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Titles included in this collection are listed in the volumes published by the Cornell University Press in the series The Literature of the Agricultural Sciences, 1991-1996, Wallace C. Olsen, series editor. HISTORY DEVON BREED OF CATTLE. HISTORY DEVON BREED OF CATTLE, Edited by JAMES SINCLAIE, Editor of the " Live Stock Journal," dc. With contributions from Mr. Wm. Housman, and other authorities. IliLtrSTBATED. Published for the Devon Cattle Bbkbdees' Society BY VINTON & CO., Limited, 9, New Bbidge Street, London, E.G. 1893. LONDON : PRINTED BY VINTON AND CO., LIM., 9, New Bkidge Street, E.C. PREFATOEY NOTE. The Council of the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society having resolved that it was desirable that a History of the Devon Breed of Cattle should be published, decided at a meeting held on December 11, 1891, to entrust the preparation of the vsrork to the vrriter, a Committee, consisting 6f Messrs. T. Chick, S. Kidner and J. C. Williams, M.P., being appointed to assist him. The duties were undertaken subject to the stipulation that absolute freedom should be accorded in compiling the History, the Committee to have power, if necessary, to insert in an Appendix any proposed correction or expres- sion of opinion which the Editor could not accept. The collection of materials for the book and the editing occu- pied such time, from Japuary, 1892, to November, 1892, as could be spared for the purpose. The revision and printing have been done in the months that have passed of 1893. The opening five chapters have been written by Mr. William Housman, whose contributions have also been utilised in the preparation of other portions of the book. The valuable assistance of the Committee (Messrs. Chick, Kidner, and Williams) is acknowledged, and Mr. John Eisdon, jun., secretary of the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society, has also in many ways given helpful aid. Through the services of a friend, we have been enabled to consult documents in the possession of Mr. Henry Quartly, a son of the veteran breeder, Mr. John Quartly, of Champson. J. S. May, 1893. CONTENTS. Chapter I. On the Origin of the Breed . . Ohapteb II. Early Notices of the Breed . . Chaptbe III. Early Historical Breeders . . Chaptbe IV. The Breed in Somersetshire Chaptee V. The Breed in other Counties and Abroad Chaptbe VI. Other Famous Old Herds Chaptbe VII. Existing Herds in England. . Chaptbe VIII. Existing Herds in England (continued) . . Chaptbe IX. Existing Herds in England (continued) . . Chaptee X. Herds in Foreign Countries and the Colonies Chafieb XI. Characteristics of the Breed Chaptee Xn. Systems of Management Ghafteb xin. The Herd Book, Shows, and Sales Appendix . . page 1 17 42 64 80 95 141 183 231 262 288 320 349 386 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Hundred Guinea 56 Facing 56 Pretty Maid 366 95 Duke of Plitton 613 101 Temptress 1672 102 Pretty Pace 3803 110 Sir Peregrine 722 112 Lord Wolseley 2068 116 Druid 1317 124 Mr. S. Kidner's Champion Ox 148 Mr. R. Biokle's Champion Ox 161 Flower 2nd 9355 212 Moss Rose 8th 7017 223 General Gordon 1974 224 Country Gentleman 2741 ,,229 Golden Cup 2nd 3545 251 Mr. T. H. Risdon's Champion Ox . . 253 HISTORY OP THE DEVON BREED OF CATTLE. CHAPTBE I. ON THE OEIGIN OP THE BBEED. When Archdeacon Paley introduced his argument upon Natural Theology by first supposing a stone, and secondly supposing a watch, to have been found upon a heath, he used an illustration which may be partly adapted to the question of the origin of the Devon breed of cattle. In the absence of direct and connected evidence, either, on the one hand, of the descent of the Devon from the aboriginal race of cattle in Britain, or, on the other hand, of the introduction of the parent stock of that breed from a foreign country, we may take Dr. Paley' s illustration of the stone, accidentally struck by the traveller's foot, and ask concerning the Devon, as the traveller is supposed to ask concerning the stone — " How did it come to be here ?" Dr. Pd,ley suggests, as a possibly defensible reply, that for anything he knew to the contrary, the stone had lain there for ever. The case of the stone and the Devon question seem sufficiently analogous for our purpose of illustration, if we demand an examination of the geo- logical strata beneath and near the heath, to ascertain whether there is or is not rock of the same kind as the stone in question. If there is, we infer that in all probability the stone has lain there or thereabout ever , since the convulsion of nature which left it, detached from its kindred rock, upon the surface of the earth. If there is no rock of the same kind about, we must con- clude that the stone was not always where the traveller 1 2 DEVON CATTLE, found it. From rock of its kind, in some other place, it must have been brought to that spot. We have but to substitute, for the geology of that heath, the aboriginal race of cattle in Britain, and, for the stone upon the heath, the Devon breed. The analogy may seem defective, inasmuch as the dead stone, after centuries of separation from the stratum in which it was formed, remains unchanged, whilst the race of animals undergoes constant change. The individuals perish, and the type itself is subject to modification and variations from conditions which affect organic life. True ; and for the influences and effects of such con- ditions we must make allowance ; but the similitude holds good as an illustration far enough for our present purpose. Our first business, therefore, with the Devon before us, is to search for the distinguishing characteristics of the aboriginal British cattle and to compare with them those of the Devon. Then we must extend our inquiry to the cattle introduced by immigrating races of mankind, and notice whether the Devon does or does not possess any of their distinctive features ; and we would submit that according to ' its likeness to one or other of the types examined, or to more than one of those types, the Devon must be regarded as of ancient British, of foreign, or of composite origin. But we must own at the outset that this, which we take to be the most orderly plan of inquiry, obliges us to face at once the chief difficulty of our task. We turn instinctively to recognised authorities upon natural his- tory ; and then as first fruits of our research we have their irreconcileable differences of opinion. One tells us that the great, long-horned, Bos Urus, another that the small, short-horned. Bos Longifrons, was the source of our aboriginal cattle. One says that the Urus was black, another that he was white. One discusses the question whether the Urus was subjugated in Asia only or in Europe also ; another refuses to believe that the Urus was ever subjugated at all. The latter opinion is ON THE OBIGIN OP THE BBEED. 6 strongly maintained by Dr. Smith, of Edinburgh. These differing doctors are recognised leaders in natural science. If they all led one way, we might confidently follow ; but when one leads east, another west, this north, that south, our faith in great authorities stops short of un- hesitating trust. We must, nevertheless, respect and duly weigh, if we cannot always with unwavering faith accept, the suggestions of these authorities — advanced explorers, laborious truth-seekers, to whom the world is indebted for much accumulated knowledge and for seminal thought. If we cannot always reconcile their diverse teachings, we may, perhaps, from the very diversity which per- plexes us, gather knowledge of more than one side of each subject which they see from various points of ob- servation. Possibly, also, differences in the use of terms, particularly references to the same things by different names, may partly account for apparent diversity of opinion in some instances. Upon one point which is of great importance to our inquiry, the leading naturalists whose attention has been fixed upon the history of the ox in Britain are generally agreed. They concur in regarding the mountain cattle of Scotland and Wales as representatives of the ab- original cattle of the British Islands. Professor Low, in his Domesticated Cattle of the British Islands (Section III. The Ox), maintains that " we have all the evidence which the question admits of, that no real distinction exists between the Wild Oxen of the parks, and those which have for ages been sub- jected to domestication in the same country ; and that these Wild Oxen are no other than the Uri of the ancient forests of Europe." He here refers to those EngUsh parks in which herds of wild cattle (some now extinct) have been preserved. The parks mentioned by name are those of Chillingham, Chartley, Wollaton, Gisburne, Limehall, Eibblesdale and Burton Constable. In a foot- note, referring to the fossil skulls of oxen found in various parts of Europe, together with bones of the 4 DEVON CATTLE. elephant and extinct Irish elk, and in linear size about one-third or more larger than the skulls of the majority of oxen of our own time, he touches the question whether those huge animals were the progenitors of the domestic races. " That question," he says, " bears less than is assumed upon the origin of the existing races."; for he asserts that by the evidence we have " we can trace existing races to the ancient TJri, which, long posterior to the historical era, inhabited the forests of Germany, Gaul, Britain and other countries." The further question, "whether these Uri were themselves descended from an anterior race, surpassing them in magnitude, and inhabiting the globe at the same time with other extinct species," is dismissed as " involving an entirely different series of considerations." Professor Low's own inclination of opinion upon the subject is indicated, however, in the remarks which follow. He observes that whilst the hypothesis of descent from the fossil Urus is not directly supported, it is certainly not invalidated by any reasoning founded on analogy. He points to the conditions of temperature and food supply, under which the fossil Urus inhabited Europe, conditions suited to the nature of the elephant ; and he pertinently asks, " why should not the Urus, under these conditions, have been a far larger animal than he subsequently became?" Under the third sub-section, upon the West Highland breed, the same authority observes — " All analogy leads us to infer that the Mountain Breeds of Scotland are identical with those which formerly inhabited the woods, of that country, which, we have seen, were the ancient Uri, and which we may term the White Forest Breed." Subsequently he says — "The white colour of the Urus in many cases returns, so that we have almost a complete restoration of the ancient characters of the race. In- dividual cattle are sometimes met with amongst the droves of the Northern Highlands, resembling, even- to- the inarkings of the ears, the White Porest Breed of the pa^ks." Thus, according to Low, the Urus is to be ON THE OEIQIN OP THE BREED. O acknowledged as the progenitor of the mountain cattle of Scotland, which naturalists generally agree to class with the Welsh mountain breeds as truest living represent- atives of the aboriginal British ox. Upon the origin of the Welsh breeds, excepting that of the county of Pem- broke, Low does not say very much, but what he does say is very decisive. He speaks of the brave defence made by the ancient Britons against the Eoman power, in the mountains beyond the Severn, " preserving their flocks and herds, in all times the cherished possession of the Celtic nations," and he adds — " It is here, as in the countries beyond the Grampians, that we must look for the older races of the domestic oxen of the country." He then goes on to show that " a race of cattle, similar to that which we now find at Chillingham Park and else- where, existed in Wales in the 10th century." The red- eared white cattle described by Howell Dha, the Good ; the fine of 100 white cows with red ears, or the equivalent of 150 black cows, exacted for offences against certain Princes of Wales ; presentation of red-eared white cattle to the Kings of England by the Princes of Wales : and the presentation of similar cattle to King John's Queen by the lady of Lord de Breuse, all now by repeated quotation made familiarly known to readers of works upon the breeds of cattle, are here mentioned by Low. Then follows the statement that " the individuals of this race yet existing in Wales are found chiefly in the county of Pembroke, where they have been kept by some individuals perfectly pure, as a part of their regular farm stock " ; and they are afterwards described as in their whole essential characters the same as those at Chillingham and Chartley, and elsewhere ; the horn white, tipped with black, extended and upturned like those of the wild cattle (the author does not here notice the difference between the Chartley and the Chillingham horn), the inside of the ears and the muzzle, black ; feet, black to the fetlock joint ; skin, deep-toned yellow and unctuous. Some individuals of the race, he says, en- tirely black, are not distinguishable from the ordinary b DEVON CATTLE. mountain cattle. The black colour is specially selected in the Castle Martin district, where the finest Pembrokes are bred. In sub-section 4, especially devoted to the Pembroke breed, he says that although proper to the south-western extremity of the principality, it extends to the neighbouring districts, and may be said to be the type of the whole mountain breed of Wales. The genuine Angleseas, he says, are allied to the Pembrokes in their essential characteristics. Parenthetically we may say that the late Eev. John Storer (Wild White Cattle, p. lOQ), refers to the fact that Eiitimeyer and other osteologists consider the Pembroke cattle descend- ants of the Urus, and the other Welsh cattle of the Longifrons race ; but he says that a similar division of the North Welsh cattle would be correct, and he suggests that cattle of the Urus type either were imported at Milford Haven and into Anglesea, or remained as relics of Druidism in the last strongholds of the Druids. Turning now back to Low's views, we do not find much about the origin of the Glamorgan breed, except that he seems disinclined to accept the tradition that it is partly of Norman origin, and to favour the supposition of its descent from the breed established there before the Eomans seized the country. In the Kerry breed in Ireland we have, with further traces of the ubiquitous Urus, something which touches the question of the origin of the Devon. Even the moimtain breeds of Irelaiid, with the bright-eyed little Kerry at their head, are said to approach to the characters of the ancient White Forest breed closely enough to indicate a common origin; and with them in this affinity he classes the Scotch mountain cattle and the Devon. The colour and marking of the Kerry, also, are cited in confirmation of his opinion that it belongs to the Urus group. He ob- serves that their colour, which he describes as generally black with a white ridge along the spine, is " a character agreeing with the account which older writers have given of the Uri of the woods of Poland." He concludes the notice of the Kerry breed by declaring that reared ON THE ORIGIN OF THE BBEED. 7 carefully in a good district, and greater development of the form thus effected, this breed might bear " the same relation to- the mountain breeds of Ireland which the Castle Martin does to those of Wales, or the West High- land to those of the north of Scotland." Of the Devons, Professor Low says — " They appear to be of that variety of the ancient cattle which were valued for their white colour and the peculiarity of their red ears ;" that is to say the White Forest Breed. The variety which he has repeatedly declared to be derived from the aboriginal Qeus of the woods of Britain. On the other hand, Professor Boyd Dawkins, whose reasoning is based upon facts ascertained by original in- vestigations, in a life-long and special study of these sub- jects, maintains that the only domesticated cattle known in Britain before the Anglo-Saxon conquest were of the Longifrons race, introduced in the Neolithic age. That race, he says, is represented by the small Welsh, Scotch and Irish breeds of the present day ; whilst the larger race, which according to Kiitimeyer, was descended from the great Urus, he regards as having been, in all proba- bility, introduced by the Anglo-Saxons, and as being now represented by the White Cattle of Chillingham Park. Upon the probable colour of the wild Urus Mr. Boyd Dawkins has a notable remark. He thinks that the Urus, as an inhabitant of the forest, would not be white, but more probably of a dusky hue. This reasoning rests, of course, upon the recognition of that law of imitative colouring by which many varieties of insects and of the larvae of insects, take the colours of the trees, leaves, &c., upon which they live; flat-fish take the colours of their native sands, shell-fish those of their hiding places, the rocks and their curtains of sea- weed ; and some of the mammalia, in the wild state, receive a tone of colour matching that of the protective shade of their coverts. It is indeed a beautiful, a wonderful, and a beneficent law. The same learned authority has mentioned a further illustration of that law in the polar bear, which is, 8 DEVON CATTLE. he tells us, the only large white mammal in a state of nature. The white colour of the Chillingham cattle he takes to be evidence of the domestication of their pro- genitors, at some time ; so that whilst he classes them with the descendents of the Urus, he does not allow that they come from the ancient British Urus, which he beUeves to have been exterminated before the close of the Bronze age. He is most distinct in his teaching that the small, dark-coloured, short-horned ox (Longtfrons) alone constituted the aboriginal race of British domesti- cated cattle, and that the larger race was not introduced until the English invasion. Against the theory of the total extinction of the wild Urus in Britain, we have Mr. Storer's reasoning in the third chapter of his Wild White Cattle. Whether we accept or reject Mr. Storer's conclusions, that chapter is worth reading for its writer's graphic description of ancient British forest scenery, in its sombre and lonely grandeur, and for his able elaboration of argument showing the improbability of the entire destruction of the Urus. From the heart of England to the north of Scotland were continuous forests, stretching over a direct length of 400 miles, but with their bends much more than that distance, and in width sometimes covering a few miles and sometimes the whole country from sea to sea. It is difficult, certainly, to imagine how the de- stroying arms of man, such as man was in Britain, and with such weapons as he possessed, could prevail to exterminate the Urus in his savage home, these far- reaching forests, "ancient as the hills," embracing the mountain fastnesses of England and Scotland, and re- maining, in almost their prehistoric vastness, twelve centuries after the Eoman invasion.* * In the Welsh triads, of which Sharon Turner {Hist. A.S., Book I., ch. 3), says that " as traditions of an anoient people committed to writing they deserve to be preserved from absolute oblivion," we are told of a peculiar kind of wild cattle found in Britain, together with bears, wolves and beavers, when Hy Cadam led into this previously uninhabited island the first colony of Oymry. ON THE ORIGIN OP THE BBEED. y Unless geology and osteology can clearly prove that the Urus was absolutely extinct in Britain before the introduction of the Longifrons, the impossibility of the amalgamation of the two races, to some extent, in the prehistoric age, may be questioned. The Great Cale- donian wood, say, contained Uri, and was connected with the midlands of England by an unbroken line of forest, in some places virtually impenetrable to man. The Longifrons alone was the domesticated race. But (here we take the suggestion of Mr. Boyd Dawkins) some of the Longifrons cattle strayed, took to the woods, and became the parents of a race which reverted to the wild state. Nothing would seem more likely than that with such vast forests at hand, and perhaps not quite the fences of modem enclosures, this should sometimes happen. The remains of the Longifrons in British turbaries indicate its existence in a wild state (Mr. Boyd Dawkins maintains by jreversion) in these islands. Now putting aside the question whether the Urus ever was tamed or tameable, if we allow the possibility of his existence in a wild state in the very woods to which, during his oc- cupancy of those woods, the Longifrons might escape from man's control and join him, we admit the pos- sibility of a cross between the British wild Urus and the Longifrons. The Urus and Longifrons races certainly could and did mingle ; and although between the Longi- frons and the domesticated descendents of the Urus the difference in size would not be so great as between the Longifrons and the wild Urus himself, still we are not aware that there would be such disparity as to bar the cross. From the union of the two races, we may reason- ably suppose, there would be modified reversions in the direction of both the original races. Against this sup- position, however, we must weigh the apparently decisive opinion of Mr. Boyd Dawkins. Statements of the anatomical peculiarities of the fossil Urus and the fossil Longifrons, compiled, of course from the writings of the principal authorities, are given in Mr. Storer's work (Wild White Cattle), in Messrs. Macdonald 10 DEVON CATTIiE. and Sinclair's Histories of the Hereford and Polled Scotch Breeds, and in other works on general natural history and on cattle. The gigantic Urus, " an animal greatly surpassing in magnitude any of the modem races of cattle " (Low), has a concave (one authority says flat) forehead, horns generally round, springing outward and a little backward, in the middle bent forward, and towards the points turned a Uttle upward. The diminutive Longifrons, "from the muzzle to the end of the rump bone about 6 feet 8 inches " (Nilsson), and in its slender structure resembling rather a deer than a domesticated ox, its bones being remarkably thin in proportion to length, as compared with those of our present breeds of cattle, and its legs at the extremities " certainly shorter and also thinner than those of a fuU-antlered stag " (Storer : from NUsson's and his own observations), has a long, narrow skull, longer and narrower than that of a deer, a somewhat flat forehead, with a very prominent ridge standing up along the middle, and a smaller indenting backwards ; the forehead, says Sir Eichard Owen, less concave than that of the Urus, indeed usually flat, and the frontal bones extended further beyond the orbits before they join the nasal bones; the horn-cores describing "a single short curve outwards and forwards in the plane of the forehead, rarely rising above the plane, more rarely sinking below it. The cores have a very rugged exterior and are usually a little flattened at the upper part" {British Fossil Mammals and Birds). Mr. Storer, whose description is partly taken from one of Professor Nilsson's notes upon Scandinavian remains and partly from the skulls which he had himself seen, says " the horns are very much flattened and compressed, small and directed outwardly upwards, and bent in one direction forwards." In one or the other of these two distinct fossil species, or in both combined, we have, without doubt, the source or sources of the Devon, as of all our other existing British breeds of cattle. If we accept Professor Nilsson's as- sertion that domesticated races are always inferior in ON THE OEIQIN OF THE BEEED. 11 size to the wild races from which they are supposed to have originated, we can scarcely say that the Devon is the descendant of the Longitrons alone. The shape of the head, the length and fineness of the face and the smallness of the bones would seem to bear evidence of descent from the Longifrons, but the size of even the smaller Devons, and certainly the length and upward spiral curvature of the horn, may be reckoned as traces of the Urns. We must here observe that whilst the horns of Devons do not always take the lofty direction and twist, that characteristic is claimed as a mark of the North Devon type from time immemorial ; and from the best in- formation we can gather, we are inclined to believe that before the large old Somerset cattle were much crossed with North Devon bulls, the high " corkscrew " horn, as it is called, was less often seen in the Somersetshire herds than it is seen in these days, since the amalgamation of the two great branches of the Devon breed. The object in this chapter is not to establish a theory of origin, but to endeavour to reach truth by research ; and if suggestions are occasionally offered, they are sub- mitted, in no dogmatic spirit, with perfect readiness to welcome contradicting evidence. The question of size, although of some importance, does not seem to the writer quite so greatly important, in connection with the question of origin, as many persons suppose it to be. Take, for example, the dog, in evidence how marvellously wide are the variations in size which may be obtained from one source. Colour, too, as a test of origin, may greatly mislead the inquirer who relies upon it. Both size and colour, throughout the histories of domesticated breeds of animals, have proved so pliably obedient to man's control, that we are bound to use with much caution any evidence which we may seem to gather from resemblances in those particulars alone. "Where we see either of them connected with other distinctive character- istics of a race, the coincidences, of course, add strength to such presumptive evidence as we may think we have in approximation of size or likeness of colour alone. 12 DEVON CATTLE. In seeking to establish the afiBUation of the Devon breed upon one or another of the ancient races of the ox species, we should not forget the powerful means of alteration possessed by man in the selective process. The colour of the Devon may seem opposed to the theory of its descent from either a white, a black, or a dusky Urus ; but surely, if so, it is equally opposed to the alternative supposition of descent from the Longifrons. One or the other, or both, of these races, also, became the source or sources of the black mountain breeds of Scot- land, of Ireland, and of Wales. If we insist too rigidly upon the colour test, overlooking the power of man to evolve and fix the colours which most please him, we are almost bound to regard the Devon as a foreigner ; but then the same difficulty confronts us again, and we ask how the foreign founder fixed the red colour, if we could not do so in England from the same materials which he possessed. Apropos of this allusion to foreign breeds, we may mention the existence, in France, of a breed bearing a most striking resemblance to the Devon, and not to the North Devon alone, nor to any one of the Devon sub- types alone, but to the Devon group in its gradations from the North Devon to the Sussex breed. We refer to the Salers breed, the colour of which is precisely like the red of the darker, but not the very darkest, of the Devons. The horns frequently have the upward growth and cork- screw twist which we so commonly find in North Devon, in some parts of the Southern Division of the county, frequently also in Somersetshire, since the herds there have received into their composition much of the North Devon element, and in Dorsetshire, too, where sires from the counties of Devon and Somerset are constantly used in the dairy Devon and bull-breeding Devon herds. The head upon which that kind of horn, which the French describe as dirigees en I' air {" carried aloft ") is usually found, is in structure and proportionate length like that of the Devon, only the bones are commonly larger and coarser throughout the entire frame, including the head, ON THE OBIGIN OF THE BEEED. 13 than the bones of the Devon, so remarkable for their fineness. Some of the Salers cattle are more like those of Sussex, in the horn and general character. We were informed by a French breeder that under the initiative of one of the societies in France the experiment of crossing the Salers with the Devon was made some years ago, and that the result was a perfectly harmonious blending of the two breeds. The attention of an eminent French authority upon subjects of the kind, the Marquis de Chauvelin, was directed to the question, and he, after studying the Devon and Sussex classes at the Warwick Show of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England in 1892, confirmed the suggestion of the remarkable simi- larity of the Salers and Devon breeds, adding, however, his conviction that it is impossible to estabhsh identity of origin, which if found would be at a remotely early period, both breeds equally being ancient and of strongly fixed character.* As an instance of the alteration of colour, we may cite that of the Herefords, formerly varying from dark red (as shown by the writings of CuUey and in the portraits of the celebrated Purslow bull and other early specimens) to white, through dark-grey, light-grey, white-faced red and mottled-faced red, but now almost all white-faced red, and breeding true to that colour and marking. The Welsh, Scotch, and Irish mountain breeds, mostly, some wholly, black, and the ancient black or black and white breed of Cornwall, are classed together alike by those who call the Urus, and by those who call the Celtic ox, the parent stock. With these are generally associated * The Marquis de Chauvelin, referring to his inspection of the Devons, and of the Sussex cattle, " Qui ne sout que des Devons plus developpSs," adds the following remark : — " Nous constatons Dependant la justesse d'une observation, que nous a faite M. HovLsman au concours de Tours, sur la grande ressemblance qui existe entre oes auimaux et noa Salers. La comniunaut6 d'origine est cependant impossible ^ itablir, et ne pourrait d'ailleurs se retrouver qu'A xme 6poque trds reoul6e, ces deux races des Salers et des Devons £tant ^galement anciennes et bien fix^es." — Journal de V Agriculture, August 3rd, 1892, p. 223. 14 DEVON CATTLE. some other breeds, including the polled Galloway breed of Scotland. We find, however, red and yellow still frequent colours of the West Highland cattle of Scotland, and we find in that breed also brindled red-and-black, dun, silver dun and silver white, occasionally, too, a reddish-tinged black, a compromise, as the brindled is in a different way, but neither- of them usually an equal compromise, be- tween red and black. The Scotch Highland herds, indeed, vary much in colour according to the taste and wiU of their owners. In some herds, black bulls only being used, reversion to other colours rarely occurs. Yet the writer of this chapter remembers to have seen, in the year 1868, at DaiU, the residence of a noted Highland loreeder, Mr. Webster, in Islay, a herd of jet-black Highland cows with black muzzles, consorting with a clear yeUow bull from a herd in another island — if memory serve aright, the herd of Lord Colonsay. That bull had the colours of horns and muzzle which are (at least so far as the writer's observation has gone), common to both red and yellow West Highland cattle, and he transmitted his own colour, and with it the stainless light-coloured muzzle, to all his progeny from those black cows, excepting one or two which could not be called clpar yellow, their colour being clouded and really rather a pale dun than a true yeUow. The frequent, if not invariable couicidence of certain colours of the muzzle, and we may add of the horns also, with certain colours of the hair, does not appear to have been noticed generally by writers acquainted with the Highland cattle. Professor Low, who remarks that the muzzle is "usually black," does not seem to have ob- served it. Whether it is really invariable, and occurs in obedience to a law of correlation, or not so, the vrriter cannot say. Professor Low, however, does notice some important instances of correlation of colours with properties of unquestionably practical value. He tells us that the brown, black-and-brown, or mouse-dun colours are more generally indicative of a disposition to fatten, and that the brown is associated with the orange ON THE OEIGIN OF THE BEEED. 15 tone of the skin which is appreciated in the Devon, Pembroke, and other breeds. The Galloways, closely allied to the Highland cattle, yet hornless, were half a century ago, or quite within that time, frequently red ; red Galloways, occasionally, used to breed black, and black Galloways, red offspring. The fancy for black, as in most Highland herds, but much more general among the Galloway breeders, has latterly made the red very scarce. Colonel O'Callaghan's Gallo- way cow, whose son became the sire of the Shorthorn alloy bull. Grandson of Bolingbroke, was red, and is understood to have been buff-nosed ; but whatever the rule of muzzle-colour in pure-bred red Galloways or pure- bred red West Highland cattle may be, it is notorious that the stained muzzle crops out in red, broken-coloured and white descendants of black cattle, whether introduced immediately through a black, or a red, or a yellow animal. We have seen grey-spotted muzzles even in Devon herds of the purest breeding. Eed, moreover, is still found amongst Welsh cattle. The dam of a well-known registered black Welsh bull is described in the Herd Book of his breed as red and white ; and red, deepening to black on the face, is the distinctive colour of the old Montgomeryshire breed. These facts should dispose of any superficial objection to the claim that a breed of red cattle, with fixity of colour, may be in the course of time extracted from a race, or from a mixture of races, whose colours were black, dusky, or white. The slightest tinge of brown, if defined red (as we term the Devon colour) were absent, would suffice to give the red, eventually, in answer to a long process of selection. The florist can evolve, from the dingiest or palest variations under culture, the rich and brilliant colours of the pansy, of the auricula, of the tulip, of the pelargonium, or of that garden queen the rose. That which he can do, within a comparatively short time, the breeder of cattle can do, time allowed. In this case, surely, the time is long enough to account for the firmest fixity. If the form of the Devon was first 16 DEVON CATTLE. moulded in the blended elements of aboriginal British and of Anglo-Saxon races of cattle, those races when blended (as the conquering Saxon advanced into the West of England) were both old domesticated races, and no doubt had long assumed various and well defined colours under domestication. According to Mr. Boyd Dawkias, the Celtic ox (Longifrons) came from Central Asia, by gradual migrations, as a domesticated race. The Urus, whether ever or never himself domesticated, has assuredly entered into the composition of domesti- cated breeds from a remote period. We should be there- fore disposed to estimate the antiquity of the whole red colour of the Devon, the Sussex, and the Balers cattle, not by centuries, but by thousands of years. EAELY NOTICES OF THE BEEBD. 17 CHAPTEE II. EAELY NOTICES OF THE BREED. In an article upon the original character of our native breeds of cattle, written for the May number of the quar- terly British Farmer's Magazine, 1833, the Eev. Henry Berry describes his investigation and its results. He had patiently ransacked each accessible library for scraps of information about the aboriginal cattle of this island, and he was inclined to conclude that the labour he had expended was about as fruitful as that of searching for " Gratiano's reasons," which according to Bassanio, were " two grains of wheat hid in -two bushels of chaff; you may seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them they are not worth the search." Sixty years have flown since Berry abandoned his hopeless task. Science in the meantime has advanced with long and rapid strides. Much has been discovered, more inferred, and not a little written, about the aboriginal cattle of Britain. We have seen in the preceding chapter that a race of small domes- ticated cattle existed here down to the time of the Saxon invasion in the fifth century, when the agriculture of Britain was found, after the 400 years of Eoman civilisa- tion, in a highly advanced condition, and " our ancestors by their conquests among the Britons, obtained imme- diately abundance of cattle, corn, slaves, agricultural instruments, and cultivated land " (Turner's History of the Anglo-Saxons, book viii.) ; but they also brought cattle, when, after getting foothold in the country, they came, as Mr. Boyd Dawkins says, "not as bodies of fighting men, but with their wives and families, and household stuff, and the migration was so complete that, according to the Anglo-Saxon chronicle, the Angleland which they forsook was left desolate for four centuries afterwards. They effected as great a revolution in farm- 2 18 DEVON CATTLE. ing in Britain, as in the language and whole political system, and with them appears, for the first time, the large breed of oxen from which, by a continual process of selection, our larger and more valuable breeds are descended." It is perhaps scarcely probable that the shipping ac- commodation of those days would be sufficient to accom- modate all the cattle of the emigrants whose " wives and families and household stuff" had to be stowed on board somehow ; but the Saxon farmers unquestionably did bring cattle. The traces of the large breed mark those parts of Britain in which they first established them- selves, and follow their footsteps as, multiplying, they advanced westward, crowding out or destroying the British population. But if we are right in suggesting the improbability of the importation of whole herds, the Saxon cattle would be few in number compared with those of the Britons, so that we may well suppose some crossing effected in the districts occupied by the vic- torious Saxons. Perhaps, although we are not aware that our language contains any remains of it, the colonists might have an equivalent for the modem American term " grading up ! " Once established, and in affluent cir- cumstances, they could, of course, obtain more cattle from the continent, not (within the first 400 years at least) from their depopulated fatherland, but from other countries. More likely, however — -The good rule Sufficing them, the simple plan. That they should take who have the power, And they should keep who can, they went to their subjugated neighbours, the Britons, for " fresh blood." As the commerce of England grew, cattle, we may readily suppose, would be occasionally imported. The love of live-stock is too strong and too constantly here- ditary in the national character, to be the growth of only recent days. We know that it existed among the ancient Britons, whose mastiff dogs, made known through the EAELY NOTICES OF THE BEEED. 19 Eoman invaders, were highly valued in Gaul and Italy, and possibly Charles Kingsley had the warrant of more than imagination when he introduced a specimen of the breed into Alexandria in the story of Hypatia. Of Saxon agriculture in England we have written records, including such references to live-stock as show that great care was devoted to the management of cattle and sheep, and that swine were very abundant. Oxen were used for the plough, the boy sang to them as they laboured, and the herdsman carefully tended them at night. The dairy was an evidently important branch of the business of a farm, but from certain allusions to sheep in connection with it, we doubt whether the whole of the Anglo-Saxon cheese came from the herd, or part of it from the flock, as in France and some other continental countries at the present time. Anyhow, in the time of Fitz-Stephen, who wrote in the twelfth century, " cows with distended udders " figured prominently at a country show only a short distance from the city of London ; and in the same sketch of old English life we have most valu- able evidence of the attention paid by our ancestors to the breeding of different classes of horses, severally for draught and for speed. With such tastes, traceable by occasionally recurring evidences, from the very beginning of British history, through the Eoman, Saxon and Norman epochs down to our own time, the English people, largely using and eventually commanding the seas, would almost surely receive freights of cattle from time to time, and any cha- racteristics of special value in the cattle imported, so far as peace permitted, would be carefully preserved in the districts to which they were suited. The probability of importations, even in very early times, is suggested by the records of grievous murrains, which we are taught by modem experience to regard as more likely to be brought by foreign cattle than generated spontaneously here. We read of these outbreaks of disease from as early a period as the reign of Egbert, when in the year 823, the country was afflicted with " a terrible pestilence among men and 20 DEVON CATTLE. cattle." And again in Bthelred's time, 163 years later, there was " a great mortality amongst cattle in England." As the latter, however, was about the time of the Danish invasions, and epizootic as well as epidemic pestUence often follows the track of war, the Danes may have brought the murrain. The probability of importations, one or another of which may have affected the character of the Devon breed, seems strengthened by the alleged introduction of Dutch crosses into early Shorthorn herds, and by the record of Lord Scudamore's purchase of cattle in Manders in the seventeenth century, to cross with the cattle of Hereford- shire. Those incidents of the composition of two of our principal breeds barely escaped oblivion, through the collection of material for history before they were for- gotten. We may ask, but no one can tell, how many similar incidents are utterly forgotten. The Devon type, distinct as it is, may have been evolved quite as probably from the blended characteristics of races mingled on British ground, as from races brought together on the European Continent, or in the earUer home of those races in central Asia ; and the idea, too, that breeds so much alike in the outlines of their type as the Devon breed of England and the Salers breed of France should be separately evolved in different coun- tries, is quite conceivable. At the same time, is it not possible that French cattle (or, shall we say, cattle from ancient Gaul?) of the Salers type, landed upon our Southern shores, gave the colour and distinctive character of our Devon and Sussex breeds? On the other hand perhaps it is not less possible that the Salers breed originated in red cattle sent over from England ; although probabihty may seem to be in favour rather of the supposition that we, and not the French, were the importers. The spreading of the red cattle along a part of England which Hes opposite to the French Coast, may suggest this view ; and it seems less improbable that a. similar breed, once common in France, or at least within -easy reach from her Northern or Western ports, should EAELY KOTICES OF THE BEEED. 