Nebraska advertiser., 1858-06-24
Farm and Garden.
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IFrOm the Patent once Report of 1885,
laTnn Caffla-

IOt0M Oe4teAOs
The "Devon, Tor rather . North Devon
cattle, chiefly produced in the county
from which they take their name, are Of
great antiquity, and have been celebrated
and justly admired for centuries, for
their pleasant color, elegant form, gentle
temper, active gait, and other good qua
lltles. which fit them beyond all other
breeds for the tarEBE 4lEe Ill0ugRl lf s,s's
for the excellence Of their milk and flesh.
Their color is generally light red, but
varying little, either darker or more
yellow, seldom having any white, except
about the udder Of the cow, or the belly
of the bull, which is little seen, or, per-
haps, few white hairs towards the ex-
tremity of the tail. On the whole, there
is scarcely any breed SO rich and mellow
in its touch, so silky and soft in its fine,
long hair: added to which, it has great
er proportion Of weight in the most valu-
able joints, consuming at the same time
less food in its production.
1t is to the grazier, then, that this breed
is more especially valuable, as few if any
others will rival them in disposition to
fatten and in the quality of the fesh.--
Generally speaking, the cows are infe-
rlor to many otheT1 for the purposes of
the dairy, but not as respects the quality
of the milk; for they yield more than an
average proportion of cream and butter,
|; both of which In Devonshire are proven
bially known. Some farmers, however,
have found them to yield even large
produce of milk, so that in this particular
much may depend on the choice Of pas
.urage, or the manner in which they are
} kept. The general average of the dai-
ries is one pound of butter day for each
COW, during the summer months, or as
long as they are well fed.
This breed will bear transferring to In
ferior soils, as well as to colder and more
exposed situations, without suffering in
, the slightest degree. Thus upon the
bleak coast of Norfolk, and upon light
: and inferior pastures, they are found to
thrive remarkably well, and TO sustain
their flesh upon very Indifferent keeping.
For working purposes, the Devons are
unequalled, and no description of cattle
can be compared with them, either fol
quickness of steps, or endurance of pluck.
There Is almost as much difference In
working between these oxen and those oi
other breeds, as there is in light, clean
ly, active cart-horse, and the heavy
I" hairy-legged sluggish dray. In Devon
d shire, they are usually put to labor at from
two to three years old. according as they
: are wanted, and worked until they art
five or six years of age, when they arr
: quickly fattened for the butcher. Fou
young and two old bullocks are required
to plow an acre a day upon heavy land
l. but on light soils they will do more. Ii
R. Norfolk, these oxen are also extensivel
used at the plough, one pair being EN-
ployed in the forenoon from six till clever
o'clock, and another pair from one till 81
), in the evening. In this manner, the
will generally plough upon turnip soil, on
acre and half in a day. 1t is no un
VI common thing, however, for a three yea
= old bullock towork in plough alone, an
if well kept, he will perform without dif
fculty all through the spring. But whe
the weather becomes warm he will suf1e
v. very much if worked longer than five c
six hours at a time. In hoeing ridge
turnips or mangold wurzel, with a singl
plow or horse-hoe, two steady bulloCk
one at time, will walk aver five acres
a day; but TO do this, they must wor
about eleven hours in day instead of tel
After little practice, they are preferre
to horses, as they are easily managed an
. turn at the ends without trouble, scarcel
NG injuring single root.
y For feeding purposes, the Devons po
Y sess every qualification to fatten, bein
Ia. celebrated for the fineness of their fles
md and the lightness of the offal; and, alth
to they do not attain so great weight ;
Of some other breeds, they will fatten at
very early age. They may he mao
quite fit for the butcher when twenty
seven or thirty months old, and will weig
at that age from $50 to 700 pounds.
kept until three years old, or little lonI
er, they may easily be made to weie
from 200 10 $40 pounds.
The period at which the workiI
. Devons are fattened greatly varies.
favoriie old bull is frequently worked Z
long, and it then requires both addition
O., time and quantity of food but, general
speaking, a certain number are fed {
y each year, and fresh ones are broken
5s supply their places. These old oxe
when well fed, attain good weight, fir
win quently weighing from 1,l20 to 1,2'
we we pounds. In this case, however, they a
immense consumers, and viii devour ds
ly, when first put to turnips, 5 or 6 bus
en- els, besides other food.
For certain districts, the Devons mt
be considered most valuable animals,
ID. ing hardy and easily kept upon the mt
LIZ. scanty herbage on poor soils. Their ri
ling milk and fine quality of flesh, combin
Mons nom with their SnrivaIled working qualiti
are becoming more appreciated than fl
merly, and tley are increasing in imp'
tance, both in EUROPE and in this count
amongst the oher breeds.
y The North hevon bull has a bold COZ
teuance, indened forehead, clear,
- and prominent eyes. surrounded by
orange-colored fng; shis head is sqna
TT with a light cr,am-colored muzzle,
Il nose; his horns ale moderately slrong
!, little turned up at heir tips, and ofa wa
color his back is Straight from the b