Vol. 6. 



GENESEE FARMER, 



105 



For the fleuesec Farmer. 



DEVON CATTLE. 



Mr Editor — Havirrj repeatedly been requesteri 

 to give mv opinion of the Devon Cattle, and from 

 what stock those orio-inatod which I introiluoed into 

 tne country,, I take the privilrjre of doing- so, thro' 

 the niodiiim of your useful journal. But I feel a 

 great reluctance in performing the task, knowing 

 that there is a genrral distrust among the agricultu- 

 ral community, of all statements that are made thro' 

 the agricultural journals, relative to any improve- 

 ment in animals or seeds ; and particularly, if the 

 person making them have any to dis])ose of; it is then 

 believed to be selfish putling-, in hopes to profit by if. 

 Whether the experience of the past has been the 

 cause of this general want of confidence in each 

 other or not, it is mnch to be regretted, for it de- 

 stroys the foundation of all agricultural improve- 

 ments, and very much prevents the usefulness of 

 the iournals. 



We are liable to what is called prejudice. We 

 have ourfavoritism=5 and our aversions, and frequent- 

 ly without being able to give the reasons, even t: 

 ourselves; and when any one expresses an opinion, 

 it may be expected that it will receive a coloring 

 from his feelings; and no one has a right to condemn 

 because he does not receive the same impressions. 

 But when any one states facts predicated on experi- 

 ence, it is expected that they can be realized by all 

 who are equally accurate and persevering. But 

 facts may be correctly stated, and at the same time 

 be guilty of great deception. For instance, a far- 

 mer has six cows of a particular breed; one of them 

 being a great milker, two of them only middling, 

 and the other three very poor ones. If, in answer 

 to an inquiry relative to the milking properties of 

 his cows, heshoulil give a statement of the quanti- 

 ty that the great milker gave, and make no mention 

 of the others, he would convey the idea, that, as a 

 breed, they were extraordinary milkers, when they 

 were the very reverse. He does not tell a falsehood, 

 yet he is guilty of gross deception. Or providing, 

 that by extraordinary feeding and care, he increases 

 his animals to a large size at an early age, but not 

 stating the fact that they had received extraordinary 

 feeding and care, the viewer takes it for granted 

 that it was the general characteristics of the breed, 

 is deceived, by the other's not giving the necessary 

 exnlanation. 



The Devons are a very distinct breed of neat cat- 

 tle, possessing several characteristics peculiar to 

 themselves, of which they are very tenacious. — 

 They are uniformily red, varying to a bright mahojr- 

 any; no white on them if pure, excepting the bush 

 of the tail, and frequently a shade of white around 

 the outer edire of the ears, which is more common 

 witli the heifers than the steers. Their white bitshv 

 tails are very remarkable, and are a sure test of the 

 blood. When calves, the end of the tails which 

 form the brush are always darker in color than 

 the rest of their bodies. By the time that they are 

 8 or 12 months old, they commence changing their 

 color, and at 3 years old they are purely white — 

 which never fails in a pure Devon, and generally 

 runs with the blood to a very gr,eat extent. They 

 are small in the bone, fine and 'clean in the limb, 

 straight on the back, full in the chest, prominent 

 and bright looking eyes, keen in their looks, and 

 are very active ; and, as I^ord Somerville says, 

 "possess more of the appearance of what is termed 

 blood in horses, than any other breed of neat cattle." 



Their horns arc long and fine, and yellow at the root 

 when young, fikin yellow, soft, and silky to the 

 hand, and hair Sequent ly curled. Their uniform 

 a])pearance renders t!iem very easy to niatcn for la- 

 bor, for which none can excel th-'m. Tiny are ex- 

 cellent tjavelers, docile and tractable. Their beef 

 i-j of the very best quality, being what llesherg 

 term " well mixed," and proves remarkably well 

 when dressed, and yi(lds as much in proportion 

 to the food they consume as any other bree 1. 



There was originally two varieties of the Devons, 

 possessing diiTerent properties of excellence. The 

 south Devons were heavy in the fore q'larters. Ion"- 

 and elevated horns, active, vigorous, and lofty in 

 their carriage, but rather light behind, and their "tails 

 sometimes heavy. The north Devons were long and 

 fine horned, but the bulls rather inclined downwards, 

 head and carriage not so lofty, tho' slimmer tails and 

 much heavier in the hind quarters. The two breeds 

 have been crossed, and have produced animals uni- 

 ting the valuable properties of both. 



Those which are now raised by m^, Mr. Bock, of 

 Sheldon, and others, who procured them from my 

 stock, are a cross of the two breeds. The first 

 which I got were the south Devons, from Ising, of 

 Long Island ; the second were the north Devons, 

 from Patterson, of Baltimore, who received them as 

 a present, from the celebrated Coke, of Norfolk, 

 England. I crossed these two breeds, which made, 

 as I think, a great improvement. 



A few years ago, Mr. Vernon, of Genesee Co. 

 imported a pure, thorough bred, Devon bull. He 

 was rather light in color, and had rather a tender 

 and delicate appearance; but he proved an excellent 

 stock-getter. He is now own-^d by Mr. Dibble, of 

 Batavia, and is a valuable acquisition to the farmers 

 m that section. Mr. Beck bred from some of his 

 best cows to him, which has prod-eced m.o^t snlen- 

 did animals. WILLL4M GARBUTT. 



Wheat LDND, Jnne 8, 1845. 



HARD-WORKL\G FARMERS, READ THIS. 



Dr. D'.ncan, in his speech on the Army Aopro;>ri- 

 ation Bill, exposes the profligate policy of the o-ov- 

 ernment in relation to war expenses. The major 

 general receives $7,144 88 per annum in salary or 

 perquisites ; equal to the income of twenty-four 

 farms, capitol and labor included. A brigadier gen- 

 eral receives >$4,600, equal to the proceeds of fifteen 

 farms, each worth $5,000, and labor included. An 

 adjutant general receives $3,884, a sum equal to the 

 proceeds of thirteen farms, worth each $5,000, and 

 labor included. An inspector general receives $4,- 

 133, equal to the proceeds of fourteen farms, worth 

 each $5,000. and labor included. A quarter master 

 general receives $3,767, ( q-al to the proceeds of 

 twelve farms, each worth $5,000, labor included. — 

 A commissary general receives $3,5(58, equal to the 

 proceeds of twelve farms, each worth $5,000, labor 

 included. A surgeon general receives .$3,628, equal 

 to the proceeds of twelve farms, worth eacli $5,000 

 and labor included. A colonel receives $3,916, e- 

 qual to the proceeds of thirteen farms: a major $2,- 

 307, equal to the proceeds of eight farms; a cnntjiin 

 $2,184, equal to the proceeds of seven farms, \,\-r i 

 each, in all cases, $5,000, labor included. 



Now, honest farmers, do you wonder that this 

 country is perpetually in dan<rer of "foreign invasions 

 and domestic insurrections," when it is to be defend- 

 ed at such a price? Who can wonder at the patriotic 

 reluctance of these military gentlemen to "beat 



