34 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



" This description may be considered as a summary of the perfec- 

 tions as to the exterior appearance of the animal. What, under the 

 same head, may be regarded as defects, appear first in the sudden 

 retiring of the rump from behind the buckle to a narrow point back- 

 wards ; the great space between the buckle and first rib ; the smallness 

 of the angle inwards at which the ribs appear to be projected from the 

 spine or backbone, often giving the appearance of a flat-sided animal, 

 and in its being so much tucked up in the girth as to show an awkward 

 cavity between the keel and navel, the line of which, it is presumed, 

 should always be found to hold a position as nearly as possible parallel 

 with that of the back from the withers to the loin. The animal is, 

 however, generally well grown, and filled up behind the shoulder." 



Fig. 5. Devon Bull, "Lord Wolseley" (2063). 



Winner of the Champion Prize given by the Devon Cattle-Breeders' Society for the best 

 male in the Devon classes, at the Jubilee Show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 

 Windsor, 1889. Bred and exhibited by Viscount Falmouth. Purchased by Mr. W. H. 

 Punchard, Bourton Hall, Totnes, Devon. 



The North Devon cattle are highly esteemed, both for feeding and 

 draught, but are not so much valued for the dairy ; yet their milk, 

 although deficient in quantity, is of such excellent quality that as much 

 butter can be made from that yielded by a North Devon cow as from 

 that yielded by the breeds which are esteemed better milkers. For 

 all the purposes of labour, whether activity, docility, or strength arrd 

 hardiness, this breed cannot be excelled. It is said that, on fallow 

 land, it is no uncommon day's work for four steers to plough two 

 acres with a double-furrow plough. The employment of oxen for 

 draught purposes is, however, fast dying out. As the improved 

 practice of agriculture is extended, it brings with it the necessity for 

 the employment of a higher class of animal, as well as of human, labour. 

 The labour of oxen having been found deficient in those qualities 

 required in improved practice, is therefore, as said above, being less 



