, hardiness, and dairy properties, they 

 are at least equal to our country cattle, while for 

 beauty they are lar superior, being all of the 

 same deep rich morello cherry color, with a clear 

 white handsome tapering horn, and white brush 

 to the tail, with sometimes a little white on the 

 udder; while lor richness of milk they are superior 

 to our common cattle, and for easiness to be broke, 

 and quick motion under the yoke, they are pro- 

 verbial. 



Finally, they fatten early and quickly, and will 

 keep up to the mark with overseer and negro 

 treatment and short rations, under which the 

 pampered short horn, so early to maturity, and so 

 valuable on the rich prairies of the west, would 

 degenerate, and fly to pieces! 



The following extract of a letter received by us 

 from a gentleman familiar with the Devons of Mr. 

 Patterson's stock, gives the character of the cows 

 as milkers. 



"The Devon cow is not remarkable for her 

 quantity of milk ; but for its quality it excels all 

 other breeds. 



" The general daily yield when fresh is from 2 

 to 3 gallons — there are instances where 'hey have 

 given 4 gallons, but they are rare. Seven quarts 

 of a well fed Devon's milk will yield a pound of 

 butter, whereas of most other breeds from 9 to 12 

 quarts are required, so that if we measure milk by 

 its butteraceous qualities, the Devon which yields 

 3 gallons a day is a pretty fiiir milker. But much 

 depends, upon the treatment which a heifer re- 

 ceives when in calf with her first calf whether 

 she make a good milker or not. If^ while forming 

 her first bag, she be fed copiously with succulent 



