New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-26
NetpWork DAILY Iribn1ts
AGRICULTURAL.

BREEDS OF DOMESTIC CATTLE go. Nv.
THE DEyONsiIREs have more than q common
interest for the breeders of the United States, since
the general belief is probably correct one, that IN
what is usually known as the notire breed there
q considerable strain Of the Devon blood. 1t is de-
cidedly the case that cross of the imported pure
Devons on the common stock of America is highly
successful, as one would naturally predict on the
principle laid down in reference to horSe-breeding,
that where any race or family s traceable to one
particular blood in their origin, and have either
been bred in aud in, or out to other breeds, for 3
considerable period, without recurrence TO the pr
mary blood, return to that blood will almost inva-
riably succeed or chit" as it is technically called
by breeders. Many fine Devons have been i'm
ported in recent years into the United States, and
many pure animals of great excellence aud beauty
have been bred in this country, from imported
parents. They ase great fsvorites, deservedly,
both for working and feeding cattle. The native
country of the Devons is North Deyonshre, ex-
tending along the skirt Of the British Channel to
the River Taw westward and eastward nearly to
the Psrret beyond which the breed is not found in
its purity. Inland, it extends to the neighborhood
of Tiverton and Wellington, but becomes mixed
before reaching Taunton; to the eastward, it is
mixed, or superseded, by the Somersets and Welsh
cattle; and on the west is contaminated BY mix
ture Of the Cornish breed which are of al inferior
though kindred strain OF the ancient British middle
horns. In this email district the pure Devons have
existed from the earliest times, the same and IN
mixed; although within the last thirty years they
have been materially improved, not by crossing or
introducing new blood or different strain, but
simply by selecting the finest, heathest aud most
beautiful individuals vi both sexes, and those co.
dowed with the highest hereditary qualifications as
parents on both sides. IL is not To be understood.
however, that becaus. the Devonsnires, in their
purest state, existed originally only in that part Of
that one county which has been described, they at
thls moment exist, or raised pure in that dis
trict only. In fact, very large proportion Of tho
calves dropped in that region are bought while quite
young into the adjoining counties of Somerset and
Dorset, snd there reared, fattened for the London
market, and thence distributed through the king
dom and into all foreign countries which have taken
high interest in the Improvement Of their
neat cattle; 80 that at the present day there
are probably fine Deyonshire cattle bred
by the especial fsncer- and lovers of the family in
many other English grazing counties, and even in
many parts of the United States, as there are in
North Devon itself, although they are, perhaps.
Dowhere else 81 General, other cattle being seen
in that region, 70 generally esteemed or 80 perfectly
adapted ~ the soil, the climate aud the country
Cntl the hst sixty Year,, the Devonshire agricu.
turists were not aware Of the superior qualities of
the animal of their own county, and only reared il
because they found il native and on the spot and
without any attempt TO elevate or improve the
breed. In fact it is within the last 100 or 80
years only that anything approaching to systematic
and scientific attempts for the improvement of neat
cattle hsse obtained and it is worthy Of remark
that the rural population of Devon,hre who have
BY no means favorable reputation for intelligence
and education, were about the last to adopt the now
system; and it is asserted that it is to their soil and
climate not 10 their own efforts, that they are in
debted for the preservation of thisfine breed which
has been retained among them, according to Mr..
Youatt. d" almost in spite Of themselves"
1t is considered by the best judges that the Dew.
onshires have been now no materially improved.
that if they ur not 10 b. est.emed tao best OF *