36 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



when blended with their peculiar property of producing meat of first- 

 rate quality along their tops, makes them what they are " models of 

 perfection." 



Some object to the North Devon, and class him as a small animal, 

 with the remark, "he is too small for the grazier." In saying 

 this it should always be remembered that the Devon has his pecu- 

 liar mission to perform viz., that of converting the produce of 

 cold and hilly pastures into meat, which could not be done to 

 advantage by large-framed animals, however good their parentage. 

 The Devon may thus be designated the " pony of the ox tribe." By 

 their admirers the Devons are to-day termed and very appropriately 

 the Rubies of the Western Hills. 



The pedigrees of the various animals constituting the " pure-bred 

 Devons " will be found in the " Devon Herd-book." From it may 

 be learnt the fact " that nine-tenths of the present herds of these 

 truly beautiful animals are directly descended (especially in their early 

 parentage) from the old Quartly stock," Mr. Francis Quartly being 

 looked upon as the introducer of the new breed. 



The Devons make first-class graziers' and butchers' beasts. Although 

 showing their highest condition, and seen in their greatest perfection, 

 in their own habitat, they do well in the more sheltered situations and 

 amongst the richer pastures of more highly cultivated lands. As has 

 been truly remarked of them by the Editor of the "Devon Herd- 

 book" in the pages of " The Field," they bear "change of soil and 

 climate well, thrive where many breeds would starve, and rapidly 

 outstrip others when they have plenty of good pasture." We have 

 said above that they are good butchers' beasts. On this point the same 

 authority remarks: "As converters of vegetable into animal food, 

 breed against breed, they return as much per acre, or for weight of 

 food consumed, as any. . . . Their beef is of fine quality, and 

 brings a high price in the market. They withstand extremes of 

 temperature. On a poor pasture, from their peculiar build, they are 

 enabled to travel rapidly over the ground without fatigue, and get 

 sufficient nourishment where a heavy Shorthorn or Hereford would 

 starve. The very best of these beasts are the best in the world. . . . 

 The cry has been for the animal that will be the first ready for the 

 butcher, and the Devon has answered it." 



In the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (1890), 

 Mr. Evershed notices the early maturity of the Devons, whether 

 they be of the lesser type of beautiful red cattle which originated 

 among the hills of North Devon, or the heavier breed found on better 

 land in Somersetshire and parts of South Devon. Their Herd-book 

 dates from 1851 ; but the record of their improved breeding runs back" 

 more than a century, and early maturity has been a special aim of 

 their breeders during the whole of that period. The breed is a hardy one, 

 and there is no cossetting and caudling of cattle in the common practice 

 of Devonshire. The young breeding animals are wintered entirely out of 

 doors, in small, sheltered pastures provided with open sheds, to which 

 they can retire at will. He adds that the Devons are specially adapted 

 for pastures of less luxuriant character than some other breeds require. 



