BREEDS 143 



and sometimes even new milk for sale in the towns. It remained, 

 however, for Messrs A. and T. Loram, of Rosamundford near 

 Exeter, to show the cattle-world that high-bred Devons could 

 give a thousand gallons of milk in the year. There would seem 

 to be little doubt that, with care, deep milk-yield could be added 

 to the splendid fleshing properties of the breed. I specially 

 examined Messrs Loram 's stock from this point of view and 

 could find no evidence of their falling-off as good beef-pro- 

 ducers. 



As a beef animal, it is hard to find fault with the North Devon. 

 Here it must be explained that the breed is still divided into 

 different types. The " North Devon" type is smaller, is of a 

 richer red colour, appears to be thicker-fleshed and is better 

 put together. The other type, which is somewhat larger and 

 more sand-coloured than true red, is sometimes spoken of as 

 the "Somerset Devon"; it must not be confused with the 

 "South Devon" from which it is entirely different. Of late 

 years there has been a tendency to get both types of Devons 

 larger, and one is inclined to wonder whether this is not a great 

 mistake. There is a very marked demand in our thickly-popu- 

 lated country for small joints of high-class meat. Now of the 

 Devon's many good qualities as a butcher's beast the fulfilment 

 of this particular demand always seems to me the greatest. For, 

 having regard to the size of the joints, I know of no beef 

 that shows such depth or thickness of lean meat as that 

 cut from the carcase of the Devon. Beyond this I have little 

 more to say of the Devon; he is good all over rather than 

 at any particular point. Animals of the breed are reputed 

 to be small eaters even after allowance is made for their being 

 little cattle. I have never seen "beeflings" of this race, and in- 

 deed have heard that early maturity is not among their leading 

 characteristics. 



In the interests of the future the best qualities of this breed 

 should be sifted out from their imperfections, for they undoubt- 

 edly are cattle worthy of all that research can do. There is not, 

 to my knowledge, any breed in England that so completely 

 keeps the Shorthorn out of the chief markets of the district from 

 which it originates as the Devon. 



