CHAPTER XLII 



THE DEVON 



The native home of the Devon breed of cattle is in southwestern 

 England, in the counties of Devon and Somerset. Devon is 

 washed by the sea on its north and south borders, while 

 Somerset also borders the Bristol Channel on the north. The 

 section contains much rough and hilly land, reaching a height of 

 even 2000 feet, and is better suited to grazing than tillage, though 

 the soil is fertile. In the southern part the climate is mild and 

 balmy, being well suited to outdoor life for cattle the year round. 



The origin of the Devon is prehistoric. It has been assumed 

 that the breed is descended from Bos longifrons, the smaller type 

 of aboriginal cattle in Britain. The earliest English records show 

 the prevalence of cattle in Devon of a color and type indicative 

 of the modern breed. The early British writers on live stock 

 testify to its ancient character. 



The early improvers of the Devon were Francis Quartly and 

 his brothers William and Henry, and John Tanner Davy and his 

 brother William. Besides these John Tanner Davy gives much 

 credit to Merson and Michael Thorn of North Molton, Tapp and 

 Buckingham of Twitchen, Mogridge and Raises of Holland, and 

 others, who maintained the high character of their herds when 

 breeders generally, on account of high prices, were selling their 

 best stock for slaughter and keeping poor cattle in reserve. 



Francis Quartly is generally conceded to have accomplished 

 for the Devon what the Collings did for the Shorthorn. He lived 

 at Champson-in-Molland near South Molton, where his father in 

 1776 began to breed Devons. The father died in 1793, and 

 Francis at once began active work as a breeder on his own 

 responsibility. The cattle of Devon were deteriorating for the 

 reason already given. He recognized this, and not only refused 

 to sell but sought out and purchased the choicest individuals 

 possible, thus developing the best herd of his time. From his 



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