The Portland daily press., 1877-08-22
FARM AND HOUEHOLD.
Devons in Canada

That the Devons are very valuable breed
OF cattle, will be readily admitted by all ex-
perienced stock men. Their beef is of the
highest quality, and though they do not
ripen so early as the Short-Horns, they can
be worked until four or five years old. and
then put up to fatten. The Short-Horns are
an aristocratic breed work disagrees with
them. On the other hand moderate work
improves the Devons, giving them better de-
velopment than they attain in idleness. AS
working cattle they are unsurpassed; they
are also good mixers, yielding milk rich in
cream. Though not giving large quantity
OF milk, they make up in extra quality. Best
of all they are hardy, thriving where Short
Horn would starve. On these and other
grounds their encouragement and mutiplica-
tion are desirable.
Having recently visited very fine herd of
Devons, / send few notes respecting them.
1t is owned by Mr.. George Rudd of Puslnch,
Wellington county, 29 miles from Guelph,
Ontario, and comprises 25 head, nearly ali
fit for the show ring. A herd of more even
character and uniform excellence is not often
met with. At its head is the widely-known
bull Hartland, now ten years old-an invari-
able prlze-winner, who, having won the high
est honors at the centennial, now rests on his
laurels, the champion Devon of the American
continent. A son of his Duke OF Norfolk
also gained the highest distinction at the cen.
tennial. and was Afterwards sold to Mr.. Shell
don OF Ohio. Being only yearlng, and
bearing very striking resemblance to his re-
nowned sire. he will doubtless be heard of
hereafter. Without minute specifications, it
may be observed that this herd throughout
gives evidence of judicious breeding, careful
selection, and constant painstaking on the
part of its enterprising proprietor.
Mr.. Rudd's career as breeder shows what
aplain farmer, determined to excel, may do
within few years. His farm possesses no
special advants ges, and his buildings are only
ordinary. His first Devon purchase was made
in 1866, SO it has only been twelve years for
him to attain the first place as a breeder.
He began with one COW and three heifers,
bought of Mr.. Daniel Tye of Wimot, and a
young bull, purchased of Col. Scott of New
Hamgurg. This herd took several first
prizes and two diplomas, but not coming up
TO Mr.. Rudd's ideas of Devon excellence,
they were all sold out in 1870, and subseq-
uently went to Nova Scotia. In December
of the same year, Mr.. Rudd made a fresh
start, with the pick of herd owned by Mr..
John Buchanan of South Dumfries. Three
fine cows and two heifers were selected from
the stock OF Mr.. Buchanan, the cows being in
calf to young Curly Prince of Wales No. 457.
In April, 1871, Mr.. Rudd bought his now
famous Hartland No. 1853, bred by Mr.. John
Burk OF Bowmanville, from imported Jenny
Lind No. 1877. In 1874, Mr.. Rudd bought Of
Mr.. 81. 81. Spencer, the imported bull Dandy
No. $40, to breed with Hertland's progeny.
Dandy is descended from imported Stately
No. 81. With the herd thus founded, Mr..
Rudd has carried off all the principal prizes in
Canada. Hartland has worn five Provincial
diplomas, also two medals and the diploma
at the Centennial.
The Devon is usually ranked as one of the
smaller breeds of cattle, but In Mr.. Rudd's
hands it rivals the Short Horn in size. There
are few Short-Horn bulls that will outbulk or
outweigh Hartland, and the young cattle will
compare fayorably with Short-Horns of the
same age. Mr.. Rudd accounts for this by
good selection and careful winter feeding.
He makes point of keeping his young stock
growing all the year round. Instead of Civ
ing them only dry feed in winter, they are
literally supplied with roots. The usual win.
ter rations are bran and meal mixed with
salt and water in the morning; abundance
of clean straw all day, and good feed of
swede turnips in the evening, with all the
straw they will consume through the night.
This cannot be called high feeding, but il
seems to hit the happy medium between PAM
pering and short commons. The appearance
of the herd is commendation enough of Mr.,
Rudd's eatment-Country Gentleman,