21 have become localised in its present district, than that an English breed should cross the Channel to establish itself in one district of the interior of France. There is still the further] possibility that the origin of Devons in England may be as remote as the landing of the Phoenicians for Cornish tin. If so, the breed would be of Spanish extraction, as they came to Britain from Spain, discovered what they called the Cassiterides, either at first mistaking Cornwall for an island of the Scilly group or else desiring to keep secret the source of the mineral they had found, and eventually, we are taught, blended with the Kimmerians and the Keltoi in the composition of the race of Britons. Their first settle- ment was in Cornwall, and, curiously coincident, the earUest notice of red cattle in the West of England which we have yet seen, places them in that county. It is in the subjoined note, sent by the Duke of St. Albans to Viscount Falmouth, given by his lordship to Mr. John Eisdon, junior, the Secretary of the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society, in January, 1884, and by him obligingly placed at the service of the Editor of this volume : — " In a letter written in 1580 and preserved in the Record OfiBce among the Irish MSS., Sir Nicholas White, Master of the Eolls in Ireland, says that Dingle Harbour in Kerry was known as ' Coon Edaf Dearg,' which in Irish means ' Eed Ox Haven.' White says this name was owing to the first settlers who came from Cornwall and brought cattle with them. The native cattle were black. "I visited Dingle in June 1883 and found the spot where the Cornishmen landed well known under the name White mentions, though the spelling may not be quite right. The name is probably the ' Hole (or Comb) of the Eed Ox.' See also Smith's History of Kerry." The author of Westward Ho! — always scrupulously careful to avoid anachronisms — has introduced the red cattle into a North Devon scene in Queen Elizabeth's reign. Whether from Ealeigh, with whose works he was 22 DEVON CATTLE. familar, or from some other authority, he doubtless had justifying information.* Until towards the close of the last century, however, writers on farm live stock were scarce. Occasional references to cattle are found in old topographical works, but they are generally so meagre as to be of little value, if not indeed misleading, the authors having possessed little or no practical knowledge, no general knowledge of cattle, and never having learned to distinguish between, one type and another. Possibly the best information we can now obtain is that which we find in the contributions- of men interested in stock-breeding, to the agricultural literature which sprang out of a new and eager demand for information, in the latter part of the last century. Turning first to George Culley's Observations on Live Stock, of which the first edition was printed in 1786, we find in a second edition, enlarged, 1794, a description of " the Devonshire cattle" from the pen of Mr. Mure, Lord Dacre's agent, who a short time previously had made an agricultural tour through the greatest part of England. This witness's testimony is to the effect that the Devon cattle were then considered to be of the- greatest purity, and of the best kind, in the vicinity of Barnstaple, that they were there of a high red colour, white spots, particularly if running into one another, being regarded as signs of impurity. He describes them as having a light dun ring round the eye, and the muzzle- of the same colour, fine bone, clean neck, medium length of upward bent horns, thin face, fine chaps, wide hips, a. "tolerable " barrel (whatever that may mean), but rather fiat on the sides, small and high-set tail, thin skin, silky handling, feeding early, maturing sooner than most other breeds ; and by hardiness, quick movement, and the form of the shoulder, well qualified for use as working animals. Our next reference is to Arthur Young's Annals of * Westward Ho I Chap. 29. Among the minor evidences of the identity of Ayacanora as the lost child of John Ozenham are her recollections of Peruvian scenes, revived by those of North Devon. " The red cattle, too, seemed not unknown to her," &c. EAELY NOTICES OF THE BEEED. 23 Agriculture, where we find, Vol. 17, p. 303, a letter on " Devonshire cattle, by Paul Treby Treby, Esq., of Plympton, Devonshire," dated October 16th, 1791. He says : — " The best breed is in the vicinity of Barnstaple, North Molton and South Molton, where rearing of cattle ever has been the chief return to the farmer ; consequently it has been their aim to get as perfect a breed as possible, and which they are still anxious to improve. " The best bullocks are of a bright red colour ; round a very prominent eye a ring of bright yellow ; the nose round the nostril the same colour ; the neck and head small, with an upright, taper, gently curved clear horn (not tipped with black) ; their bones well proportioned ; and carrying their weight in the best cuts. I have mentioned what certainly is their chief merit last : but, though the graziers may be of the same opinion, they appear not the less solicitous concerning their other peculiarities, looking on them as certain signs of good proof." The correspondent proceeds to mention exceptions to the full red colour, in animals which were otherwise such as he has described in the foregoing extract. There were " splatted bullocks" of the same red, but varied with large spots of white, which did not run into each other and on no account must be found down the back ; they, also, were held in high estimation. But there were also some of a yellow colour, -which were " fast going out," because liable to delicacy of the bowels. He contrasts with the uniformity of type (subject to these variations in colour) found at the North and South Molton and Barnstaple fairs, the motley collections of animals in the fairs and markets on the South Hams side of the county. Eobert Fraser, in his General View of the County of Devon, drawn up for the consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement, and dated 1794, says : — " The breed of cattle in the North Devon is remarkably fine, and are, perhaps, the best in the King- 24 DEVON CATTLE. dom. Many people prefer them to the famous long- horned breed of Mr. Bakewell." William Marshall, author of The Eural Economy of the West of England, published in London in 1796, writes : — " There are numberless individuals of the Devonshire breed so perfectly resembling the breed of Herefordshire, in frame, colour, and horn, as not to be distinguishable from that celebrated breed except in the greater cleanness of the head and forequarters, and except in the inferiority of size. The cattle of Devonshire resemble those of Sussex, except in their greater symmetry of frame and their being much cleaner in the fore-end, and everywhere freer from offal, than the ordinary breed of Sussex. The Devonshire cattle resemble very much in colour, horn, cleanness and symmetry of frame, a few of the more perfect individuals of the native cattle of Norfolk, but exceed them greatly in point of size. They are a mean between the Norfolk and the Herefordshire, some indi- viduals approaching towards the former, others towards the latter ; but, taken iu general throughout the county, they approach much nearer the Herefordshire than the Norfolk with respect to size, being similar, in this and other respects, to the breeds of Gloucestershire and South Wales." The description here given, we have to observe, al- though applied to what the author terms a " breed," broadly comprehends the cattle of the whole county of Devon. A little further on we read : — " The Devonshire breed of cattle vary much in different districts of the county, both in size and mould. North Devonshire takes the lead, in both these particulars, and its breed are, in both, nearly what cattle ought to be. In size they are somewhat below the desirable point for the heavier works of husbandry, but they make up this deficiency in exertion and agility. They are beyond all comparison the best workers I have anywhere seen." He adds that if they are still capable of improvement for working purposes, the breeding must be from the largest of the North Devonshire, or the cleanest of the EAELT NOTICES OF THE BREED. 25 Herefordshire breed. As dairy cattle, the Devons have not his praise ; but he does pay them the equivocal compliment of the admission in effect, that he had seen some individuals of the breed vfhich led him to think that they might be improved. It was as grazing cattle that their excellence in every part of Devonshire attracted his notice. In the western part of the county, however, he found them smaller than, and of inferior quality to, the cattle of the northern district ; in Corn- wall (the same breed) coarser, rather larger, and having upright horns like the Chillingham cattle. Speculating upon the origin of the Devon breed, in ignorance of facts which discoveries in alluvial deposits, turbaries, caves, and refuse heaps, with the help of advanced learning in comparative anatomy, have brought to light, Marshall classes together, as from a common source, the Here- fordshire, Devonshire, Gloucestershire, South Wales, and Norfolk breeds of cattle ; he refers to what he considers, colour apart, a perfect resemblance of all of them to the wild cattle of Chillingham Park, and arrives at the conclusion that all those breeds are varieties, arising from soil and management, of the native British breed, which once, he thinks highly probable, ranged this island in a state of nature. It is curious to notice that in the absence of knowledge of the two strongly defined and widely distinct types (the Urus and the Longifrons) of the progenitors of the breeds of cattle in this country, breeds which, upon geographical and osteological evidence, are now affiliated upon the smaller race, have been re- peatedly, upon the evidence of points of resemblance, classed together as of kindred origin with the Earl of Tankerville's most interesting herd at Chillingham, now authoritatively pronounced a branch of the larger race. Do not the resemblances indicate how extensively (may we not say how wholly ?) the two races have united in the composition of our modern breeds, even of those breeds which were carried away by the conquered Britons into their most secluded places of refuge ? In the 30th volume of Young's Annals, the Editor's 26 DEVON CATTLE. report of his tour in the South and West of England in 1796 contains some notable information upon the Devons. The tourist arrived in the Dulverton district, made inquiries about the country in which the true North Devons were bred, and was informed that they were found scattered as far as Wiveliscombe, but that there they were not fine cattle. Beyond that place they grew worse and worse, and " in all Somersetshire," he adds: "there are not one- fifth the number to be found in the North of Devonshire." This, however, it will be noticed is second-hand testimony, and not the result of Young's personal observations. We now come to a very interesting and important part of Young's tour in the land of the Devons, 97 years' ago. ' Arthur Young in taste, however far behind in literary elegance, was an agricultural Isaac Walton. Whilst agriculture in this work is always his main-line for thought to travel upon, his professional observations are connected by charming Utile pencilhngs of natural scenery. The rapid rivers tumbling over rocks, with their islets of rock and wood, mixed and shaded ; bold copse-clad hills, broad bleak moors, romantic vales, a gentleman's house looking down as from an eagle's nest upon a landscape of water, hills and wood ; such are the picturesque adornments of his narrative ; and even when he deals with agriculture proper, the spice of imaginative beauty in his mind cannot conceal itself, for the land itself as he passes, becomes " red as a fox," and he does not omit the curious old-time sight of " hay drawn on sledges by two horses and two oxen " ; the latter, Devons, no doubt, for he has just left Wiveliscombe for Milverton. For the present, the chief interest of his journey lies in his interview with Lord Somerville, "well-known in all that country as a most uncommon judge of cattle, as he is in the brilliant circles of London for very different accomplishments." Here Young's work (from vol. 30, p. 330, for several pages forward), losing the originality of his own style, has an important gain in the weight of the authority of Lord Somerville, at EAELY NOTICES OP THE BKEED. 27 whose dictation Young wrote a comprehensive account of the district and of the breed of " North Devon or west country cattle." A digest of this account, which is too long to be here reprinted in full, will place the reader in possession of the principal facts of Lord SomerviUe's communication ; The district is specified as beginning at Barnstaple, and tracing from .thence by the line of the river Taw as high as Chumleigh, thence to Tiverton, Wellington, and nearly to Taunton, there turning north in a straight line over the eastern boundary of the Quantock Hills, and by Stoke Courcy (Stogursey) to the sea. This is the eastern extremity of the district. The length of the district to the western extremity, the mouth of the Barnstaple river, is 45 miles ; the breadth from Tiverton to Minehead, 22 miles. Outside this district, eastward, the breed in Young's day, according to Lord Somerville, was a " mixture of Gloucester, Welsh, Upper Somerset, &c.," an indefinite description which perhaps has its meaning explained in the words "a varied dairy sample." Beyond the western extremity, the Devon breed was found, but inclining to the Cornish type if we rightly interpret the words, " verging on the principle of the Cornish stock." To the south were the South Hams cattle, described as " coarse, with a good deal of white and brown, and black and white mixtures, of uncertain properties " ; and to the north, the sea forms the boundary. At Bampton, in North Devon, and at Wiveliscombe, in Somersetshire, both low-lying places in a comparatively warm climate, the breed was in great perfection ; but in the hiUy district, where there was little tillage, oxen were worked, but not much, only as part of the system of breeding, and to fit them for sale in the vales of Taunton and Exeter where they were required for systematic and very severe work. To the demand in those vales, formerly their chief market, " a great foreign demand " had been added by the merit of the breed, so that the north-west of Devon and the hill part of 28 DEVON CATTLE. Somerset, producing stock to the utmost of their capabilities and with very little tillage, could scarcely supply those vales. The breed is professedly described as it is found, really atid generally, and not as it " might be in imaginary individuals," and the reader is requested to draw his conclusions, not from the shape and size of the bulls, but from the general quality of their stock. Handsomer bulls, we are told, are often to be found in other breeds ; " and it is certain that this race, of which the whole peoduce is brought to view, stands the confessed favourite, or among the very first, at Smithfield, where prejudice cannot find the way." The grand claim put in on behalf of the Devon is that the bulls for which an indulgent judgment is demanded are the sires of oxen incomparably active in labour, full of that which in horses is termed " blood," and of that superior grain which gives Devon beef its high place in the market. In the description of the bull, a "very handsome individual" is supposed to be before us: — " The horn is found neither drooping too low, nor rising too high, nor with points inverted, called here stag- headed ; tapering at the points, and not too thick or goary at the root ; the colour yellow, or waxy. The eye clear, bright and prominent, looking well behind and showing much of the white (a dead-eyed ox not often a good prover, or fine in skinj, an occasional variation of colour around it. Forehead flat, indented, and small — this found almost invariably in this breed, and is a point that shows much blood. Cheek small and muzzle fine : if the forehead is fine the muzzle is so too. The nose of & clear yellow, if possible, like the horn, or mottled : — a black nose always to be avoided." [Here follows as the one reason for avoiding the black nose, not, as might be expected, any supposed connection between black noses and impurity of breeding — such connection does not appear to have been for one moment suspected — but the assertion that they are " often demonstrative of a bad constitution," and of intestinal delicacy, the more EAELY NOTICES OF THE BBEED. 29 probably so ■when the coat is of too pale a colour. Oc- casionally, however, a black-nosed ox may both work well and die well.] " The nostril high and open. In respect of throat, bulls of this breed are sometimes reproached with being throaty, or with the skin too profuse and pendulous. The hair curled, giving an ap- parent coarseness to the head not to be found in the New Leicester" [Longhom] "bulls, when carefully trimmed with scissors." [An allusion to the strangely perverted taste which would deprive the male animal of one of the assurances of his sex, and present him shorn of his masculine majesty.] " The neck perhaps thick and goary in the estimation of strangers, with which property the oxen of this breed are not to be reproached, or they could not labour as they do. " Generally speaking the bulls are relatively to oxen not of a large size ; and it should be observed respecting size in general, that nature operating in food and climate is imperious, and will produce oxen proportioned to those two circumstances in due course of time, whatever may have been originally the size of bulls and cows." The Devon's neatness of form, and its energy and vigour in labour, are attributed to breeding from heifers and yearling or two-year-old bulls. This notion, although new, probably, to many readers of the present day, seems to have been current in the Devon-breeding districts in the last century. Our authority hastens to admit that older animals may produce finer offspring, and gives the ewe as an illustration, observing that " the quality of vigour is unnecessary and extraneous to sheep." To this is added a remark about prejudice deeply rooted in the minds of all practical men, but the construction of the passage leaves us in doubt of its meaning. We quote further : — " Compared with a horse, the shoulder is low. It should correspond with the general thickness of the animal — on no account projecting. If a bullock is in- kneed, or bending inward towards each other, the point of the toe must be out ; the point of his shoulder must 30 DEVON CATTLE. be the same ; and he must be hollow behind the withers (an incorrigible point in an ox for feeding), and he must be of necessity a slow worker. " The bosom is not sharp, with a loose, pendulous dewlap, but wide in form and mellow in handling. In bu3ang an ox, great notice should be taken of the breadth of the bosom and between the fore-legs, standing quite wide. The legs like straight pillars supporting a great burden. * * The legs are straight, and the more blood an ox shows, the smaller will they be. * * The leg neither too long nor too short : an undue length to be avoided. Very much of a bullock's proof is admitted on all hands to depend on the size of the rib, rotundity of the barrel and mellowness of the skin. These are the first points to handle in a lean and in a fat ox. The two hind-ribs should be bold, prominent, and widely inde- pendent of each other. The skin rising easily from the ribs, mellow and elastic. A man buying a lean ox would do well to handle him on both sides ; it often happens that the frame or barrel is not equally round on both; one evidently to the eye and hand flatter than the other." Whether the last comment is Lord Somerville's or Young's own we cannot say; but whichever it is, we can scarcely withhold surprise that so acute an observer as Young does not add the remark that the rib on the left side is the larger. This we believe to be owing to the distension of the paunch on that side causing pressure from vdthin during the growth of the bones, in their pliable condition in early life. The description goes on to say that the hips or pins should lie on a level with the back, whether the animal be fat or lean, by no means dropping. Another hint for judging is given in the re- mark that the upper flank drops as age advances, leaving the hip apparently higher. " In this point of the upper flank," we are assured, " a good judge will discover much of the inward properties of a fat bullock." Then the hind-quarter should be long and well filled, and the handling of the centre of this part is a better guide to the substantial quality of flesh and fat than the promi- EARLY NOTICES OP THE BEEED. 31 nence of fat upon the after parts. The tail, long, small, taper, with a round bunch of hair at the end, should be set on level with the back, or somewhat higher rather than lower. The gaskins not to be too much cut away, nor heavy and loaded. This is in view of the working power of the ox, primarily, yet as a grazier's or butcher's question may be treated in the same way, the flesh there being of second-rate quality. The skin of the Devon is of the thinner rather than the thicker class, and is seldom hard and wiry. The latter term we should suppose to have been intended for the covering of hair. Great stress is laid upon colour, the mahogany shades being most admired. " Glossy silkiness, if smooth, the better. Those with curled hair are deemed excellent provers ; and a very glossy skin, paler or lighter, with curls, like ripples of wind on a smooth mill-pond, is also in the highest estimation." The paler shades, however, if the eye be good and clear, are second to none in bearing hard work and in proof. The lower flank (flank proper) and scrotum are considered unworthy of the attention often paid to them as points of prime importance. The History of Devonshire, by the Eev. Eichard Polwhele, 1797, contains, besides the author's own observations, the notes of several local men, his corres- pondents upon the subject of the North Devon breed. He says : — " Whether the breed of cattle famous in the North of Devon are indigenous or not, it is not easy to determine. There are some circumstances in the description of them which lead me to think that they are indiginae : they are in many respects superior to any other breed in the kingdom ; and those around South Molton, North Molton, and Barnstaple, excel most others in the North of Devon. These are the finest bullocks in the Smithfield market ; they are a very healthy breed and easily fed, they are fleshy with small bones, and they ' bear the best weight ' (as Baker terms it) on the most saleable parts : they are of a cherry colour or bright red." The same writer quotes : " a gentleman of Torrington," 32 DEVON CATTLE. who merely, however, says that near that place and Barnstaple, and North Molton and South Molton, the breed is much esteemed, and that the cattle when fat, being of fine grain, are preferred in the Smithfield market. Another correspondent, described as the Minister of Eastdown, near Barnstaple, teUs him that for about 10 or 12 miles around that place, the country " abounds in a breed of bullocks remarkable for their beauty and much coveted, but which degenerate in two or three generations if removed into other countries, or even a few miles off. On the contrary " — he continues, " I have observed that various other kinds brought here — the mixed breed — have generally become the same as the full breed. • The farmers choose to breed only one colour, and are as particular in the points of a bullock as of a horse ; a small defect or disproportioned horn will depreciate a bullock twenty shillings." The de- generacy which this correspondent notices, is also mentioned by " another gentleman, in the neighbour- hood of Barnstaple," who relates what has been already told in passages, either repeated in substance or quoted from other old writers, about the dependence of the North Devon farmers principally upon their cfittle; referring to the sale of their bullocks about half fat at about four years old to the Somersetshire graziers, who work them two or three years, fatten them, and drive them to London, where being in great favour, they realize the highest price in proportion to their size, their weight lying mostly in the best pieces. He corroborates what has been said elsewhere about the particular attention paid by the farmers to the smallest defect ; and he asserts that the breed is confined to a space of about 15 or 20 miles in diameter, adding " beyond which they degenerate in three or four generations," and this testimony is remarkably in unison with that of the " minister," when he says : " on the contrary, others, even the Guernsey cows breeding with ours, are not distinguishable from them in the same space." He caps this with the statement that EAELY NOTICES OF THE BEEBD. 33 "numbers of bulls are bought at a high price and sent even to Jamaica." Excepoing the addition of this last statement, we find that the evidence of the two last witnesses is given with a degree of concurrence which scarcely could have been more exact if both had drawn from one and the same local handbook or topographical dictionary. We must therefore conclude, that belief in the degeneracy of Devons outside a very small area, and in the assimilation of the descendants of other cattle to the Devon type, when such cattle were crossed with Devons within that small area, was not peculiar to any one person. We may, indeed, from such independent concurrence of evidence, assume that it was a very general belief among the Devon people 100 years ago. We can well suppose that degeneracy of the Devon away from home was at that time almost as common as the belief of Devon men that their district alone could maintain the breed in its highest exceUenee. Yet we are not therefore bound to admit the latter hypothesis. If the Devon did degenerate when taken away, it might do so in consequence of removal to uncongenial conditions of land and climate, but it might also degenerate because it was taken where the principles of successful breeding were not suliSciently known, or were whoUy unknown. If there were in the breed an inherent tendency to the decline of merit when deprived of the air and herbage of its native district, the claim of the Devon to rank as one of our great national breeds would not bear examination. It is a remarkable fact that the latter of the two closely agreeing witnesses who record its inevitable degeneracy, should also record the great demand, reaching even in the last century as far as the West Indies, for Devon bulls. If the alleged degeneracy were really an in- separable result of migration, the demand, surely, never could have become great. A few trials would have de- monstrated the worthlessness of the breed withput the soil and climate, and the evil reputation must have spread together with the praise of the Devon for local purposes. Now we have the evidence of a far wider and 3 34 DEVON CATTLE. a far more extensively published experience than was possible in the last century, that the Devon can do well, and very well, outside its original district, and even at the distance of thousands of miles from the larger district which now it fills in the west and south of England. Purchasers at various times have gone into the home district of the breed, and have bought good Devons. If they took them away into districts or countries where there were no other good Devons, their chances of success were comparatively small, because, whilst each home breeder has a large choice of sires, the distant purchaser must either confine his breeding within narrow limits or admit alien blood. Not only in-breeding, which may be carried so far as to cause degeneracy, but also the want of a sufficient number of bulls to enable him to pair his animals to the fullest advantage, must trammel him as a breeder. Besides these drawbacks, there is the very strong probability that his acquaintance with the breed is not so intimate as to enable him to turn the materials he happens to possess to the very best account. A Devon breeder, himself bred to the business and trained to it from early life, thoroughly knowing the type of his breed in all variations of condition and in all stages of growth, will intuitively perceive fitness or unfitness which might easily escape a beginner's observation. The last note we take from Mr. Polwhele's book records the sale of a heifer in the North of Devon for 30 guineas, and adds that the best bulls of the North Devon breed frequently command as high a price. In the year 1800 a work was published under the title of A Description of the different Varieties of Oxen common to the British Isles, by George Garrard. This author says there is great reason to suppose the Devonshire breed to have originated in the native black cattle, then almost extinct, and refers to the existence of " a few specimens " in the Scotch Highlands and in some parts of Wales. He attributes the superior excellence of the breed to the comparative mildness of the climate, EAELT NOTICES OF THE BBEED. 35 high dry ground, sweet pasture, calcareous soil, and to a mixture of finer blood from the still warmer continent, to which he ascribes the difference of colour from the original black. He uses the term " black," not in its technical sense, by interpretation bovine, but in its literal and ordinary sense, to signify a colour and not a species. This explanation is not unnecessary, because some old writers upon cattle call horses cattle, and when they wish to indicate animals of the ox kind they write "black cattle," sometimes "neat cattle," and sometimes " horned cattle," although their black cattle may be red, white, yellow, &c., neat cattle, coarse and inelegant to any degree, and horned cattle absolutely hornless. Chronological order brings next before us A General Treatise on Cattle, the Ox, the Sheep and the Swine, by John Lawrence, London, 1805. Under the head of the DEVONS we read — " From these have derived the Here- fords, Old Gloucester red and Sussex ; " and subsequently we find the following passage : — " The red cattle of North Devon are doubtless one of our original breeds and one of those which has preserved most of its primitive form. The excellence of this form of labour is best proved by the fact that the fashionable substitution of horses has made no progress in the district of these cattle ; by their high repute as feeders, and for the superior excellence of their beef, which has been acknowledged for ages. Eobert Bakewell paid them the highest comphment they could receive, by declaring to an enquirer that the Devons could not be improved by any alien cross. " In my own opinion the purest Devons frequently run to too great length of leg, crooked behind, or sickle- hammed, and of insufi&cient general substance. They are also, I think, more apt to be in-kneed, that is, crooked in the fore-legs ; a defect analogous to that styled sickled-hammed in the hinder legs, or, as we say of the human animal, knock-kneed, than any other reputed race. . . . These cattle have generally, for a 36 DEVON CATTLE. century past, commanded the best price at Smithfield ; * but of late years the buyers there have shrewdly remarked, that although blood and fine form are very pleasing to the eye of the gentleman breeder, yet sub- stance and weight are, and ever must be, the grand objects at market." True friends of the Devon have sufficient belief in the excellence of the breed to forbear from wishing the detracting passage in the foregoing extract expunged. History must needs be fearless and faithful, or it loses, on exposure, the confidence of the public and conse- quently its power to uphold truth. To what extent the criticism of John Lawrence is accurate, just, and the offspring of judicial wisdom, we cannot say ; but if the faults of structure to which he refers were, in fact, as frequent, ninety years ago, as in his opinion they were, it is remarkable that such faults, always associated with weakness and slow movement, should in the largest measure belong to that breed which was, at that time, at the very head of all working breeds for energy, vigour, smart action, and proportionate strength for size. On the other hand. Col. Davy has stated in his prize essay in the Journal of the Boyal Agricultural Society of Eng- land (Vol. v., part 1, second series), that during the wars with America and France many of the breeders were tempted by the high prices offered by the butcher, to sell many of their best cows and heifers, in high condition in autumn, and that purchasers from distant places took away many of the choicest animals to found herds in other counties. The sure result of this revetsal of the very first great principle of breeding for the improvement of a race, or for the maintenance of merit already established, was a general deterioration of the breed, and this must have begun to be manifest about the time at which Lawrence wrote. During that time, the Devon was * The fact that, according to this authority, the Devons were the Smithfield favourites nearly 200 years ago, aSords presumptive evidence of the remote antiquity of the Devon as a distinct breed. EABLT HOTICES OF THE BBEED. 37 preserved from almost irreparable injury by a very few breeders, whose leading representatives we shall presently have occasion to mention by name ; and since that time the efforts of many competent breeders have been con- centrated upon the development of the qualities now required ; seldom in these days fitness for labour (although the working ox is not yet numbered among our extinct animals), but more generally for grazing, and in certain districts for dairy purposes. Lawrence himself admits, in a subsequent passage of the same treatise, that "the Devons are the speediest working oxen in England and wiU trot well in harness " (a strange performance for knock-kneed oxen), and that " in point of strength they stand in the fourth or fifth class," a very fair proportion to the average size of their frame. " They have a greater resemblance to deer," he says, "than any other neat cattle;" and he scarcely would class them (as Youatt does) with the middle-homed breeds, but rather would apply to them his own term, "wide-horned." Some of them, he owns, have regular middle horns, that is, neither short nor long, turned upward and backward at the points. These remarks seem to suggest that the high and twisted horn which is often regarded as the most distinctive Devon horn was not formerly, and it certainly is not to-day, the only legitimate Devon horn ; indeed, from the passage last quoted, we should take it to belong to a pattern which in the early part of the present century was exceptional, rather than in conformity with the rule. Vancouver, however, as we shall presently see, in his pattern of the type, takes the horn of upward curving growth. Mr. Lavwence's report upon the dairy properties of the Devon agrees generally with the testimony of his con- temporaries ; but he asserts the inferiority of the quality, as weU as of the quantity of their milk in comparison vrith that of both Longhoms and Shorthorns — referring, however, to exceptional instances in Essex, of which we shall have more to say in another place. Neglect, in their own district, and their great aptitude to fatten 38 DEVON CATTLE. rapidly, are suggested as probably accounting in some measure for their inferiority ; because their form, their thinness of skin, and the meagre appearance of many of the heifers, might be supposed to indicate good milkers. Charles Vancouver {General View of the AgricuUv/re of Devon, 1808) thus describes art ideal specimen of the Devon breed : — " Its head is small, clean and free from flesh about the jaws ; deer-like, light and airy in its countenance ; neck long and thin. ; throat free from jowl or dewlap ; nose and round its eyes of a dark orange colour ; ears thin and pointed, tinged on the inside with the same colour that is always found to encircle its eyes ; horns thin and fine to their roots, of a cream colour, tipped with black, growing with a regular curve upwards, and rather spring- ing from each other ; light in the withers, resting on a shoulder a little retiring and spreading, and so rounded below as to sink all appearance of its pinion in the body of the animal ; open bosom, with a deep chest or keel preceding and between its legs ; small and tapering below the knee, fine at and above the joint, and where the arm begins to increase it becomes suddenly lost in the shoulder ; line of the back straight from the withers to the rump, lying completely on a level with the pin or buckles, which lie wide and open ; the hind-quarters seated high with flesh, leaving a fine hair-ham, tapering from the hock to the fetlock ; long from rump to huckle, and from the pinion of the shoulder to the end of the nose ; thin loose skin covered with hair of a furry nature, inclined to curl whenever the animal is in good condition and in full coat, when it also becomes mottled with, darker shades of its permanent colour, which is that of a bright blood red, without white or other spots, particu- larly on the male. A white udder is sometimes passed over, but seldom without objection." This is Vancouver's model Devon, as regards exterior. The most frequent faults of the Devon are then indicated : first, " the sudden retiring of the vamp behind the buckle to a narrow point backwards ; too much space EAELY NOTICES OF THE BBEED. 39 between the buckle (hip) and first rib ; the smaUness of the angle inwards at which the ribs appear to be pro- jected from the spine," causing the appearance of flat- sidedness ; a tucked-up girth, leaving a cavity between keel and navel, the line of which should run parallel to the line from withers to loin. In the choice of a bull, although the foregoing description applies mostly to males as well as to females, no objection should be taken to a massive neck, however thick or high upon the crest ; only it should end in fine, unfleshed vertebrae, where the head and neck are joined together. A Treatise on the Breeding and Management of Live Stock, by Eiohard Parkinson, London, 1810, sums up the merits of the Devons in the claim that they are " a copy for all persons who breed oxen for the yoke," as the author supposes that " none are equal to them in the plough," and that as beef cattle, with a great propensity to fatten, they have no superiors, for their size. On this point the same writer partly recants, in another place, where he says that although he has ' ' admitted them to be good feeders, they are not generally so as some other breeds," many being " very thin beef, with light, shelly carcases ; but those are mostly light in the bone, and fine flesh, for which reason the cutting butchers do not dislike them." The bulls he describes as generally more in- ferior to the cows and oxen, in form, than the bulls of any other breed, and he applies to them the term " lyery," which means, according to CuUey, " black-fleshed ; " yet he admits that they are good "handlers," an apparent contradiction to " lyery," for the black-fleshed cattle to which that term was commonly applied were wanting in the sub-cutaneous fatty substance which gives mellowness to the touch and indicates readiness to fatten and to make " marbled " beef. He further describes the marked con- trast between the females, with the steers and oxen, and the bulls ; all the former being thin-faced, light in the chaps, quick-eyed, very lively, smart and engaging in their looks, with horns rising uniformly upward ; whilst the bulls are said to be thick-necked, with much pendulous leather 40 DEVON OATTLK. (large dewlaps) and stag-homed, a term already by another quoted author explained to mean that the points of the horns are " inverted." This explanation seems to need explaining. The term " stag-horned " is stUl in use, but is understood to mean horns growing upward and backward. The colour of the Devon is described by Parkinson with little variation from the descriptions by other writers of about his time. The colour of the rings round the eye and muzzle is by him called light dun, and his general description of the female and emasculated Devons, beyond that of their fineness and vivacity, already men- tioned, represents them as well proportioned, rather long- legged, with small bones, thin hides, bright and short hair (long curled hair highly objectionable) and short, round carcases. Devon cows, he says, appear to be much more proper for thin, dry soils, than cows of most of the improved breeds, and such soils he considers best suited to them. The Eev. Thomas Moore, in The History of Devonshire, published in London in 1829, assumes that the several varieties of the county breed of cattle all spring from a common original stock which probably has undergone less alteration than any other breed in the country. He pays the usual tribute of praise to the elegance of the young North Devon heifers, their exact symmetry, their taper legs, the small features of their countenance, and their clear coats of dark red ; the generous fiesh, of high market value, of the full-grown cattle ; and the superiority of the oxen for draught purposes, " the ploughing of two acres of fallow land being the common day's work of four." The ordinary weight of a full-sized North Devon cow, "fat- tened to its frame," is estimated at not more than eight score per quarter ; and that of the equally well-fed ox, not more than eleven score per quarter. Of late years, he says, great efforts had been made to iniprove the stock by selecting and retaining only the best as breeders, but that formerly the calves which proved the best thrivers were fed off and only the inferior offspring of the BAELY NOTICES OF THE BEEED. 41 herd retained for breeding. If in the scarcity of docu- mentary proof, evidence of the ancient distinctness of the Devon breed be required, where can we find much stronger evidence than in its constant fidehty to a boldly pronounced type, and in its ready reversion to its former excellence after each interval of destructive breeding from the worst specimens. This appears to have happened twice within half a century ; at one time from selling off the best cows, and at another time from feeding off the best calves. Yet as soon as ever the process is reversed, and intelligent care takes the place of that fatal process which either need or greed induced the farmers to adopt, the Devon once more rises up, rapidly, to its high place among our choicest breeds of cattle. Nothing, we apprehend, but long excellence of ancestry, and an ancient type, can account for this rapid restoration of a breed from its own. internal resources alone. 