Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-05-29
Gke farm.
Devon Cattle,

Devon Cattle.
This breed of cattle has ever been a
favorite one, for particular properties
in which it is found to excel, the supe-
rior quality of their flesh for the sham
bles, and their.peculiar adaptation for
the general work of the farm as oxen.
For these purposes they are undoubt-
edly more valuable than either of the
other improved breeds prevalent a.
mong US, whilst for symmetry of form
and beautiful appearance they are I'M
equalled by any, if we except the lord
ly Durham. As mixers they give an
average in quality with most other
breeds, the Ayrshires alone excellingin
this respect, and after the Jerseys it
is equal, if not superior, in quality to
that of all others, and in their net
weight of carcass the Short-Horn Dur
hams alone excel them.
in the Canada Farmer we find, &C
companied by a portrait of pair of
this beautiful race, very correct de-
scription Of the appearance and gen.
eral characteristics of the Devons,
which we annex. The Devons are to
be found in their purity and excellence
in Maryland, probably unsurpassed, if
equalled, by those in any other State,
and would, as is now the case with the
Short-Horns, be found favorably to
compare with any of their race in the
country whence they sprung.
The Devon breed of cattle are found
in their purest state in North Devon.
The head of a good Devon is small,
clean, and free from flesh about the
jaws; deer-like, light and airy in it's
countenance; neck long and thin
throat free from jowl or dewlap; nose
and around it's eyes of dark orange
color; ears thin and pointed, tinged on
their inside with the same color that
is always found to encircle it's eyes
horns thin, and fine to their roots, of a
cream color, tipped with black grow
ing with regular curve upwards, and
rather springing from each other; light
in the withers resting on shoulder q
little retiring and spreading, and SC
rounded below as to sink all appear.
ance of its pinion in the body of the
animal open bosom, with deep chest
or keel small and tapering below the
knee, fine at and above the joint, and
where the arm begins to increase it be-
comes suddenly lost in the shoulder
Zine of the back straight from the with
ers to the rump, lying completely on {
level with the pin, or buckles, which
lie wide and open; the hind quarter
seated high with flesh, leaving a FINE
hartman tapering from the hook tt
the fetlock; long from rump to hue
kle, and from the pinion of the shout
der to the end of the nose; thin loose
skin, covered with hair of soft and
furry nature, inclined to curl whenev
er the animal is in good condition and
in full coat; white udder is sometimes
passed over, but seldom without objec
ton.
The Devon cattle are highly esteem
ed, both for feeding and draught, but
are not so much valued for the dairy
yet their milk, although deficient in
quantity, is of such excellent quality
that as much butter can be made from
that yielded by North Devon cow al
from that yielded by the breeds which
are esteemed better mixers. For al.
the purposes of labor, whether activity
docility or strength and hardness, this
breed cannot be excelled. It is SAID
that on fallow land it is no uncommon
days work for four steers to plough two
acres with double furrow plough
Although they do not attain the height
of several other breeds, they fatter
early and rapidly, and their flesh is o.
excellent quality. Indeed, the quality
of the meat is unrivalled by that Of
any other breed.
RAISING SWEET PoTAToEs.-A
writer in the Country Gentleman says
''The potatoes should be planted by
the first of June. The soil should be
warm, dry and sandy. It should also
be rich. Sub-soiling is said to be very
beneficial. Throw the land into high
ridges, by turning burrows together
with horse-plough, making three-and-
a-half feet apart from centre to centre
One plant should be set in a place,
from fifteen to eighteen inches apart
in the ridge. Wet the roots and press
the earth firmly around them. The
stems of the lower leaves should be
covered, so that they may sprout, if
cut by worms or frost. It is said that