THE DETOXS. 57 



to their size, they combine more fineness of bone, more muscular 

 power, more intelligence, activity, and "bottom," than any other 

 breed. They have the slanting shoulder of the horse, better 

 fitted to receive the yoke, and carry it easier to themselves than 

 any others, except the Herefords. 



"With all workers of oxen, the nearer a beast approaches in 

 shape, appearance, and action to the Devon, the more valuable 

 he is considered, according to weight. For ordinary farm labor, 

 either at the plow, the wagon, or the cart, he is equal to all 

 common duties, and on the road his speed and endurance is 

 unrivalled. It is in these qualities that the New England oxen 

 excel others of the country generally, and why the people of 

 that section often call their red oxen "Devonshires," when they 

 cannot, to a certainty, trace any, or but a small portion of that 

 blood in them, only by a general appearance and somewhat 

 like action. 



For active, handy labor on the farm, or highway, under the 

 careful hand of one who likes and properly tends him, the 

 Devon is every thing that is required of an ox, in docility, intel- 

 ligence, and readiness, for any reasonable task demanded of him. 

 Their uniformity in style, shape, and color, render them easily 

 matched, and their activity in movement, particularly on rough 

 and hilly grounds, give them, for farm labor, almost equal value 

 to the horse, witli easier keep, cheaper food, and less care. The 

 presence of a well conditioned yoke of Devon cattle in the 

 market place at once attests their value, and twenty-five to fifty 

 dollars, and even more price over others of the common stock 

 are freely given by the purchaser. 



The Devon, in his lack of great size, is not so strong a draught 

 ox as some of the other breeds— the Herefords, for instance— or 

 perhaps some of the larger of the common cattle; but, "for his 

 inches," no horned beast can outwork him. On hght soils, and 

 on hillv roads, none other equals him, although we intend to give 



