22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



jflank, though in the cow sometimes tliought to be too light ; 

 the size medium, generally called small. The proportion of 

 meat on the valuable parts is greater, and the offal less, than 

 on most other breeds, while it is well settled that they consume 

 less food in its production ; but the carcase is generally flatter 

 than that of the short-horn or Hereford. The Devons are popu- 

 lar with the Smithfield butchers, and their beef is well marbled 

 or grained. 



As working oxen, the Devons perhaps excel all other races 

 in quickness, docility and beauty, and the ease with which they 

 are matched. With a reasonable load, they are equal to horses 

 as walkers on the road, and when they are no longer wanted for 

 work they fatten easily and turn well. 



As milkers they do not generally excel, perhaps they may be 

 said not to equal the other breeds, and they have a reputation 

 of being decidedly below the average ; but this is probably 

 owing to breeding, in particular families. In their native coun- 

 try the general average of a dairy is one pound of butter per 

 day during the summer. 



But though the Devons generally are not noted as milkers, 

 yet I have had occasion to examine several animals bought from 

 the celebrated Patterson herd, which would have been remarka- 

 ble as milkers even among the very best milking stock ; and I 

 am convinced that the reputation they bear as small milkers is 

 due to the great anxiety which has been often manifested to 

 breed, as it were, to order, in point of symmetry and beauty of 

 form, with a disregard to milking qualities. 



The most extensive breeders of Devons in this State are Wil- 

 liam Buckminster, of Pramingham, Harvey Dodge, of Sutton, 

 and John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton. 



The judicious remarks of the chairman of the committee on 

 Devons, — himself one of the most distinguished breeders in the 

 State, — in regard to the selection and breeding of stock for 

 special purposes, as for beef, work or milk, whichever may bo 

 the object in any particular case, are worthy of consideration by 

 every farmer who buys or breeds stock for his'own purposes on 

 the farm. It is difficult, probably impossible, to obtain any race 

 of animals which will combine all these qualities in an eminent 

 degree, though undoubtedly some may be found which excel 

 the average of cattle in these respects. 