42 DEVON CATTLE. CHAPTEE III. EAELY HISTOEICAL BEEEDEBS. We have seen, hitherto, that the Devon, a very long- established breed, has been in danger at different times. Once within the records, the choicest cows because the most readily saleable at the best prices, were sold out of the district or sent to the local butchers, and once again the Devon was deprived of the flower of its offspring ; all the best calves were made veal, and the weeds only were retained to propagate the breed. The great principle of selection was thus inverted, and the Devon breed made dependent upon its refuse alone. Under such practice, any breed must degenerate — the Devon assuredly did degenerate. Its degeneracy, happily, was arrested by a few, a very few, of the breeders whom we now are rather inclined to regard as pioneers, although in fact they were apparently only preservers, or at most, restorers. Eoremost among the names of breeders who took part in the restoration of the Devon, we must in bare justice place the name of Mr. Francis Quartly, of Champson, Holland. We do so whilst acknowledging — more than that, emphatically asserting — the excellence of the work (too little appreciated) of distinguished early breeders in the county of Somerset ; in recollection, also, of the tenacity with which some of Mr. Quartly's neighbours in North Devon had retained good old strains of blood in herds bequeathed by father to son, or by each successive owner, if childless, to his next of kin, generation after generation. It seems to have been very often the case, in the West of England, that the herd has gone with the land, and that where a plurality of sons continued the business of farming, each would have a portion of the paternal herd. In the ordinary course of buying and EARLY HISTORICAL BEBEDEES. 43 selling, cows might change owners and so each herd comprise families not represented in it in the previous generations of owners, and bulls, doubtless, were fre- quently introducing fresh blood. Thus a gradual circu- lation of material was in all probability effected, while the herds remained on the same ground, perhaps some of the families remaining in unbroken lines of descent, through many generations. The Davy family had been long connected with the breeding of Devon cattle, and possessed a long-established herd, which contributed in- fluential blood, as we shall have to show, to the herd at Champson. The Quartly family went into North Devon from Somersetshire, 190 years ago, having been previously settled at Exton, a small village and parish near the main road from Dunster to Dulverton, in the county of Somerset. In the year 1703, James Quartly, whose name appears in the baptismal register of the parish church of Exton in the year 1668, entered into pos- session of the leasehold estate of Great Champson, in Holland, which from that year has been occupied by his descendants. The annals of the family do not show whence he obtained the live-stock of the Molland estate : whether he took that which was on the land in the hands of his immediate predecessor, bought stock in the neigh- bourhood, or brought animals which he had either bred or purchased in Somersetshire. Neither he nor his son Henry, who succeeded him, lived to great age, for the death of the latter is recorded as having occurred in 1725. This Henry Quartly left a son, James, who was born in 1720, and died in 1793, and James had three sons, Henry, William and Francis, great grandsons of the James Quartly who was the first of the family at MoUand. The names of the second James Quartly and his three sons, Henry, William (who was a clergyman) and Francis, are all so closely connected with the rise of the fame of the Devon breed, tliat we cannot dissociate them. Yet the foremost place in Devon history must be conceded to the name of Feancis Quaetlt. 44: DEVON CATTLE. Whatever may have heen the origin of the first James Quartly's stock in 1703, there is a break in the history which diminishes the importance of that question. When Mr. Henry Quartly died, his son was only five years old, and that son, the second James Quartly, did not begin to breed Devons until he had attained to the mellow age of about 56 years. This we prove by comparing the dates already stated (which are duly authenticated) with a passage in Arthur Young's Annals of Agriculture, vol. XXX., pp. 199, 200. There, in an account of his western tour in 1796, Young gives his notes on a visit to Holland, and conversations with Mr. Francis Quartly and his brother, the Eev. William Quartly, and tells us that their father began his breeding twenty years before, and that Mr. Quartly (meaning Francis) thought that the breed, both at Champson and elsewhere, was then as good " as it is now," that is to say, as good in 1776 as in 1796; but this admission appears to have been promptly guarded by Mr. Francis Quartly with an " or," followed by " at least as it was too years ago." We have here the evident opinion of Mr. Francis Quartly, that an improvement had begun with his own succession to the ownership of the herd, three years pre- viously, just allowing time for the first calves, bred from his own assortment of the parents, to come into the world. He had at that time a magnificent bull, and yearUng and two-year old animals bred by himself (not only born, but bred, in the strictest and most legitimate sense of the term, at Champson), and we can scarcely fail to see in the remark an indication of his determina- tion to make the Devon what he did eventually make it, as also of his consciousness of his own power to do so, and of the results, which he had even so soon begun to see, of the exercise of that power. Upon the statement of Mr. Francis Quartly, that he thought the Devons of twenty years before were as good as those of two before the year 1796, Young observes : — " This is a remarkable fact, and unites with another cir- cumstance to show how very modem any ideas are of EAELY HISTOBICAL BBEEDEES. 45 improving the breed; which is, that Mr. Quartly's bull ■was not bred by himself, nor several of his fine heifers ; proof sufficient, as Dr. Hall agreed with me, that any good judge of cattle might, by searching the country well, start at present in the North Devon race of cattle, on terms equal, or nearly so, with any man at present in the county." An attentive reader of the works of Toung and of con- temporary writers entertains a supposition, which he has suggested for consideration in connection with this History, that as only about three years, perhaps less, had passed between the death of the second James Quartly and Young's visit to Francis Quartly, the animals mentioned as not having been bred by Mr. Quartly were probably inherited by him from their breeder, his father. To hold this view, however, we must assume one of two things ; either that Young misunderstood Quartly, or else that he so expressed what he rightly understood, that his readers must inevitably misunderstand him. It is clear that Young, when he saw the Champson herd in 1796, received from Francis Quartly particulars of it, beginning with the year 1776, when James Quartly began to breed Devons. The obvious inference is that the bulk of the herd had been bred by either James Quartly or his son Francis. Is not, therefore, probability greatly in favour of the assumption that the animals specially men- tioned as not having been bred by Mr. Quartly had been shown to Young as purchased animals ? Further, is not the reference to the special excellence of those particular animals presumptive evidence that they had been selected and bought by Francis Quartly expressly for the im- provement which he had resolved to effect, and which he most assuredly did effect, in the Champson herd, and, through Champson, in the Devon breed ? Young proceeds to say that two years before he wrote, the Devons, which until then had passed from father to son without appreciation of their superiority in compari- son with other breeds, and had been bred without selec- tion or care, had attracted notice enough to make them 46 DEVON CATTLE. fashionable ; that the breeders, encouraged by the higher prices paid for good animals, were becoming influenced by the spirit of emulation ; and that improvement, doubtless, would be the consequence. This evidence, of so high an authority, we must regard as most important, and most interesting. . It is given just at the critical period of the destiny of the Devon, and it shows where was the turning point in favour of the breed. ' That the Devon sub- sequently suffered from the policy of " killing the goose that lays the golden eggs," we have already seen ; yet the Quartly influence rose through and survived the evil times, and, becoming distributed, availed for the restor- ation and improvement which later years have accom- pUshed. The name of Quartly is spelt by Young, " Quarterly." This we take the liberty of correcting in the printed extracts from the Annals. Here is another of them :— " Mr. Quartly's large bull is much the finest that I have seen in Devonshire ; he has a flat and very straight broad back and chine, twenty inches wide in the hips and twenty long in the quarters ; his loin good ; thick through the shoulders ; his legs thin and short, thin skin and well feeling flesh ; wide between the eyes and yeUow around them; fine thin horns. AU his three bulls, which are brothers, are extremely light and thin in the neck, but full and hea^-y in the bosom. He does not let his best bull cover under five guineas a cow." The only Champson cows mentioned by name are Flower, Duchess of Devonshire and her daughter, Pretty- maid, all three described as "very fine," but Prettymaid " not full enough in the bosom." Flower had that year a bull calf " which promises greatly," although the calf had " a little white at the end of his tail and algo under his belly." For the paucity of description of particular animals, we have amends in a general statement of the points which chiefly the Quartlys in their breeding of Devons, to that time, had aimed to secure. They were — great width between the hips ; hip-bones round, not pointed ; great length of hind-quarter, or, as he des- EAELY HISTOEICAL BEEEDEES. 47 cribes it, " from the catch to the hips," explaining in a foot-note that the " catch " is what some writers call the " nache," other writers the "tail-points;" that the " catch " itself should be full, not square, the taU dropping plumb {" without projection of catch and rump "), and not set too high, " not to rise, but be snug, and the line to be straight with the back-bone ; no pillow just before the cross-line from pin to pin ; " thickness through the heart, under the chine ; shoulder points not to be seen, that is, that the bone should not project, but should " level off to the neck," as he puts it, all elbowing being very bad ; all the bones small ; ribs round ; no part of the side to show any flatness ; the leg very small under the knee. He records Mr. Quartly's preference for a small cow, rather than a large one (other points being equal), to breed a bull, " because it is very rare to see a large one handsome ; " but to breed oxen, he would prefer large cows. In noting these preferences of a great judge and successful breeder, we must remember the special work upon which he was engaged — the improve- ment of a breed. The practice of selecting bulls always from the smaller cows would necessarily in time reduce the average size of the animals of the herd ; and, if the practice were general, it would reduce the average size throughout the breed. In the earlier stages of improve- ment, no doubt, much good may be done by crossing great, robust, and somewhat coarse cows with neatly- shaped and not over-sized bulls, bred from small, smart, refined dams ; and the results of this practice have been found much better than those of the reverse practice of having the size, with roughness, or coarseness, on the side of the buU, and the refinement in the cows. But both the coarser and the finer animals produce offspring of both sexes. The female offspring of both (as a rule) must be brought into profit as dams, because a breeder cannot for ever go outside his herd for fresh dams, to keep up the size, whilst for ever selhng off the female produce of his little, bull-breeding cows. Unless, therefore a diminutive breed be desired (and even that must have 48 .DEVON CATTLE. its limit of diminutiveness), cows of about the size required must be the dams of most of the sires. Any departure from this rule, when improvement is once accomplished, must be counter-balanced by a corres- ponding departure in the opposite direction, if a standard of size be recognised. With regard to refinement, Mr. Quartly's aim, accord- ing to Young, was to have his Devons sharp and thin from the throat to the nose, the cleanest in the throat showing but little variation from " the perfect snake ; " and if fat, they should not be baggy at the throat. They must be " thin under the eyes and tapering to the nose, which should be white ; but the original breed wasyeUow " (in the colour of the nose, or muzzle, presumably intended) ; "between the eyes to be rather wide ; " the eyes very prominent, " like those of a blood horse," and no change of .colour round the eyes ; horns " white, with yellow tips, thin at root, and long, spreading at the points." The breast projecting before the shoulder and legs should be very wide between the fore-legs; "the line of the neck, from the horns to the withers, straight with that of the backbone." Mr. Quartly, like other authorities upon the form of the Devon, required that neatness in the body which gives the appearance of lightness from the middle to the flanks, even to the extent of being a little "tucked up," rather than heavy and hanging. His type, we here notice, was primarily for beef and ox labour, although some of his cows were good milkers. Two in the herd, when Young saw it, gave seventeen pints at a meal, and yielded generally when in full milk about 10^ lbs. of butter in the week. If this, as we suppose he must mean, was the separate yield of each of the two, it was very good ; if the total of the united contributions of the two, the dairy standard was evidently not high in North Devon nearly 100 years ago. The working oxen at Champson at that time were said to be unsurpassed. The Eev. W. Quartly maintained that a pair of them could plough an acre of stiff land in the day. The smaller the bone, the better mover, invariably, the working ox. EAELY HISTOKICAL BEEEDEES. 49 In connection with the foregoing description of the snaky character of the head and throat, reference may be made here to an old engraving of a Devon cow and bull, in the Eev. W. Bingley's Memoirs of British Quadrupeds, London, 1809, which represents the bull as an animal with an extremely long and thin yet arched neck, eyes starting out of his head, and a long-drawn face, much like a swan in a state of strangulation. The horns, growing outward at the roots, bend forward and upward ; those of the cow are long and high. The buU is light-bodied, with somewhat of the greyhound about the flank, the cow high on the legs ; both very rough on the top-line of the hind-quarters, having bony lumps between hip and tail, and both, so far as can be seen, are whole coloured, the cow having crescents of colour darker than that of the head and body, as eyebrows. Much the same type is seen in Youatt's engraving of a working Devon ox (work on Cattle) , but the animal there has not the wildness of eye shown in Bingley's bull, nor (being an ox) the arched neck. Youatt's Devon bull is quite a different-looking animal, with a high, massive crest, a deep neck and a leathery throat ; altogether a thick, loggy beast. The letter-press of Bingley's British Quadrupeds, concerning the Devon, is brief, and as it gives " from seven to ten pounds per week " as the Devon cow's average produce of butter, a statement largely at variance with the testimony of all the competent authorities of that day, we may be pardoned the sugges- tion that whilst the description of the breed and the illustrative engraving professedly apply to the breed " found in the greatest purity in the immediate neigh- bourhood of Barnstaple," the author's dairy statistics have been gathered either from another district (possibly South Devon) or from an exceptional North Devon herd. The larger development of the dairy properties of the Devon breed has been a work of later years. The Eev. William Quartly lived at West MoUand, where the land occupied by him maintained a herd of Devons of the Quartly "blood Eoyal." From various references 50 DEVON CATTLE. to his name we find that he was esteemed an accom- phshed judge of Devon cattle, and an authority upon the principles of breeding. In the year 1816 ' the land and stock were transferred to his elder brother, Mr. Henry Quartly, who lived at Brimley, in the parish of West Holland, of which place his grandson, of the same name, is now the tenant. The stock and crops of the Eev. W. Quartly were taken by his brother at a valuation which is still in the possession of the family, and from which the particulars of the Devon herd given in an appendix to this volume are extracted. A succinct account of the work of Mr. Francis Quartly, from his own lips, is happily extant. It was given by him to Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, in whose report on the farming of Somersetshire, published in the second part of the Journal of the Boyal Agricultural Society of England for 1850, it is incorporated. In that report Sir Thomas (then Mr. T. Dyke Acland, junior) observes "how entirely the reputation," and even the then " present existence of the Devon breed, is owing to tenant farmers, and above all to one man, Mr. Francis Quartly of Mollond Botreaux." The omission of Mr. Quartly's name from a report on the agriculture of Devon, and the fact that the boundary of Somerset, a country of which at least the western part was much indebted to Mr. Quartly's work, touches Mollond (so spelt), are the justifying reasons for the introduction of that exceedingly valuable communication into the Somersetshire report. At the time when the following particulars were taken at his dictation in answer to questions asked by Sir Thomas, Mr. Quartly was advanced in years and afiBicted with bHndness, but in fuU possession of his mental powers. He said, in effect: — "More than fifty years ago the principal North Devon yeomen were all breeders, and every week you might see in the Molton markets animals that would now be called choice ; there were no cattle- shows in those days, and therefore the relative value EAELY HISTOEICAL BEEEDEES. 51 of animals was not so easily tested. The war prices tempted many farmers to sell their best bulls and cows out of the district, and Mr. Quartly in his youth perceived that good animals were becoming scarce and the breed generally going back ; he therefore determined to buy quietly all the good stock he could meet with. He often picked up a cow from a dairy farmer who wanted to get rid of her, because she would get so fat she gave no milk. After buying all the animals he could find, he continued many years, with that judgment and skill which great breeders alone can appreciate, to im- prove his stock till he brought it to perfection. About the year 1831 cattle shows began at Exeter. Some good Devon breeders carried off the early prizes, but after a year or two Mr. Quartly ajlowed his nephews to enter in all the eleven classes at Exeter, and they brought home the eleven prizes. Mr. James Quartly says that when he had to return thanks, he felt ashamed to think they should have been so greedy." The report continues : — " However, it was clearly proved where the fountain head of the breed was, and the Quartlys have kept the lead ever since. Two of Mr. Quartly's neighbours, Mr. Merson and Mr. Davy, have also kept up the breed in their families for more than a century. In West Somerset, Mr. Hole, of Dunster, has come into the field and spares no expense or trouble to breed the very best." This report was published only twelve years before the Battersea Inter- national show, where Mr. James Davy's successes as an exhibitor brought into most prominent notice his skiU as a breeder and the excellence of the strain pi blood which his family had so long possessed. Between the herds of Messrs. Davy and Quartly were connecting links which we shall have occasion to notice presently. We are told that Mr. Quartly's purchases were chiefly (one well-informed correspondent believes they were almost exclusively) purchases of females, and that he used only, or with rare exceptions to the contrary, bulls of his own breeding. We have seen from Young's 52 DEVON CATTLE. account of the Holland Devons in 1796 that Mr. Quartly had then one bull T??hich he had not bred, and that he had three bulls which were brothers. From the construction of the passage " All his three bulls," we infer that he had but those three grown-up bulls, and that the bull which he had not bred was one of them. The reference to only one bull as not having been bred by him leaves little room to doubt that the two other bulls were bred by him. They were " brothers," Young does not say " full brothers " or " own brothers " to the one bred by someone else. The inference, therefore, that Mr. Quartly had not gone far outside his own lines of breeding, in his selection of that bull, is scarcely resistible. The bull in question must have been a son of either one of his own or of his father's bulls ; and very possibly (although this is not in evidence) the breeder of the purchased bull had used Champson sires in preceding generations. If so, Mr. Quartly did not depart from the principle of using his own bulls when he introduced the bought bull. But supposing even that the bull was only connected with his own herd by one parent, the introduction of a half-blood change through the sire was not a very startling event at the beginning of his career as a breeder. Mr. Francis Quartly died in the year 1856, at the age of ninety-two years. He was therefore twelve years old when his father began breeding Devons in 1776, twenty-nine when his father died, and thirty-two when Young was at Champson in 1796. From that time he continued to breed them until 1836, when he sold the herd, retired from business, and was succeeded upon the farm by his nephew, Mr. John Quartly, with whom he remained at Champson until his death. The Champ- son herd, however, was not wholly dispersed. Mr. John Quartly purchased at the sale thirteen cows and heifers of various ages, and one bull calf, all belonging to his uncle's best old sorts, the merits of which he, of course, knew very familiarly. We see from the dates here given that Mr. Francis Quartly was himself a breeder of Devons BABLY HISTORICAL BEEEDEBS. 53 from 1793 to 1836, forty-three years ; that he had been among the Devons from his boyhood, and had doubtless acquired from early experience the judgment which ripened in his manhood, and that he remained among them to the last. From the time of his father's beginning to breed them, to the date of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland's report, which gives information then fresh from Francis Quartly himself, we have a period of seventy-four years, the length of which adds value to the veteran's narrative. A great part of Francis Quartly's work, extending over exactly one human generation, was done very quietly within the thirty years from 1793 to 1823. In the latter year he sold for fifty guineas the bull. Prize 108, to Mr. William Childe, of Kinlet Hall, Shropshire, not Worces- ter, as stated in the Herd Book entry under No. 108. The date of the birth of Prize is not there stated, but the late Col. Davy in his essay on the Devon breed in the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, says it was about 1819.* This would make the bull about four years old, or probably in his fourth year, when after walking all the way from Holland, he arrived at Kinlet on the 31st of January, 1823. Mr. Childe had been over in North Devon. After his return home several letters passed between Mr. Childe and Mr. Francis Quartly, and on receipt of the bull, Mr. Childe again wrote, telling Mr. Quartly that during his short stay in Devonshire he had seen enough to fully convince him that " there never V7as a truly valuable breed of cattle so strangely and so shamefully neglected " as the Devon breed, and that so far from improvement having been effected in any one point, he felt confident that there were at that time far fewer tolerably good Devons in their native county than could have been found in it twenty years previously. He continues : "A thorough conviction that such is the case induces me more highly to appreciate the obligation that I really feel that I am under to you for the bull * As Prize 108 has registered offspring calved in 1820, he must have been himself calved not later than the first half of the pre- ceding year. 64 DEVON CATTLE. ■which you have now accommodated me with, which I would not exchange for the whole of the Devon bulls that I saw in the long rides I took during the time I passed at Barnstaple, and I am not surprised at your having given, it to be your decided opinion that what you have now put me in possession of is the best North Devon bull that you have seen for a considerable time ; for I think the flesh is firm and of excellent quality, and that the frame is nearer perfection than is rarely [sic] to be met with in a bull of any breed, and I am much pleased with the skin, and the characteristic of pure North Devpn blood in the eye, nose and horn, and general appearance of the animal." The letter, a long one, proceeds to state Mr. Child's intention to use the buU with " cows and heifers of the largest and most roomy scale," and carrying the heaviest load of flesh of any in his possession, and asks whether Mr.- Quartly has any of the bull's stock, if so, what are their most prominent characteristics ; and expresses the purchaser's desire to have, " in the shape of a regular pedigree, all that you can communicate relating to the descent of the bull." This is an interesting indication of the desire for a " regular " pedigree with a Devon twenty- eight years before the issue of the first volume of the Devon Herd Book and in the year immediately following the issue of the first volume of the Shorthorn Herd Book, the earliest of all EngUsh registers of the pedigrees of cattle. During the thirty years which consecutively followed Mr. Francis Quartly's beginning as a breeder, with his father's herd, wemay confidently assume, as a foundation,"^ some of the finest animals, in his opinion, which he ever bred, were produced. Among these were the celebrated * In this assumption we rest upon Young's report, which treats the Champson herd in 1796 as one of established reputation ; and upon the obvious improbability of the alternative supposition that Francis Quartly could have gathered by purchase, within three years from the time of his succession to his father, a herd of which Young could have written in the tone of that report. EAELT HISTOEICAL BEEEDEES. 55 Long-horned Curly and that extraordinary cow's daughter, Curly 92. Those two cows, Mr. Francis Quartly declared he classed as two of the best he ever bred. Long-horned Curly, said to have been calved about the year 1815, has but two registered daughters, Flower 187, calved in 1820, sire Prize 108, and Curly 92, calved in 1830, sire Forester 46, a great grandson of Prize 108. Longhom Curly also bred an own brother of Curly 92. That bull appears in the Herd Book as an unregistered ancestor of registered animals. See and compare Duchess 146 and Flower 189, full sisters, both calved in the year 1840. Marshall, an old authority already quoted, omits the Quartlys in his references to the North Devon cattle and their breeders, although in the year 1794 he was in their neighbourhood and saw Mr. Trigg's herd at Great Hele, South Molton. This was only a few months after the death of Mr. James Quartly and the succession of his son Francis at Champson, and two years before Young's visit to Mr. Francis Quartly. The more remarkable omission is that of Vancouver, whose agricultural survey of the county of Devon for the Board of Agriculture was made at a time when both the Eev. William Quartly, at West MoUand, and his brother Francis Quartly, at Champson, were well known as leading breeders. Francis Quartly, before and at that time, as shown by letters still in the possession of the family, was in correspondence with influential admirers of the Devon who either were or desired to be purchasers of stock from him. Lord Somerville, in a letter to him dated May 26th, 1804, refers to three cows recently obtained from him and adds in a postscript — " Your old bull is still to be sold in Hereford- shire. The owner refused 25 guineas which I offered for him ; at this time he asks five or ten guineas more." Lord William Bentinck, writing from Castle Hill, October 18th, 1811, alludes to Mr. Quartly's answer to a previous letter, that he could not part with his bull until after the ensuing season, and requests then the favour of the refusal of the bull. We have seen, so far, from the pen of Arthur Young, 56 DEVON CATTLE. a notice of Mr. Francis Quartly's herd soon after the beginning of his work as a breeder ; and indications of the progress of that work are afforded by the letters to which we have just alluded and by references to the Quartlys in some of the authors previously quoted, including Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, whose contribution to Devon history we regard as of the highest importance. We now come to a notice of the (Quartly Devons within about two years before Mr. Francis Quartly's final sale, when Mr. John Quartly, succeeding his uncle in the iDusiness at Champson, purchased, as already stated, a part of the herd. The testimony we have to take is that of the Eev. Herury Berry, the historian of the Shorthorns in Youatt's work on cattle, and author of a series of articles on the " Original Character of our native Breeds of Cattle, Letters on Improved Breeds of Cattle, &c.," in the British Farmer's Magazine. Berry was considered a pretty good general judge of stock, and if he had prejudices, they were certainly not against the Devon. At Holkham, where he was always a welcome visitor, he felt as much at home among the Devons as in Teesdale or in the vale of Wharfe among the Shorthorns ; and he has emphatically expressed his opinion that upon the Holkham estate, consisting principally of a hungry, sandy loam, or light gravel of the same character, with occasional but not frequent inter- ruptions of small patches of bog, Mr. Coke (afterwards Earl of Leicester) could not with propriety keep any other cattle than Devons as breeding and dairy stock. To this effect he wrote in November, 1833, (Brit. Farm. Mag., vol. vii.) ; and in July of the following year (Ibid, vol. viii.) he gave a description of the Devon herds of "Messrs. Davy, Merson, Smith, Tapp, and the two Quartlys," which he inspected in the execution of a commission from Mr. Coke to purchase a few more Devons for the Holkham herd. Historical truth demands the quotation of Berry's obser- vations upon the West Molland and Champson herds. The exact value of his critical descriptions of Devons we do not undertake to estimate. His account of the other herds, which precedes that of his visits to Messrs. Henry « » pq m fe is- < o 3 =y 3 m p a CO EAKLY HISTOEICAL BEEEDERS. 57 and Francis Quartly, we shall have to notice shortly. Of the two latter breeders he says : — " At Messrs. Quartly's, I saw what struck me as quite a different description of Devon : many of them showed a good deal of white, and, I should say, that generally they were coarser and larger cows than I had seen. In the fore-quarters they pos- sessed great substance, but not the neatness about the shoulders that Mr. Davy's cows evince. Indeed, they reminded me strongly, as to the fore-quarters, compared with his, of Mr. Blomfield's Devon' cows, compared with the Holkham. They carried a good deal of flesh, but were on some first-rate grazing land. Whether superior land has driven them out of form into size, I know not, but it is evident where ultimate failure will take place in this herd. Of course these remarks will not apply to every individual inspected, but they do to the majority, and hence the probable justice of my conclusion." That conclusion we may now revise in the light afforded by the events of the nearly sixty years which have passed since Berry wrote the words here quoted, and perhaps quite sixty years since he saw the Quartlys' herds. Berry concludes his account of those herds with the remark that " the best Devon cows are now in very- few hands," and that he need not attempt to show " what are, and are likely to be, the errors of the Devon breeders with respect to their practice, nor add more, as to them, than that they require a speedy and judicious admixture of such materials as remain available, before they be irretrievably lost." In connection with Berry's fore- bodings, we must here say that at the Ghampson Sale on Wednesday, March 16th, 1836, the twenty-one-months- old bull, winner of the Sillifant prize at Exeter in No- vember, 1835, was sold for 97 gs. ; a bull of the age of eighteen months, 83 gs. ; Curly, whose age when Mr. Berry saw the herd, and, we presume, must have seen her, would be about four years, was the highest priced cow, 53gs., a high price at that time, when money was of much greater comparative value than it is now. A contemporary report of the sale says that she was the 58 DEVON CATTLE. dam of the highest priced bull; but as the age, name, and date of winning point to Sillifant 120 as the bull ■which reaUzed the highest price of 97 gs., and Sillifant's dam -was Pretty Maid 364, the accuracy of the statement seems very questionable. (See Supplement to D.D.H.B. 1886, p. 59). The report, still referring to Curly, says "the heifer calf also" — apparently meaning her heifer calf — " sold for 21^ gs." This added to Curlv's price would make the sum of 74| gs., or £78 4s. 6d. ' The 73 animals sold, of which 15 were calves, realised an aiggre- gate of £1,621 13s. 6d. — " prices unprecedented in this country," the writer of the report observes. Several animals were purchased for the Duke of Norfolk ; others for Mr. Coke of Holkham, whose friend Mr. Berry, acting as his commissioner, less than two years before, had turned away from the Champson Devons as too coarse for Holkham. Many lots went into the counties of Cornwall and Somerset. Particulars of the sale will be found in an appendix to this volume. Mr. Henry Quartly, at West Molland, in the meantime continued to breed from the herd purchased from his other brother, the Eev. William Quartly, at a valuation, in 1816. That herd, as represented by its descendants in his possession, he kept until his death, shortly after which event, in the year 1840, it was sold by auction (see Chapter on Sales, &c.), when the Earl of Leicester (formerly Mr. Coke) and two of the Holkham tenants bought altogether nineteen animals. The sale was attended by a company estimated at not fewer than 1,000 persons, including breeders from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Warwickshire, Berkshire, and Hampshire, besides those of the principal Devon-breeding counties. Mr. Henry Quartly's eldest son, Mr. James Quartly, who for about fifteen years before his father's death had taken upon himself the sole care and management of the land and stock, continued to hold the farm, and " in fair and open competition," as a report of the sale in the Devon and Exeter Daily Gazette of the time states, " secured about 20 of the most pure and superior bred animals of this EARLY HISTOEICAL BBEEDEES. 59 noted herd," the nucleus of the herd with which his own name has become famiharly associated in the records of Devon events. Mr. Henry Quartly was the breeder of the celebrated bull, Forester 46, and of the cow Lily, or Lilly, the direct ancestress ot Mr. James Davy's Temptress 1672, the famous winner of the gold medal at the Battersea Inter- national show ; and of his not less excellent cow. Actress. It is said by a very trustworthy authority, whose accuracy in this particular we have not tested, that there are recorded in Davy's Devon Herd Book more animals tracing directly descent on the dam's side from Mr. Francis Quartly's Longhorned Curly and Mr. Henry Quartly's Lilly than from any other two cows of the Devon breed. Lilly (herself a granddaughter of Longhorned Curly by her sire) was the dam of Victoria 463, Duchess 146, and Flower 189. Victoria was sold to Mr. George Turner ; Duchess, bred by Mr. James Quartly, became the dam of his Prince of Wales 105, the first prize bull in his class at the Shrewsbury Eoyal Show in 1845 ; and Flower appears as the fourth line-direct dam of Temptress. Forester, said to have been one of the most powerfully impressive sires that ever lived, was a son of Symmetry, bred by one of the Quartly family. His maternal grand- sire, also, was a Quartly bull, sold to Mr. Tremayne, of Heligan, Cornwall, and was a son of a bull bred by Mr. John Tanner Davy of Eose Ash. As his daughter Tulip 451, Forester's dam, was calved in 1824, that purchase for the Heligan herd was most probably made some years earlier. Forester's name commemorated his having been sold to Mr. Knight to run on Exmoor with heifers taken in to keep. After some considerable term of forest life, he was, on the initiative of Mr. William Davy, repurchased at cost price, £30, and returned to West Molland. Mr. Berry's account of Mr. Davy's herd does not distinguish between the Eose Ash and Flitton herds nor specify the herd seen ; but as he says it was near North Molton, we suppose that the herd described was Mr. 60 DEVON CATTLE. William Davy's at Flitton. In July, 1834, recording a then recent visit, he wrote : — " The character of Mr. Davy's stock will suffice, as descriptive of Messrs. Merson's and Smith's." [An asterisk to the name of Merson leads the eye to a foot- note announcing, with much concern, the death of Mr. Merson between Mr. Berry's visit and the publication of his report.] " The cows bore by far the closest re- semblance to those at Holkham of any I saw ; very correct in form, and good in quality of flesh and. hair. With respect to the latter, they, in particular, possessed the soft curly coats, so peculiar to the Devons, and which I greatly admire. They were of fair average size, but did not strike me as having, to the same extent, the capital barrel-like carcases of the Holkham dairy, nor points quite so prominent. I stated as much, if not in particulars, to Mr. Davy, and recommended him to try a bull from the Holkham herd, which would now be an admirable change for him, and which, from harping too much on the same string, he evidently wants. Mr. Davy has too much good sense and judgment, and feels too much of a laudable desire to improve, to take offence at my recommendation ; and I fuUy expect to learn, before long, that he has been at Holkham, in search of a bull ; and this more particularly because I know it would give Mr. Coke much satisfaction to see him there. I think he shewed me about ten bull calves, from which I selected one, which I fancy is Mr. Coke's favourite of two I bought him I saw here a heifer calf, for which I would have ventured to speculate to some length, more than, perhaps, quite justified, but Mr. Davy knows perfectly well when to use a negative as to his females." In the year 1833, Mr. Davy had a public sale of 10 bulls, and 14 cows and heifers. The names of the animals are not given nor the names of the purchasers, but the ages of the different lots and their prices are stated. The lot numbers run in the same order in which we here quote the ages and prices : — Bulls : — 18 months, £71 ; 1 year, £40 ; 10 months, £30 ; ditto, £17 ; EAELY HISTOEICAL BEEEDEES. 61 9 months, £48 ; ditto, £24 ; 2 years, £35 ; 18 months, £20 ; two years, £23. Lot 10 not put up. Heifers : — 3 years, £23 ; 2 years, £27, £30, £12, £U, £12, £18. Cows :— 4 years, £17 ; 7 years, £32 10s. ; aged, £20, £26. Lot 12 of cows not offered. Six years, £20; aged, £21 10s. Nine bulls averaged £34 4s. 5d; 13 cows and heifers averaged £21 ; 22 animals averaged £26 8s. 2d., total £581. Of the Brinsworthy herd, Mr. Berry writes : — " Mr. Merson exhibited to me some extremely nice animals, and from him I purchased a buU calf and three heifers. One of these heifers was really quite admirable, and I feel most anxious she should prove useful in her generation. My number of heifers, four, was completed from Mr. Smith's stock, a breeder of not so long standing as the gentlemen already named, but who has a valuable stock rapidly increasing." The names of some other North Devon breeders of about that time are mentioned by the Eev. Thomas Moore, from whose History of Devonshire (1829), we have already quoted. Eeferring to the North Devon, as the breed said to represent the original native stock, Mr. Moore continues : — " The most beautiful specimens of this justly esteemed animal are always to be met with in Earl Fortescue's grounds ; Sir Bourchier Wrey's ; Thomas Acland's, Esq., of High Bray ; the Eev. Mr. Quaterley's {sic), of MoUand; Mr. Stoneman's, of Woodhouse, near Torrington ; Mr. NichoU's, of Heanton Court House ; Mr. George Burton's, of Harewood ; and with many other respectable gentlemen and farmers in North Devon." Thirteen years, however, before Mr. Moore's History was written, the Eev. William Quartly, whom he calls Quaterley (and in some of the old writers, the name is spelt Quarterly), had transferred his herd at West Molland to his brother Henry ; and in 1829, Mr. James Quartly (Henry's eldest son), had entered into active life as his father's alter ego, and was in fact the ruler of events in that herd. One more North Devon worthy of the last century and 62 DEVON CATTLE. early part of the present century must not be over- looked — the facetious and eccentric James White Parsons. Garrard in his Oxen Common to the British Isles (date 1800), under the head of " Cattle from the East Indies," mentions him as " one of the most distinguished breeders of Devonshire cattle." Mr. White Parsons v^as evidently a man vyith a whim in his head. It veas, that by crossing the North Devon v?ith French and Indian cattle he could establish a breed " of unrivalled excellence and beauty in all the essential requisites of small bone, high spirit, early maturity, and the most vreight in the least compass, yielding milk as rich as cream, and the most savoury and finest grained beef, veal, tallow, hides, and even manure of a superior quality, in return to the earth for what they eat." These remarkable words are his own upon a circular advertisement of a pair of representatives of his new breed, named Shakespear and Pasiphae, to be sold, or "to be viewed at 2s. acinission each person," at the Spa, St. George's Fields, London, October 10th, 1804 : Shakespear's further terms, " one guinea each, and one shilling the groom." In a communication a few years earlier to George Garrard, he omits the French cross, which perhaps, he had not then introduced, and describes his cattle as the offspring of an Indian bull given to him by the Duke of Bedford, and of New Devon heifers. The calves, he says, " are as fat as quails at a month old, and worth three guineas a piece to kill, which proves this blending system to be right ; and there can be no doubt that their hides, flesh, milk, and tallow will be of a superior quality and value." After all this rose- coloured description and the prospective commendation of the milk and tallow to be obtained from animals then only one month old and alive, the Indian-Devons of Mr. James White Parsons, like the compounds of Hereford- Devon and Shorthorn-Devon effected by experimenters 60 or 80 years ago, have died out, whilst the original breed of North Devon and West Somerset, covering new areas which it has conquered in other parts of Somerset- EAELY HISTORICAL BREEDERS. 