46 



THE PATTERSON HERD. 



dairy; and their yield of milk is small, though of a rich 

 quality. I have, however, had occasion to examine 

 several animals from the celebrated Patterson herd, 

 which would have been remarkable as milkers even 

 among good milking stock. They had not, to be sure, 

 the beautiful symmetry of form and fineness of bone 

 which characterize most of the modern and highly im- 

 proved pure-bred North Devons, and had evidently 

 been bred for many years with special reference to the 

 development of the milking qualities, great care hav- 

 ing been taken to use bulls and cows as breeders from 

 the best milking stock, rather than of the finest forms. 

 The use of bulls distinguished only for symmetry of 

 form, and of a race deficient in milk-secreting quali- 

 ties, will be sure to deteriorate, instead of improving, 

 the stock for the dairy. 



Fig. 12. Devon Bull. 



On the whole, whatever may be our judgment of thi* 

 breed, the faults of the North Devon cow can hardly 

 be overlooked from our present point of view. The 

 rotundity of form and compactness of frame, though 

 they contribute to her remarkable beauty, constitute an 



