22 



CATTLE. 



The qualities of the Devons may be referred lo three points; their 

 working, fattening, and milking. 



DEVON cow. 



Where the ground is not too heav}^ the Devon oxen are unrivalled 

 at the plough. They have a quickness of action which no other 

 breed can equal, and verj^ few horses exceed. They have a docility 

 and goodness of temper, and stoutness and honesty of work, to which 

 many horses cannot pretend. It is a common day's work, on fallow 

 land, for four Devon steers to plough two acres with a double furrow 

 plough. Four good steers will do as much work in the field, or on 

 the road, as three horses, and in as quick, and often quicker time, 

 although farmers calculate two oxen equal to one horse. The prin- 

 cipal objection to Devon oxen is, that they have not sufficient strength 

 for tenacious, clayey soils : they will, however, exert their strength to 

 the utmost, and stand many a dead pull, which few horses could be 

 induced or foi ced to attempt. They are uniformly worked in yokes, 

 and no« in collars. Four oxen, or six growing steers, are the usual 

 team employed in the plough. 



The opponents of ox-husbandry should visit the valleys of north or 

 -outh De\on, to see what this animal is capable of performing, and 

 now he performs it. 



The profit derived from the use of oxen in this district arises from 

 the activity to which they are trained, and which is unknown in any 

 other part of the kingdom. During harvest time, and in catching 

 weather, they are sometimes tt :tted along with the empty wagons. 