63 shire and Devonshire, in Cornwall, in Dorsetshire, in some other parts of our own island, in our Colonies, and in foreign lands, stands true to a remotely ancient pattern ; with sufficient elasticity, however, in its consti- tution, to admit of adaptation to various uses, soils, and climates. 64: DEVON CATTLE. CHAPTEE IV. THE BKEED IN SOMEBSETSHIBE. In the histories of breeds of cattle we frequently see the names of distinguished early breeders exalted to unapproachable eminence, while those of contemporary workers in the same direction do not receive a measure of praise justly proportioned to the soundness of their judgment, and to the substantial, if less brilliant, success of their work. Great credit, unquestionably, is due to those leading men who have raised the standard of excellence in their several breeds of cattle and by their enterprise have placed them fairly and favourably before the public. We rightly honour the names of Bakewell, Colling, Tomkins and Quartly, but the Longhom breed was not created by Eobert Bakewell, nor the Shorthorn by the Brothers Colling, nor the Hereford by Benjamin Tomkins, nor the Devon by the Quartly family. We have recognised the important part which that family, and especially Mr. Francis Quartly, acted in gathering together much of the best material found in the hands of careless or needy breeders, who were allowing it to become so rapidly diminished that the character of the breed was percep- tibly declining, and 'the breed itself threatened with extinction, and the scarcely less important part taken by Messrs. John and James Quartly, first with their uncle's consent, and afterwards independently, as exhibitors. But we must not lose sight of the concurrent work of men to whose labours the country is equally indebted for the maintenance of the Devon, and for its improvement by adaptation to different districts. We beUeve the number of those men to be much greater than the records tell. If that be so, justice to all is now impossible. We know a few names that have escaped oblivion, we do not THE BEEED IN SOMBBSETSHIEE. 65 know how many are forgotten. Before the days of agri- cultural newspapers, the railway and the electric telegraph, herds of Devons of surpassing excellence might rise, flourish and disappear, unknown beyond a small circle of west-country farmers and land-owners, and beyond the life-time of the owners and their contemporaries. Seeing the exquisite beauty, the docility and the cultured excel- lence of the Devon, we cannot well doubt that something more than accident evolved and preserved the type. The evidence all points in the direction of human skill, exercised in continuous sequence through many human generations. But for the facilities of intercourse which modern science has supplied, the names of Davy and Quartly, so far as the Devons are concerned, might have passed into obscurity like those of the Devon breeders of bygone centuries. The beauties of a mediaeval minster or an old baronial hall are held in admiration long after the archi- tect's name is forgotten. So it is with the Devon breed, representing, no doubt, a vast aggregate of judgment and taste, mostly of men whose names are remembered no more. Other names, passing away, were arrested and saved from entire forgetfulness by the hand of history. In quite recent times we find examples. In the county of Somerset there was, in the last century, the herd of Mr. Gibbs, of Cothelstone, near Bishop's Lydeard, which must have been very choice, since we trace to that source a wonderfully large amount of intrinsic excellence in the Devon herds of the present day. We have not been able to ascertain through how many generations of the Gibbs family the herd was kept. It is certainly traceable through three generations. The great sale of the cattle of Mr. Eobert Gibbs was held at Cothelstone on the 27th of October, 1852, the year next following that of the issue of the first volume of the Herd Book ; yet none of the animals have either name or Herd Book reference in the sale list printed in the 1885 supplement, page 71. This is a matter for regret, because the identification of animals sold at that sale, and an account of their breed- 5 66 DEVON CATTLE. ing, -would be now valuable information, and exceedingly interesting as matter of history. Tradition in the district represents the Cothelstone herd as having com- prised a lot of exceptionally grand cows, and this tradi- tion is well supported by traces of merit distributed with the Cothelstone cattle. We have a reference to Mr. Gibbs of Cothelstone, as a leading man of his district, in Young's account of his farming tour in the south and . west of England in the year 1796 {Annals, vol. 30, p. 339), in connection with the doctrine that to grow an ox to his fullest size it is necessary to work him. This was con- firmed by Mr. Gibbs, who farmed where. Young says, oxen were worked harder than in any other part of England. In that district, of which the agricultural character may be inferred by the foregoing allusion to the hard working of ox-teams, one object was to keep up the size, or, if possible, increase it, maintaining quality. The land could grow large cattle, and the local theory was that to stock it with too small a breed was to waste a part of its virtue. For the ploughing of that country, oxen combining the Ddvon activity and endurance with more frame than the North Devon hills could grow, were required. Some of the breeders attempted to effect an increase of size by means of cross-breeding and returning to the Devon. The results, however, seem to have justified Bakewell's opinion that no other breed could improve the Devon, and the cattle having crosses of alien blood were either sold out of the herds or else crossed so often back to the Devon, that within a few generations all traces of the cross from outside had disappeared. Particulars of experiments by three Devon breeders, two crossing with the Hereford and one with the Shorthorn bull, are recorded by the Eev. Henry Berry in the number of the British Farmer's Magazine for February, 1834 (vol. viii.), but Mr. Berry's opportunities of personal observation extended only over two generations. Local traditions of other experiments are found in various THE BREED IN SOMEBSBTSHmE. 67 districts. Mr. Berry, one of the purchasers of breeding stock from North Devon herds, for Mr. Coke of Holk- ham (afterwards Earl of Leicester), and an occa- sional visitor at Holkham, although, as has already been remarked, a warm admirer of Devons, was himself a Shorthorn breeder and a defender of the " alloy " blood, which in his day had entered into comparatively few of the Shorthorn tribes. We may readily suppose, therefore, that he would watch with eager interest the trial of a cross for the Devon ; perhaps not without bias in favour of " alloy." The first cross of the Shorthorn gave good beef results ; but no further advantage from it is recorded. The first cross of the Hereford bull with large Somersetshire Devon cows gave, in Mr. Berry's opinion, extraordinary size and constitution. The ex- perimenter contended that he had lost size .by the cross, and Mr. Berry was dif&dent of contradiction but did not concede the point. To his mind the question evidently was one of weight rather than of size of frame ; for he virtually admits that to the eye the advantage seemed to be with the pure Devons, when he rests his argument wholly upon the shorter legs, and more even distribution of flesh, of the half-bred cattle. This experiment was pursued to at least a second generation, in a return to the Devon blood. The bull selected was a North Devon from the herd of Mr. Davy of Eose Ash, instead of one of the larger framed Somersetshire bulls. Mr. Berry praises very highly the produce of this cross back to the Devon. "They were certainly," he vyrites, "very capital calves, and nothing like the ill consequences attributed by superficial observers or injudicious ex- perimenters, to a cross persisted in, were here apparent ; on the contrary, I think the calves promised to be superior to their dams, a circumstance extremely probable, considering that nothing can be better de- scended than Mr. Davy's bull." Here, however, ends the record of this interesting and openly conducted attempt to improve the Devon by a Hereford cross. Mr. Berry states in the same article that having spent a. 68 DEVON CATTLE. great part of the winter about seven years previously at Taunton, he found in the neighbourhood several owners of cattle of what he terms " the pure Devon character," so strongly convinced of the necessity of breeding for greater size that " they were even then going into Here- fordshire to obtain stock for the purpose." All these crosses recorded by Mr. Berry in the beginning of 1834, were effected more than sixty years ago, and may be separated by ten or possibly twenty generations from their now living descendants, if descendants exist. Among the more distinguished breeders in Somerset- shire, whose names we trace in connection with efforts to improve the breed by gathering together the best specimens, and whose breeding and management of their herds were rewarded with various degrees of success, were Messrs. Hancock of Halse, Gatchell of Leigh Barton, Joyce of Allercott, Charles Boucher of Green- way and Edward Boucher of Jews, Blake of Cutsey, Murray of Cannington and Samuel Farthing of Stpwey Court, and in connection with the herds of Messrs. Farthing, especially with that of Mr. Walter Farthing, we must not forget the good blood conserved in that of Sir Alexander Hood, Bart. As more of the names of noted Somersetshire breeders will be given further on, the list here need not be much extended, but the Eev. Cecil Smith of Bishops Lydeard must be mentioned as having borne a prominent name ; Mr. Hole of Knowle House, near Dunster, had at one time a very choice herd; and Mr. Morle of Cannington Park, near Bridg- water, was a large contributor to the early entries in the Herd Book. Mr. John Bisdon, Golsoncott, Washford, vyrites to us as follows, regarding the early Somersetshire herds : — " Ac- cording to your request I send the following particulars with reference to old breeders and extinct herds in the Dunster and Williton districts of Somersetshire. It may tend to make my statement clearer if I mention at the outset that I was bom at Bickham, in the parish of Timberscombe, in 1831. My father, for several years THE BREED IN SOMEESETSHIEE. 69 after he commenced farming, bred Devons, but unfortu- nately, dysentery (commonly called ' skinters ') was very prevalent in his herd, and at last assumed such a serious aspect as to cause him to abandon the breed, and get some Shorthorns. This would, I think, be about 1835 or 1836. Among the first purchases for this new herd, was a young calf which was reared in company with the Devon calves ; this one in time developed the same disease as the others had been suffering from ; a thorough cleansing, as well as a disinfecting of the premises was then resorted to. I record this fact because it is often asserted that some breeds are not susceptible to contagious diseases. "Be this as it may, after these precautions had been taken the disease was stayed, and I may add, that at the present time a herd of Devons is kept on that farm and the animals are as healthy and hardy as cattle need be. With regard to the original stock bred by my father, I have but a faint recollection. One cow of his produced twin calves two years in succession ; in the next year she was delivered of two calves and died, when it was found that there was a third calf in her. It will be seen that I was brought up among Shorthorns, and I have no hesitation in asserting that the introduction of this breed into the neighbourhood was a serious injury to many per- sons who owned good herds of Devons. The fijrst cross of these two breeds produced first-class grazing cattle, but soon it became apparent that the animals should have been converted into beef, and that the females should not have been kept for breeding purposes. It chanced, how- ever, that only a few breeders of Devons of any standing crossed the whole of their females, and they were thu$ enabled, by using bulls of like breeding, to get their herds up to their fuU strength again. There were some good old herds in this parish as long back as my memory car- ries me. " At Great House Farm, Mr. Nathaniel Merchant had long resided, and prided himself in his cattle. The only registered animals tracing descent from this herd came from a heifer calf purchased by Mr. E.J. Lutley 70 DEVON CATTLE. (who died at Jews Farm, Wiveliscombe), from a Mr. Blackmore, of Croford, near Wiveliscombe. These are the Fancys, which have now been scattered broadcast. Mr. Thomas Merchant, of Well, had a good herd, but always did them indifferently. During the winter months they were turned on a gorse common by day, and got little but long straw at night ; when, however, cattle were sold, the improvement was marvellous. Here, again, the herd is at present represented through a single female. At the dispersion of this herd, Mr. George Gatchell, Sampford Brett, purchased a female or two ; from these came Beauty 1st 4071, which was bought at his sale, by Mr. John S. Cogan ; a great grandson of this cow. Earl of Dodington 1726, was used for some years in the district of North Molton, begetting some of the finest looking cows to be met with in that locality. When Mr. Cogan's herd was sold, several of this tribe were secured for the Eoyal herd at Windsor. While the females got by Earl of Dodington were good, the males were decidedly plain. Mr. Eobert Hole, Harwood, was one of those who tried the cross on several of his inferior cows ; and these produced some very superior animals — to wit, a heifer which won a prize for him at the Dunster Cattle Show as a fat heifer. The cattle in the herd at Har- wood were not oversized, but possessed good shapes and quahty. When this herd was dispersed, Mr. C. G. Thome, of Curdon, was lucky in securing Cherry 4231, which the old cattleman, James Hensley, asserted was descended from stock bred on the farm for more than eighty years. " Another eminent herd bred in this parish, was that belonging to Mr. John Joyce, Allercott ; it was descended from stock brought from Kingshampton by the grand- father of the owner. It was always a great treat to look through this herd, and the heartiest hospitality was extended to all comers. No better evidence can be afforded as to the esteem in which the herd was held than the prices realised in the sale ring at its dispersion THE BREED IN SOMEESETSHIEE. 71 in 1871, which amounted to an average of £38 Os. 6d. per head. Outside this parish of Timberscombe must be mentioned the herd of Mr. Eichard Snow, AshweU, who owned a very choice herd, but unfortunately he became infatuated with the idea of crossing, and kept but a small number of the old stock pure. These shortly after his death were removed by his son to Bratton Court, near Minehead, and he soon became tired of them and sold them privately — one cow. Snowdrop, being purchased by Mr. John Joyce, from whom I got a granddaughter. Snow- drop 3938. There is ijot, it is believed, at the present time, any direct descendant in the female line existing. Through Snowdrop, however, which bred for me Lord Snowdrop 1396, the blood percolates in many a good animal. Amongst his daughters. Lady Lovely 6452 was perhaps one of the best; bred by Mr. G. Eisdon, she became the property of Mr. -Walter Farthing, And at his sale in 1882, was purchased by Mr. A. C. Skinner. The Lyddons, of Edbrooke, near Winsford, for very many years bred big sized cattle — the bulls generally meeting with a ready sale. A small remnant of the original stock is still kept on the farm. Mr. James White, of Burrow, was a great stickler for size ; his cattle were generally of a lightish hue. On one occasion Mr. James Bond, who was co-partner with Mr. Bult in the purchase of Hun- dred Guinea, bought a bull ; on the completion of the purchase Mr. White was requested to hold up his hat for the money, and when the bank notes, in which payment was made, were counted, and some were being put on the edge, the purchaser remarked : ' If any one enquires what you got for your bull, you can conscientiously say, a hat full of money.' " At Dunster Castle there was kept for many years a thoroughly useful herd which supplied the needful to the dairy without the aid of other breeds. The bull calves were steered and sold to neighbours for rearing, whilst the heifer calves were retained. When the present owner came into possession of this princely estate — which is, perhaps, as well calculated to carry a first- 72 DEVON CATTLE. class herd as any to be found if we search England through— he had a few Devons purchased and expecta- tions were raised that it was intended to strengthen and improve the old stock ; this, however, was not to be, as the whole of the herd was sold by auction in 1888. Mr. Thomas Oatway, a tenant on the above estate, also bred Devons at Marsh for many years. I well remember a cow called Damsel, a prize-winner at the Dunster Cattle Show year by year : her five daughters following in the steps of their dam so far as prize-winning was con- cerned. These were indeed a beautiful family group, and the owner, who was not by any means of a boasting disposition, asserted in private that he thought it would be difficult to find a better family group with the same number of representatives. Strange as it may appear, the owner of this herd fancying that his cattle were not big enough, sent the whole of his cows and heifers to Bickham two or three years in succession, to be served by Shorthorn bulls. Not one of the cross-bred calves had any undue amount of white, and so far as colour was concerned, they would have passed muster for pure-bred Devons ; this step, however, led to the downfall of the herd. At Higher Hopcott Farm, another holding on the Dunster Castle estate, the breed was most successfully cultivated by Mr. Nurcombe, who was very partial to Quartly stock. Occasional exhibits were made at the Eoyal, the Bath and "West of England and local shows, with a fair amount of success ; this herd was dispersed in 1873, and realized an average of about £20 each. It was at Hopcott that Earl of Exeter 38, a prize-winner at the Eoyal shows at Exeter and Windsor, ended his career. Mr. Giles, "Withycombe, was exceedingly jealous of his cattle which he fondly thought were superior to those of other people, and he refused to sell cows or heifers on any terms except for slaughter. A neighbour, however, purchased one clandestinely from the butcher, a circumstance which got to Mr. Giles's knowledge, and he refused ever after to sell to that knight of the cleaver. Mr. John Howse (the father of THE BEBED IN SOMEESETSHIEE. 73 •the present exhibitor of that name), bred Devons at Leighland : he was wont to say that his most fortunate hit was the purchase of a heifer caK from a Mrs. Sully, Eoadwater, for 35s. This animal, he said, would not have •been dear at the time of purchase at £35, as she after- wards proved to be such a valuable breeder. The cattle ■composing this herd were of the deep, thick, blocky pattern which ensures good constitutions, and they in addition possessed great aptitude to fatten. On the adjoining farm at Leigh Barton, a grand herd was maintained for many years. In 1857, it was sold by auction, and realized the good all-round average of JS24 2s. 8d. : it is believed that the only direct de- scendants of this herd are now to be found with Mr. William Oatway, the present tenant of the farm. At Swansea Farm, Withiel Florey, the Messrs. W. and E. Lyddon long cultivated a very fine herd ; their bulls were in great request both to serve the cows of their neighbours, and also when offered for sale. At the death of the surviving brother, the herd was bequeathed •to their nephew, Mr. Cornish, Willett, whose sons now ■duly appreciate the good old blood. For some years the herd at St. Audries, owned by Sir A. A. Hood, Bart., was in high repute. Stock were first obtained from Mr. Eobert Gibbs's sale at Cothelstone, in 1852. At a draft sale of cattle belonging to Mr. James Hole, Knowle, Mr. G. Tucker acting on Sir Alexander's behalf, was fortunate in securing Miss York 300, then in calf to Earl of Exeter 38. The produce, Sir Peregrine 722, proved of inestimable value both to this herd and also to that of Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, who subsequently became possessed of this buU. Master Alio 881, and Master Arthur 882, both bred at St. Audries, were successfully exhibited by Mr. Walter Farthing. Other herds there doubtless have been, each of greater or less merit. The district embraced is a limited one, and I have not purposely omitted to mention any herd which has now become extinct. IStot one of those I have already referred to was registered ; in fact, several 74 DEVON CATTLE. were dispersed before Colonel J. T. Davy commenced collecting information for his Herd Book. There are two herds remaining which were registered, viz. : those: of Mr. James Hole, Knowle, and the Holnicote herd of Sir T. D. Acland, Bart. Eeferring to the former, the late Mr. Hole's father was anxious to maintain size whilst increasing the quality of the herd by the use of North Devon buUs. The sire which I first remember at the head of this herd was Champion 17, whO' distinguished himself in the show ring by winning first, prize at the Eoyal show at York in 1848 — this was a. home-bred buU ; his sire. Hundred Guinea 56, and dam Favourite, were both bred at Champson. This bull was. succeeded by Baronet 6, bred by Mr. James Quartly ; he was a first prize winner at the Eoyal at Norwich in 1849, and realized the highest price the Quartlys ever made for one of their bulls. Amongst some notes in my possession from the pen of Colonel J. T. Davy (who was at Knowle with Mr. Quartly when the bargain was. made), he records it at £150. Then came Earl of Exeter 38, bred by Mr. John Quartly, and winner of prizes as already stated at the Eoyal shows at Exeter and Windsor. Several home-bred balls were then used. Unfortunately the owner of the herd lost sight of robust- ness of constitution ; this, added to the hard keeping- which they were subjected to, dwarfed their frames and brought the herd into ill-repute. It was cleared out in 1875 at an average of £25 18s. 7d. Devons were doubt- less bred at Holnicote for many a long year, but I never- heard even a hint whence the original stock were obtained. The bull Quartly 113, a full brother to the celebrated Hundred Guinea, found a home here. My recollection of the herd at the time of sale, which was early in the fifties, is that the cattle possessed nice coats, smart heads, good backs, and were full of quality, but by some old breeders they were considered to be some- what small. "The question often arises, 'Are the Devons impro-ving; or not ? ' Some contend that they have lost size ; granted THE BREED IN SOMEESBTSHIRE. 75 that they have as a breed ; we must not, however, for- get the alterations which have occurred in agriculture- say within the last half century. Cattle were then used to a considerable extent in the plough and but few steers were grazed without being worked, the oxen generally being fed at about six years old. Therefore, for the purposes of labour big, bony, growing steers were in much favour. Now the working of oxen in this locality is a thing of the past. Moreover the consuming public require smaller joints than of yore. In the past an ox of 80 score- lbs. (16001bs.) was worth more per score than one of" sixty or seventy (12001bs. to 14001bs.)at Christmas time; now the greater weights are almost unsaleable. Often have I heard cows lauded for having lumps of fat on their rumps as big as one's head, and a pit on their backs that would hold a pint or more of water. What would be thought of such animals now ? At present we require those with plenty of lean meat, a great aptitude to fatten and with forms as even as a die — in fact some assert that a good specimen of the breed should be without points ; each part so neatly dovetaiUng into the other that it is hard to define where one ends and the other begins." Mr. Samuel Kidner, Bickley Farm, Milverton, favours- us with the following notes on impressive herds in the-, district of Somersetshire in which he resides : — "In the- vale of Taunton Deaneand extending westwards towards Devonshire there have existed, as far back as authentic records are available, cattle possessing the same leading characteristics as their descendants of the present day. These, though having more massive frames and greater size, and whilst perhaps lacking somewhat in gaiety and aristocratic appearance, were in all probability, in their more remote ancestry, identical with the North Devons as found in the neighbourhood of North Molton. The variation in type and size is easily accounted for by the difference of soil and climate and the selection of those living under varied conditions in adjusting their cattle to their requirements. Leaving, however, the latter factor out of the question there is stiU the tendency found to. '76 DEVON CATTLE. ■revert to different types in the different localities. And I think the broader views which now prevail, consequent upon the opportunities for closer and more frequent inter- course in the present day, have had a beneficial effect on all alike, so that by the interchange of blood, refinement has been given to the cattle bred in Somerset and size to the somewhat diminutive North Devon, with a resulting greater uniformity of character throughout. In these remarks it is impossible to leave out of consideration the influence of registration and the show-yard, and in this west country we are not in advance of others in a certain narrow minded objection to both by many otherwise great breeders. They forget that in the case of the show animal, if it does not accord with v^hat in their view is the most profitable specimen, yet if persevered in sound arguments prevail in the end. Their influence should not therefore be lost in a good cause. The outcome of our registration should be the record of the means by which the most satis- factory results have been obtained, and as a guide in the selection of worthy sons of worthy ancestors ; and not neces- sarily a record of inbreeding and unnatural alliances cul- minating in a degenerate and diseased offspring. This, however, is somewhat of a digression, my object now being more to bridge a space between what we learn from writers in the last century and the more authentic records of the present day. In this we are dependent to a great extent upon the memory of those of an older generation. This fact however is certain — that before the end of the last and extending to the middle of the present century the neigh- bourhood of which I am writing was celebrated for a fine race of cattle known as the Devon breed, possessing at the •same time great scale, quality, good milking properties, and, in the case of the oxen, what was considered to be of equal importance in those days : a hardy, enduring and -■active frame which especially fitted them for draught pur- poses, after which they readily fattened into oxen of the highest quality. Amongst the herds of the past, which have perhaps left the greatest mark, as having exercised their influence on those of to-day, many names are still THE BEEED IN SOMEESBTSHIEE. 77' fresh in the memorj" of the present generation or are familiar by tradition. The first breeder I will mention is Mr. Eobert Gibbs,. Cothelstone, from whose herd, at its dispersion, animals went to St. Audries, Webhill and other homes, whilst many remained to form the nucleus of another Cothelstone herd maintaining their- leading characteristics for many generations, if not to ■ the present day, and exercising a general influence for good. A prevailing defect seems to have been a coarse- ness of the shoulders, with a slackness behind them. They, however, possessed great scale, flesh, constitution and uniformity of character, and in the year 1825 Mr. Darke, Park Farm, North Petherton, is said to have given £200 for four oxen. Mr. Gibbs, Longlands, about this time also possessed a very fine herd, the bulls from which exercised great influence in the neighbourhood, the most- noted^ perhaps being a son of the celebrated Daisy, of showyard fame; this cow weighed 64 score (12801bs.) when killed. Mr. Charles Gibbs, Tatham, close by, must not be omitted, as in addition to being a successful breeder he helped to maintain the reputation of the breed, both at the breeding and fat stock shows, and was victori- ous in many a hard fought contest. " Other names which occur, as among the foremost . breeders of the past, are the grandfather and father of Messrs. Hancock, Halse, whose herd has always been in. the foremost rank, diffusing its influence through many noted sires among the Devons. The oxen from this herd, have always made a grand display and the last survival of worked oxen in the district is to be found here. The cow Dorothy from this herd was shown at the Eoyal at Oxford, and weighed 60 scores (12001bs.) when killed, leaving a valuable progeny behind. Other good breeders . of the past were Mr. Harper, Cheddon, who won many prizes at the Taunton shows, and descendants from whose herd were among the best at Stowey Court ; . Mr. Murray, Cannington ; Mr. Pratt, Staplegrove ; Mr. Hodges, Goathurst ; Mr. Bond, Webhill, whose herd was descended from the old Cothelstone stock ; Mr. 78 DEVON CATTLE. Miles, Yard Farm, Bishops Lydeard ; Mr. Ocock, West Moncton, from whose stock the Smithfield and Bir- mingham champion ox of 1876 was descended ; Mr. Fouracre, Buckland, and many other noted breeders might be named. They all possessed fine herds, and all would in their day have found advocates for pride of place. " In somewhat later days there are two names green in our memories, without allusion to whom this sketch would be incomplete. Mr. Blake, Cutsey, by judicious selection and spirited purchases, chiefly of descendants of the Webhill, Ash, Buckland and Preston stocks (all noted for producing oxen of great scale and value) built up one of the largest and most valuable herds in the county, in which great size and constitution were always maintained. The public appreciation of this herd was shown by the good prices obtained at the annual bull sale. We now coma to our old friend, the late Mr. Walter Farthing, whose Stowey Court herd was known ithroughout the world, and who perhaps did more for the "■ Eubies ' than any other man of his day. He not only possessed a splendid herd, perfected by a fine judgment, but he pushed and maintained them in the front rank in 'the show-yard, whilst his genial disposition and broad- minded views gave him an influence in Council which has bequeathed a lasting benefit to the west country. I think in scanning these notes it will be seen that the neighbourhood of Taunton has been for generations the home of Devon cattle of no ordinary merit, and although we of the present generation may claim supe- riority, there are those who hold the contrary opinion. In this regard, altered conditions have to be largely reckoned with ; and, admitting that our fathers bred >cattle of greater weight and grand appearance with hardy constitutions, these qualities, as has been said , were fitted for the days of draught oxen, when extra scale meant an increased value per score, and were obtained by time, thinner stocking, and consequently more natural food ; 'whilst sheep, which are robbers of cattle, were little kept THE BEEED IN SOMEB.SETSHIEB. 79 among them. But in these days of high pressure, and «arly maturity, and when smaller and younger carcases are required, the case has been met by the breeding of animals with compact, hardy frames, and capable of being fattened at any age, to yield as fine beef as the world can produce." 80 DEVON CATTLE. CHAPTER V. THE BREED IN OTHER COUNTIES AND ABROAD. About the year 1791, Mr. Coke (created Earl of Leices- ter in 1837), laid the foundation of his celebrated herd at Holkham, in Norfolk. Thither were transferred, from the native head-quarters of the Devon, the best and purest bred specimens which money could purchase. An interesting account of that herd, and of Mr. Coke's^ enlightened policy towards the Holkham tenantry in regard to the improvement of their cattle, is given by the- Eev. Henry Berry in the British Farmer's Magazine (vol. vii.) for November, 1833. Mr. Berry there writes : — " It. is now about forty-two years since Mr. Coke, very properly considering the difficulties he had to encounter on his light, poor soil, began to breed Devon cattle, and it is not a little creditable to his judgment that he has, during that period, scarcely referred to anything which may, properly speaking, be called a cross ; certainly to none of which he could permanently avail himself, and yet his Devons, take them altogether, are by far the best I have ever seen. I much doubt whether the county of Devon can produce such an animal as one of Mr. Coke's, bulls, the sire of the ox which embellishes this number of the Magazine." [In the number for May, 1834, vol. viii., a portrait of the bull himself appears]. " I am totally free from prejudice in these matters, and therefore candidly admit the ox in question to have been,, in my judgment, at the time I saw him, the most complete I ever put my hand on. I am sorry to say, Mr. Coke's indulgence of his neighbours' wishes consigns this ox to slaughter at home. Such an animal ought to appear THE BEEED IN OTHEE COUNTIES AND ABEOAD. 81 at Smithfield. He has, however, others coming forward, of high promise, and I trust he will gratify the Smithfield Club, on the first possible occasion, with a specimen. The dairy of Devon cows appears to be, and I am assured is, highly productive, each cow, no matter what her other excellencies, being rejected which proves a bad milker. They present great uniformity of character, with all the genuine distinctions of the pure North Devon cattle, and, with great aptitude to fatten, possess precisely the compact bodies and short legs which constitute the multum in parvo I have so often advocated." Mr. Berry then censures the Holkham tenantry (with some honourable exceptions) for their perverse prejudice in refusing to be convinced by forty-two years' de- monstration of the superiority of the Devons over their owTi cattle, and to exchange their " miserable and unthrifty home-breds, every wretched specimen conceiv- able of all that is bad," for the very profitable breed offered by their landlord. He says : — " It was an early object with Mr. Coke, to induce his tenantry to adopt the Devons, but he succeeded in a few instances only. In one of these he requested his tenant's wife to accept four Devon heifers as a present, and to give them a fair trial against the home-breds. The cattle were accepted, and the trial made, and it can scarcely be necessary to add the produce for the dairy was of very superior quality, while the advantage in respect to carcass was stiU more conspicuously evident. This tenant then became a breeder of Devons, and I saw on his farm some beautiful and most useful cows, but I am sorry to add an account of his inexplicable conduct as to his stock. He was disposing of his Devons, with- out any apparent motive, and substituting for his oxen of that breed some shapeless, unthrifty beasts, of immense bone, and, apparently, the produce of a cross between a bad Scot and a worse Norfolk home-bred." Mr. Coke, Berry records, did not restrict his generosity to his superior tenantry. The smallest holders, and cottagers, had also the opportunity of possessing good 82 DEVON CATTLE. Devons. Each year he had a number of in-calf heifers draughted and offered to these people at £12 each, £3 being returned to the purchaser, at his own option, for the calf, male or female ; and in the event of any heifer prov- ing a bad milker, she was exchanged for another, so that the small holder was certain of a good milker for £9, or, vrithher calf £12. Mr. Coke did not work his own North Devon oxen, but kept twenty pairs of South Devon oxen for ploughing. They proved admirable workers, active and docile. Berry's opinion upon the question of size is thus expressed : — " I am well convinced from seeing the stock at Holkham, from hearing Mr. Coke's sentiments, and from every circumstance I met with, at all bearing on the subject, that with the Devons as well as the larger breeds, it is folly to attempt to increase size — that there is only one best model for all — and that is, the frame combining great substance, well compacted together, with deep ribs and short legs. It remains to observe with respect to the Holkham Devons, that their pastures had, in common with all in the county, suffered much from the drought, but notwithstanding this, and that they had only a sheep-bite when I saw them, the cows were most of them fat and healthy, and exhibited in a striking degree their fitness to fight their way under the difficulties attending a light thin soil and short bite of grass." In a preceding chapter (p. 57) Mr. Berry's reference tp the stock of Mr. Blomfield is casually introduced. That Mr. Blomfield was a tenant upon the Holkham estate, and to him, as Mr. Berry observes, "the country is indebted for the hints which led to the transplantation of turf for the purpose of laying down land to permanent pasture, at Holkham." Mr. Blomfield had an excellent herd of Devons ; the cows were particularly good in the fore-quarters, and appeared to be giving a great quantity of milk. For a considerable length of time they had been bred from close relationships, and both Berry himself «nd Mr. Blomfield appear to have agreed that certain THE BEBED IN OTHER COUNTIES AND ABROAD. 83 defects which had appeared in the herd were results of consanguineous breeding, and that a cross (meaning, no doubt, a change of Devon blood, not a cross with another breed) was needed to correct those defects. The cows averaged in their yield one ounce of butter to a pint of milk, and four Devons could be grazed, to keep in high condition, on the same quantity of land which would support only three of the home-bred Norfolk cattle, in in- different condition. The difference of experience of the Devons as dairy cattle, between the breeders in their native counties of Devon and Somerset and those of the county of Norfolk, is very remarkable, especially when we remember that the Holkham adoption of the Devon breed of cattle dates as far back as the year 1791 ; so that whilst the old writers to whose works we have referred, taking their information from the western counties, describe the Devon as a breed of little or no value for the dairy, Mr. Coke and some of his tenants, engaged in developing the milking powers of the breed, found the Devon readUy responsive to their treatment. In the county of Essex, too, Mr. Conyers, of Copt Hall, near Bpping, a great dairy district, had in the last century a Devon herd of which (Youatt says about the year 1788, but it was more probably later) he wrote : — " Upon an average ten cows give me five dozen pounds of butter per week in the summer and two dozen in the winter. A good North Devon cow fats two calves a year. My thirty North Devon cows have this year, upon an average, produced a profit of £13 14s. per cow." Garrard (date 1800) referring to Mr. Conyers, says that he had been induced, some years previously, to buy twenty-four Devon heifers and two bulls ; that they had done so well that he had since doubled the number of cows, and that many Essex proprietors and farmers were sending for considerable numbers of Devon cows, either for dairies or as nurse cows. Our doubt of Youatt's accuracy in regard to the year 1788, as indicated in the parenthesis above, is founded upon Young's evidence {Annals, vol. 84 DEVON CATTLE. 30, p. 345) that Mr. Conyers purchased his first Devons " five years ago." Young's farming tour, of which he there wrote, was in 1796, but the volume from which we quote was issued two years later. "Whichever date we take, we have only the range of 1791-3 as comprising the year of Mr. Conyers's first purchases of Devons. The Eev. W. Bingley (1809) also mentions the dairy Devons of Mr. Conyers. From an indefinite period a variety of " the red cow " of the west and south of England has been kept in the great dairy county of Dorset, and for very many years past bulls, and sometimes females too, have been pur- chased in Somersetshire, occasionally also in Devonshire. Some of the Dorset herds, consequently, are of pure and registered Devon blood, whilst others, unregistered, have been bred so long from sires of known purity that they are virtually pure Devons. In these herds are cows of a capital dairy type, thoroughly useful, and kindly feeders at last. They are usually let in dairies of 20, 25, 30, 40, or 50, larger dairies being most commonly divided and let to different dairymen ; but sometimes a dairyman rents a plurality of dairies. The system prevailing in Dorset- shire forty years ago, from which there is now very little variation beyond that of the rate of rent, was described by Mr. Louis H. Euegg in an article upon the production of butter, contributed to the Journal of the Boyal Agricultu- ral Society of England, of the year 1853, vol. 14 (first series) part I., p. 74; and again just a quarter of a cen- tury later, by the late Mr. John Chalmers Morton, in the " Memoir of the Agriculture of England and Wales," prepared by himself and other eminent agricultural authorities, under the direction of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England for the Paris International Congress of 1878, and printed in the 14th volume of the second series of the Society's Journal. At the time of Mr. Euegg's writing, the rent of the cows varied from £8 lOs. to £10 each. When Mr. Chalmers Morton wrote, the range was between £12 and £13. The agreement is for twelve months from the 14th of February. The farmer THE BKEED IN OTHER COUNTIES AND ABBOAD. 