16 CATTLE 



The truth is, that the Devonshire farmers were, until the last cen- 

 tury, not conscious that they possessed anything superior to other 

 breeds ; but, like agriculturists everywhere else, they bought and 

 bred without care or selection. It is only within the last one hundred 

 and fifty or sixty years that any systematic efforts have been made 

 to improve the breeds of cattle of the kingdom ; and we must ac 

 knowledge, that the Devonshire men, with all their advantages, and 

 with such good ground to work upon, were not the first to stir, and. 

 for a time, were not the most zealous when they were roused to ex 

 ertion. They are indebted to the nature of their soil and climate foj 

 the beautiful specimens which they possess of the native breed ol 

 our island, and they have retained this breed almost in spite of 

 themselves. 



A spirit of emulation was at length kindled, and even the Devon? 

 have been materially improved, and brought to such a degree o^ 

 perfection, that, take them all in all, they would suffer from inter- 

 mixture with any other bieed. 



Whatever be the breed, there are certain conformations which are 

 mdispensable to the thriving and valuable ox or cow. When we have 

 a clear idea of these, we shall be able more easily to form an ac- 

 curate judgment of the different breeds. If there is one part of tkj 

 frame, the form of which, more than of any other, renders the animal 

 valuable, it is the chest. There must be room enough for the heart 

 to beat, and the lungs to play, or sufficient blood for the purposes of 

 nutriment and of strength will not be circulated ; nor will it thorough- 

 ly undergo that vital change which is essential to the proper discharge 

 of every function. We look, therefore, first of all to the wide and 

 deep girth about the heart and lungs. We must have both : the 

 proportion in which the one or the other may preponderate, will de- 

 pend on the service we requii'e from the animal ; we can excuse a 

 slight degree of flatness on the sides, for he will be lighter in the 

 forehand, and more active ; but the grazier must have width as well 

 as depth. Not only about the heart and lungs, but over the whole of 

 the ribs, must we have both length and roundness ; the hooijcd, as 

 well as the deep barrel is essential ; there must be room for the capa- 

 cious paunch, room for the materials from which the blood is to be 

 provided. There should be little space between the ribs and the hips. 

 This seems to be indispensable in the ox, as it regards a good healthy 

 constitution, and a propensity to fatten ; but a largeness and droop- 

 ing of the belly is excusable in the cow, or rather, though it diminishes 

 the beauty of the animal, it leaves room for the uddei ; and if it is 

 also accompanied by swelling milk veins, it generally indicates her 

 value in the dairy. 



This roundness and depth of the barrel, is most advantangeous in 

 proportion as it is found behind the point of the elbow, more than . 

 between the shoulders and legs ; or low down between the legs. 



