192 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



In the richer alluvial plains and near the coast a heavier and coarser 

 class of Devons are kept, for which no special attention is paid to ped- 

 igree or reiiuemcnt. Some splendid steers of this (as well as the North 

 Devon) class reach the London market, where they soon change hands 

 at remunerative prices. 



North Devon is a breeding and grazing district, calves are mostly 

 reared with the cows, and often a greater number of calves are seen in 

 the Held than cows. The yearling heifers run out through the winter, 

 only receiving^ little assistance during a storm. The yearling steers 

 being on their way to the butcher, are kept in yards and receive a 

 moderate allowance of straw and turnips during the winter months, and 

 have liberal treatment until ready for the butcher at three and four 

 years old. 



The quantity and quality of Mr. Skinner's cow Myrtle, during the 

 trials at the London show, was a great surprise to all who were not 

 thoroughly acquainted the full capacity of the Devons. The cow was 

 milked at 8.30 a. m., and again at 7.30 p. in., when the result was 26 

 pounds of milk which gave 14.75 percentage, 5.28 of fat; total award, 

 87.80. Age of cow, four and one-half years. She calved on July 4, 

 and was tested on October 3, 1883. The solids, which are in excess of 

 the Jersey, is a great achievement, and an event worthy of notice in 

 agriculture, together with the extraordinary weights attained by some 

 highly forced animals. This cow Myrtle gave 50 pounds of milk per 

 day for a considerable period after calving (second calf), and milked 

 for over a year at her first calf. The journey to London and other ex- 

 citing causes, which are unavoidable in a show-yard career, would to 

 some extent tend to reduce the quantity of. milk. 



The largest Devons and many of the best milkers are seldom seen in 

 the show yard, as prizes, as before stated, generally go to the most sym- 

 metrical. The late Mr. Skinner, father of the present Mr. Skinner, ex- 

 hibitor of the cow Myrtle, showed some Devon oxen in 1853 (winning 

 at Bridgewater and Taunton Christmas meetings) scaling 1,600 pounds 

 dead weight. This weight is enormous. These animals had, no doubt, 

 been employed in farm labor for some years, and then forced for show. 

 Mr. Skinner has recently sold a bullock under three years old, weigh- 

 ing (dead weight) half a ton. The top average weight for well fed steers 

 three to four years old, is 720 pounds, dead weight ; some reach 1,000 

 pounds with extra attention ; but 720 pounds may safely be taken as a 

 fair average for fully-matured Devon steers, although 800 pounds is not 

 unfrequently reached by choice beasts. Cows, when fat, will average 

 800 pounds at six to seven years. Bulls often weigh, when very fat, 

 a ton (live weight). A selected dairy of cows will average from 500 to 

 600 gallons of milk a year, many giving up to 700 gallons, and 300 

 pounds of butter. These are exceptional cases. A prevailing custom 

 in Devonshire is to let cows to dairymen for the season, 13 each being 

 about the average paid. 



Live weight: P und8 ' 



Four-year old ox, at Smithfield show, December, 1853 (offal, 8 pounds to 

 the score) ....... ; ............................ ...... . ____ * mm f m ........ I,QUG 



Weight of heifer, at Smithiield show, December, 1883 .. I'cOO 



Annual average .......................... ,. 3500 



To pound of butter ..................................................... & 



To pound of cheese ............. .. ....... 9 



Climate. Mean temperature, 50. 



AU ld breed8 e8tabli8hed ^ selections from existing breed of the 