85 apportions certain fields to the use of the dairyman, allowing for each cow, Mr. Euegg says, from 2| to 3 acres, for grazing and for hay ; Mr. Morton says about an acre of pasture, and an acre of hay grass, defining the latter as feed after the hay has been grown and saved. But the productive power of the land, of course, will regulate the quantity of pasture and meadow allowed to each cow. In the old agreements, according to Mr. Euegg, there was a clause allowing the dairyman 5s. weekly for each cow that had not calved before Old Lady-day, or heifer before the first of May ; the calves to be taken by the farmer at a valuation, or at the value of a quarter's rent, on Old May-day, and the " bar- reners" to be given up by November 23rd. A dwelling- house, dairy and other buildings, with proper appoint- ments for the dairy business, are provided by the farmer, the rent calculated at so much for each cow covering the whole accommodation. In the case of letting herds of highly-bred Devons, now of much more value than in former years, when pedigree was neglected, special terms are sometimes made for the return of the calves, or of selected calves, in better condition than the ordinary old terms would secure. There are also cove- nants relative to the division of cost of artificial or extra food ; and roots are sometimes supplied ; but as regards the latter, the relations between the farmer and the dairyman are usually not strained, and if the grass season should happen to have been below the average, or winter set in early, and roots be plentiful, the farmer's own in- terest induces him to assist the dairyman to keep the cows in fair condition. The breeding of superior Devons in Dorsetshire has been long fostered by the establishment and main- tenance of the Bryanston herd of the late and present Viscounts Portman, and the prize lists of the principal agricultural shows have borne abundant evidence of the judgment exercised in the breeding and management of that herd. Other landowners, and many enterprising farmers, have joined the ranks of the Devon breeders in 86 DEVON CATTLE. that county, and we must specially mention the names of Messrs. Pope, of Toller, and E. B. Warren, of Childe Okeford, so that Dorset has ample resources for the per- petuation of the breed as now adapted, by selection and special management, to the needs of a dairy district. Mr. Thomas Chick, Stratton, Dorchester, writes to ug as foUows regarding some of the old herds in Dorsetshire : "There have been many herds of Devon cattle in the county of Dorset, which were well-known and stood out as being composed of better specimens than the ordinary Devon dairy cows in days gone by, but which have now become extinct as herds. The stock from them have, however, formed the foundation of, or have been blended with existing herds, so that almost every Dorset herd to-day can trace its pedigree in some line to these famous old-time foundations. Perhaps one of the most potent for good to other breeders was the Toller Whelme herd belonging to the Pope family. A herd had been in exist- ence there for several generations, and was at one time owned by Ezekiel Pope, who was born in the year 1673, and died in 1735. His son, John Pope, born in 1718, died in 1794, succeeded him ; he, in turn, was succeeded by his son, William Pope, born in 1752, and died in 1831 ; then the herd became the property of the late WiUiam Pope, who was horn in 1800, and died in 1879. His good judgment and careful breeding during a long life, brought and kept the herd to the high degree of usefulness which it attained. Bulls were obtained by him chiefly from Quartly, Merson and Davy, with occasionally later on a sire from the neighbourhood of Taunton. One from Mr. Gibbs proved a valuable addition, and another from Mr. Merson did good service. The great object always aimed at by the late Mr. William Pope was to have a cow with quality, prone to put on fat when no longer giving milk and hardy enough to thrive on those high cold hills, and yet withal a good milker ; if she did not come up to the required standard for milk she was disposed of to the butcher. Among the best families at Toller Whelme were the Damsel and the Fancy. The former were of THE BREED IN OTHER COUNTIES AND ABROAD. 87 large size and excellent milkers ; the latter being of excellent quality and symmetry, but not invariably so reliable at the pail. Within a few miles of Toller Whelms there are many large dairy herds of Devons nearly all of -which have derived benefit from the Toller Whelme blood, and it is a question into what part of Dorsetshire bulls from this herd have not found their way and improved the cattle of the county. On the death of the late Mr. WiUiam Pope, the herd passed into the hands of his nephew, the Eev. W. J. Pope, who having let the estate in 1884, had a dispersion sale of the herd, the tenant, Mr. John Dight, buying many of the animals, so that there is still a good herd of Devons at Toller Whelme, containing a large proportion of the blood of the old stock. The New Bam herd at Abbots- bury was established by the father of the late Mr. Shetler, at the Home Farm, Cricket St. Thomas, which he rented, holding also the ofBce of estate steward. In the year 1805 twenty-two dairy cows were bought by him at a place four- teen miles below Exeter, at a large sale of about ninety head of cattle, which at that time realised very high prices. The herd was kept on at Cricket St. Thomas, until 1830, when Mr. Shetler removed to New Barn Farm, Abbots- bury, taking the herd with him and increasing the number by the purchase in that year of twelve more, at a sale about ten miles below Exeter. The late Jonathan Neale, a well-known dealer and good judge of cattle, considered these to be the best twelve cows he had ever seen in one lot ; they all had white, or rather pink (not black) noses, white horns, and also white udders. Bulls from Devon- shire were used for a great number of years after that time, and some were afterwards bought from the Toller Whelme and Little Toller herds ; nothing except a pure Devon buU was ever used in the herd from the time of its formation, in 1805, until the dispersion sale about twenty years ago. The late Mr. John Azariah Smith, came to Bradford Peverell about forty years since, bringing with him a herd of good Devon dairy cows of his own breeding. He shortly afterwards bought several very well bred cows from Mr. 88 DEVON CATTLE. Brook, Brimsmore Tree, near Yeovil, whose herd was of Quartly and Davy pedigree. With these cows he used bulls bred by Mr. John Bodley, Stockley Pomeroy, Devon. About four or five years later he purchased Eachel 2307, Young Hebe 2450, and some other good young cows bred by the late Lord Portman, at Bryanston, and for a bull went to Holland, buying Exchange 627, from Mr. John Quartly. With these materials he bred many prize- winners at the Eoyal, Smithfield, and other large shows, besides gaining local prizes without number. At the time of his death Bracelet 3229a (the dam of Mr. William Perry's celebrated bulls, Benedict and Bravo) was in the herd, being afterwards sold to Mr. Perry. In consequence of the owner's death, the herd was dispersedby auction on the 14th of February, 1879, at Dorchester. The Toller Fratrum, or Little Toller herd, was established by, and was in the possession of the Whittle family for three genera- tions. As a proof of the good dairy qualities of this herd, it may be mentioned that it was let, according to the Dorsetshire custom, to dairymen of the name of Yeates, who continued to rent the dairy for three generations — up to the dispersal of the herd in 1876, after the death of the last owner, the late Mr. Edward Whittle. During the lastthirty-two years of the existence of the herd, bulls from Matthew Paull, Samuel Farthing, James Davy, Ed- ward Pope, WiUiam Pope, John A. Smith, Walter Far- thing and E. Boucher, were used. " Well does the writer remember having seen a draft of. about a dozen barren cows from this herd in Dorchester Market, some forty years ago — their grand horns, good curly coats, with level big frames, were impressed upon his memory. At the dispersion sale on February 15th, 1876, cows sold up to £46, and bulls up to £44 2s. Many Dorset herds have profited greatly by the addition made to them by purchases at this sale, where size, symmetry, quality and milk were combined in many of the animals. BuUs sold from the herd at various times made their mark, and improved those stocks in which they were used as sires. THE BREED IN OTHEE COUNTIES AND ABEOAD. 89 " There were, some few years since, three herds of Devon cattle, which, although in the county of Somerset, were only just over the borders of Dorset and belong rather to the latter county where they certainly left their mark. The name of Matthew Paull, Compton Pauncefoot, as a breeder, judge and exhibitor of live stock was widely known. His herd of Devon cattle stood in the front rank and was held in very high estimation, his celebrated old bull having had cows sent to him from long distances. Another gentleman — the late John Weston Peters, Yeabridge, near South Petherton — was weU known as a breeder of some of the grandest Devon oxen ever shown, with their long horns curving upwards, beautiful mossy curly coats and immense bodies. At the dispersion sale of the herd after his death they realized high prices, some of the best cows and heifers coming into Dorset. The late Edward Pope, Great Toller, bought Prima Donna, a three year old heifer, for £46, besides others. The third name — that of Joseph Brook, Brimsmore Tree, near Yeovil, — was at one time well known as a breeder of Devons of the highest class. His best cows were eventually bought by the late John A. Smith, Bradford Peverell (who also had a few from Matthew Paull) and incorporated into his herd. From these herds many animals in Dorset at the present day can trace descent. There have been many herds of Devons kept as dairy cattle in Dorset and from which bulls or heifers for breeding purposes were sold. These are now extinct as individual herds. Amongst them may be named the herd at Moorbath, Symondsbury, owned by the late Thomas Fookes and his father ; the Askerswell herd which belonged to the late A. Chick and was bred principally from Matthew Paull' s and the Toller Whelme herds ; the herd at Eype, Symondsbury, owned by Alfred Pitfield and his father ; the Coker's Frome herd founded in 1860 by Henry Mayo, from which bulls were for some years sold annually and which realized a very high average when it was dispersed at Dorchester in 1889. Another herd, established by Mr. Thomas F. KeUaway at Shilvinghampton in 1871 — and replenished in the foUow- 90 DEVON CATTLE. ing year by the purchase of fourteen cows and a bull at th& sale of Mr. Shetler's old established herd at New Barn Earm, Abbotsbury — was highly esteemed. From the above animals and a few other well bred cows he raised a good and valuable dairy of Devons, afterwards using bulls from Toller Whelme, Compton Valence, and the late Mr. W. T. Culverwell, at Durleigh, from whom he obtained Prince William 1824. Bulls bred by Mr. Kellaway from the old Shetler strains were used in several of the best herds in Dorset, and when the herd was dispersed in 1890 the cows and heifers were bought to assist in founding new herds as well as to, replenish existing ones. There were several dairies of good Devon cows in Purbeck some' few years since. One at Encombe owned by Lord Eldon contained really good specimens of the breed. Many other names occur as breeders and owners of pure Devon dairy cows, such as the late John Sprake, Wynford Eagle, Westmacott, at Abbotsbury ; James Burt at Mapperton ; the late T. Sampson at Kingston Russell and Shilving- hampton, together with others." The county of Cornwall, if indeed it was not in cen- turies long past one of the nurseries of the red west coun- try breed, contains some herds which are known to hava been, through three or four generations of owners, herds of the Devon type. The history of the breeding of the Devon proper, however, dates from about the year 1820, when Mr. P. H. Eodd founded his pure North Devon herd at Trebartha Hall. That herd was maintained by his brother, the Eev. Dr. Eodd ; and some animals were purchased from it by Mr. J. H. Tremayne, whose herd at Heligan ranked among the oldest of the North Devon herds in the county. Stock breeding at Trebartha was carried on in a spirit of very lively enterprise, sheep being obtained direct from Dishley, as well as Devons from the North Molton district. The farm bailiff or hind at Tre- bartha, William Cleverdon, was a man of acute judgment who had eventually very firmly rooted opinions, which he gave out with strong emphasis upon opportune occasions, ^'hese occurred whenever he could gain the audience of THE BEEED IN OTHEE COUNTIES AND ABEOAD. 91 breeders. Seeing, more clearly than most men saw in that day, the mistake of breeding for large bone and size of frame, he went hot upon the opposite extreme, and used to advise his hearers to "stick to quality, gentlemen, stick to quality, if your bullock's no bigger than my fist." This view prevailed in the management of the Trebartha herd of Devons, although, quality obtained, size was not despised nor a diminutive animal preferred to one of larger growth and equal merit in other respects. After that time, how- ever, Dr. Eodd's Devons having found homes in other herds, some of the new owners desired to increase the size, and for that object introduced occasionally Somerset bulls, not the largest they could find, but larger than the average of the Trebartha bulls. Mr. J. H. Tremayne was succeeded by his son, Mr. John Tremayne, the present owner of the Hehgan estate, whose Devon herd there, sold to give place to a large and fine herd of Jersey cattle, still represented in his very choice herd at Sydenham, in Devon, supplied the founda- tion materials of Viscount Falmouth's famous herd at Tregothnan. The extension of the Devon in Cornwall is associated also with the names of Mr. Samuel Anstey, near !Fowey,_ the late Mr. Thomas Julyan, the father of the present Mr. Richard Julyan, of Tregidgio, and with those of the Dingle family, of Darley, and the Kittow family, both in the Callington district. Mr. Thomas Julyan bought cows from Mr. Eodd, Trebatha Hall, and also from Mr. John Quartly, Champson. The first cow he entered in the- HerdBook was Treasure bred by Mr. John Quartly. Mr. E. Julyan has also purchased cows from Mr. Quartly and from Flitton Barton ; his herd, still in existence and flourishing, will be found noticed in another chapter. Mr. John Tremayne, of Sydenham, in a letter as to the early herds in Cornwall, says: — :" The man who first introduced Devons into Cornwall was Mr. Francis Hearle Eodd, who was the pioneer of agricultural science in that county. Mr. Eodd obtained his stock chiefly from Quartly and from other breeders in North Devon. S2 DEVON CATTLE. About 1830 my father John Hearle Tremayne com- menced a herd by purchasing from Mr. Rodd, Mr. Quartly and Mr. Davy, and that herd vras kept up until his death in 1851, when it came into my hands. In 1860, in consequence of numerous cases of abortion occurring on my farm in Cornwall, I sold most of the herd, reserving only representatives of two families which I sent to Sydenham, North Devon, and from which I have bred and am still breeding. Lord Falmouth was the chief purchaser at my sale in 1860, and the cows he then bought were the foundation of his celebrated herd. Un- fortunately the Devons have been in very few hands in Cornwall. Mr. Thomas Julyan was an early breeder of them and went to North Devon for pure specimens of blood. These are about the only names that suggest themselves to me in thinking of the early history of Devons in Cornwall. Mr. John C. Williams, M.P., of Caerhays Castle, St. Austell, is at present the largest breeder of Devons in the county." In a subsequent letter Mr. Tremayne, responding to a further request for additional information, said : — " I am tempted to reply in the words of Canning's needy knife grinder ' Story, God bless you, I have none to tell. Sir ! ' The fact is that there were no persons as far as I can find out who systematically bred pure North Devons in Cornwall, when they were first introduced, except Mr. Eodd of 'Trebartha and my father. People bought them here and there, but there was no attempt at keeping pure bred herds of them for a long time, and of course it is impossible to trace the history of these individual specimens of the breed scattered about. My tenants were very glad to make use of the bulls belonging to my father and myself for cross breeding, believing that with the admixture of Devon blood they acquired a superior quality of flesh and good milking animals. And so after a time here and there a bull was bought, and as in the instance of Mr. Thomas Julyan of Tregidgio, and Mr. Samuel Anstey of Menabilly, pure bred herds began .gradually to be formed. Mr. Anstey's herd was dis- THE BEEED IN OTHER COUNTIES AND ABEOAD. 93 persed at his death. Mr. Julyan's is still kept on by his son. I mention these two instances as having come particularly under my own notice, Mr. Anstey having at one time been my father's farm baihff and the Messrs. Julyan being my tenants. Others may in the same way have started small herds but I have no knowledge of them. The great misfortune always has been that the Devons are in so few hands. Later on, as you know, the late Lord Falmouth started his herd chiefly from cows purchased of me and brought the breed into greater prominence." We may add that Trebartha Farm com- prised 225 acres. Periodical sales were held from 1846 to 1856, and by this means a large number of good animals were distributed throughout the county. The extension of the breed in distant counties, where for awhile the Devon has been established in isolated outposts, has in most instances received a check, not in any unsuitableness of the breed to the new district, nor in any indisposition to adapt itself to new ground, but rather in the very fact of its isolation and the conse- quent distance from sources of renovating blood. But invincible prejudice against strange breeds may have retarded its progress in some instances. The example of the majority of the Holkham tenantry unhappily illus- trates this drawback. The Duke of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey (Beds.), Earl Beauchamp in Worcestershire, the Hon. Dudley Pelham, and Mr. Wilkinson of Chawton, in the Isle of Wight, Messrs. Abraham and Samuel Umbers, and Mr. John Stubbs in Warwickshire, were among the friends of the breed who, in the earliest volumes of the Herd Book, con- tributed entries, whilst one bull, from Sir Thomas Dyke Acland's herd, sent to Mr. Scarth, travelled as far as the Orkneys. From an early period, and from time to time, the British colonist and the foreigner have recognised the merits of the Devon. In 1817, Mr. Patterson of Maryland, and in 1819 the Hon. Eufus King, had important shipments of Devons selected from the Holkham herd, for the United 94 DEVON CATTLE. States of America ; and many other North American importers have purchased Devons for both Canada and the Union. The Argentine Eepublic, the Cape of Good Hope, Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, have also imported considerable numbers of them. The Eev. Thomas Moore states that a few years prior to the date of his writing in 1829, the King of Denmark had Devons sent out to that country. Germany and France have both also purchased Devons. From nearly all those countries, but especially from the United States, Canada, the Cape, the Argentine Eepublic and Australia, exceed- ingly favourable reports of the well-doing of the breed, and of its increasing reputation among farmers, have reached the friends of the Devon in its English home. 3 bi ist;i» |i|i.^ ^^■il s^piii! fflPPPiili|l'!ff;|l»l|il lll!!4lilwi;!!l4lifl)H|!iilfil!ll|ii|i! I jllllillll OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 95 CHAPTEE VI. OTHER FAMOUS OLD HERDS. In previous portions of this book we have mentioned a good many of the leading old herds that have been instrumental in bringing about the improvement of the breed. This chapter will be devoted to a more detailed account of some of these herds and also to a reference to the composition of others of more recent origin, most of which are not now in existence. In compiling these notes we have availed ourselves of the information gathered together by Colonel Tanner Davy for a paper contributed by him to the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society (vol. v., Second Series), and which was subsequently j)rinted in the Journal of the Bath and West of England Society (vol. i., part 1, Third Series, 1869). Mr. John Quaetly succeeded to the occupation of Champson in 1836, and has since resided there. At the sale of the herd of his uncle, Mr. Francis Quartly, he pur- chased a bull calf, six cows, five heifers, and two heifer calves. Amongst these were Prettymaid 366, winner of first prize at the Bristol Eoyal in 1842, and her dam Curly 92. Mr. James Quartly succeeded his father, Mr. Henry Quartly, at West Mollaud in 1840, and at the dis- persion by auction of the herd there purchased about twenty head of bulls, cows, and heifers. Unfortunately, these gentlemen did not at either sale buy for them- selves, so that no means at present exist of ascertaining ■which lots they purchased. The Cbampson and West Molland farms adjoin, and as the two brothers bred freely irom each other's bulls, it is thought desirable to review collectively their proceedings as forming a connecting link between the past and the present. It may be added 96 DEVON CATTLE. that Mr. John Quartly still maintains his herd at Champ- son. From the very outset the brothers confined them- selves entirely to the old lines of blood propagated by their father and uncle, and in later years, when by chance a purchase was made of a female, this blood was not incorporated into their herd proper. As far- as can be gleaned neither ever purchased a bull, and the closest in-and-in system of breeding was pursued in both herds for many years. The first sire used was Sillifant 120, whose dam Pretty Maid 364 was by Forester 46. Sillifant was followed by his son Hundred Guinea 56, whose dam Curly 92, was by Forester 46. Hundred Guinea was sold to Messrs. Bult and Bond for the sum of 100 guineas ; hence his name, the price being con- sidered quite sensational in those days. After winning a few prizes at the Devon Agricultural Society's meet- ings, he was awarded first prize at the Eoyal Show at Bristol in 1842 and also won at Taunton and Tiverton Cattle Shows. Hundred Guinea was in turn succeeded by his son Prince Albert 102, whose dam Splendid 415, and also his sire were by Sillifant 120. Prince Albert was sold to Lord Lynedock. He was followed by Prince- of Wales 105, a son of Prince Albert, and having the double cross of Hundred Guinea through both sire and dam. Prince of Wales won first prize at the Eoyal Show at Shrewsbury and was sold to the Earl of Leicester. Baronet 6, by Prince of Wales, dam Beauty 20, by Hun- dred Guinea, followed. ThisTJull won first prizes at the- Eoyal Show at Norwich, the Devon Agricultural Society's meetings ; also at Dunster and Taunton Cattle Shows,, and was sold to Mr. James Hole, of Knowle, near Dun- ster, for £150, the highest price, it is believed, ever obtained by the Messrs. Quartly for a single animal. The next was Duke of Devonshire 35, by Baronet 6, and tracing on the dam's side to Tulip 451, the dam of Forester 46. He obtained first prize at the Eoyal at Exeter in 1850. Then came Earl of Exeter 38, sire Baronet 6, dam Cherry 66, the cow illustrated in the " Quartly Testimo- nial." This bull won prizes at the Exeter and Windsor OTHER FAMOUS OLD HERDS. 97. Eoyal Shows in 1850-51, and was sold to Mr. James Hole, of Knowle, who transferred him to Mr. Nurcombe, of Hopcott, where he ended his career. He was followed by Napoleon 259, by Duke of Devonshire 35, both sire and dam being by Baronet 6. He was a prize-winner at the Bath and West of England and Eoyal Shows. The other sires were Sultan 318, by Earl of Exeter 38, sire and dam being also by Baronet 6 ; Butterfly 378, by Sultan 318, the sire and dam both by Earl of Exeter 38 ; Duke of Chester 404, by Australian 365, who was winner of first prize at the Chester Eoyal, and was sold to Viscount Ealmouth ; Warrior 548, whose dam Milk- maid 295 was by Baronet 6 ; King of the Bretons 659, by Napoleon 259, winner of first prize at the Canterbury Royal, and like Warrior tracing descent from Longhorned Curly through her daughter Plower 187, by Prize 108, a branch unfortunately long since extinct in the female line ; Prince of Wales 910, by King of the Bretons 659, whose sire and dam were by Napoleon 259. Champson, 1035, a prize-winner at the Bath and West of England Show at Plymouth in 1873, was included in the final sale at Champson in 1870, when he was purchased by Mr. William Perry of Alder. Very few sires not of Messrs. Quartly's breeding, appear to have been used by them. One was Yeoman 960, whose breeding is thus recorded : bred by Mr. John Passmore, of Bishop's Nympton, Devon, sire, King of the Bretons 659, erandsire Napoleon 259 ; dam bred by Mr. Passmore, % Duke of Devonshire 35 ; granddam bred by Mr. Passmore. As Mr. Passmore was in the habit now and again of buying cattle of the Messrs. Quartly it is more than probable that this bull like Actaeon, a prize winner at the Exeter Royal, was entirely of Quartly blood. Mr. Jas. Quartly also used Duke of Flitton 2nd 825, Duke of Devon 1056, and Old England 1179. The two first named were bred by Mr. James Davy of Flitton Barton, and both traced direct descent from Flower 189, a purchase made at the West MoUand sale in 1840. Old England was bred by Mr. James Hole of Knowle and was by Duke of Edinburgh. 98 DEVON CATTLE. 823, a Flitton-bred bull. Of these Mr. John Quartly bred only from Duke of Devon. The persistence of this close breeding gave great prepotence to the bulls, ■which, stamped their character whenever they v^ere used on other herds. Further, this system of breeding, combined with the most promising of the young stock being selected for exhibition, had possibly much to do with diminishing the size and weakening the constitution of some of the cattle. The most impressive display ever made of stock bred by these brothers was at the Exeter Eoyal in 1850. The prizes for old bulls were awarded to Mr. George Turner's Duke of York, bred by Mr. James Quartly, and Actaeon, bred and exhibited by Mr. John Passmore, but full of Quartly blood. The second prize for in-calf-heifers was awarded to Mr. W. M. Gibbs, of Bishops Lydeard, the whole of the remaining prizes going to the Messrs. Quartly. It is asserted that when Mr. James Quartly was solicited to contribute to the fund required to induce the Eoyal Agricultural Society to hold their show at Exeter, he replied, "I suppose I must contribute, but I would rather give fifty pounds for the show to be held at John-o'-Groat's. If it comes here I will have to ruin all my best animals," and dearly it proved was the victory won. Shortly after that date Mr. James Quartly' s West Molland herd was greatly reduced through bad luck ; and when the owner retired from agricultural pursuits in 1874, only twelve animals remained to represent the old lines of blood. Among thedl was a heifer, lot 31, Eva, purchased by Mr. J. A. Smith of Bradford Peverell, near Dorchester, and afterwards registered as Bracelet 3229a ; she was dam of Mr. William Perry's two prize winning bulls, Benedict and Bravo, both by Druid, which taken together formed such a trio as will not soon be forgotten. Many old breeders who had the privilege of occasion- ally visiting Molland, will remember some of the quaint expressions that were used by Mr. James Quartly. He would condemn an animal now and again for being too big, and possibly he was in a great measure right, for the thin hilly pastures of North Devon would not maintain OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 99 cattle of great size. Again, the brothers to some extent neglected the shape of the horns, these adornments being regarded most jealously by Mr. Francis Quartly. His nephew James, when spoken to on the subject, used to retort, ' ' You can't eat horns ! " Mr. John Quartly informs us that the custom in rearing calves was to take them from their mothers at about a fortnight old and hand-feed them, with, at first, raw milk, which was soon supple- mented by skimmed, the calves getting neither com nor cake after weaning, except those that were intended for exhibition. He states that he is now convinced that this was a mistake, for had they treated the young animals more generously, they woiid have attained to more size and substance. It is well to note the weak, together with the strong points in the management of two herds whose owners have rendered such eminent services in perpetuating the North Devon variety of cattle in its purity, for which service they merit the lasting gratitude of breeders of Devons generally. It has indeed been asserted that no animal of this breed has ever possessed phenomenal excellence that has not had a great pre- ponderence of Quartly blood in its veins. The Champson hred, which still belongs to Mr. John Quartly, is noticed in a subsequent chapter. The Davy family bred choice Devons for a period of 150 years. John Davy, who died at Eose Ash, in 1790, aged 84, always bred them, and at his death, the herd was divided between two of his sons, John Tanner Davy, who inherited his property at Eose Ash, and William, who had the leasehold property of Flitton Barton, in North Molton. The elder brother, John, had always a noted herd, and after the establishment of the local agricultural societies he gained many prizes at Exeter and Barnstaple, particularly with his favourite cow. Flower, and her family. He was compelled by ill health to relinquish farming, in 1842, soon after the Eoyal Agricultural Society was established, or in all probability he would have been a successful exhibitor at its shows. He bred the grandsire of Tulip 451, dam. 100 DEVON CATTLE. of the celebrated bull, Forester 46, thus proving that in early days no jealous show-yard feeling existed among breeders, who living near and knowing one another well, bought, sold and bred from each other's bulls without reserve ; their aim being to improve the general symmetry, quality and flesh points of their cattle. Mr. Thomas, of Rose Ash, very successfully exhibited many animals bred by or immediately descended from Mr. J. T. Davy's herd ; among them the first prize bull at Exeter, Lopes 64, and the celebrated prize cow, Taunton 440, calved in 1837, who gained a silver cup at Taunton in 1840, also at Exeter as the best breeding cow, and in 1841 at Taunton, for the best cow and offspring. Her daughter. Birthday 38, who gained the first prize as a cow at the Devon show at Exeter, also at Barnstaple, was afterwards sold to Colonel Morris, New York, and there laid the foundation of a family of Devons, which were highly prized. Mr. Davy died in 1852, and was suc- ceeded by his son. Col. J. T. Davy, the founder of the Devon Herd Book, who bred among others Mayboy 249, of Forester descent, the winner of many prizes in the United States ; also Richmond 292, a Bath and West of England winner. The herd of Mr. William Davy, Flitton Barton, North Molton, combined size, quality and good milking properties. Previous to hia death, about 1840, he gained a number of prizes at the Devon Show at Exeter, and at the North Devon Show at Barnstaple. Since then the successes of his son, Mr. James Davy, at the Eoyal Shows, at the Taunton Show, at the Devon Show at Exeter, at the Bath and West of England, and at Barnstaple, were well known, and were doubtless attributable to the unprejudiced manner in which he occasionally availed himself of opportunities of infusing fresh but equally pure blood (which was a sine qua non), thus avoiding the evils of breeding in-and- in too closely. The Flitton herd gained its first laurels in the early days of the Royal Society's Shows, viz., at Oxford, in 1839, where Oxford 89, who had been pre- viously sold to Mr. Paull, won the first prize. He was OTHEB FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. .101 a son of Forester 46, and on hia dam's side was solely descended from prize cows bred by Mr. Davy. A year- ling heifer carried off the first prize at the Eoyal Agri- cultural Society's Show at Bristol. Nelson 83, gained the first prize at Barnstaple, and the second at the Eoyal Show at Windsor in 1851. Napoleon 3rd 464, gained a prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Newton, and the first prize at the SaUsbury Eoyal ; he combined Quartly blood on the side of the sire, with Davy blood on that of the dam. Eclipse 190, a first prize bull at the Bath and V/est of England Show at Tiverton, was of similar descent, and was sold to Mr. Charles Sturgeon for exportation to Australia. At the Eoyal Show at Battersea in 1862 the Society offered, in addition to the ordinary prizes, two gold medals — one for the best male Devon in any of the classes, and the other for the best female Devon. Mr. James Davy won both, with Duke of Flitton 613, and Temptress 1672. In dealing with this herd it is only fair to quote the report of the steward of stock at Battersea. At p. 379, Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, yoI. xxii., it is stated — " The Devons are the best I have ever seen, and I have attended eleven Eoyal Meetings ; the cows, heifers and yearling heifers especially, were very superior. Mr. James Davy, Flitton, sent five animals, and won four firsts and a second (against one of his own), besides tak- ing both gold medals with Duke of Flitton 613, and Temp- tress 1672." Princess Alice 2283, the first prize yearling, who had previously won the first prize as a calf at Leeds, was drawn out with Temptress for the gold medal. Fur- ther on the report says : — " Two such yearlings as Mr. Davy's Princess Alice and Young Empress 2448, have been seldom seen in one man's possession." At the Eoyal Show at Plymouth, his bull, Duke of Flitton 2nd 825, gained the second prize ; Empress 2nd 2669, won the first prize as a cow ; his two years and two months' old heifer gained a third, and his two yearUng heifers, daughters of Duke of Flitton 613, the first and third prizes. In December, 1867, Mr. Smith, of Exeter, 102 DEVON CATTLE. gained the first prize and a silver medal for an ox bred by Mr. Davy, and a grandson of his gold medal cow. Mr. Davy won first at the Eoyal Show at Man- chester in 1869 with the cow Actress 1749. Mr. Edwin F. Maunder, now resident agent for Lord AUngton at Crichel, favours us with the following interest- ing notes on the noted Flitton Barton herd. " The herd of Devons at Flitton Barton was owned by the late Mr. James Davy and was left by him to his sister, Mrs. Maria Langdon, with the exception of five animals which he gave to his nephew, Mr. William Langdon, Trimstone Barton, who was to pick from the whole herd, but upon his making his selections, Mrs. Maria Langdon purchased them for the sum of £1,000. The five animals selected by Mr. Langdon were Duke of Flitton 10th 1074, his dam Lavender 2819, Lovely Queen 2846, Temptress 3rd, 3961, and Gaylass 3530, all except Lavender great prize winners. The Flitton herd was one of the oldest and best to be found, and bulls were much sought after by breeders at home and abroad as it was full of the Quartly blood, and perhaps no animal ever made its mark more in any herd than did Flower 189, bred by Mr. Quartly and purchased by Mr. Davy at the West Molland sale in 1840. Almost all the best Devons at Flitton traced to this cow. I will now give you a few notes upon the herd as I per- sonally knew it. Mr. Davy was a wonderfully quick and good judge, seldom altering his opinion from the first sight he had of an animaJ. He was most particular about the formation of the shoulders — no bad shoulders for him, and he would not use a bull unless it had plenty of style and finish ; nor would he ever have the stock in any way pampered, excepting those that were intended for exhibition. It was at the Battersea meeting of the Eoyal Agricultural Society in 1862 that he first made a big haul of the prizes, winning both gold medals — one for the best male Devon with Duke of Flitton 613, and one for the best female Devon with Temptress 1672, also first and second for yearling heifers, and first for heifer calves. Temptress 1672, was a grand cow with a splendid head. OTHEE FAMOUS OLD HERDS. 103 such as one seldom sees ; moreover, she was a good and regular breeder. In 1860, she produced a heifer calf by Palmerston 4.76, named Actress 1749, which was sold at Bi periodical auction by misunderstanding, but Mr. Davy was most fortunate in re-purchasing her for £13 at a public sale. This cow was destined to rival her mother in beauty and grandeur, and was also, like her, a good breeder. Temptress 1672, also bred Temp- tress 2nd 3070, by Duke of Cornwall 820, purchased by Mr. John Eisdon at the dispersion of the Fhtton herd ; she bred Duke of Flitton 8th 1072, and many other good ajiimals, nearly all prize-winners, as she was herself, but to name all the show cattle would occupy too much space. I may, however, mention Temptress 3rd 3961. Actress 1749, was without doubt the best Devon cow I ever saw. She was never defeated, and bred the finest Devon bull that has come under my notice. Like his dam he was never beaten, commencing as a calf at the Eoyal at Manchester and continuing to take his class prize until he was an aged bull. His sire. The President 904, was out of Temptress 1672, so it will be seen that he was closely bred, both sire and dam being out of Temptress 1672, and thus full of Quartly blood. The President got excellent stock and was exported to America, Mr. Patterson being his purchaser. His son, Duke of Flitton 6th 1069, also went to America, but un- fortunately he was so upset by the voyage that he died soon after landing. The following were some of the principal families in the herd : the Cherries which were noted for their dairy properties, giving lib of butter a day for some months after calving, and that without corn or cake ; they were one of the oldest families belonging to the Davys. The Lovely Queen family, also good dairy animals, were very smart in appearance and full of style. Lovely Queen 2846, was winner of many prizes, includ- ing first at the Taunton meeting of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England, and first at the Smithfield Club show. Duchess of Plymouth 2661, of the Symmetry tribe, was another prize-winner, taking her name from her success 104 DEVON CATTLE. as a yearling heifer at the Plymouth meeting of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England ; she bred Duke of Flitton 4th 827, who was a great favourite with Mr. Davy ; he was a good stock-getter and was exported to Australia, where he was purchased by Mr. Eeynolds, in whose herd he did much good. He also sired Duke of Elitton 9th 1073, dam Cherry 3rd 2572, first as a calf at the Bath and "West of England Society's show at Dor- chester, and first at the Eoyal show at Cardiff; he was sold to Mr. Cochrane for America. There are very few purely bred Flitton animals now in existence, but many in Sir Wm. Williams' herd are so bred, as he purchased several specimens of the Temptress family at the Flitton Barton sale. A bull of the Temptress family named Nelson 1413, and sold to Mr. Bradbeer,5Pyrland, Taunton, did as much good as any sire ever sent into Somerset, a great number of the best cattle of the day claiming him as an ancestor." One of the most famous show herds of Devon cattle was that which for many years was bred by the late Mr. Geobge Tuenee, Barton, who commenced farming and stock breeding at Upcott, in Cheriton Fitzpaine, in the county of Devon, in 1818, having had his stock chiefly from his father, who had ranked high as a breeder of cattle and sheep for nearly half a century. While at Upcott (six years) Mr. Turner exhibited cattle and sheep in North Devon and Cornwall. In 1824 he removed to Barton, near Exeter, and farmed there vm'til 1861, exhibiting during that time Devon cattle and Leicester sheep, at the Cornwall and Devon County Agricultural meetings; at the exhibitions of the Bath and West of England Society, where one year he showed thir- teen animals and won thirteen prizes ; at the shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England ; at Birmingham ; at the Smithfield Club, and twice at Paris, where, on one occasion, he gained £120 in money prizes, besides several gold medals. He won first prize for Devons bred by himself at the Eoyal Agricultural Society's show at Cambridge in 1840, as well as at Liverpool in 1841 ; four. OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 105 three, four, and three prizes at the succeeding meetings at Derby, Southampton, Shrewsbury and Newcastle ; no fewer than five at Gloucester, four at Lincoln, and six at Carlisle, in 1853, 1854, and 1855, and as many as eight at Canterbury in 1860. At the International Show at Paris he shared with Mr. Jonas Webb the honour of conducting the Emperor and Empress round the English classes. He had indeed received more than 600 prizes during his career. On leaving Barton in 1862 to retire to Great Bowley — a smaller occupation, his own property — his business was somewhat restricted. His last sale took place in 1881 at a period of great agricultural depression, and his cattle did not realise such high prices as he had previously obtained for them annually. On the occasion of his departure from Barton he received a very handsome piece of plate on which the following words were inscribed. " To Mr. George Turner, Barton, in testimony of the sense his friends entertain of the important benefits he has conferred on the Western Counties by his persevering and successful efforts to inprove the breed of cattle, and his spirited and liberal conduct for the advancement of the agricultural interest in all its branches." In a sketch of his career which the late Mr. John Chalmers Morton contributed to the Journal of B.A.S.E. he quoted a letter from Viscount Bridport in which he said : — " Mr. Turner had in my opinion the best herd of Devons in 1862 of any Devon breeder. In that year he left Barton but con- tinued in a smaller way to breed cattle and sheep, main- taining his reputation as a successful breeder, until the last few years of his life. 1 may mention that when His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort established a herd of Devons in Windsor Great Park many of Mr. Turner's animals contributed to form it." Mr. Turner died in 1884. The first portion of his herd, as has been said, was inherited from his father, and to that he added by purchase infusions of the best Quartly and Davy blood obtainable, together with some good material derived from the stock of Mr. Halse. The herd was latterly divided into three leading general sections of which the Lady tribe was one ; 106 DEVON CATTLE. the second comprised the May Dew family and others, and the third was composed of the Duchesses. Besides these he had purchased three cows at Mr. John Quartly's sale. Colonel J. Tanner Davy remarks : — Mr. Turner bred the following "Eoyal" first prize bulls — Derby 23, comprising Quartly and Mogridge blood; Turner's Prince of Wales 106, of Davy and Quartly descent ; Omar Pasha 473, Protection 110, of Turner and Mogridge blood ; Duke of Devon 84, a winner at Gloucester and Paris, Czar 172, winner at Lincoln, and The Zouave 566, who was successfully shown and gained first prizes, as a calf, a yearling and an old bull at the Eoyal Shows. All these were descendants of Forester 46, and again two younger scions of his took, first and second prizes at the Plymouth Royal Show and second and third prizes at Battersea. Mr. Turner also gained many prizes with females, exhibiting for the first time at the Royal Show at Cambridge, where his two heifers gained prizes, and a first at Derby in 1843. Hawthorn 218, and Wallflower 472, own sisters, and Ruby 405, gained prizes at Windsor, the last also at Carlisle ; and Lady 241, was a prize cow at Gloucester. Vaudine 1699, a daughter of Wallflower 472, sustained Mr. Turner's reputation at Chester and at the Bath and West of England Shows ; Piccolomini 1540, won the second prize at Battersea and the stewards spoke of her as a " surpassingly good cow." Every one of these claimed descent from Forester 46. The Meesons of Brinsworthy bred Devons for two or three generations, and a goodly array of silver cups and other trophies on their sideboards bore testimony to their frequent successes. Mr. Richard Merson bred Cambridge 12, the first prize bull at the Eoyal Show at Cambridge, one of the R.A.S.E. first prize animals not descended from Forester 46. His Northampton 86, th& first prize winner at that place and of other prizes, aa well as his Sultan 122, who was placed second at York> and was afterwards sold to Mr; Blomfield in Norfolk, must however acknowledge their Forester descent. North- OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 107 ampton 86, became for a time the property of Mr. Bond, near Taunton, enabling the Somersetshire breeders to continue that improvement in the quality and symmetry of their herds which Hundred Guinea 56, had advanced ; he was afterwards sold to Mr. Umbers. Mr. James Merson, after the death of his brother in 1855, fully sustained the character of this herd as the successes of his Prince of Wales 499, winner of the first prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Cardiff, and a cup at Newport; Dairymaid 1260, Lovely 1461, and Stately 1656, as well as the numerous prizes gained at the Eoyal Shows at Newcastle, Battersea, and Plymouth, fully proved. Mr. W. M. GiBBS, near Taunton, gained the first prize at the Royal Show at Norwich, in 1849, for his yearling bull and a prize at Exeter for his heifer. He, with Messrs. Fouracre and Bond, for some years successfully exhibited the progeny of those two symmetrical bulls fiundred Guinea 56, and Northampton 86, mingled with their large framed cows. Mr. W. M. Gibbs succeeded to the herd at Longlands in 1863 or 1864, his father having previously possessed it in succession to his uncle Mr. Wm. MuUings about 1830. During Mr. W. M. Gibbs' ownership of the herd he had several of his cows served by Sir Peregrine 722, when the property of Mr. Perkins, Kingston, and the bull Young Sir Peregrine which won first prize at several shows was of the old blood of Daisy which descended from the Hundred Guinea stock. Mr. Gibbs had also two or three bulls got by Newton's Old Bull — all from the Daisy famUy. Mr. George Gibbs who went to Portman Farm and afterwards followed his uncle at Tatham, both ad- joining his brother's farm at Longlands, was also a. noted breeder. Their herds were in the front rank from 1850 to 1880, but registration was neglected and the. cattle did not receive names. In addition to Hundred Guinea 56, Mr. Thomas Bond's bull Northampton 86 and Newton's Old Bull, were used. The cow Daisy was a marvellously good animal and was a first prize; winner at the Smithfield Club Show. Messrs. Gibbs' ' cattle were exhibited very successfully. 