Practical Agriculture. 
539 = 273 
In the forequarters the Devon probably excels all other breeds, 
the shoulders being placed so obliquely that there is no hollow 
hind them, but the part is well filled out with good flesh and 
t. preserving an unbroken line, and promoting a uniform 
vering of fat throughout every part ; commencing at the rump, 
er the pin bone, edge of the loins, ribs, shoulders, and on to 
e neck, without patch or excess of any kind. Devon breeders 
ink nothing can compensate for upright shoulders, which are 
re to produce hoUowness behind them, and a consequent loss 
flesh and fat, besides diminishing the capacity of the chest 
d width of breast. In breeding it is most important to get 
; imals with shoulders placed obliquely ; for it is found, in 
actice, to be much more difficult and to require a longer time 
correct the fore than the hind quarters. It is a remarkable 
t in the form of the best Devons, that their shoulders are so 
iced and packed that they can, like a similarly formed horse, 
j up and down the steep and rugged Northern Devonshire hills 
' th much greater facility than what are called the " large 
nons. 
The covering over the shoulder-blades is nearly as full as the 
)s, which should project at right angles to the back, preserve 
' barrel shape, and be broad and deep. The loin is wide and 
; t, projecting in a line with the pin-bone, and is well covered, 
Jt only on the top but also on the edge of the bone. The pin- 
Ine must not project to break the even line. The rump is long 
;d well filled out, and the tail, set on level, falls perpendicu- 
ly from the line of the back. The buttock is moderately full, 
K'ring towards the hock, with a sufficiency of lean flesh, but 
t too much, for if the animals are too heavy here, they are apt 
be deficient on the sides, back, and rump. 
The Devons are of a docile disposition, economical feeders, 
; d excellent milkers ; but are of considerably smaller size than 
; orthorns or Herefords. The practice of working the steers at 
1 ee-years old, and, after two years' labour in the team, winter- 
Itening them for the butcher — their keep up to that time 
lying been grass in summer, and hay, straw, and turnips in 
Vnter — is not now so general as it was a few years ago. 
Devon cattle have become too valuable for the old-fashioned Fair 
■ atment, and are now fed with oilcake, and made ripe at early 
s. The principal fairs for this beautiful breed are South 
ilton, Crediton, and Exeter. These red cattle have not spread 
y far out of their own quarter of England, that is the counties 
Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall ; but they are found as grazing 
res at some of the midland counties' fairs, and considerable 
inbers of high-class bulls and heifers have been exported by 
most eminent breeders. At the Smithfield Club and other 
