88 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



on the hills for two years, they are bought, when about four 

 years of age, by the tillage-farmer of the vales, and take to hard 

 work when they are from four to six years old. An ox must be 

 thus worked in order to attain his full size. At six he reaches 

 his full stature, but may continue to grow for another half-year. 

 The oxen of North Devon, although rarely shod, are very seldom 

 lame. These Devonshire oxen do not, indeed, attain to the 

 great weight of some breeds ; but they acquire more flesh in a 

 given time and with less consumption of food, and their flesh is 

 of a beautiful mottled or marbled character, and is at once very 

 pleasing to the eye and rich to the taste. 



The milk of the Devonshire cows is good, and yields more 

 than an average proportion of cream and butter ; but it is 

 deficient in point of quantity. However, according to Mr. 

 Conyers, of Copt. Hall, near Epping, ten cows gave an average of 

 five dozen pounds of butter per week in the summer, and of two 

 dozen pounds in the winter, while a good North Devon cow fat- 

 tened two calves a year. " My thirty North Devon cows," he said, 

 " have this year [about 1788] upon an average produced a profit 

 of £13 14s. per cow." According to Mr. Rogers, two breeders 

 attempted to cross the North Devons with the Herefords, but 

 without success. This same veterinary surgeon held the opinion, 

 which no doubt is the correct one, that many maladies of cattle 

 are due to injudicious exposure to cold and wet, and that to the 

 height and thickness of the Devonshire fences the exemption 

 from disease on the part of the cattle of that county is in some 

 measure due. 



Mr. Carpenter says that ** one cross of the North Devon with 

 the Hereford is advantageous, as thereby additional size and 

 aptitude to fatten is gained without loss of activity."" The single 

 introduction of a Hereford bull of the very best blood may be 

 tried ; but Hereford heifers should never be crossed with Devon- 

 shire bulls. After the first cross as aforesaid with one Hereford 

 bull, the best Devon bull should be again used, until the white 

 face is almost entirely extinct, when for a second time a Here- 

 ford bull may be used. 



The great secret about breeding successfully is to suit the 

 breed to the soil and climate. Breeds which have been very 

 valuable indeed in certain districts have proved entirely profitless 

 in others. The South Devons are equally profitable for the 



