606 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



on hill}- soils, where their lighter weights and 

 activity in movement are better adapted to 

 grazing and labor than the more sluggish cattle 

 of the heavier breeds. 



As a Dairy Cow, 



The Devon may be called medium, in the 

 quantity of milk she yields, and in its quality, 

 superior. The older, or unimproved race, 

 were somewhat noted for the quantities of 

 milk they produced, as well as its good qual- 

 ity. A gallon of Devon milk yielded more 

 butter than that of almost any other breed, as 

 it d.es now, except the Alderney. But the 

 improvers, in the attainment of a finer form, 

 and heavier substance in their animals, per- 

 haps sacrificed somewhat of the quantify of 

 milk, for the more liberal development of llesh, 

 well knowing that both llesh and milk could 

 not thrive ecjually together in the same animal ; 

 although, wben the milk ceased, the flesh came 

 on wi;h due rapidity, under generous feed. 

 Yet, with an eye to breeding her solely for 

 milk, she is well fitted lor a dairy cow. Do- 

 cile in temper, e.isy of keep, placable in dis- 

 position, she is readily managed. Her udder 

 is soft, tidy in shape, with thin, silky hair up- 

 on it, clean, taper teats, easily drawn, and 

 every way satisfactory to her keeper. 



We have kept thoroughbred Devons thirty- 

 four years — sometimes as high as twenty-five 

 or thirty (not all milk cows) in number. 

 Many of them have been excellent milkers, 

 ar,d some of tliem extraordinary, for Jieir size. 

 We once had two three-year old heifers, with 

 their first calves, which gave for some three 

 months afrer calving, on pasture only, with 

 steady milking, an average of eighteen quarts 

 per day ; and from cows which we have at dif- 

 ferent times sold to go to oiher States, the 

 accounts of their milk have been equally good. 

 It is but fair to say, however, that after we 

 commenced crossing our cows with bulls of 

 later miportaiions, some fifteen years after the 

 commi ncenicnt of the herd, the large milkers 

 were not so numerous, although the cattle 

 from these crosses were somewhat finer. The 

 bulls we used were apparently bred from stocks 

 higlily improved, with an elfort more to de- 

 velop their feeding properties, than for the 

 dairy. After all, our Devons yielded, on an 

 average, quite as much as any common cows 

 we ever ki pt, with much less consumption of 

 forage. 



With all her alleged deficiencies, the Devon 

 possesses the inherent qualities of a good 

 milktr. Ikr dairy faculties may be bred out 

 of her l)y neglect cf that important item, and 

 with a view to give her an earlier maturity, 

 and more weight of llesh ; but even under that 

 system, she wdl occasionally persist, as we 

 have knosvn in various instances, in giving a 

 large flow of milk, exceeding many common 

 cows ol' equal size. On the whole, from the 

 accumulaieil accoimts we have received from 

 time to lime, coupled with our own experi- 



ence, we pronounce the Devons, as a race, 

 when bred with an eye to the development of 

 the dairy quality, considering their size, and 

 consumption of lood, good dairy cows, both 

 in the quantity of milk they give, and the but- 

 ter it yields. 



As a 'Working Ox. 



In this valuable quality, no animal of the 

 same size and weight etjuals the Devon — for 

 the following reasons : They are, among ( attle, 

 what the "thoroughbred" is among hordes. 

 According to their size, they combine more 

 fineness of bone, more muscular power, more 

 intelligence, activity, and "bottom," than any 

 other breed. They have the slanting shoulder 

 of the horse, better fitted to receive the jolie, 

 and carry it easier to themselves than any 

 others, except the Herefords. 



With all workers of oxen, the nearer a beast 

 approaches in shape, appearance, and action 

 to the Devon, the more valuable he is consid- 

 ered, according to weight. For ordinary farm 

 labor, either at the plough, the wagon, or the 

 cart, he is equal to all common duties, and on 

 the road his speed and endurance is unrivalled. 



Their uniformity in st}le, shape, and color, 

 render them easily matched, and their activity 

 in movement, particularly on rough and hilly 

 grounds, give them, for farm labor, almost equal 

 value to the horse, with easier keep, cheaper 

 f( od, and less care. The presence of a well- 

 conditioned yoke ef Devon cattle in the market- 

 place at once attests their value, and twenty- 

 five to fifty dollars, and even more, in price over 

 others of the common stock, are freely given 

 by the purchaser. 



As a Beef Animal, 



We must place the Devon in the first class, for 

 fineness of fle.-h and delicacy of flavor. Its 

 compact bone gives it the one, and its rnpid 

 and thorough development under good feed- 

 ing, gives it the other. In growth and size 

 it matures early, etpial to the short-horn, and 

 its meat is liner grained, juicy, and nicely 

 marbled, (the lean and fat intennixed.) In 

 the London markets, Devon beef bears the 

 highest price of any, except the Highland 

 Scot — usually a penny a pound over that of 

 larger breeds, and our A merit an butchers 

 ([uickly pick (he Devons from a drove, when 

 I hey can find them, before mo~t others. 7 hey 

 feed well, take on ilesh rapidly, and in rhe 

 quality of their fle>h, are all that can be de- 

 sired. — Allen's American Cattle. 



LINCOLN SHEEP. 

 The following notice of a late importation 

 of this English breed, belonging to Hon. 

 Samuel Campbell, of Oneida, N. Y., is copied 

 from the editorial correspondence of the Jour- 

 nal of Agriculture : — 



Wc were much Interested in viewing Mr. Camp- 

 bell's Lmcoln sheep. The original stock of tliese 