108 DEVON CATTLE. Mr. EiCHAKD MoGBiDGE, Cophall, MoUand, was not a frequent exhibitor but he bred many animals which in other hands gained first prizes. He only once showed at Smithfield when his heifer obtained the first prize in her class and was the reserve number for the gold medal. Among cattle which he sold to the late Prince Consort was the first prize steer at Smithfield in 1854, own brother to his heifer. He sold Mr. Turner the bull Abrdel-Kader 134, winner of first prizes at the Eoyal Shows at Gloucester and Lincoln, and bred Countess 79, the dam of Czar 172, the first prize bull calf at Lincoln. Young Forester 759 bred by him gained the first prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Dorchester. All these were scions of Forester 46. Mr. Mogridge resides on a farm adjoining Champson and evidently for many years bred his cows to Messrs. Quartly's bulls. The Damsel tribe perhaps did more for the reputation of this herd than any other. They were descended from one of two heifers purchased with their calves at foot for £30, with a sovereign each for luck money, from Mr. John Passmore, of Aller, who bought their mother with calf at foot in Chumleigh Market, for seven guineas. Few Devon herds of past or present times had a more •distinguished career in the show-yard than that which belonged to the late Mr. Waltee Fabthing, Stowey Court, near Bridgwater, Somerset. The herd was established at Stowey Court by Mr. Walter Farthing's uncle more than seventy years ago, being based upon animals brought by him from Yarford, Kingston, near Somerset. Several of the leading families were directly descended from the original stock ; the remainder — introduced at various times — having been selected from some of the best herds in the counties of Somerset, Devon and Dorset. In the following account of the herd we quote chiefly from the preface to the sale cata- logue, dated April, 1882. From the year 1848 when Mr. Walter Farthing entered into possession of the herd the bulls that had been used comprised the following first- rate sires — Wonder 345, Lewis 226, Baronet 145, Sir OTHEE FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 109- Peregrine 722, Viscount 746, Master Alic 881, Master Arthur 882, Sir George 925, Master Harry 1161, Master Eobiu 1162, Master Willie 1163, Master James 1404, Eoyal Aston 1437, Lord Newsham 1391, Lord Stowey 1601 and Prettyface's Duke 1627 ; all — excepting Lord Stowey who was never exhibited — having been winners of prizes at the Royal Agricultural Society's Shows ; while there were in service in 1882 Lord Newsham 2nd 1594 and General Colley 1564. The first object in the breeding and management at Stowey Court — viz., the maintenance and as far as possible the improve- ment of the Devons as beef making cattle — had enforced much attention to increase of size in conjunction with strong constitution, early maturity and a bounteous growth of flesh of prime quality in return for a com- paratively small cost of food, but dairy properties were not neglected, the cows including some very good milkers. The position of the farm, in the immediate vicinity of the Quantock Hills, had given special import- ance to the question of hair as a necessary protection against the climate, and the coats of the cattle showed with what effect this had been studied. " Although countless prizes and cups redound to the credit of the herd, exhibition has always been a secondary and sub- servient object ; the cattle were never bred for show but specimens were exhibited to prove the capabilities of the herd and of the breed." We add particulars as to the most distinguished families. The Dairymaid and Molly families and the family of Charlotte were brought from Yarford and had been bred at Stowey Court from 1819. The second of these descended from Molly 902, the dam of the noted prize bull Viscount 746, one of the best bulls the herd ever produced, and of Lord Quantock 874, the sire of Mr. S. Kidner's celebrated champion ox of 1876. These three families may be said to have formed one group of the original Stowey Court and Yarford strains of blood. The Prettyface family was represented at the sale by Prettyface 3rd 5595 and General Colley 1564 ; it also traced to the old stock of Mr. Samuel Farthing, but came 110 DEVON CATTLE. intermediately through that of Sir A. A. Hood, Bart. The showyard successes of Prettyface 3803 were believed to be without parallel. She was first as one of a pair of yearlings at the Bath and West of England Show in 1874 ; first at E.A.S.E. and first at B. and W. of England in 1875, first at these shows in 1876, first at the Eoyal in 1877, first at the Eoyal in 1878, first at the Eoyal in 1879 and won the champion prize for best Devon female at the Kilburn International Show that year. The Verbenas descended from Verbena 2421, the dam of the Bath and West of England Society's cham- pion bull, Master Eobin 1162, and of the heifer First Eruit 3498, winner of the gold medal at the Smithfield Club Show. The Famous family traced back to Mr. Quartly's Longhorned Curly, and was headed in the catalogue by Famous 4448, dam of the Kilburn champion bull. Lord Newsham 1391, and of other distinguished winners. The Profit family descended from the celebrated stock of Mr. Eobert Gibbs, Cothelstone, through a cow purchased at his sale by Sir A. A. Hood, Bart. The Lady Curry- pool, Dolly and Nelly famiUes, were of one group, from the stocks of Messrs. John K. and Eobert Farthing. The Nelly family produced a Eoyal and Bath and West of England first prize cow. The Lady Halse and Daisy families were derived from the stocks of Messrs. Heame, Halse; the Peeress and Lady Stranger families, from the Court House herd of Mr. Eichard Stranger, North Moltou ; the Picture family from Mr. Shapland's, North Molton, and the Moss Eose family was that which in the hands of Mr. T. L. Senior, proved so successful in the Eoyal and other Shows. At the sale in April, 1882, the average for eighty-six head — the calves being reckoned as separate lots — was £40 7s. ; total, £3,470 5s. After the sale Mr. Farthing again gathered together a herd, and was successful in repurchasing several descendants of his old stock. A second and final sale took place, in April, 1884, when the following were some of the best prices:— Fair Maid 3434, Mr. George Eisdon, 53 gs. ; Bull calf, from Velveteen 5702, Mr. Walter, 56 gs. ; Moss Eose 9th, Mr. OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEBDS. Ill E. J. Stanley, 58 gs. To the above we may add a few notes from Colonel J. T. Davy's prize essay on the Devons. " Mr. Walter Farthing says : — ' I can trace my herd of Devons back to my great-great-grandfather, a Mr. John JFarthing, who lived at Yarford, in Kingston, near Taun- ton. Wonder 345, was the first ' Eoyal ' winner my predecessor, the late Mr. Samuel Farthing, ever bred, and the first he ever exhibited of his own breeding at the Eoyal Agricultural Show, which animal laid the ioundation of my best families, as prize winners.' Won- der 345, was the sire of many prize-takers at the Eoyal, Bath and West of England, and other Agricultural So- cieties' Shows, and in Paris ; viz., Lewes 226, who gained prizes at Taunton and Bath, in 1850, at the Eoyal Show at Taunton, at Bath and Bridgwater in 1851, at the Lewes Eoyal Show in 1852, and prizes at Warwick after he was sold to Mr. Umbers ; Bessie 534 — the first prize cow at the following shows, the Lewes Eoyal, the Bath and West of England, at the Taunton and Bridgwater Shows — was by Wonder, with a mixture of Davy's blood on the dam's side. Lovely 856, the first prize cow at the Eoyal Show at Lincoln, at Plymouth, and at Bridg- "water, was by Wonder, as was Punch 1001, a first prize cow at Paris." " Mr. Walter Farthing," adds Colonel Tanner Davy, " has gained nearly 160 prizes which entitle him to rank as the principal Devon breeder in Somerset (this was in 1869, after which Mr. Farthing added many to his list of successes.) His pre-eminence is due to his skill in freely mingling some of the purest North Devon blood with his own largerframed animals ; thuscombining quality, symmetry, size and the best specialities of different herds. His reply to the question ' Which are the two best animals, one male and one female, you ever bred?' bears out this assertion. He says, ' I think Viscount 746 and Nelly 1512 the best male and female I ever bred and the two best I ever exhibited in public as yet ; the two have won for me 24 prizes.' Viscount 746, who gained prizes at the Eoyal Shows at Leeds, Battersea and Plymouth, at 112 DEVON CATTLE. the Bath and West Shows at Truro and Wells, and at the Taunton and Bridgwater Shows was a combination of Farthing's, Davy's, Quartly's and Merson's blood, whilst Nelly 1512 was by Baronet 145, a son of Quartly's Baronet 6, out of Mr. Farthing's Punch 1001. It is still further apparent in the Eoyal and Bath and West of Eng- land-first prize bull Lord Quantock 452, in Prince 277, both by Baronet 6, Colonel 594 and Duke of Leeds 618 by Sir- Peregrine 722, of Quartly and Farthing blood, and claim- ing Forester descent. Bessie 534 combined Davy's and Farthing's blood and Fancy 704 was a grand-daughter of Mr. E. Merson's Northampton 86. He also used the Forester buU Sir Peregrine 722, a Eoyal and Bath and West of England first prize winner, who, although bred by Sir Alexander Hood, was an almost pure-bred Quartly, and the sire of Viscount before mentioned." The two animals with which Mr. Farthing won the champion prizes for best Devons at the International Show at- Kilburn in 1879, repeating the achievement which had been performed by Mr. James Davy at the Inter- national Show at Battersea in 1862, were as has already been indicg,ted, Lord Newsham 1391 got by Master James 1404 from Famous 4448, descended from Mr. Quartly's Longhorned Curly; and Prettyface 3803, by Lovely's Duke 1152, from Prettyface 3804, descended from one of Mr. S. Farthing's families. Having quoted from Colonel Davy's account of Mr. Farthing's aims as a breeder, we may also give the description by Mr. William Housman, who, in writing of the herd when it was still in existence, said : — " A herd of pure-bred Somersetshire Devons handed down through two or three generations of Mr. Farthing's family came into his possession in early life. Taking this as his foundation-stock and retaining its descendants, he has endeavoured to main- tain the superior size for which Devons generally in the county of Somerset are noted as compared with those of North Devon, and with this object has made extensive use of the best blood in his own district, blending with it, or with that of his original stock as occasion required,. OTHEE FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 113 the North Devon element. This has put on a higher finish, pleasing to the eye and to a certain extent favour- able to success in the show-yard, but Mr. Farthing's object appears to have been of a more practical nature than the desire merely to enhance beauty. The true North Devon is usually small but in proportion to what it eats will bear comparison with any animal of heavier breed. Take for example a certain number of acres of land or a given quantity of food, quality in each case being equal, and try the various breeds by the weight of beef grown upon the land or from the food, and it is maintained that the httle Devon would prove to be among the very foremost (some of its admirers say quite at the head) of the competitors. A greater number of animals would be required to make the weight, but the weight would be there and the quality of the beef un- questionably good. To preserve, therefore, and as far as possible to improve this propensity to the economical production of beef, Mr. Farthing has used the smaller variety of the Devon only so far as to enable him to perpetuate in his herd its most desirable properties, not to the extent of reducing the size of his own cattle, and that he has happily and profitably united the sub- varieties will, I think, be allowed." The herd that was bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, at Tregothnan, Truro, occupied a most distinguished posi- tion, and on its dispersion in May, 1890, public apprecia- tion of its merits was shown by the fact that the average for seventy-six head was no less than £61 2s. 6d. Mr. Wil- liam Cramb, Tregothnan, supphes the following succinct account : — " The Tregothnan herd of Devon cattle was founded in 1860, chiefly by purchases made from Mr. Tremayne, of Heligan. Cows were subsequently pur- chased from Mr. George Turner, Barton ; Messrs. Halse, Mogridge, and Quartly, Molland; Mr. Harvey, Tre- linich ; Mr. Kingdon, Bridgrule ; the Eev. A. Thynne, Mr. James Davy and Mrs. Langdon, Flitton Barton. The chief animals that were added after the herd was estab- lished, were, in 1860 — Olga 1524, Bloomer 541, Daisy 8 114 DEVON CATTLE. 8636, Treasure 1903, Pink 1544. In 1864— Picture 4th 2224, Euby 2342, Peach 2905a. In 1872— Princess Ida 3838. In 1873— Fancy 2892, Flitton Lass 3502. In 1874 —Lovely 2nd 3661. In 1875— Actress 5th 3146, Actress 9th 3150, Actress 10th 4031, and in 1881— Temptress 7th 5000 and Young Symmetry 6736. " The principal bulls used were Duke of Chester 404, bred by Mr. John Quartly, a very excellent sire ; Protector 711, bred by Mr. James Quartly ; Corrector 809, bred by Mr. John Bodley, who was not successful and very little used ; Young Forester 759, bred by Mr. E. Mogridge ; Sunflower 937, bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, both sires of valuable stock ; Crown Prince 604, bred by H.E.H. the late Prince Consort, unsuccessful and not much used ; Duke of Cornwall 820, bred by the late Mr. James Davy ; Arthur 997, bred by the Eev. A. Thynne ; Cinnamon 1035, Jonquil 1131, Kingcraft 1132, Duke of Tregothnan 1324, The Only Jones 1468, Sirloin 1443, Eomanv Eye 1436, Eeflector 1433, Master Molesworth 1612, Duke of Tregerrich 1549, Sir Michael 1646, Plum Pudding 1817, Sir Watkin 1546 and Cairo 1690— all bred by the late Vis- count Falmouth and most successful sires, as well as prize winners of greater or lesser note. The sires most recently used were Lord Wolseley 2063, Grizzly Cobble- dick 1988, Humfrey 1977, Sir Paul 2139, Jack in the Green 2252 and Michael Angelo 2289. "The herd averaged about eighty in number, and up- wards of twenty-five calves were born annually. The sur- plus stock were most frequently disposed of at periodical auctions held at the Home Farm, and were generally pur- chased by local breeders ; the highest prices realised were 40gs. for females and 50gs. for males. None were sent abroad until the dispersal sale. Except in a few instances none but bulls were exhibited, and these have generally taken the highest positions at all the leading shows. As to the system of management : the cows generally suckled their calves about six months. Until about the year 1883, the calves were dropped in the fields during July, August and September, and ran with their dams until the weather OTHER FAMOUS OLD HERDS. 115 became cold, when they were taken into the yards, the cows still running to grass during the day. After the above date the calves were dropped in the first three months of the year and were kept in the yards until the end of May, when the heifer calves were turned out to grass with their dams until they were weaned, and were afterwards kept on better pasture by themselves. All the bull calves were kept continually in boxes and were fed on artificial foods in addition to corn, hay, grass and roots ; but neither the cows nor the heifers received any. Very few bull calves- were castrated but those that were were sold fat at from 2J to 3 years old, and realised from £18 to £25, accord- ing to the price of beef. ' ' The following are notes as to the ages up to which animals continued to breed. During the time Olga 1524 was in Lord Falmouth's possession, she had ten calves in eleven years ; she was six years old when Lord Falmouth purchased her, and was sold with a calf by her side, for breeding. Bloomer 541, was eight years old when she was purchased, and afterwards bred eight calves in ten years. She was killed in her nineteenth year. May Day 2862, had ten calves in eleven years, and was afterwards sold for breeding. Search Peach 2905a, bred thirteen calves in sixteen years, and was killed in her nineteenth year. Rosa Bonheur 3009, bred fourteen calves in as many con- secutive years, and was killed in her seventeenth year. Cinnaminta 2572a, also bred fourteen calves, and was killed in her seventeenth year. Watercress 4006, had ten calves, and was sold for breeding in her thirteenth year. Violet had twelve calves in fourteen years, and was killed in her sixteenth year. Mirabel 4229, bred twelve calves in thirteen years, and was sold for breed- ing. Many other cows had almost as good a record. " Sunflower 937, continued in active service until his ninth year. Kingcraft 1132, was used seven years ; Duke of Tregothnan 1324, eight years ; also Sirloin 1443, after- wards for about two years in Her Majesty's herd at Windsor ; Sir Michael 1644, served until he was ten years old, and many others until they were about seven years. 116 DEVON CATTLE. these bulls having all been kept in very high condition." To Mr. Cramb's remarks we may add the following notes as to the pedigrees of the leading sires, nearly all of whom were first prize winners at the shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society and other important exhibitions : — Sunflower 937, sire Duke of Chester 404, dam Flower 1356 ; Cinnamon 1039, sire Sunflower 937, dam Cinna- minta 2572a ; Kingcraft 1132, sire Sunflower 937, dam Peach 2906a ; Narcissus 1175 bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, sire Sunflower 937, dam Picture 4th 2224 ; Eomany Eye 1436, sire Lord of the Valley 1150, dam Cinnaminta 2572b ; Jonquil 1131, sire Sunflower 937, dam Picture the 4th 2224 ; The Only Jones 1468, bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, sire Arthur 997, dam Photograph 3758 ; Duke of Tregothnan 1324, bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, sire Arthur 997, dam Eosa Bonheur 3009 ; Sirloin 1443, bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, sire Lord of the Valley 1150, dam Peach 2905a, by Young Forester 759 ; Sir Michael 1646, bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, sire Sirloin 1443, dam Waterlily 5050 ; Master Molesworth 1612, bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, sire Master Flitton 1160, grand- sire Duke of Flitton 5th 1069, dam Christmas Eose 3280; Plum Pudding, bred by the late Vicount Fal- mouth, sire Sirloin 1443, dam Christmas Eose 3280, by Sunflower 937 ; Lord Wolseley 2063, bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, sire Cairo 1690, dam Eemembrance 3882, by Cinnamon 1039 ; and Humfrey 1997, bred by the late Viscount Falmouth, sire Sir Michael 1646, dam Dorothy Draggletail 5253. At the time when the herd was dispersed in May, 1890, it comprised eighty-eight animals of seven difi^erent tribes, namely, the Quartly Lilly, twenty-eight ; Waterlily, twenty-six ; Davy Curly, sixteen ; Flitton Beauty, six ; Quartly Curly, five ; Treasure, five ; and Gipsy Queen, two. The Lilly tribe divided into the Picture, Temptress and Pink branches, had its origin in the stock of Mr. James Davy of Flitton, and all traced through the cow Flower 189, purchased at the West Molland sale in 1840, to Lilly, bred by Mr. OTHEE FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 117 Henry Quartly. Flower 189 was by Hundred Guinea 56 (winner of four first prizes and silver cup between the years 1838 and 1844 inclusive), and her dam, Lilly, was by a son of Mr. Francis Quartly's celebrated cow Long- horned Curly and Forester 46, out of Lilly, bred by Mr. Henry Quartly, of West Molland. The Flora tribe were descended from the cow Flora 727, purchased at Heligan, through Cheesewring 2572a, by Protector 711, bred by Mr. James Quartly, and tracing through Lilly 847, by Triumph 126, to the cows Lily and Daisy, bred by Mr. F. H. Eodd at Trebartha. The Davy Curly tribe was de- scended from Curly 97, by a bull bred by Mr. James Davy. The Quartly Curly tribe trace to Mr. Francis Quartly's Longhorned Curly. The Beauty tribe goes back to Beauty 30, by a bull bred by Mr. James Davy. The Treasure tribe are descended from Treasure 447, by a bull bred by Dr. Eodd, out of a cow bred by Mr. F. H. Eodd, her dam coining from the stock of Mr. White, of Pilton, Barnstaple. Treasure 447 became the property of Mr. Tremayne at Heligan, who bred from her Treasure 1098 ; she was the dam of May- flower 881, and Mayflower was the dam of Mayday 2862, who was purchased from Mr. Tremayne by Lord Falmouth in 1860. The highest price at the sale in 1890 was 260 guineas given by the late Mr. Punchard, for Blooming Heather, and he also paid 160 guineas for Lord Wolseley. Mr. J. C. WiUiams bought The Blooming Cow for 140 guineas, and Actress 27th for 155 guineas. Mr. E. Bickle, Bradstone Hall, sends us the following notes on the herd of the late Mr. Bodlet, Stoctley Pomeroy, Crediton, Devon ; — Mr. Bodley commenced to keep a record of his herd some years before Davy's Devon Herd Book was established. He first registered two bulls in Volume ii., and six bulls and six cows in Volume iii. No. 1 cow Crafty was calved in 1840, and was after- wards entered in Volume iii. ; her sire was Mr. Quartly's Old Forester ; her dam bred by Mr. T. Eeynolds, who lived at Eaddon Court, a farm that adjoins Stockley ; her granddam was bred by Mr. W. Davy, Flitton Barton. 118 DEVON CATTLE. No. 2 Duchess, also entered in Volume iii., was calved in 1848, sire Mr. Halse's bull, grandsire Quartly's Prince of "Wales, dam by a bull of Mr. Merson's, by Hundred Guinea, granddam bred by Mr. W. Davy. No. 3 Pretty, calved 1848, sire Mr. Halse's bull, dam Crafty 1235, by Forester 46, granddam Comely bred by Mr. Bodley ; Pretty won a prize at Taunton. Crafty was the dam of Monarch 460, sire Albert 360, grandsire Nelson, dam Crafty 1,285, granddam Comely ; he gained first prize at the Bath and West of England Society's Show at Barnstaple ; and was afterwards sold to Mr. John Jackman, Hexworthy, Launceston. No. 15 Favourite 1985, calved 1857, sire Napoleon 462, grandsire Earl of Plymouth 189, dam Duchess 1292 by a bull bred by Mr. Halse, granddam Ehoda, great granddam Comely bred by Mr. Bodley. Favourite was dam of Garibaldi 1st 842 winner of second prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Bristol ; he was also sold to Mr. John Jackman, Hexworthy. The Stockley ^herd was founded on some of the best blood then in existence, viz., Quartly's, Davy's, Merson's, and Halse's (of Molland). Earl of Plymouth 189, calved 1850, bred by Mr. Bodley, the property of Mr. Jackman, gained first prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Plymouth in 1853. This bull was not extensively used, but two of his sons. Emperor and Napoleon 462, were the sires of several of Mr. Bodley's best cows. The last named was sold to Mr. Fouracre, Dunster, and won first prize at Tiverton 1855, first at the Bath and West Show at Yeovil in 1856, as a two year old, first at Newton 1857, as an old bull, second at the E.A.S.E. Show at Salisbury in 1857, first at Taunton and second at Bridgwater also in 1857. Duchess 1292, was a great favourite with Mr. Bodley ; she produced six bull calves — Emperor calved 1851, by Earl of Ply- mouth 189, was sold to Mr. Coppenger for 50 guineas, at one year and six months old ; Albert 360, calved 1852, sold to Mr. Brooks, Yeovil, for 40 guineas. Napoleon 2nd was sold to Mr. Pope, Great Toller, Dorset for 50 guineas at one year and eight months old. Perfection 688, was OTHEE FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 119 3old to Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, Bridgwater, for 60 guineas, at three years and two months old ; he won second prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Dorchester, third at E.A.S.E. show at Canterbury, first at E.A.S.E. show at Leeds, first at Taunton and Bridg- water in 1861, and first at the Bath and West Show at WeUs in 1862. His sire was Napoleon 1st 462, grand- sire Earl of Plymouth. Conqueror was calved January 14th, 1860, and was sold to the Earl of Eldon for 40 guineas at one year and five months old ; sire Champion 588a, grandsire Napoleon 259. Goldfinder calved March 7th, 1865, sold to Mr. Vallance for 26 guineas, when six months old ; sire Palmerston, grandsire Champion 588a. The six bulls averaged over 44 guineas each. An account of all the bulls that were sold was kept up to 1873. They realised from 25 guineas to 60 guineas each. Champion 588a, calved December 1859, bred by Mr. James Quartly, MoUand, won second prize in class 2 at E.A.S.E. at Battersea, in 1862, and second prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Wells ; sire Napo- leon 259, grandsire Duke of Devonshire 35, dam Dolly Varden 142, by Baronet 6, granddam Primrose 372 by Prince Albert 102, great granddam Pretty Maid 366. This bull was very extensively used in the herd for several years, and Mr. Bodley's cows being rather larger than most Devons, he proved quite a success. In the year 1870, Mr. Bodley died after a long and painful illness, and was succeeded by his nephew Mr. T. B. Powlesland who had had the entire management of the herd since 1850, and retained it until 1879, when the cattle were disposed of by public auction on account of Mr. Powlesland's ill-health. The writer (Mr. Bickle), secured seven females of the Queen tribe, all of which descended from Mr. Bodley's Duchess 1292, and twelve females of this strain are still in the Bradstone herd. Mr. Powlesland did not exhibit largely, but he won first prize with Queen 2,994 at the Devon County Agricultural Society's Show at Exeter, and reserve number at the Eoyal Cornwall Show at Bodmin the same year ; he also 120 DEVON CATTLE. gained prizes with Crafty 3rd, afterwards sold to Mr. Duckham for exportation to Australia. The Queen family also traced back to old Crafty through Napoleon, the sire of Favourite. The bull Champion, bred by Mr. Bodley, was winner of second prize at the Devon County Show in 1832, and also first prize at the same show the following year. The late Mr. Hole, Knowle, near Dunster, bred Champion 17, a son of Hundred Guinea 56, who after winning first prizes at Dunster, Taunton, and at the Eoyal Show at York, was sold to Lord Portman. Mr. Hole's son restricted himself almost entirely to Quartly blood. His Queen of the West 394, gained the first prize as a yearling at the Northampton Eoyal Show, and a cup at Taunton. Miss York 300, by Champion 17, gained him a first prize at the Eoyal Show at York, while Belle of the West brought home a cup from Taunton in 1852. Eosetta 1026 and Fair Maid of Somerset 695, gained the first prize for a pair of heifers at Plymouth, and Favourite 718 secured him a prize at the Gloucester Eoyal, all claim- ing Forester descent. Mr. Chaeles Bouchee and others bred useful large sized animals near WiveUscombe, using North Devon buUs. His Eclipse 39, by Prince Albert 102, bred by Mr. James Quartly, gained a cup at Taunton in 1849. Mr. Boucher bred Duke 41, by Quartly's Baronet 6, and his neighbour, Mr. Elworthy, bought Elworthy 40, by President 97, of the late Mr. Eichard Merson, North Molton. Messrs. Lyddon, Withiel Florey, and Paull, Ilminster, adopted the same plan of getting their bulls from Devonshire. Mr. C. F. Perkins, Kingston, near Taunton, established a herd, buying chiefly from Mr. Farthing, and using the bull Sir Peregrine 722. Mr. Taylor, Harptree Court, also founded a herd, making his selections principally from Messrs. Davy, Merson, Mogridge and Quartly, and pur- chasing the gold medal bull, Duke of Flitton 613, after the Battersea Show. He gained a first prize at the Eoyal Show at Plymouth, for his bull calf, Profit's Duke 912, by Duke of Flitton 613, out of Profit 992, bred by Mr. Davy, and a second prize for a cow bred by Mr. Merson. OTHEE FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 121 Mr. S. P. Newbery, Plympton St. Mary, Devon, writes : — " Having been asked to communicate my im- pressions and experiences with respect to the well-lmown and highly esteemed North Devon breed of cattle, it is with much pleasure that I respond to a request which affords me an opportunity of assisting in the promotion of a cause that has for many years been to me an object of the greatest interest. I will attempt to give a brief narrative of my experience as to the merits and cultivation of this far famed breed. Sufficient evidence of its value is to be found in the favour it has met with in parade in the Eoyal Agricultural and other showyards, and in the preference given to its barons of beef at Christmastide in royal palaces and baronial halls. In my boyhood and subsequently, during a period of over fifty-two years, I have had considerable experience in the cultivation of the breed, and although it is considerably more than twenty years since I gave up the pursuit of farming to take charge of a nobleman's estate in South Devon, I have since been frequently called upon to exercise the office of judge at the Shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, Bath and West, and Eoyal Counties, at Smithfield and at Birmingham ; and so recently as in 1891 at the Eoyal, Bath and West, and Smithfield. I hope, therefore, that I do not flatter myself in think- ing that my taste and judgment, as regards type and character, have not become impaired by lapse of time. I well remember how my admiration for a well-bred animal was much stimulated by attending Mr. Quartly's sale in 1840, just fifty-two years ago. It may be inter- esting at least, if not of much service, if I enclose herewith the advertisement of the sale of this stock which took place in consequence of the proprietor's •death. Some of the choicest specimens were secured by Mr. James Quartly, who succeeded his father in the farm, and I have little doubt that the animals then selected •contributed much to the success obtained by him at the Eoyal show, held at Exeter in 1850, on which occasion nearly all the principal prizes were gained by his brother 122 DEVON CATTLE. and himself, whilst other competitors were also winners with animals of their breeding. One of these was the first prize animal in the old bull class, shown by Mr. George Turner. Messrs. Quartly and Davy were un- questionably conspicuous as early propagators of North Devon cattle, and to them more than to any other breeders is due the credit of maintaining the character and the purity of the North Devon breed. As regards myself, I was not an exhibitor for any lengthened period, but I was always glad to avail myself of any opportunity to improve my herd. I began to exhibit at the principal shows about 1860 with a calf whose sire was Mr. Quartly's Napoleon, 259 in the Devon Herd Book ; dam a cow of Mr. Merson's ; this bull I called Bonaparte and I exhibited him at the Eoyal Show, held at Battersea Park in 1862, and although I had to compete among others with Mr. Davy's gold medal bull, Duke of Flitton, he obtained a second place. As my animal was one among many drawn to compete for the gold medal and stood second for it, I had good reason for feeling flattered at the position I obtained. I was subsequently successful with a younger bull, also a son of Napoleon, called Prince Jerome, whose dam's sire was Hundred Guinea, having shown him several times at the Eoyal, Bath and West, and taken seven first prizes. In fact I exhibited these two animals thirteen times at these shows and won a prize on each occasion. When I first exhibited Prince Jerome at the Eoyal, the show was held at Worcester, and I then had the satisfaction of beating Mr. Walter Farthing's hitherto invincible bull Viscount, and I met with similar success in the following year at the Bath and West, at Bristol. I have reason to believe that a perceptible improvement in the herd generally was occasioned by the service of these two animals, and that in addition, their successes in the showyards added materially to the reputation of my stock. Evidence of this is to be found in the voluntary reports of various newspapers on the annual public sales of my young bulls at Yeovil and other markets. It is to OTHEB FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 123 be found also in the comments of the press on the dispersion of the herd upon my rehnquishing farming and taking charge of the estate of the Earl of Morley. "I think it probable that you may wish to have my opinion as to whether the present standard of the pure North Devon breed will compare favourably with that of the herds of the Messrs. Quartly, Davy, George Turner, Viscount Falmouth and some other distinguished breeders. There can be little doubt, I think, that the high reputation of the North Devon breed, founded upon the above dis- tinguished herds, must have been for some time greatly impaired when these famous stocks were dispersed. Since that time, however, some of the best bred animals of Mr. Davy and others have fortunately been secured by Sir Wm. Williams, who has achieved great success with them and their progeny in the various showyards, es- pecially at the Eoyal at Windsor. I have great hope, therefore, that the prospect of the breed is brightening and that the worthy baronet may find many supporters in his endeavour to reinstate the standard of the North Devon race. The Somersetshire breeders have, I think, shown more earnestness in their exertions and brought out exceedingly good specimens of their Somerset Devons, for which they are entitled to great credit. It is certain, however, that the Somerset Devon is different in type and character from the pure North Devon. The latter animal exhibits a greater amount of delicacy and a fine aristo- cratic appearance, qualities which are neither more nor less than the signs of good breeding, whilst they are above the requirements of the general grazier. Although it might be easy to impart the rougher and more robust element of character, it is to the fine and aristocratic element that those who succeed in showing larger (and what might appear to be more useful) animals, owe their success." The late Mr. William Perry, Alder, Lew Down, Devon, writing to us in May 1892, a short time before his death, said — ' ' My father in his time was fond of keeping a good bull with the object of getting good animals for grazing 124 DEVON CATTLE. rather than for the purpose of perpetuating a herd, and my brother and I who succeeded him followed the same course for many years, now and then exhibiting with some success at local shows. We followed closely the Quartly strain of blood, which, with scarcely a failure, made a good mark. I will give you a list of Quartly bulls used, which were very closely allied. First came Old Holland 459, who was slaughtered before the first volume of Davy's Herd Book was published ; he was a prize taker at Lifton, Tavistock and Exeter, and was a very noted bull. He was purchased by me from the late Mr. James Eisdon, then of Hartly, near Torrington. The second bull was Baron 4, purchased from Mr. Maunder, Heasly Mills, North Molton, who Vvras followed by Devonian 27, and Viscount 127, bought from Mr. John Quartly. The others were Hero 213, acquired from the tenant of the Duke of Bedford at the Dinington Estate, Symbridge, North Devon ; Manley 241, Old Benedict 367, Eobin Hood 915, bought from Mr. T. Soby, Halwill, North Devon ; he did good service ; Champson 1035, purchased at Mr. John Quartly's sale on September 13th, 1870; he also rendered good service. The following bulls were bred at Alder and used in the herd : — Herdsman 1119, sire of Alderman 1268; Intruder 1126, used as a cross with South Devon stock; Alderman 1268, sire of Dove 4404, Dragon 1316, and Druid 1317, a very noted bull, winner of first at E.A.S.E, at York, and sire of Benedict and Bravo. Though calved in October, 1877, Druid is still being used. The dam of Druid was served by Dalesman 1310, and also by Baronet 1003. When quite young he was registered in the Herd Book as by Dalesman, but in maturing he displayed such a marked resemblance to Baronet that I have no doubt he was sired by him. This has been explained to the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society, but it was considered that the entry could not be altered. The other bulls have been Benedict 1504, a first prize Eoyal winner ; Bravo 1686, also a first prize Eoyal winner and in use up to the fall of 1891, being then ten years old ; Daybreak 1706 ; Draughtsman 1711, a prize winner, and OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 125 I believe still in use, he was calved in 1880 ; Dumpling 1723, a successful stock getter; Bonnylad 1906, sire of the champion steer at the Smithfield Club Show in 1891 ; Duke of Alder 1943, slaughtered when young, he has left some good stock ; Delegate 1936, a prize winner ; Mar- maduke 2280, a first prize Eoyal winner, and used in the Werrington and Caerhays Castle herds ; Bondholder 1905, a prize taker and sold to go abroad ; and Minstrel 2466, a full brother to Marmaduke 2280. Mario 2279, a full brother to Bonnylad 1906, was bred at Tregothnan, but both sire and dam were bred at Alder ; he is now in use in the Alder herd. It will be seen that these bulls were mainly of Quartly strains. On the female side the herd has sprung chiefly from Dairjrmaid 3343, from whom descended Dewdrop 3392, the dam of Druid, Diadem 4385, and Dove 4404 ; Bracelet 3229a, the dam of the prize bulls, Benedict 1504, and Bravo 1686 (of Quartly's Curly tribe) ; and Mouse 8791, dam of Marmaduke 2280, who traces back to Flower 190 and Old Flower, bred by Mr. J. T. Davy, Eose Ash. I am content to leave particulars of the numerous prizes won by this herd to the reports and records of the leading Agricultural Societies of England. To conclude, I have found the Quartly strain to be the most reliable for producing sires calculated to propagate good stock. I hold that every distinct breed of cattle has its merits— one breed being suited to certain localities and conditions for production and consumption, and another for other conditions. Some producers would attempt to improve, as they say, small breeds of stock into large ones, but often they only spoil all. I have seen very nondescript stock turned out in this way. If like is to beget like I contend that we must adhere to trueness of sort, character and type, and allow the different varieties to fulfil the conditions for which they are adapted." We supplement the above by stating that Mr. Perry and .his brother made entries in Vol. i. of the Herd Book. The preparing of females for the show-yard was, as a rule, avoided, but Mr. Perry's herd gained great distinction for the excellence of the bulls bred in it. 126 DEVON CATTLE. Three sires particularly distinguished themselves, viz. : — Druid 1317, Benedict 1504, and Bravo 1686. Druid, calved in 1887, was from Dewdrop 3392, whose sire was Champson 1035. The sire and dam of Dewdrop (Dairy- maid and Champson) were purchased at Mr. John Quartly's sale in 1870. Dairymaid was descended from Mr. Francis Quartly's Longhorned Curly. Benedict and Bravo (both bred by Mr. Perry) were full brothers, being got by Druid, and out of Bracelet 3229a, by Duke of Devon, tracing to Young Curly. Bracelet 3229a, bred by Mr. James Quartly, was purchased by Mr. John A. Smith, Bradford Peverell, at whose death she was acquired by Mr. Oakley Saunders, from whom she passed into the possession of Mr. Peri-y. These three bulls were most successful in the show-yard. They were all first-prize winners at the Eoyal and the Bath and