Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-07-18
For the Sentinel.
Devon Cattle-.-Letter from Gov. Bowie

For the Sentinel.
Devon Cattle-.-Letter from Gov. Bowie.
Montgomery, with its resources and situa-
tion is destined to take foremost rank
among the counties of the State, and her far
mers must arouse themselves TO the needs of n
more advanced Agriculture. No branch OF
our business requires greater attention than
the improvement Of our stoch.
A gentleman from the West who returned 10
his native place after an absence of many
years, was surprised and delighted at the rapid
manner in which fields once barren had been
converted into cultivated farms, and was par
ticularly struck with the beauty of our county
seat, comparing it with the thriving towns Of
Indiana and Illinois. But he made one OBJ
servation that Is only too true that we had
made noadcance, If we had not retrograded in
our animals. The stately Durhams raised by
Roger Brooke, and the graceful Devons OF
Col Capron'S time, have nearly all disappear
ed, and we are content, with the exception OF
Jos. H. Bradley, Saml. T. Stonestreet, VIM
J. Scofeld and few others. to sell calves
weighing from 80 to $50 lbs, or TO raise them
and after waiting three or four years find our
selves in possession of lank, diminutive steer
or COW, when the same time and care, with
proper attention to the SIRE would have given
us animals amply repaying us by their value,
as well as delighiing US with their beauty.
A difficulty with some has been to decide
which is the best breed of cattle for our eli
mate and soil. For Dairy purposes alone, the
Attorneys are without doubt the best, but the
small size Of the calves, and of the steers when
raised, make them Improbable for general
purposes.
The magnificent Durhams or Short Horns
bear of the palm where there are natural
grasses as in the Valley of Virginia, and the
blue grass region of Kentucky, but they are
gross feeders and soon deteriorate upon pas
lures affected by drouth The writer of this
article crossed the Atlantic with Mr.. Thorue,
of Orange CO., N. Y, when going TO England
to purchase the Short Horns, whose descend
ants became so famous under his care. lie
paid as high as S., 900 for one of his imported
bulls, and of course gave his cattle every ad-
vantage that ample means and close attention
could command. One of the family has since
informed my father that they found it impossi-
BILE TO keep them in n healthy and thriving
condition upon their soil and grasses, and the
entire herd has been disposed of, principally
to gentlemen residing in the blue grass region
of Kentucky
The Devons meet our wants in every respect.
Hardy, good mixers, gentle and powerful OK
en-, nearly always ready for the butcher,
weighing well, aud thriving upon sun dried
pastures where the Attorney or Short Horn
would soon lose flesh, they not only surpass
all other breeds of improved cattle for our use,
but are vastly superior 10 the 'common" cat
tie now almost universally raised. 1t is not
necessary to have thoroughbred Devons, as a
cross by thoroughbred bull upon good com
mon cows, will greatly improve the stock upon
any farm. AS oxen they are particularly to
be valued. A yoke of grade Devons belonging
to me, are always in good condition, and have
carried 60 bushels of wheat to mill two miles
distant.
Wishing TO get Devon bull calf ! wrote TO
ex-Gov. Odcn Bowie whose cattle are famous,
and was much gratiied to receive letter from
him confirming so fully my own theory and
limited observation. Believing its contents
will interest my fellow farmers, and hoping to
aidin q small degree in stimulating them to
give increased attention to this important SUBJ
jec., annex his letter to these hasty remarks
No part of it, am sure, will convey greater
pleasure, than his response to an earnest invi-
taton to attend our Fair, and to bring some
of his beautiful cattle. II. G. II.
SANDY Spring