Farmivf/ of Cormcall. 
451 
The purest stock of the new kind are found at Trebartha, Avhere 
they have been bred mth the greatest care for the last forty 
years, — the late Mr. Rodd having obtained the best of the kind 
from the neighbourhoods of North and South Molton ; but not- 
withstanding the care and attention that have been paid to ob- 
taining the purest Devon stock, by him and other breeders, the 
cattle reared in the north of Devon are still superior to our own, 
having generally richer coats, and more correct symmetry. This 
degeneracy has been attributed partly to the herbage and partly 
to the climate of Cornwall. 
76. Short- Horns. — Within the last 22 years, short-horns have 
been introduced on many farms through the exertions of Mr. Peters, 
who first purchased some cows from Mr. Wilkinson's stock, of Pen- 
ton, Nottingham, and a bull* of Mr. Smith of Dishley. Other 
heifers followed from Mr. White of Leicestershire, and again 
from Mr. Wilkinson's stock. f Some years after, he introduced a 
buU,^ which was purchased for him at Mr. ^Mason's sale by the 
Earl Spencer. These laid the foundation of the short-horned 
breed in Cornwall. A few others have been lately introduced 
by Messrs. Hendy, Tilly, and Scobell ; but the greatest portion 
of the present breed is derived from Mr. Peters's stock. Much 
discussion has taken place from time to time as to the com- 
parative merits of the Devons and Short-horns, The advocates 
of the former contend that the natural and artificial productions 
of Cornwall are unsuited to maintain such a breed of large 
cattle as the Short-horns, and that the Devons are a hardier 
race, and better adapted to our changeable clime. The advo- 
cates of the Short-horns maintain, on the contrary, that theirs are 
more certain breeders, better milkers and graziers than any 
other kind. This is an interesting question. In the rural eco- 
nomy of a district, a high degree of importance is to be ascribed 
to a knowledge of the distinctive characters of the domesticated 
animals, since much of the profit derived from them will depend 
upon adapting the breed to the circumstances in which it may be 
placed ; and there cannot be a question that on most of our hilly 
farms, with a short bite of grass, the Devons are preferable ; but 
wherever there is a fair proportion of food, the Short-horns are by 
far the most profitable. 
77. Crosses. — It has been a common practice of late to cross 
the common Devon cow with the short-horned bull,§ which 
* Alfred, 24. Red roan, calved July 20th, 1820, got by R. Col]ings"s 
Lancaster. Dam, red roan, by Alfred ; grand dam by Windsor, 
t Lady, Peta, Alexandria. 
% Mercury. 119, Coates"s Herd Book. 
§ The writer is furnished with a document from J. H. Tremayne, Esq. 
of Heligan, proving that crosses with the Devon and the Teeswater breeds 