West of England Shows, Druid having gained champion prizes as the best male animal of any breed at the Brighton Show of the Bath and West of England Society in 1885. Druid and his two • sons stood reserve to Mr. Price's Herefords for the cham- pion prize as the best family group. Mr. Perry's repre- sentatives still keep on the herd. The herd at Currypool which was dispersed in April, 1892, was brought to that place thirty years ago by the late Mr. John Knight Farthing, father of the late owner, Mr. John Farthing, who took it at a valua- tion about twelve years ago ; but it was founded half a century since by Mr. Eobert Farthing, sen., at Over Stowey, and then came into the possession of Mr. John Knight Farthing, who bred it at Nether Stowey until he removed to Currypool. These localities are adjacent, and Nether Stowey is close to Stowey Court — about three miles from Currypool — where the late Mr. Walter Farthing's noted herd was bred for so many years. Mr. J. K. Farthing used the best bulls in the herd of his brother (Mr. Walter Farthing), and the character of the two herds naturally became assimilated, but Mr. J. K. Farthing never registered his cattle nor exhibited them. When, however, the herd passed into the hands of Mr. OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 127 John Farthing, he took his late uncle's advice and re- gistered them all. One of the earliest bulls used by Mr. John Farthing was Eoyal Duke by Eoyal Aston, purchased from Mr. Walter Farthing, his dam being Charlotte by Sir George, a cow which represented one of the oldest tribes at Stowey Court, brought from Yarford about seventy years ago by Mr. John Farthing's great- great-grandfather, and forming part of the foundation stock from which the Stowey Court herd was bred. Master Walter by Forester, out of Stately by Master Eobin, was purchased as a calf at the Stowey Court sale in 1882, and in 1883 won a first and special prize at the Show of the Bath and West Society ; he did good service in the herd, getting excellent stock, amongst which was the bull Robin Hood, who won eight first prizes in suc- cession during the years 1888-89-90. It may be men- tioned here that Master Walter's dam, Stately by Master Eobin, traces to the old Cothelstone stock, some cows having been purchased at Mr. Eobert Gibbs' sale in 1852 by Sir A. A. Hood, from which the Statelys, Sallys, and Sarahs at Stowey Court were descended ; they all trace to Profit by a bull bred by Mr. Eobert Gibbs at Cothelstone. The bulls at the head of the herd at the time of its dispersal were Baronet by Duke of Flitton 17th, bred by Sir Wm. Williams, Bart., and Duke of Wel- lington by Colonel, bred by Mr. Stephen Bailey, of Nyne- head. There were nine tribes in the herd, all descended from the stock founded by Mr. Eobert Farthing at Over Stowey, handed down to Mr. J. K. Farthing at Nether Stowey, and taken by him to Cm-rypool, where he left it in the hands of his son, Mr. John Farthing. The tribes were called the Lady Osborne, Beauty, Lady Currypool, Eobin' s Duchess, &c. The first Earl of Leicester, as has already been mentioned, was one of the earhest, most enthusiastic, and staunchest patrons of Devon cattle from a distance. His selections for the herd at Holkham, Norfolk, were made from nearly all the best of the Devonshire stocks. Comparatively later in the history of the herd, extensive 128 DEVON CATTLE. purchases were made at Mr, Francis Quartly's sale in 1836, and it was from Holkham that the first exportation to the United States took place. The present Earl gained many prizes at Birmingham and Smithfield, also a second prize for his bull Monarch 77, and the first prize for his cow at the Eoyal Show at Norwich in 1849, together with a prize for his two year old bull at Lewes. Two Quartly- bred bulls. Prince of Wales 105, and Napoleon 259, together with Athelstane 364, bred by Colonel Davy, were used at Holkham for some time. Mr. John Blomfield, Wareham, Norfolki was also, as we have seen, a noted breeder, winning three prizes at the Eoyal Show at Norwich in 1849. He bought Sultan 122, the second prize bull at York, and in 1862 Mr. James Davy's Garibaldi 636, a son of his old favourite Palmerston 476. Mr. A. Hamond, Westacre, Bwaffham, Norfolk, beat Mr. Blomfield in the heifer class, at the Boyal Show at Norwich in 1849. Mr. J. S. Cogan, Dodington Hall, Williton, Somerset- shire, had a herd descended from the stocks of Mr. Merchant, Timberscombe ; Mr. Walter Farthing, Sir A. A. Hood, Bart., Mr. Joyce, AUercott, anS others. It was sold on May 15th, 1884. Mr. William Umbers, Wappenbury, Warwickshire, commenced breeding Devons in 1810, buying from Messrs. Tapp, Davy, Eeynolds and Burnell in Devon- shire, and from Mr. Childe, Kinlet. He once sold a heifer at lOd. per pound for the living weight, the price realised being 60 guineas. His son, Mr. Abraham Umbers, inherited his stock and gained many prizes. Mr. T. Umbers also won numerous first prizes with his Devons, which at his decease became the property of Mr. S. Umbers, who was a successful exhibitor at local shows and also gained the first prize at the Eoyal Show at Chester, in 1858, with Birmingham 147, a son of Northampton. Mr. John Tapp, Twitchen, Devon, possessed one of the oldest herds; though he seldom or never exhibited, few if any had more choice animals. He bred the first OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 129 ■prize bulls, Young Sillifant 121 and Nelson 81, which were sold to Lord Portman. Mr. John Passmore, Bishops Nympton, bred Actaeon by Duke 30, the second prize old bull at the Eoyal Show at Exeter. He also' bred steers which in Mr. Heath's hands won the highest honours at Smithfield. Both Mr. Tapp and Mr. Passmore used Quartly bulls. Mr. John Joyce brought the herd at AUercott Farm, Timberscombe, Somerset, to a high state of perfection. His ambition was to cultivate a herd combining size, symmetry, constitution and quality. Although his cattle were known as Somerset-Devons, the breeder resorted to North Devon bulls to correct any coarseness which might arise, and the herd showed in an extra- ordinary degree the size and substance of the Somerset with the symmetry and quality of the North Devon. At his sale in September, 1875, the general average for 40 head was £38 Os. 6d. Mr. Thomas B. Haydon, Park Farm, WiveUscombe, Somerset, had a herd of large sized animals, possessing also good quality of flesh and superior dairy properties. Bulls were used from the herds of Messrs. W. Hancock, Cook, &c. When the herd was sold in 1885 one of the cows made 42 guineas. Mr. Frederick Jutsum's herd at Grilstone Barton, Bishops Nympton, Devon, was bred from the stocks of Mr. James Davy, Flitton ; Mr. T. Blake, Cutsey ; Mr. J. Joyce, AUercott ; Mr. Blackmore, Wiveliscombe, &c. Mr. Hole, Hannaford, near Barnstaple, bred many prize animals. Among them were Zemindar, second prize calf at the Eoyal Show at Canterbury, and third prize bull at Battersea ; Eosetta 1026, and Camilla 563, prize heifers at the Bath and West of England Show ; and Isis the reserve number at the Battersea Show. The herd that belonged to Mr. W. S. Nixey, Upton Coiirt Farm, Slough, Bucks, was descended from the stocks of Mr. G. Shapland, North Molton ; Mr. J. A. Smith, Bradford Peverell ; Mr. W. Smith, Exeter ; and Mr. George Turner. The prize bull. Young Prince of 9 130 DEVON CATTLE. "Wales, bred by Mr. John Quartly, was used. From 1868 to 1870, five first prizes, eight seconds, three thirds, and three high commendations were won at leading shows. At the sale of the herd in 1870, prices ranged up to 80 guineas. Mr. Amos Parsons, Black Torrington, had, in 1869, been a breeder of over thirty years' standing, from Davy, Merson, and Quartly blood, and gained prizes at the Eoyal Cornwall, Lifton and Tavistock Shows. His buU, Waldo 333, by Earl of Exeter 38, won first prizes at Stratton and Holsworthy; his cow, Buttercup 658, by Earl of Exeter 38, out of Mr. J. Davy's Duchess 673, was suc- cessful at the last mentioned place, whilst Homely 791, and Vellacott 1103 were also winners at Holsworthy. Mr. W. Northey, Lifton, bred superior stock from' Davy and Quartly strains, and was successful at local shows. Mr. E. J. Lutley's herd at Jews Farm, Wiveliscombe, was composed of animals bred from the stocks of Mr. E. Boucher, Mr. John Milton, Mr. J. Joyce, and others. Bulls were used from the herds of Messrs. Walter Farthing, J. D. Hancock, J. Joyce, J. G. Davis, Merson, &c. Mr. Stephen H. Coram, Herswell Farm, Trull, Taunton, had an excellent herd of large sized Devons. The herd was sold April 27th, 1876, and made very good prices, up to 47 guineas. About the year 1843 or 1844, the late Mr. Webber, Halberton Court, purchased Hundred Guinea 56 from Messrs. Bult and Bond to work with his herd, which gained many local prizes. At the death of his father, Mr. T. Webber succeeded to the farm and herd and gained a number of prizes at the Bath and West of England Shows, viz., at Taunton in 1852, with Magnet, 232 ; at Tiverton in 1855, with General Havelock 420, by a bull bred by Mr. Davy ; at Yeovil and at Cardiff with Prince Albert 490, and at Tiverton with Jenny Lind 1413, who also gained a second prize at the Eoyal Show at Lincoln ; and with Nelly 1514, at the Taunton Show in 1856, and at the Bath and West of England OTHBE FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 131 Show at Newton in 1857. This herd was bred from those of the late Mr. Gibbs, Cothelstone, near Taunton, Mr. Davy, Eose Ash and Mr. J. Quartly, MoUand. The present Mr. T. Webber succeeded his father, who was preceded by his brother — an uncle of the present occupier. Mr. E. Stuckey, at Cothelstone, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, owned a herd which was sold in March, 1873, when very good prices were realized, bulls making up to 53 guineas, and cows up to 50 guineas. Messrs. Hearne's herd at Manor Farm, Halse, Taunton, was established in 1848 by selections from the stock of Mr. Stevens, Luccombe, in which the blood of Hundred Guinea had been infused, and from that of Mr. Charles Gibbs, Tatham. Among the bulls used were Mr. J. D. Hancock's Lord Donne, Mr. Walter Farthing's Profit's Duke 1194, and others from Messrs. George and William Gibbs. The Eev. A. C. Thynne, Penstowe, near Stratton, in 1860 purchased Prince Pen 699, a son of Warrior 548 ; Duchess 1938, Fancy 1968 and Hebe 2057, a first prize winner at Stratton in 1862 from Mr. Northey, and in 1862 Eed-deer 2313a, a daughter of the gold medal cow Temptress, from Mr. Davy. Mr. E. B. Warren's first entries were in the third volume of the Herd Book ; he purchased the three bulls. Doctor 400, Little John 488, and Eobin Hood 509, from Mr. E. Mogridge, MoUand ; his females were from Lord Portman, Messrs. Quartly and Davy, and a few were by Mr. Farthing's Baronet 145. Mr. Charles Hambro, Milton Abbey, near Blandford, made entries in the fourth volume of the Herd Book. He gained the first prize for an in-calf heifer, Lina, at the Bath and West of England Show at Exeter, and the second prize for his two years and eight months old heifer, Miss Portman, bred by Lord Portman, at the Eoyal Show at ,Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1864. The Earl of Eldon's Devons first a.ppeared in the fourth volume, commencing with Lucknow 670, bred by his lord- ship, by General Havelock 420, bred by Mr. Webber, 132 DEVON CATTLE. together with three femaJes from Mr. Farthing, and the bull Caesar 798, bred by Mr. Bodley. Mr. Thomas Blake, Cutsey, Trull, Taunton, had a very fine herd, chiefly descended from the noted old Cutsey herd and the stocks of Mr. E. Cook ; Mr. E. Bond, Webhill; Mr. Eobert Gibbs, Cothelstone; Mr. Thomas Baker, Ash; Mr. Fouracre, Durston; Mr. Webber, Hal- berton Court ; Mr. Marke, Chelston ; and Mr. Timewell, Chelston. Mr. Blake never exhibited at shows, but his ancestor competed at the first Taunton Agricultural exhibition ever held, and carried off first prize for the best Devon bull. The herd was sold in October, 1880, when an average of £26 14s. was realized. Mr. John Bradbeer, Pyrland Hall, Pyrland, Taunton, had a good herd, which won a number of prizes. It was sold in February, 1886, when it comprised descendants of the Flitton Barton, Torrington, Cutsey, and other herds. Mr. Shapland, Oakford Farm, North Molton, had a very fine old herd, which had been in the family for many years. A sale took place in 1868, when a good many of the lots traced to Curly 612 by Hundred Guinea 56, Duchess 667 by Earl of Exeter 38, and other good strains. Among the purchasers were Mr. Jas. Quartly, Mr. W. Smith, Mr. Taylor, Lord Portman, Miss Eose, Mullagh- more, Ireland, &c. The herd was continued by other members of the family, Mr. A. H. Shapland, Sewald's Hall, Harlow, having still some representatives of it. His father was successful with steers, one of which was sold to the Prince of Wales and won high prizes. Mr. W. Eolles Fryer had a very choice herd at Eace Farm, Lytchett, which was gathered together under the advice of Mr. Forrester, Bryanston, selections being made from Lord Portman's well-known stock there. The herd began to be exhibited in 1876, and in one season sixty- three first prizes, twenty-eight second prizes, and three third prizes, of the value of £575, fell to it ; and altogether about 420 prizes, of the value of £2,415 were won. When the herd was dispersed in 1887, some of the animals were as follows : — Pink, from Eosette, by Peony, a winner in OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 133 1886 ; Scabious, also by Peony, out of Sweet Pea 4992, second at the Bath and West at Dorchester ; Queen Bess, by Peony, from Queen Anne, second at the Eoyal Counties Show in 1886 ; Daisy 5815, bred by Lord Portman, and got by the famous prize- winning bull Shamrock 1643. Daisy was second at the Eoyal Counties Show at Eeading to Mr. Skinner's Moss Eose 8th, which gained the cup presented by her Majesty the Queen for the best animal in the yard. The bull in use then was Pine Apple 1816, from Broad 2nd, the gr. dam of Baroness, which took first at Smithfield in 1875, and was reserved for the championship, when her great weight attracted attention. His sire, Forrester 1560, was from Famous 4448, the dam of Lord Newsham, who won the special prize at the Kilburn Eoyal for Mr. Walter Farthing as being the best Devon bull exhibited. Pine Apple gained six first prizes at leading shows in 1884. The late Mr. W. H. Punchard established a first-class herd at Bourton Hall, Totnes, Devon. The herds from which purchases were made were those of Sir Wm. WiUiams, Mr. E. J. Stanley, M.P., Mr. A. C. Skinner, Mr. S. Kidner, Mr. E. Stranger, Mr. J. Farthing, Mr. J. Surridge, Mr. T. H. Eisdon, Mr. Eichard Bickle, Mr. John Howse, the late Lord Portman, the late Lord Fal- mouth, Mr. Walter and others. Mr. Punchard's object was to blend the style and quality of the North Devon with the greater size and heavier flesh of the Somerset Devon by using bulls of the former on cows of the latter type. At the dispersion of the Tregothnan herd. Lord Wolseley 2063 was purchased for 160 guineas, and this animal was at the head of the herd when, on account of Mr. Punchard's lamented death, it was dispersed in 1891. The herd then numbered 147 head. Among the females were the noted cow Moss Eose 8th, purchased from Mr. A. C. Skinner, Pound. At Mr. Skinner's sale in 1890, Mr. Punchard had bought her daughter Eosebud by General Gordon for 200 guineas, and another daughter, Eosebud 2nd by General Gordon, for 100 guineas. There were also two of Mr. A. C. Skinner's other Moss Eose tribe 134 DEVON CATTLE. (Boucher's) ; three of the Fancy tribe, and ten of the Myrtle tribe from the Pound herd, one of the latter family having been declared the second best dairy cow at the London Dairy Show in competition with all breeds ; there were also four of the Gentle tribe, and three of the Charmer tribe, all of Mr. Skinner's strains of blood. Doro- thy Draggletail 2nd 5784, by Sir Michael 2nd, was pur- chased at the Tregothnan sale for 125 guineas ; Bloom- ing Heather 2nd by Lord Wolseley, was another pur- chase from Tregothnan. Kathleen 9563, by Duke of Flitton 17th 1544, was bred by Lord Falmouth, tracing through the Picture family to Mr. Henry Quartly's Lilly. From the herd of Sir Wm. Williams came the young cow Lady Bourton (formerly Foam) by Foreman. The Norah family numbered eight and these were of Mr. John Surridge's famous tribe tracing to Madeline, bred by Mr. Quartly. Mr. John Howse's Daisy tribe was represented by Dahlia and her daughter. Carnation by the Vicar. There were three of Mr. Stranger's Fancy tribe, tracing to Mr. James Davy's herd. Mr. Samuel Kidner's Low- land Lassie by General Gordon, tracing through Lily by Newton's Old Bull to Old Cherry, had several repre- sentatives. Mr. E. Bickle's Jessie tribe was represented by Jessie 2nd, a noted prize winner, and two of her stock ; the Betty family was also from Bradstone Hall. Cherry's Lass by General CoUey, was bred by Mr. B. J. Stanley, M.P., of Quantock Lodge. The Sarahs were also of Mr. Stanley's strain of blood. The Goldencups represented Mr. T. H. Eisdon's celebrated tribe ; and there were some specimens from the herd of Mr. John Farthing, of the Lady Liddon, Lady Osborne, and Lady Florence tribes. In addition to Lord Wolseley, the bulls in the herd comprised The Vicar 2156, bred by Mr. John Howse. The appearance of the herd at the time of its disper- sion showed that the Devons had quite maintained their character in a district which is more associated with the South Hams breed than with the refined type cultivated in North Devon, and the larger variety in Somerset. Mr. Skinner gave 100 guineas for Moss Eose 8th, and OTHEK FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 135 Eosebud fell to Mr. N. Cook's bid of 100 guineas. Blooming Heather 2nd and Kathleen were secured by Mr. Mucklow for 91 and 82 guineas respectively ; Lord Wolseley was sold for 105 guineas. Mr. Edward Johnson established a herd at Farringdon House, Honiton Clyst, Exeter, which was dispersed in 1892. The greater portion of the herd was composed of famiUes descended from cows bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner, Mr. E. J. Lutley, Mr. S. Bailey, and Mr. W. Morris. Four families traced to Mr. Skinner's herd. The Gentles were descended from his Gentle 5th 6475, the Duchesses from his Duchess 3rd 4418, the Myrtles from his Myrtle 8th 6492, and the Nellies from his Nellie 2nd 6493. The Jews group was really of two families, all bearing the name of Jews, one springing from Jews 1st 6478, the others from Jews 3rd 6480 ; both bred by the late Mr. B. J. Lutley, of Jews Farm, Wiveliscombe. Jews 1st was of the Merson strain, derived from the stock of Mr. Merson, of Brinsworthy, through that of Mr. John Milton, and Jews 3rd was by The Don 1855 from Broad 2nd, purchased by Mr. JohnBucknell at the Jews sale in 1882. The Ash, Badcock, and Bailey families came from the herd of Mr. Stephen Bailey, and had four separate sources —Ash 1st 6453, Bailey 2nd 6456, Bailey Srd 6457, and Dark Badcock 6472. From the stock of Mr. W. Morris were derived the families of Profit, Lady Ware, and Morrish. The two latest purchased sires were Fancy's Prince 1964, bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner, a son of Lord Currypool, from Fancy 6th, and Mr. Samuel Kidner's Banker 2192, by John Bull from Empress, of the Cherry family, which produced the famous champion ox of 1876. The herd at Lydeard House, Bishop's Lydeard, Taun- ton, was founded half a century ago by the Eev. Cecil Smith, who purchased two cows or heifers from Mr. Quartly — namely, Madeline and Jessica. The latter was dam of Jessica 233, the progenitress of Mr. John Surridge's celebrated Norahs. The former was dam of Joanna 802. The Eev. Cecil Smith used to exhibit at the Bath and West and Western county shows with success, and won a valuable 136 DEVON CATTLE. prize at one of the Paris Exhibitions of breeding stock in the time of the late Emperor. His son, Mr. Cecil Smith, J.P., carried on the careful breeding which the father had begun, and was an occasional exhibitor in the West of England. In Mr. J. Tanner Davy's prize essay on " The Rise and Progress of the Devon Breed of Cattle," the following passage occurs on page 23 : "To particularise every herd in the United Kingdom would be an almost endless task, so numerous have they become of late years ; the older and more distinguished breeders and their various triumphs having been abeady noticed; it is only necessary to add to the list Mr. Cecil Smith, of Lydeard House, near Taunton, and his father; who have gained many prizes ; together with " — twenty other names which in those days (1869) were of note, and many of which are still extant. In the earlier period of the Herd Book, regis- tration was much neglected, but the very best blood from the finest herds was freely used in this particular neighbourhood and in Mr. Smith's herd. For a number of years there was a fine herd at Bear- wood, Berks., the property of Mr. John Walter, the prin- cipal purchases having been made at the sales of the late Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey Court. Devon oxen and heifers had however been fed for Smithfield at Bearwood long before it was resolved to form a herd there, and when Mr. Farthing's Famous 3rd failed to breed after having taken two first prizes at the Eoyal shows in 1879 and 1880, Mr. Walter purchased and fed her, also winning first prize in the heifer class at Smithfield, she taking the cup for the best animal of the breed exhibited, and subse- quently standing reserve for the premium given to the best female shown. Mr. Walter won first prize at the Smith- field Club Show of 1884 with her sister Famous 5th, one of the animals he had purchased at the Stowey Court sale of 1882. The Dairymaid tribe was obtained from Stowey Court, and the prize winners, Dairymaid 3rd, Dairymaid 4th, and Dairymaid 5th were bred from it. Princess Charlotte was also bought from Mr. Farthing, as was the cow Prettyface 2nd, a daughter of the celebrated OTHEB FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 137 prize cow Prettyface, champion female Devon at the International Show at Kilbum in 1879. The descendants of Famous 2085 were very successful, and among other cows in the herd were Lady Burdon 2nd, Dolly Varden, Crape 2nd, Lady Pethbridge 2nd, Princess Alice, Eosina, •&C., nearly all bred by Mr. Farthing. Norah from Mr. Surridge's herd was a freqaent prize winner. At the commencement of the herd the principal sire was Tempter 1852 by Actor 1493 from Mrs. Langdon's noted Temptress 12th ; Benedict, Tempter 2nd and Young Enghsh Gentle- man were also used, the last named having won two first prizes at shows of E.A.S.E. For a number of years the late Earl of Dartmouth kept a herd of Devons at Patshull, Wolverhampton, which was carefully managed by Mr. Edward Bennett, his lord- ship's steward. The herd was founded by the purchase of cows from the stocks of the late Mr. Walter Farthing, Sir T. F. Boughey, Mr. Davis, of Hellings, and one or two others. Several of the original strains of blood died out in the herd, which consisted at the time of its disper- sion in 1892 for the most part, of representatives of old Stowey Court families. Three of the older cows were by Dispersion 1707, bred by Sir T. F. Boughey, whose herd in Shropshire was bred from the oldest and purest North Devon strains of blood in the herds at Tregothnan and Flitton Barton. Dispersion was by Narcissus, bred by Lord Falmouth, and winner of five first and two second prizes in 1869-71, including first at the Oxford Eoyal in 1870. There were two young cows by Duke of Golsoncott 1949, bred by Mr. John Eisdon, his sire being the noted bull Druid, and his dam Queen of Flitton (of Quartly's Curly tribe) by Nelson. But the herd, in 1892, was made up almost entirely of cows by Lord Stowey 1601 and their produce by Whitehall 2175. Lord Stowey was bred by Mr. Walter Farthing, at Stowey Court, from Pretty- face ; his sire Nelson was a grandson of Mr. James Davy's Temptress, winner of first prize at the Battersea Eoyal in 1862 and gold medal as best female Devon. Whitehall was by Duke of Flitton 15th, and his dam Temptress 14th by Jonquil 1131. 138 DEVON CATTLE. Mr. Frank E. Pope, Chilfrome, Dorchester, sends us the following account of the herd of his uncle, the late Mr. Edward Pope, Great Toller, Dorset : — Herds of Devon cattle had been kept for many years by his father, Ezekiel Pope, at Great Toller and Chilfrome ; by hia grandfather, Thomas Pope, at Great Toller and Toller "Whelme ; his great-grandfather, Ezekiel Pope, at Toller Whelme, and by his uncle, John Whittle, at Toller Fratrum. The origin of Mr. Edward Pope's herd at Great Toller was no doubt from these sources, but I can find no record of individual animals before 1854, when the private Herd Book was commenced. Mr. Pope judged Devons at the E.A.S.E. meeting at Lewes in 1852, and at the Bath and West of England Society's meeting at Plymouth in 1853, so that his reputation as a breeder was then well-established, and long before this he had been one of the first flock masters in these parts to introduce the pure Southdown into his flock, for which purpose he purchased a ram from the late Mr. Ellman. It was, however, in the maintenance of a pure herd of Devon cattle that Mr. Pope obtained the highest eminence, his name for many years standing in successful competition with the leading breeders in the country, both at the national and district exhibitions. These were his peculiar pride, and their undoubted purity and perfect symmetry, established a reputation which has out-lived a fleeting popularity, though he had for some years ceased to enter the lists of honours, which might often afterwards havebeen his. I find that he replenished his original herd by purchases of females from the following well-known breeders ; the dams and grand- dams of calves born in 1854-61 : — Messrs. Boucher, Wiveliscombe(Prosper'sdam) ; JohnPope, Symondsbury ; J. A. Pope, Kingcombe, and Herringston ; Templeman, Joseph Brookes, Brimsmore Tree, Yeovil; Matthew Paul, Gompton Pauncefoot (Duchess £37 and others); Ezekiel Pope, Chilfrome ; Marter, Hussey, Hugh Low - man, Axe, Crewkeme ; Salter, Coombe St. Nicholas, Chard ; W. Eoberts, Cagdon, Bridport ; Tatchell, Shepherd, OTHER FAMOUS OLD HEEDS. 139 Chartmarle, Cattistock ; Pester, Doles Ash ; Lord Port- man, Bryanston ; Messrs. Peters, Bridge Farm, Petherton and Louch. The following bulls were used : — Billy Trix, bred by Mr. Quartly, by Barouet 6 ; Prince Alfred 103, Uncle Tom, The Eussian, Prosper' s Son, Broad, Mr. Salter's bull, Star of the West, son of Old Hussey (bought at Mr. Hussey's sale, sire Prince Alfred 103), Son of Primrose, by The Eussian, dam Prim- rose by Billy Trix ; a bull bred by Mr. Paul ; Napoleon 2nd 463, bred by Mr. J. Bodley, by Napoleon 462 ; Son of Brag, by Napoleon 2nd 463, dam Brag by Billy Trix ; The Hero by Prince Alfred 103, Goldfinder 646a, Wanderer 547 by Sultan 318, by Earl of Chester, Son of Fancy ; Pioneer 695, bred by Mr. Hole, near Barnstaple ; The Poet 729, The Baron 737, The Miser 736, sire Gold- finder 646a, dam Eosebud, first prize heifer, E.A.S.E. Leeds, 1861. Numerous prizes were taken at the national and local shows by Mr. Pope's cattle, horses, and sheep, and when the hounds met at Toller there were enough silver cups for each guest at the breakfast, besides the vases on the sideboard. The following prizes were gained by the Great Toller Devons at the Eoyal, Bath and West of England and Smithfield Shows : — R.A.S.E., Chelmsford, 1856, first prize yearling heifer Fancy. E.A.S.E., Salisbury, 1857, first prize for heifers not exceeding three years. Fancy ; E.A.S.E., Chester, 1858, heifer in milk or in calf, first prize Lovely, second prize Dove. Smithfield, 1858, heifers three years old, first prize. E.A.S.E., Warwick, 1859, heifer not exceeding three years, third prize, Fancy 3rd by Star of the West, dam Fancy 702. Bath and West of England, Dorchester, 1860, bull above three years old, first prize. Napoleon 463 ; cow, second prize, Fancy. E.A.S.E., Leeds, 1861, heifers under three years, first prize, Eosebud, third prize Fancy 4th. Smithfield, 1861, third prize, Fancy. E.A.S.E., Battersea, several cows and heifers were commended. Smithfield, 1867, Mr. John Coate took second prize for cows with an animal bred by the late Edward Pope. At the Great 140 DEVON CATTLE. International Show at Paris in 1856, one of the Fancys •was awarded a prize and was sold to remain in France. Mr. Pope also acted as one of the English jurors there. The Toller "Whelme herd was finally dispersed in 1884, the owner, Eev. W. J. Pope, Godmanstone Eectory, Dor- chester, having let the farm to Mr. John Dight, who now owns a good herd containing a large proportion of the old blood. The cattle belonging to the late Mr. William Pope, uncle of the last owner, were rather light golden in colour, of beautiful quality, with long, very open horns, inclining backwards and with delicately chiselled heads. The names that have been mentioned in this and pre- ceding chapters do not comprise all who in the past have bred Devons ; but we have endeavoured to give references to most of those whose herds have played a prominent part in furnishing the materials upon which existing herds are based, and a mere list of breeders (in cases where there is little or no information available as to the blood employed) would be of little historical value. EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 141 CHAPTBE VII. EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. The Flemish Farm, Windsor (Her Majesty the Queen). — The herd belonging to Her Majesty the Queen was commenced in 1856, when the late Prince Consort, through Major-General Hood (now Lord Bridport), purchased the nucleus of his stock of this breed. In that year there was bought from Mr. George Turner, Barton, near Exeter, the bull Zouave 556, the dam and sire of whom were by Mr. Quartly's Earl of Exeter 38. The sire of Zouave 556 was Abd-el Kader 134, and his dam Heartsease 219. He won the Eoyal Agricultural Society's first prize at Carlisle in 1855, was first at Chelmsford in 1856, and second at Chester in 1857. His son Colonel 387, bred by the Prince Consort, dam Eosa, bred by Lord Aylesford and bought from Mr. Turner, won the first prize in his class at the Barnstaple show of the Bath and West of England Society, the Eoyal Agricultural Society's second prize at the Chester and Warwick meetings in 1858 and 1859, third at Leeds, and highly commended at Battersea. Another bull used in the early days of the herd was Crown Prince 604, by Napoleon 259, bred by the Prince Consort from Peace and Plenty 935, a cow bought from Mr. John Quartly and got by Earl of Exeter 38, being descended from Mr. F. Quartly's Curly. Crown Prince gained the first prize in his class at the Leeds show of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, and again the first prize at Battersea. The purchase of cows, as we learn, from the late Mr. John Chalmers Morton's Memoir of the Prince Consort's Farms, began in 1856 with Fancy, bought from Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey Court ; her first calf Ilex won the first prize at Leeds, and after appearing at the Birmingham Fat Stock Show was sold for £55. Fancy continued to breed regularly, and her bull calf. Prince Alfred, by Colonel 357, was shown at Batter- 142 DEVON CATTLE. sea, and won the first prize in the class of bull calves. Verbena, bred by Mr. Turner and bought in 1856, gained the Eoyal Agricultural Society's first prizes in her class at Lewes and Gloucester. Prince Arthur 492, son of Spot, another cow bought from Mr. Turner, had the second prize at Salisbury and was commended at Chester. Lily, bought from Mr. Webber, Halberton, won the first prize of the Bath and West of England Society's Show at Tiverton, and the second prize at Taunton. Garcia, bred by Mr. Halse, MoUand, gained 'the Eoyal Agricultural Society's first prize at Lincoln. At the date of Mr. Morton's notice, 1863, the herd included twenty-three c'ows and heifers bought from Mr. Turner ; five purchased from Mr. E. Mogridge ; five from Mr. T. B. Morse; three from Mr. J. Quartly; two from Lord Portman ; two from Mr. T. Webber, and single animals from Messrs. Ellis, Miller, Walter Farthing, J. Merson, and Eev. W. Marriott. The old descendents of the foundation stock, however, gradually disappeared. In the private catalogue of the Eoyal herds issued in 1885, there was only one animal tracing to it, viz., Princess Beatrice 5611, which went back to the herd of Mr. Merson, Brinsworthy. The catalogue issued in July, 1890, showed the Eoyal Devon herd to number twenty-seven head, the more prominent specimens being Fancy 5th 5293, from one of Mr. Skinner's families ; Damson 6827 by Mr. Perry's Druid 1317 and from his Dove 4404; Myrtle 12th 5745 also from Mr. Skinner's herd; Peeress 14th 7143 and Lady Elizabeth 13th 7139 descended from Mr. E. Stranger's stock; Queen Mab 9951 by Druid 1317 and of the Pink tribe, tracing through Temptress 1672 and Actress 1749; Actress 30th 9556 by Duke of Flitton 17th 1544 and Pansy 9952, the last named, one of the finest Devons ever exhibited at the Fat Stock Shows. She was reserve for the championship at Birmingham in 1891 and there beat the Devon steer that was subsequently the champion at Smithfield. Pansy had won the first prize at Islington in 1890 ; she was over age for the champion prizes in 1891, and was not exhibited there that year. Many other EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 143 prizes have been won at the Fat Stock Shows by Devons exhibited by the Queen. The herd was much benefited by the use of Mr. John Eisdon's Baron Golsoncott 1681, and in 1892 it received a number of important additions, Mr. Tait, Her Majesty's steward, having purchased Mr. John Eisdon's cows, Dolly's Darling 8783, Prettymaid 8795, and Homely 8320, and the bull Baron Golsoncott 7th 2927 ; while he also hired from the same breeder the four-year-old bull Eoger Golsoncott 2485. Dolly's Darling, a fine eight-years-old cow, is an own sister to the well-known bull Draughtsman 1711. Both he and Dolly's Darling were the offspring of Mr. Wilham Perry's Dolly and Benedict, and Mr; Perry's celebrated prize bull Druid was the sire of both those animals, so that he was doubly the grandsire of Dolly's Darling and Draughtsman, whose maternal lineage traces back to Mr. Prancis Quartly's Longhorned Curly. Prettymaid, closely related to Dolly's Darling, was about six weeks her junior. She also was bred by Mr. William Perry. Her sire. Bravo, and dam, one of the Diadems, were both, like the parents of Dolly's Darling, Druid'§ immediate offspring, and her line, too, proceeds from Longhorned Curly. Druid, Benedict, and Bravo were all, moreover, of the same tribe, from that cow. In general type and charac- ter, as might be expected from such close relationship, these two cows form a valuable pair. Homely was pur- chased by Mr. Eisdon from Mr. Eichard Julyan, Tregid- gio, in Cornwall. Her sire, Mrs. Langdon's Sir Alexander, represents the Temptress line of the late Mr. Jas. Davy, Flitton Barton, and is fourth in descent from his cow that won the gold medal at the Battersea International Show of the Eoyal Agricultural Society. The dam of Homely, Hortensia, belongs to an old family originating in Flora 727, a cow bred by Mr. Tremayne, of Heligan, Cornwall. Baron Golsoncott 7th is the offspring of Eoger Golsoncott and Beauty, another direct descendant of Longhorned Curly, and by both parents a grand- daughter of Duke of Flitton 5th, the winner of first prizes at the shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of Hi DEVON CATTLE. England four years consecutively. Eoger Golsoncott 2485, four years old, is also of the tribe derived from Longhorned Curly. His sire was the bull Baron Golson- cott, which stood at the head of the Eoyal herd at Windsor some years ago. Alleb, Bishops Nympton, Devon (Mr. S. A. Pass- more). — The late Mr. Samuel Passmore, father of the present owner, started with a Devon herd in 1854 at North Eadworthy, North Molton, and his stock were de- rived from Mr. William Passmore's, Mornacott, Bishops Nympton, and from Mr. John Passmore's, Aller, Bishops Nympton. Mr. Samuel Passmore continually used sires from the herd of Mr. John Passmore and from that of Mr. George Shapland, Oakford, North Molton. In the year 1870 five or six cows were brought from Mr. Dallyn, ChaUacombe, who used to keep some very large Devons. In 1875 Mr. S. Passmore died and since then Mr. S. A. Passmore has farmed the estate, retaining the herd of Devons. In 1885 Aller was taken, where Mr. S. A. Passmore's great uncle, John Passmore, bred so many splendid Devons. TJje more recent additions have in- cluded Broadhoms, by Cato 1031, bred by Mr. Edmund Passmore and descended from Mr. John Passmore's herd. Curly was bought from Mr. Fred. Veysey in 1882 ; Dairy- maid and Primrose from Mr. Fred. Jutsum, Grilstone, in 1885. Temptress by Tempter 2916, Lady by Agricola 1881, Duchess by Bob Eoy 1831, and Young Lady by Pretty Boy 1819, were all purchased at Mr. Braund's sale at Filleigh in 1887. Other additions have been Stumphom by Jupiter 1579, Queen by Baron Golsoncott 2nd 1895, Georgina by Nelson 1810, descended from Mr. Tapp's Georgina, with whom Sir W. WiUiams won so many prizes ; she was bought from Mr. Delbridge in 1891. The sires used have comprised two sons of Master Ned, bred by Mr. W. Shapland, Fyldon, North Molton, both out of Broadhoms ; Agricola 2nd 2529, Lord Heas- ley 2814, Earl of Molton 1957, Lord Woodland 2634, Young Pretty Boy 2183, Sultan 2150, Druid 1317, Baron Golsoncott 2nd 1895, Lord Cutsey 2nd 1767, Devonian EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 145 1937, Lord Devon 2434, North Devon 2nd 2851, Eeality 2661, Daisy Duke, and Banker. At the Devon Cattle Breeders' Sale in October, 1891, at Taunton, Mr. Pass- more bought the bull Bonny Boy from Mr. E. W. C. Evered, and he is now in service. Very few of the bulls mentioned in the foregoing list have been owned by Mr. Passmore, who has had the use of them from neighbours. The herd of Devons numbers seventy, and twenty calves are reared every year. The tribes represented are the Broadhorn, Curly, Duchess, Temptress, Beauty, Lady, Stumphorn, Eose, &c. Bathealton Couet, Wiveliscombe, Somerset (Mr. H. Gorges Moysey). — This herd was founded by the purchase of a heifer at Mr. John Milton's sale at Park Farm, Wiveliscombe, and from her there are four descendants. In 1880 another heifer was bought at Mr. Thomas Blake's sale at Cutsey, Trull, near Taunton, and there are eleven female descendants from her. At the late Mr. Walter Farthing's sale at Stowey Court in 1882 two heifer calves were purchased — one by Forester 1560, dam Lady Thorpeland 2nd 5467, from whom there are two female descendants in the herd ; the other by Lord Stowey 1601, dam Venus 2nd 5705, who is represented by seven female descen- dants. No stock sire is kept on the farm, as there are several good bulls within a few miles. The bulls chiefly used for the last ten years have been Eob Eoy 1435, Lord Stoford 1395, Lord Stowey 1601, Eob Eoy 2nd 1832, Agricola 1881, Jupiter 2011, Draughtsman 1711, Master Frank 1800, Lord Noble 1785, Master Cook 2834, Lord Currypool 2nd 2619, Eob Eoy 3rd 2878, and Milkman 2841. On January 1st, 1892, the herd numbered 46 head. Of these 16 were calves of the previous year. The Daisy tribe traces from Mr. John Milton's stock, the Cutsey tribe from Mr. Thos. Blake's, the Primrose tribe from Mr. Walter Farthing's Lady Thorpeland 2nd 5467, and the Violet tribe from Mr. Walter Farthing's Venus 2nd 5705. Bull calves and yearling bulls have been sold at the sales of the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society at prices up to 40 guineas. 10 146 DEVON CATTLE. Berwick, Dorset (Mr. B. Bryant). — The Berwick herd is supposed to be about the oldest in the county of Dorset, Mr. Bryant's grandfather having, it is beheved, had Devons there before 1800. The sires used have been from the Toller Fratrum herd ; also Guinea 1742, in 1883 ; since then a son of Mr. J. D. Hancock's Master Sam 1804, named Samuel ; also Compton Jumbo 2558, sire Chevithorne 1697, which is now in service, together with a son of Mr. Lutley's Lord Fidget 2026, out of a cow named Famous, purchased at Mr. H. Mayo's sale in 1889. About twenty-six years ago a son of Mr. Newbery's Prince Jerome was used, and after him a bull bought from Mr. Stevens, Seaborough, this animal being very successful. Mr. Bryant does not show any stock ; his aim has been to have his cattle with size and milk com- bined with quality. He grazes out his own barreners. The herd consists of 60 dairy cows, and he rears ten heifers every year. His dairyman sells about ten bull calves for stock purposes annually. At Bridport Christ- mas market in 1891 one of Mr. Bryant's steers (one year and eight months old) weighed 43 score (860 lbs.). BiCKHAM, Dunster (Mrs. Merson). — The Bickham herd was founded by the late Mr. F. Merson about twenty years ago, at Harwood, in the same parish, by the purchase of good cows in the neighbourhood and surrounding country, as opportunities of securing them occurred. Additions of more recent date have enriched the herd. One of these was the purchase of the cow Verbena 5709 at Mr. J. G. Davis's sale at Blagroves, Milverton, April 24th, 1884, introducing the blood of Master Eobin 1162 (a champion prize-winner), in union with that of King of the West 1137. The first notable sire used in the herd was a Cutsey bull direct from the breeder, Mr. Thomas Blake. He was followed by Mr. John Howse's Frank 2nd 2776, a son of Nelson 1413, from Mr. John Eisdon's Flora 3507, by his Eobin Hood 914. Lord Cutsey 4th 2808, bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner in 1884, was next successor to Frank 2nd, introducing the blood of Lord Currypool 1589 and of Lady Cutsey EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 147 5432, a daughter of Lord Blagdon, and through him granddaughter of Lord Quantock. Lady Cutsey and her dam were both bred by Mr. Blake. The herd of Mr. John Howse then again supplied a sire, Candy 2203, a son of Mr. Perry's Druid, from Lily 6th, belonging to a good family in Mr. Howse's herd, and again introducing Robin Hood's blood, mingled with that of Mr. T. H. Risdon's prize bull. King of the Gipsies 1580. To follow Candy, a bull no less famous than the champion sire of the Pound herd, Mr. A. C. Skinner's General Gordon 1974 was obtained. Mrs. Merson has recently pur- chased from the breeder, Mr. John Surridge, of Colford Farm, Bishops Lydeard, the young bull Butterman, calved January 3rd, 1891, sire Myrtle's Jubilee Boy 2294 (Mr. A. C. Skinner's : Lord Currypool — Myrtle 7th), dam Norah 2nd 7167, a daughter of Mr. Skinner's Admiral 1267. BiCELEY Farm, Milverton, Somersetshire (Mr. Samuel Kidner). — The whole of Mr. Kidner's present herd (with the exception of a heifer calf from Moss Eose 12th and the bull in service Lord Passmore 2nd 2628, both purchased at Mr. A. C. Skinner's sale in 1891) are descended in the female line from two cows bought by his father, the late Mr. Wm. Kidner, about the year 1836 — the one from Mr. Ocock, West Moncton, bred from stock brought with him from Devonshire ; and the other from Mr. George Kidner, Durston, near Taunton, whom Mr. S. Kidner's father succeeded. Various females have been added from time to time from leading herds, but none of their descendants now remain at Bickley. For the first eleven years bulls bred by or kept by Mr. Fouracre, Durston, were chiefly used ; after that time, until about the year 1856 (during which period the herd was kept partly at Durston and partly at Bickley, their present home), bulls were used that belonged to Mr. Fouracre and Mr. Gibbs, Longlands, Bishops Lydeard, in addition to two home-bred ones. Subsequent to that date and for a short time previous to the registration of 4he herd, among the sires used was Lord Heathfield 1378, 148 DEVON CATTLE. whose influence was wholly for good. Then came Lord Quantock 874, an excellent sire bred by the late Mr. Walter Farthing. This sire left only three calves, but all of them were strong in those properties which make the Devon one of the most beautiful, and, in suitable conditions, one of the most profitable breeds of cattle upon the face of the earth. Lord Quantock had dis- tinguished family connections. He was three-fourths brother to that remarkable bull Viscount 746, a famous prize-winner fully a quarter of a century ago, and still distinctly remembered by a correspondent as an animal standing upon the shortest and neatest little legs ever seen to carry the enormous weight of a frame so deep and so heavily packed with flesh as that frame of his was. Lord Quantock was a son of Viscount's dam, and of Lord Dodrington 665, a son of Viscount's sire, Sir Peregrine 772 ; so that he had all. Viscount's blood and something more, which something, in proportion one-fourth, was that of Lord Dodrington's dam. Lady, a noted prize cow by Mr. Samuel Farthing's Lewes 226, a celebrated winner forty years ago. Mr. Kidner's three calves, the offspring of Lord Quantock, were a heifer. Lady 4602, and two bulls, one of which, Eed Prince 1432, was kept as a sire, the other as a steer. Of the last, says Mr. Housman, we must first speak particularly. That animal (although not extensively exhibited) ended his career in sensational winnings, gaining, among other high honours, the challenge cup and president's plate at Birmingham ; and he was the famous Smithfield champion ox of 1876. His weight at Islington, reduced, no doubt, by travelling and exhibition, was 19 cwt. at the age of four years one month and one week ; and that great weight for a Devon was explained rather by the full and level packing of good flesh upon his beautifully-symmetrical frame than by any excess of size. Stripped of its covering, the frame would be that of a well-grown but not an overgrown Devon. His right to the championship was more generally recognised than that of most champions, either before or after *^l. a, S y, St.