576 
Report of the Live-Stock 
polls, have gone over the classes of all three breeds with such 
particularity, that an independent observer finds little to point 
out. 
Beport of the Judges of Devon Cattle. 
In making remarks on classes of animals in the position which the Devon 
has long held, it is well to remember that we are dealing with a breed which, 
as regards form and quality, has been brought to a state not readily admitting 
of general improvement. No marked advancement in either of these points 
can be looked for ; but if those, whose names still appear among the present 
exhibitors, continue to devote their attention to the breed, there is no great 
fear of deterioration in any vital particular. 
The Devon classes were fairly represented ; and if, as perhaps it will be 
admitted, in quantity and quality they fell short of some former exhibitions, 
the fact may in some measure be accounted for by the disiiersion of herds 
which for maaj- years had contributed to the Shows of the Eoyal Society 
not only numerous entries, but entries of the very highest standard of merit. 
The absence of Mr. Walter Farthing's name among the exhibitors could 
hardly fail to weaken the show of Devons. From the Meeting held at 
Northampton, five-and-tbirty years ago, to the Derby Show in 1881, the 
Stowey Court entries have been a prominent feature in the Catalogues of 
the Eoyal. But the herd is now broken up, to sj^read, let us hope, in other 
counties, the wide frames and fine flesh for which Mr. Farthing's Devons 
were famous. Other herds, as well as the older ones of the Messrs. Quartly, 
of Molland, and James Davy, of Flitton Barton, have also been scattered. 
The Flitton Barton pastures furnished the Eoyal Society with the winner of 
the first prize they ever offered for a Devon bull. This was in 1839. From 
that time onward this herd again and again sent the winning entries ; foremost 
among which were the champions — male and female — at the Battersea Park 
Meeting in 1862 ; and now, three-and-forty years after their first appearance 
in the prize sheet of the Eoyal Society, the winner in Class 58 is a bull from 
the Flitton herd. Xor is it by single specimens that these strains were repre- 
sented at Eeading ; for among the winners, or those that received honourable 
mention, eight figure as bred by ilr. Farthing, and five more came from 
Flitton Barton. So much f ir the old strains — the well-bred ones. If, how- 
ever, the names of Davy, Quartly, Langdon, Farthing, Turner, and others 
whose representatives were found at the earlier ileetings of the Eoyal — if 
these are absent in the Catalogues of to-day, or only appear as breeders of 
animals shown by others, — Lord Falmouth, Sir W. Williams, Messrs. Walter, 
Skinner, Fryer, Howse, Bradbeer (with others less fortunate in their 
entries), are not likely to let the Eoyal Society's prizes be won by Devons 
without merit. 
In making our awards we were at least unanimous in one thing ; and that 
was in trying to keep our affections on those specimens of the breed which 
had the stamp, style, and air of " thoroughbred " about them. And here we 
would remark that if, to au outsider, the class as a whole exhibited a certain 
delicacy — a fine-drawn aristocratic appearance, a little above the requirements 
of the general grazier — it must be borne in mind that this is but the sign of good 
breeding — long careful selection ; and that while it is easy enough to impart 
the rougher and more robust character, it is to this very aristocratic element 
that those who have shown larger, and what the public maj' term more 
useful animals, entirely owe their success. 
In Cl.^ss 56 — the Aged Bulls — we selected Lord Falmouth's " Sir Michael," 
an animal of good character, a trifle small, yet a wondrous form of fine flesh on 
short legs, but scarcely massive enough for a stock bull. !Mr. Skinner was 
secoud with " Fancy Eobin ;" not so taking to the eye as Lord Falmouth's 
