The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-10-19
FARM ITEMS.
The Devon Cattle.

1Uebe uTe acknowledged w VIC Lho
most ancient of the various English
breeds. 1t is claimed that they were
found roaming their particular dis
trict Of Devonshire al the time Of
the first invasion Of England by the
Romans under Julius Cesar they
have continued to preserve the same
characteristics as then, never under
going any change or admixture,
down to the present day. They are
all medium size, and exquisitely fine
in all their points; indeed, compared
with other cattle they are like the
Arabian compared with other horses.
The horns are cream.colored with
black tips, long and slender, grace.
fully up.turned in the cows and
oxen, but much shorter and lower
curved from the head in the bulls
The eyes are like those Of the gazelle,
with a golden rim around each; the
nose pure orange shade; the skin u
rich cream to yellow. The hair is
silky in summer, with an under
growth Of soft fur in winter, and va
ries in color from a light to a bright
deep red. The only exception to this
is more or less white hairs in the
switch of the tail, and an occasional
white patch on the bag of the COW,
particularly in those Of the deep
milking families. They are almost
as round in the body as q barrel;
straight in the upper and lower lines,
with deep chest, full brisket, crops,
chine, and quarters well let down in
the twist.
They are very hardy and thrifty
mature early, are sure breeders, and
both large and rich mixers, when
bred for this purpose, and at all times
they make the best Of beef. They
are the most active and intelligent
Of any race of cattle; are easily bro
ken to the yoke or harness; can be
trained to walk four miles per hour,
and trot six. The latter pace is as
natural to them as to an ordinary
horse. They make the quickest and
best of workers and are the most
powerful of all for their size.
Although so fine in bone, it is Of
such an excellent quality as to prove
as strong as the larger and coarser
bones of others. To this is joined
superior muscle, with the toughest
and most elastic cords and tcndons.
After working till seven or ten years
old they can be turned out to fatten,
and make as excellent quality Of
beef as when simply fed from birth
to slaughter and disposed of to butch,
ers when three to four years DID,
The usual live weight of well-fatten-
ed, full grown oxen varies from 1900
to 1000 pounds-though some are
still heavier-that Of COWS from 900
to 100 pounds. They are especially
well calculated for grazing on light
sandy and gravelly soils, and rough,
stony or billy grounds. Being of a
medium size, and so hardy and active,
they thrive in such short pastures as
could not support larger and less
alert herd.
The Devons were early introduced
into the eastern and some of the
southern States, where they have
ever been found great favorites, and
are particularly admired for their
beautiful red color They have also
gradually spread to the western
states, and their produce growing up
there on richer soil, with more
abundant pasture and grain, have
increased somewhat in size, and ma.
ture perhaps year Or so earlier
They make admirable steers in that
region, and their becfstill retains its
superiorquality. Latterly they have
been taken in some numbers to the
borders Of the Rocky mountains, and
found especially we'll adapted to the
broken hills and narrow valleys of
that immense range of country
RuraL Ncw Yorker.
Food for Neat Stock.
The value of bulky food. as hav