- —J o : g CO i; w EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 149 1876. It was dif&cult, indeed, for any competent judge of fat stock, who cared for his reputation, as a candid judge, to hesitate to allow that the Devon was not only the best animal in the Hall that year, but one of the best also, if not the single best, that he had ever seen either inside or outside that building. Mr. Kidner, possibly, may never again breed one so good, but he has the descendants of both the sire and the dam of that ox, and they still maintain upon the Bickley Farm the average excellence of the families united in the champion. T£e champion's dam. Cherry 2nd 4218, bred by Mr. J. Kidner in 1860, had the Quartly blood through her sire, a bull bred by Mr. John Quartly. Her dam, Cherry 1st 4127, bred by Mr. William Kidner in 1854, has a second prize, as one of a pair, recorded to her credit. She was bred from Old Cherry, descended from Mr. Ocock's stock. Eed Prince 1432, the half-brother of the champion ox by the sire, traces through his dam, Daisy 2nd 4364, bred by Mr. Samuel Kidner, and granddam, Daisy 1st 4363, bred by Mr. J. Kidner, to Cherry 1st, the cham- pion's granddam, the intervening sires being Lord Heath- field 1387, bred by Mr. J. D. Hancock, of Halse, and a bull bred by Mr. E. Cordwent. Lord Heathfield, like Lord Quantock's sire, was a son of Sir Peregrine. We now come to the feminine representative of Lord Quantock, named Lady 4602. She had in her veins all the blood of the champion ox, being a daughter not only of his sire, but also of his dam's daughter, Lily 4685, whose sire was known in the district as Newton's Old Bull. He was a bull of the pure Devon breed, but unregistered, as very many pure Devons were in his day, and as too many are at the present time. Newton's Old Bull was a rather remarkable Devon. He was so well liked by the breeders of his district, and possessed such indomitable vitality, that to the age of about sixteen years he was to be seen in the field, quite " in the rough," at the head of his seraglio. Other sires used in the period under notice were Lord Bickley 1378, Lord Bickley 2nd 1586, both sons of Cherry 4218, and by Eed Prince 1432 and Lord Stoford 1395 150 DEVON CATTLE. respectively. These were both impressive sires, and their descendants have proved to be good breeders. Between these, Cheerful Boy 1532 from the Stowey Court herd was used with markedly good results, but he was lost in quarter evil after having served only a few cows. Eoyal Duke 1640, TaUsman 2152, John Bull 2002, Unionist 2160, Banker 2192, Devon Actor 2214, and Director 2571 were then used in succession with good results, and all have representatives in the herd, whilst Lord Passmore 2nd 2628, is now in service. The number in the herd is about 70, and from 20 to 22 calves are bred yearly. Sales have been made in recent years to the Cape, Australia, and America. Mr. Kidner has seldom shown at the summer exhibitions, but many honours have been gained at the Birmingham and Islington fat stock shows, includ- ing, as already mentioned, the 1876 champion, and the best Devon at Birmingham in 1878, sold to Mr. Walter ; he was the best Devon and" reserve for best ox at Smithfield in the following year. Perhaps the most notable example of longevity in this herd was in the case of Cherry 2nd 4218, and some of her descendants. These represent about two thirds of the herd. Cherry 2nd 4218, the dam of the Smithfield and Birmingham champion of 1876, produced nineteen living calves, and within six months of giving birth to her last cafi, which she reared, was sold by auction at Taunton market for beef for £23 15s. Her oldest daughter, Lily 4685, produced seventeen living calves, and was estimated to weigh 120 stones when sold ; whilst Agricola 1881, a son of Cherry 2nd4218, born in the succeeding year to the champion ox, was in constant and fruitful use until he was fourteen years old, and Empress 5279, born in 1877, is still in the herd and looks as robust and full of flesh as ever. She is the third in direct descent, being a daughter of Lily 4685. At one time in this herd were six generations of females in direct descent, viz., Cherry 2nd 4218, Lily 4685, Lady 4682, Lady Bird 4609, Lowland Lass 5493, and Lowland Lass 2nd 8429. BiDWELL Baeton, Thorverton, Devon (Mr. J. G. EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 151 Davis). — Mr. Davis formed his herd originally at Blagroves, Milverton, Somerset, from stock bred by his father, Mr. G. V. Davis, at Fitzhead, in. the same county. In his numerous Herd Book entries gathered into the seventh volume vre trace him as a breeder so far back as the year 1859, and dams and granddams- of animals bred by him in that year were bred either by his father or by himself. To the Fitzhead families were added cows from the herds of Messrs. J. Howse, of Leighland, Robert Cook, J. H. Bond, E. Lutley, J. Milton, J. Joyce, J. Passmore, and J. Hole, of Knowle House, from whose herd he had two branches of the family of Mr. John Quartly's Amy Eobsart, a descendent of Mr. Francis Quartly's Longhorned Curly. In the spring of 1884, before removing to Syerscote Manor, near Tamworth, he had a sale at Blagroves, where his successor, Mr. Joseph Kidner, has established an excellent herd. He retained, however, a few animals as the nucleus of a new herd in Staffordshire ; but remained there only two years, and in 1886 had a second sale, still reserving a small remnant of his first herd, representing two families, those of Good- luck and Prettyface, which he brought into Devonshire. From those and purchased cows he has raised his present herd. The bulls used since his coming to Bidwell are the same, with one or two differences, as those employed as sires in the neighbouring herd of Mr. James, of West Eaddon. These are Masterpiece 2079, bred by Mr. WiUiam Hancock ; Champion 1696 ; Wil 2324, a son of Mr. William Oatway's Wild Boy, of his Wild Eyes family, with Cutsey blood through his sire ; Masterpiece 2nd 2462 by Masterpiece from Broad; and Bard 1891. The principal families are the Cowslips, Goodlucks, Countess, Prettyfaces, Junkets, Nellies and Pinks. The Cowslips and the Nellies have proved exceptionally good. The former are descended from the stock of Mr. W. H. Cock, of Beare, Broadclyst, who bred from Mr. Bucknell's herd. All of this sort do well through the different stages of growth, and the cows prove excellent milkers. The Nellie family has gained great favour at Bidwell. It 152 DEVON CATTLE. has not yet had time to multiply greatly in the herd, but if a fair proportion of female offspring be produced will doubtless occupy a prominent place. The first of the family was Nellie 7910, described as a very fine cow, and according to her record she must have been one of more than ordinary merit. She was bred by Mr. Thomas Coram, near Taunton ; her dam, bred by Mr. Stephen Coram; her sire. Lord Blagdon 1377, bred by Mr. Thomas Blake, and her paternal grandsire. Lord Quan- tock, was the sire of Mr. Samuel Kidner's champion steer. Calved in 1877, she continued in the breeding herd until the age of fourteen years, produced a heifer calf, Nellie 5th by Cherry Boy 2555, on March 12th, 1891, and was actually running out with the cows until October 6th of the same year, when she was put up to fatten, and on December 3rd weighed 16 cwt. Shown then at Exeter, in a good class, comprising seven competitors from noted herds, she won the second prize, a very creditable per- formance for a cow of her years, after so short a prepara- tion. In the month of July, 1891, a two years and two months old steer from her, estimated at 44 score, was sold at Exeter for £28 10s. Blable, St. Issey, Cornwall (Mr. Wm. Lean). — Mr. Lean keeps a herd of about 50 cattle — part being pedigree Devons, and he is gradually confining the herd to regis- tered animals. In January, 1888, he purchased Dainty 5960, by Dolly's Duke 1315, and the bull Master Prim 3rd 2286, by Gladstone 1737 from Mr. Bickle, Bradstone Hall. Two months afterwards Dainty dropped a cow calf, by Gladstone 1737. In May, 1889, Cowslip 8rd 7412, by Lord Somerset, was purchased from Mr. Bickle. In September, 1890, four cows were added from Mr. Hancock's herd at Wiveliscombe, Somerset, these being Pink 3rd 5581, by King of the West ; Spot 6406, by Lily's Eobin 1582 ; Gentle 5340, by Bob Eoy 1435 ; and Gay lass 2nd 8195, by Juno's Bull 2009. In October the same year Snowdrop 6th 9824, by Champson 1921, was purchased from Mr. T. H. Eisdon, Washford. At Mr. A. C. Skinner's sale at Bishops Lydeard in July, EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 153 1891, two heifers were acquired, viz.. Duchess 26th 11007 by Lord Currypool 1589, and Crape 6th 11005 by Guardsman 2249. Master Prim 3rd 2286 was used for two years, and some very good stock were got by him, especially steers from non-pedigree cows. Victor 2515, by Whitehall 2175, by Duke of Flitton 15th 1542, came after him, but being of the smaller type he was only used for a short time. Then followed the grand and now massive, bull, Jupiter 2nd 2611, bred by Mr. Wm. Hancock, Wiveliscombe, sire Jupiter 2011, by Agricola 1881, dam Pixey 2nd 8206 by Eob Eoy 2nd 1832. This bull combines the best of the Wiveliscombe blood ; his sire and grandsire both being very big, heavy-fleshed bulls and renowned stock-getters. The former was considered one of the best of the large type of Devons ever bred ; although such a massive bull he was free from coarseness, and when under four years old scaled as much as 23J cwts. (2632 lbs.) Jupiter 2nd is still at the head of the herd, and although, when Mr. Lean sent us this report, there were no calves by him above one year old, j'et those that had been dropped to his service were promising and very uniform in character. He is by far the best of the bulls used. It is hoped to keep him as the principal stud bull in the herd for many years ; he being quite young, only two years and ten months old, and the fact that he now scales over 18 cwts. is a proof of his great size for a Devon. Common 2941 has recently been purchased to share the duties at the stud with Jupiter 2nd ; he is over a year old, sired by Donovan 2577, grandsire the champion General Gordon 1974. He is of the large type, but is not so big a bull as Jupiter 2nd. It is intended to use him on the heifers got by Jupiter 2nd, in the hope that the produce will be large but fairly neat. Common was bred by Messrs. Culverwell, Dur- leigh Parm, Bridgwater. The herd numbers twenty head — 15 cows and heifers and five bulls. Mr. Lean says : — " The majority of the animals are of too large a type to find favour in the showyard ; but a few have taken prizes, no animals having been exhibited without 154 DEVON CATTLE. getting into the prize-list. My chief object is to raise a. herd of the sort that find favour among tenant farmers, and not of the showyard type, v^hich is, generally speaking, too small." First prizes vrere won at the Eoyal Cornwall shows in 1890 and 1891. Blagdon House, Hartland, North Devon (Mr. James Haynes). — It was so recently as 1891 that Mr. Haynes determined to keep only pure Devons, and therefore joined the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society. Years ago his father had a herd of Devons, and was a very successful exhibitor at the local shows at Holsworthy, Stratton and Torrington, occasionally recruiting his herd by the addition of animals bred by Mr. Quartly, of MoUand. About twelve or fourteen years ago, however, he began to cross his Devon cows with a Shorthorn bull. The calves thus produced proved very good grazing and butchers' beasts, but the following crosses did not succeed nearly as well, although good bulls were used. Mr. Haynes at length found that it would be necessary to return to the Devons, the local butchers and cattle dealers both, objecting to the Shorthorns, and he is quite convinced that there is no breed so well suited to the climate, soil, and markets as the North Devons. He has ten Devon cows, but only three are registered ; they were purchased at an auction of Lord Fortescue's stock, and are descendants of Druid 1317, Jonquil 1131, Duke of Flitton 4th 827, Lord Currypool 1589 and Nelson. The bull at the head of the herd was bred by the late Mr. W. H. Punchard, Bourton, Totaes, and is of the Norah family. The herd numbers about fifty, and all the calves dropped, if fit, are reared, some with the dams and the others by hand. Blagbovbs Farm, near Milverton, Somerset (Mr. Joseph Kidner). — Mr. Joseph Kidner succeeded Mr. J. G. Davis in the occupation of Blagroves Farm, and was a purchaser at the sale of that breeder's herd, April 24th, 1884. He has now quite a choice little herd. One family traces to Lady Eew 6565, whose granddam, unfortunately not registered, was bred by Mr. James EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 155- Davy ; other families originated respectively in the herds of Mr. Huxtable, of Chittlehampton, South Molton ; of Mr. James Hattin, near Wiveliscombe, and of Mr. John Burch, of Trefusis Farm, Bradford, near Taunton ; the Colly and Lady Taylor families came from Messrs. W. and J. Taylor, near Bridgwater, and the Margarite, or, more properly Marguerite, family from Messrs. G. and E. Cornish, of Willet, Elworthy. We now note the bulls principally associated with the building up of the herd. Eoyal Duke 1640 was the leading sire used in 1885. He was commended as a calf at the Kilburn International Show, and he was the sire of Talisman, his immediate successor, bred by Mr. Samuel Kidner, from Lady 2nd 5418, a direct descendant of both the sire and the dam of that remarkable ox which belongs to Devon history as a lasting champion of the breed. Talisman was followed by Colonel 1698, Bob Eoy 2nd 1832 and Unionist 2166. The second of these, his successor, in the order named, does not appear to have proved, for the Blagroves Devons, so useful a sire in respect of the character and quality of his stock, as he was elsewhere. Colonel 1698, bred by Mr. John Kidner, and used by his neighbour, Mr. Stephen Bailey, was a son of Mr. Walter Farthing's Lord Stowey 1601, whose parents were Nelson 1413, bred at Flitton, and the younger Prettyf ace 3803 ; and the dam of Colonel, Mr. John Kidner's Belle, was by Mr. Samuel Kidner's Eed Prince (son of Lord Quantock) and from Mr. Henry Stuckey's Belle. Unionist 2166, bred by Mr. Samuel Kidner, was another son of Eoyal Duke , from Cherry 4th by Lily's Eobin, granddam Cherry 2nd, dam of the champion ox. John BuU 2002, succeeding the sires just noticed, was bred by Mr. Stephen Bailey, and sold to Mr. John Kidner. His blood is that of Mr. J. D. Hancock's Trump and Mr. Bailey's Broad 3rd by Mr. T. Blake's Cetewayo. Picture's Boy 2105 was bred by Mr. E. J. Stanley, and used by Mr. William Kidner. Eagamuffin 2482, 'bred at Blagroves, sire John Bull, dam Lady Eew, was next used, and his successor is Young Turk 2917, calved October 17, 1889. 156 DEVON CATTLE. BooDE House, Braunton, Devon (Mr. P. Horden Tamlyn). — The herd belonging to Mr. P. H. Tamlyn is an old-established one, the family having been associated with it prior to the year 1700. Mr. John Tamlyn farmed Yarde and Barnacott Estates in Stoke Eivers, and died in 1700. His son John farmed the same estates to 1744, and his only son John, who was born in 1724, and died in 1810, was noted for the fat oxen which he fed at Yarde. Mr. Tamlyn's father and grandfather were con- temporaries of the Quartlys. The late Mr. James Davy was accustomed to buy heifers of Mr. Tamlyn's father, and bulls of the Quartly and Mitton strains were con- stantly used by Mr. Tamlyn, sen. Mr. Tamlyn's father — who may be said to have had the direction of the herd for seventy years, having, owing to his father's ill- health, had superintendence at fourteen, and dying at the ripe old age of eighty-four — objected to making Herd Book entries. In his younger days, his fine, large-scaled cows had produced those big oxen for which the breed was once so famous. Moreover, the late Mr. Tamlyn would never train his cattle for show. The present proprietor has followed his example in the latter respect, but has, in recent years, given Herd Book entry to some of those valuable families, which have been handed down from generation to generation for nearly 200 years. Many of the cows are deep milkers, and some of them have been tested. Tulip 2nd 9169, after producing her last calf in December, was found in the following May to be giving I5 lb. butter per day. Tulip 3rd 9170, when tested in May, gave 22 quarts of milk per day. Buttercup 9160, gave 20 quarts per day in May and 2 lbs. of butter. Graceful 9162 also gave 20 quarts. One of the old strains was that of Primrose 9164, bred by Mr. E. Passmore; the dam and granddam being from the herd of Mr. Gibbs, of Fyldon. Other families were the Tulips, Buttercups, and Joys, while some came from the herds of Earl Fortescue, Mr. W. Lyddon, and Mr. J. Jutsum. The bulls most recently used were Young English Gentleman 1869, Duke of Mornacott 2226 and Quartly 2869. The first-named, EXISTING. HEBDS IN ENGLAND. 157' bred by the late Mr. Walter Farthing, was for some years in the herd of Mr. "Walter, of Bearwood, and won first prize at the Eoyal at Shrewsbury in 1884, and at Norwich in 1886. Duke of Mornacott traces through his dam to the stock of Mr. Gibbs, of Fyldon. He has also the blood of Mr. Thos. Blake's Cutsey 1702. Quartly 2869. was calved in 1890, and is by Benedict 2341, son of Benedict 1504. His dam belonged to Mr. Joseph Jutsum's. Daisy tribe. A considerable portion of the herd was sold in September, 1892, in consequence of Mr. Tamlyn giving up the occupation of his principal farm. Beadstone Hall, Tavistock, Devon (Mr. Eichard Bickle). — This herd was founded in 1852, by the late Mr. John Jackman, Hexworthy, Lawhitton, Cornwall,, who purchased about twenty Devon cows and calves from the best breeders in the neighbourhood— some of them from Mr. Parsons, Lifton, whose name appears in the first volume of Davy's Devon Herd Book. Mr. Parsons was considered to be a very careful breeder, and always selected stock of the best quality that he could obtain, from Messrs. Quartly, Merson and Davy. Besides, the cows, a grand young bull was bought from Mr. Parsons. This animal did good service in the herd, leaving excellent calves. In those days the calves were reared from the tub, the cows being milked, and every alternate day a large cheese was made. Oxen, were then used for work on the farm : they were taken,- for this purpose when they were about three years old, and were employed sometimes untU they had reached- the age of seven or eight years, when they were sold for fattening or grazing purposes, realizing, in good fresh condition, as much as £52 the pair. The bull referred to was exhibited at Liskeard in 1855, when he took first prize in his class, the competition being open to all England, and Mr. Bickle well remembers the old herds- man coming home with the first-prize card stuck in his hat, the bull looking quite fresh and active after walking about thirty miles in three days. The breeding of bulls was then rather limited. It is recollected, however,. 158 DEVON CATTLE. that one was sold for exportation to Mr. Eeynolds, New South Wales, Australia. The next sire after the one from Mr. Parsons, was purchased from Mr. Wm. Northey, Lifton, the dam being bred by Mr. Merson, sire Northy 472, bred by Mr. Quartly ; this was a very nice animal, of beautiful quality, and winner of several prizes at the Launceston, Lifton and Liskeard Agricultural Shows ; he proved a capital stock-getter, his produce including Duneved 622 and Young Prince 758. The former won third prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Liskeard and first at Tavistock, and was afterwards sold to Lord CUntoD, in whose herd he gave great satisfaction. Young Prince 758 gained the third prize at the Bath and West Show at Truro, and was sold to Mr. J. Bundle, Cubert, Cornwall. The registration of the herd was commenced in Volume IV. of the Herd Book with' the two bulls mentioned ; and the cows and heifers : — Beauty 1785, Cherry 1849, Countess 1870, Favourite 1988, Jenny Lind 2091, Jenny Lind Younger 2092, and Primrose 2264. The next sire used was from Mr. John Bodley's stock — Monarch 460, sire Albert 360, dam Crafty 1235 ; he gained first prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Barnstaple. This bull was of a larger type than most of the Devons then exhibited ; he proved a successful steer-getter, and his heifers were a good size with fine long horns and good heads. Some very useful bulls were also got by him, among them being several prize-winners. Another noted sire used was Garibaldi 1st 842, bred by Mr. John Bodley, calved 1863, sire Champion 588a, dam Favourite 1985 ; he won second prize at the Bath and West Show at Bristol. Mr. Jackman first commenced showing fat steers got by this bull, and he proved one of the best stock-getters that had been used in the herd up to this time. A splendid lot of cows were the result of using this curly-coated bull. Mr. Bodley was very pleased with the herd, and stated, when on a visit at Hex- worthy, that he considered it to be one of the best he had ever seen, the uniformity of character being EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 159 very remarkable. The next sire used was Perfection 899, by Garibaldi 1st 842, dam Eosebud 3016 by Warrior 749. He was used as extensively as was possible without in-breeding, and with great success. Among his sons was a champion fat steer at Plymouth Fat Stock Show in 1874, and the bull. Earl of Exeter 1090, winner of first prize at the Devon County Show at Exeter, first at the Eoyal Cornwall Show at Bodmin, second at the Eoyal Agricultural Society's Show at Cardiff in 1872, and first and special prize as best bull of any breed at the Eoyal Cornwall Show at St. Austell in 1874. An old cow. Brown 5955, was by Earl of Exeter, and was retained in the herd until 1891, when she was sixteen years old, having produced a calf every year from the time she commenced to breed. Several of her progeny are still in the herd. As Mr. Bickle had had the entire management of feeding and preparing these animals for show, their success was very gratifying to him . Another bull that should be mentioned was Cornish Prince 807, bred by Mr. James Davy, sire Duke of Flitton 3rd 826, dam the first prize cow Duchess of Plymouth 2661 : he was used freely and produced some capital stock, includ- ing Earl of Hexworthy 1091, dam Eosebud 3016 — a frequent winner ; and Duke of Cornwall 1053, also a prize winner. Beeswing 3rd 3201, calved 1873, sire Cornish Prince 807 dam Beeswing 2508, lived to the age of nineteen years, and several of her produce are still in the herd. Earl of Hexworthy 1091 (son of Cornish Prince) was also used ; and two cows, Beatrice 2nd 3187, and Jessie 4578, both by him, were retained up to 1892 ; the former being eighteen years and the latter sixteen years old. Beatrice 2nd has been very prolific, produc- ing as many calves as it was possible for her to do in the time ; there are still four cows and heifers from her in the herd : Beatrice 5th 7401, Beatrice 6th 9433, Bloomer 9972, and Bell of Bradstone 11145. Blue Bell 10555, one of her daughters, was sold in 1891 for exportation to Mr. C. B. Grubb, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia ; she won third prize at the 160 DEVON CATTLE. Bath and "West of England Show at Eochester, as well as several prizes at local shows. Beatrice 4fch 5087 (from Beatrice 2nd) was a first prize winner at the Devon County Show at Bideford. Jessie 4578 has not proved such a regular breeder as her senior companion, but she has produced some very good heifers, including Crafty 5200, and Jessie 2nd 7427, the latter sold to the late Mr. W. H. Punchard, and a frequent prize winner at the Bath and "West of England and County Shows, as well as at the Eoyal Agricultural Society. The next bull introduced into the herd was bred by the late Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, being Dolly's Duke 1315, sire Jack 1128, dam, Dolly 4391 ; he had short legs, was long in his quarters, and of large size. Then came Narcissus 1617, bred by Mr. "W. E. Fryer, Lychett Minster, sire The Squire 1469, dam Neat 8724, by Prince Albert 907 ; he won at the Devon County and Eoyal Cornwall Shows, and proved a very successful sire. Several cows by him are still in the herd, and these have bred more prize winners than any other strain in it. Among them are Actress 2nd 5496, Bella 5951, Bertha 5952, Countess 2nd 5958, Crafty 2nd 7414, Famous 3rd 5962, Judy 3rd 5965, and Julia 3rd 7429. Actress 3rd has bred three bulls and two heifers. Of the bulls, Actor 2188 won several im- portant prizes, and was sold to Mr. Smith, New South Wales. Countess 2nd has bred five bulls and two heifers in six years ; one of her calves. The Count 2681 was a prize winner, being third at E.A.S.E. at Plymouth in 1890, and was sold to Mr. Manchie, New South Wales ; and another, Corrector 2738, one of the stock bulls now (1892) in the herd, has won first prizes at the Devon County Sho\vs, and was first and had the special prize as best bull of any breed at the Show of the Launceston Agricultural Society in 1891. Crafty 2nd 7414 was dam of Champion 2nd 2356, winner of numerous prizes. Champion 3rd 2552 was sold to Mr. Southey, South Africa, and Mr. Bickle has heard that he is very much pleased with him. Judy 3rd 5965 has produced three bulls and two heifers, including EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 161 Jubilee 2422, winner of several prizes, and Jennie 10562, also by Fancy's Eobin 2nd ; this heifer was one of the group that gained the special prize at the Winchester Show of the Eoyal Counties' Agricultural Society in 1889, besides many other prizes, including first and special as best female at the Show of the Launceston Agricultural Society in 1891. She was exported in October, 1891, to Mr. Grubb, Tasmania, where she was much admired. Queen 3rd 5969 has produced three bulls and three heifers, one of the latter being Queen 5th 9987 by Gladstone 1737, who has proved a noted prize winner. JuUa 3rd 7429 has also bred good stock, one of her heifers having been Joyful 9982, exported to New South Wales. Gladstone 1737 was the next bull that was purchased ; he was calved in 1882, bred by Mr. T. H. Eisdon, sire Nelson 1413, dam Golden Cup 2nd 3545, by Lord Nelson 1149. An animal of great depth and size, he proved himself quite a success when mated with the best bred cows in the herd. He was sire of the champion steer at Smithfield in 1888, which won for his owner over .£400 in prizes, and which, when dead, was pronounced to be " a perfect piece of fleshing." Fancy's Eobin 2nd 1966 (by Gladstone 1737, dam Fancy 5297), still (1892) one of the leading stock bulls in the herd, has been a celebrated prize-winner, having gained first prizes at the Somerset County, Bath and West of England, Eoyal Cornwall, Devon County Shows, and second at the E.A.S.E. Show at Plymouth: at several of these exhibitions he was also awarded special prizes as best Devpn and as best bull, defeating many of the most famous show animals. There are some very promising cows by Gladstone still in the herd, viz.. Actress 3rd 7397, Abess 9969, Beatrice 5th 7401, Beatrice 6th 9433, Beauty 4th 10551, Blossom 2nd 9973, Bloomer 9972, Bridesmaid 9485, Fancy 2nd 9980, Faithful 9442, Judy 4th 7428, Queenette 9988, and Queen 5th 9987. A few purchases were made during the last ten years, seven females having been bought at Mr. Powlesland's sale at Stockley Pomeroy, all of them from the late Mr. John 11 162 DEVON CATTLE. Bodley's Queen tribe. Their introduction has proved a great advantage in securing fresh blood, and the cham- pion steer and Fancy's Eobin 2nd were both from this strain. Beauty 2nd 5949, was purchased at the late Mr. "Walter Farthing's sale, and was bred by Mr. Edward Lutley. Of this family there are in the herd three daughters and a grand- daughter, and several bulls have been sold at good prices. Lady Julia 7432 was pur- chased from Mr. NicoUs, at Launceston Cattle Market, after she had been sold to be slaughtered. Mated with Champion 1696, she produced a cow-calf which, with the dam, the late Mr. W. H. Punchard bought. The cow-calf, named Lady Jane 10373, was sold at the Bourton Hall sale for 60 guineas ; others of the family making 90 guineas, 35 guineas, and 30 guineas. Cham- pion 1696 calved in 1883, bred by Mr. Henry Davy, Penhole House, sire Champion 1522, dam Cowslip 3rd 6225 by Agricola 2nd 1675, was purchased in 1885, and won many prizes at all the leading shows, national and county. He was not used extensively in the herd, but there are a few choice animals got by him — the prize cow Lady Florence 9445 being a daughter. Champion 2nd 2356, a frequent prize winner is a stock bull in the herd, and is a son of Champion 1696, a number of whose calves have been exported to Australia and South Africa. Another sire is the home-bred bull Master Prim 2nd 2080, calved in 1885, sire Lord Somerset 1788, dam Primrose 2nd 5608, — his numerous prizes include firsts at the Bath and West, Eoyal Cornwall, Holsworthy, Devon County and other Shows. He has been a good stock getter, his calves comprising several successful show winners. Forrester 2594 calved 1889 (sire Master Prim 2nd 2080, dam Fancy 5297), was only once exhibited in England when, being very young, he won third prize in his class. A gentleman purchased him for exportation to Tasmania where he gave great satisfaction, and his present owner was so pleased with him that he sent an order for three heifers from the same herd. He was exhibited in 1891 at the Longford EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 163 Agricultural Society's Show (Australia), and won first in his class and also the champion prize for the best Devon in the show, defeating several noted animals. The Bradstone Hall herd numbers about 100 head. The stock buUs are Fancy's Eobin 2nd 1966, Champion 2nd 2356, Corrector 2788, and Bradstone Prince 2722. The last named is by Creditor 2208 by Bondholder 1905, dam Brentor 7456 of a Humility tribe, tracing to a cow bred by Mr. Quartly, and being of quite a different strain from the rest of the herd he can be used without fear of in- breeding. We may add that the herd became the sole property of the present owner in 1874. From 1865 Mr. Eichard Bickle was partner with his uncle, the late Mr. John Jackman, who resided at Hexworthy until 1874, when Mr. Bickle succeeded him, and remained there until 1879. The herd was removed from Hexworthy to Bradstone Hall, at Lady-day, 1879. Beyanston, Blandford (Lord Portman). — The herd of his lordship's immediate predecessor, the first Viscount Portman, was founded considerably more than half a century ago. As the late Colonel Davy has said, in his prize essay contributed to the Journal of the Boyal Agricultural Society of England (Second Series, Vol. V., pp. 125-6), it was " originally bred, and from time to time recruited, from Messrs. Davy, Tapp, Dee, Merson, and Quartly." From Mr. John Tapp, the bull Nelson 81, a son of Hundred Guinea, was purchased, and he was followed by another son of Hundred Guinea, Mr. Hole's Champion 17, winner of first prizes at Dunster and Taunton ; and, in 1848, first at the York Eoyal Show, where one of his daughters was also first in her class. Other honours won by Devons bred at Bryanston are mentioned by Colonel Davy, and many more are recorded in the supplements to the Devon Herd Book, issued by the Society. Besides the Bryanston herd itself, that of Mr. W. Eolles Fryer, of Lytchett Minster, a branch of Lord Portman's herd, was extensively distinguished by the exhibition of winners. Among the females purchased in early years'were Flower and Alice, 164 DEVON CATTLE. from Mr. Quartly ; Cowslip, bred by Mr. Gibbings, of Exminster ; Mr. James Quartly's Countess and Shrews- bury ; a cow named Dee, after her breeder, Mr. Dee, of North Molton; Mr. James Davy's Queen; Mogridge, from Mr. Eichard Mogridge, of Molland; Holly and Mistress, from Mr. Maunder, of North Molton; Daisy and Glory, from Mr. Gibbs, of Cothelstone ; Polly, from Mr. Paul, of Dumpholme Farm, Somerset ; and in sub- sequent years the herd was recruited by cows and heifers from the herds of Colonel Hussey, Messrs. G. Combe, of Halberton ; C. C. Bartlett, of Durweston, and other breeders ; including Mr. J. A. Smith, of Bradford Peverell, of whose heifers of 1878 an important group was added to the famihes previously established at Bryanston. We may mention particularly Branch, Bradford, Choice, Fidget, Flirt, Gentle, Gipsy, Prudence, and Eomp, all calved in that year. Between Nelson and Champion, Mr. Quartly's Free Trade was used — a son of Prince of Wales 105, the Exeter and Eoyal first winner in 1884-5. Following Champion was Paul, bred by Mr. F. Eogers, of Yarlington, and he was succeeded by one of his own sons, and also by The Miller, a son of Champion from a Nelson cow. Then came Mr. James Davy's Prince Leopold, and subsequently his Palmerston. We cannot enumerate all the bulls intro- duced between that and the present time, but among the more conspicuously represented sires, we find Mr. Walter Farthing's Eifleman (a son of the famous Sir Peregrine), Mr. Smith's Hercules, bred from a Bryanston cow ; Mr. Shapland's Prince Albert ; two of Mr. John Quartly's bulls, named Frank Quartly and Harry Quartly ; The Earl, bred by Mr. E. B. Warren ; The Baron, bred by Mr. Eolles Fryer ; Mr. James Davy's Young Palmerston ; Mr. E. B. Warren's Sham- rock; Mrs. Langdon's Flower's Duke; Mr. Eolles Fryer's Magnolia; Sir Eobert, bred by Mr. Eobert Farthing ; and besides a few other bought bulls, sires bred at Bryanston have been much used latterly, including Eob Eoy 2663, a son of Mr. William Hancock's EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 165 bull of the same name, and Vulcan, Dignity (a son of Flower's Duke), Mariner, and Lord Mayo. Mr. For- rester made an exceedingly happy choice of a young bull in the Hon. C. B. Portman's herd for the herd at Bryanston. The name of Eoyal Windsor, given to the calf, is familiar to Devon breeders as that of the winner of the third prize at the Windsor Eoyal Show in 1889 and first prize in the two-year-old class at the Plymouth Eoyal Show in 1890, when he was exhibited by Lord Portman. Sir Claud, from the same neigh- bouring herd, and owning, through his sire. Sir W. E. Williams's Eclipse, the blood of the Temptress family and of the 4th and 17th Dukes of Flitton, was previously used. The principle observed has been to breed from the purest strains ; yet registration, even of sires iatroduced, has not been invariably demanded. El Dorado, a bull of strong and hardy appearance, was bred by Mr. Elworthy on January 7th, 1890, and is a son of an unnamed bull, bred by Mr. Pearse, of Sampford Peverell. That bull's sire was Mr. William Cook's Ashford 1890, but his dam's name and breeding are not stated. El Dorado's dam, named Duchess, was a daughter of Mr. Samuel Kidner's Encore, a grandson of Cherry 2nd 4218, the dam of his celebrated Smithfield champion ox. Hero, a two-year-old bull, was bred by Mr. Hebditch, from a capital milking cow. Sir Claud has three sons in the herd, Premier, Dairyman, and Pearl; and Eoyal Windsor has left a son of January 6th, 1891, Eoyalty, which is looked upon as exactly the right bull to immediately follow El Dorado. Two purchased buUs have been lately acquired, both from the herd of Mr. Eichard Bickle, of Bradstdne Hall, Tavistock. One is the well-known Fancy's Eobin 2nd, 1966, the great prize winner ; the other, his son Eobin Hood, an April calf of 1892 from Julia 3rd. ' The dairy herd numbers about sixty cows of mature age, nearly all by registered sires, and nine of them registered cows. BucKLAND House, Durston, Taunton, (Mr.W. Bond). — This herd was founded by the late Mr. W. E. Bond about 166 DEVON CATTLE. forty or fifty years ago. During the last fifteen years it has been in the possession of the present owner, who has added to it the cows Ash 9479, Homshay 7530, Knowle 7532, and Nancy 7536. The sires used have been Lord Heathfield 1387, Eed Prince 1432, Lord Bickley 1378, Nelson 2096, Lord Buckland 2431, Uncle Tom 2165, and Golden Coin 2598. Of these, Eed Prince, Nelson, Uncle Tom and Golden Coin proved very successful stock- getters. Golden Coin is now in use. The herd com- prises twenty cows, that number of calves being usually reared annually. The tribes represented are the Acorn, Ash, Homshay, Knowle, Nancy, Oak, Oak Apple, Oak Bark, Oak Heart, and Oakleaf. BuECH, South Molton, North Devon (Executors of the late Mr. John Tapp). — Mr. J. Quartly Tapp, son of the late Mr. John Tapp, informs us that there is a record of a sale held at Burch in 1811, of 1000 Exmoor sheep and a considerable herd of cattle " all of the true North Devon breed," the sale being held by order of Mr. Eichard Tapp, who was apparently the executor of his son John (who died early), the father of the late Mr. John Tapp, recently deceased. As the farm was kept on, it is probable that some of the breeding stock were retained or bought in. But the herd may be said to have been estabhshed on its present basis by the late Mr. John Tapp, many of the original stock being of Quartly blood. The traditions of the herd, in fact, take us back into the days when the Quartly family came to the front, and Quartly bulls were used in Mr. Tapp's herd. The names of the earliest sires are long since forgotten, no record of the breeding of the herd having been kept in their days ; but in Col. Davy's first volume of the Herd Book we find Mr. John Tapp as the contributor of two entries, Nos. 81 and 121. bulls bred by himself, and named, respectively, Nelson and Young Sillifant — the first calved in 1840, sire Mr. John Quartly's Hundred Guinea 56, dam Princess by a son of Mr. Henry Quartly's Forester 46 ; and the second, a prize winner, calved in 1837, sire Mr. Francis Quartly's Sillifant 120 (the sire of Hundred Guinea), dam Princess, EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 167 of the same paternity, and presumably the same cow as Princess, the dam of Nelson. The bulls of whose con- secutive services in the Burch herd we have authentic particulars are Napoleon 1st 1472, Sultan 2nd 2890, Earl of Molton 1957, Druid 1317, Earl of Molton 2nd 1958, Young Druid 2913, Jan Eidd 1998, and Brian Boru. The two last-named are Mr. John Quartly's bulls, and a near relationship exists between the families of Quartly and Tapp, whilst the farms, Champson and Burch, are but a short distance apart. Napoleon 1st 2471 was a son of Mr. James Davy's Young Napoleon 754, from Graceful 5366, whose record is — sire and grandsire, dam and granddam, from the Quartly stock. Graceful was also dam of a noted steer of Mr. W. Smith's. Sultan 2nd, bred by Mr. John Quartly in 1870, and used at Burch in 1878, was a direct descendant of Longhorned Cm-ly. Earl of Molton 1957, and Earl of Molton 2nd were both bred by Mr. Eichard Stranger, and were both sons of Beauty 8th 7122. Earl of Molton's sire was Earl of Dodington ; and Earl of Molton 2nd is by Devonian 1937, the sire of Her Majesty's celebrated heifer Pansy. Druid 1317, the late Mr. William Perry's celebrated bull, of the family of Longhorned Curly's descendants, was extensively fruitful in the herd of Mr. Tapp, and his blood has further entered into it by the use of his son. Young Druid 2913, whose dam, Eosebud 2nd by Nelson 1810, is a daughter of Eosebud 7203, bred at Burch, and purchased by Mr. John Eisdon, Golsoncott. Still more, again, of Druid's blood has been introduced through the two latest sires, those now in service at Champson — Jan Eidd 1998, a son of Druid's famous son Bravo ; another sire used recently has been Eriar Tuck 2779, bred by Mr. Quartly. The following cows and heifers were purchased at Mr. John Quartly's sale in 1870 :— Flower 2708, Dainty 2601, Graceful 2780, Handsome 2738, Snowdrop 3042, heifer out of Primrose 2258 ; heifer calf out of Bring- good 1817, by Baronet 781 ; heifer calf out of Dainty 2609, by Warrior 548 ; heifer caH out of Graceful 2730, by Champson; heifer calf out of Famous 1965, by 168 DEVON CATTLE. Baronet 781 ; heifer calf out of Prettymaid 2253, by Baronet 781 ; heifer calf out of Primrose 2258, by Baronet 781 ; heifer calf out of Snowdrop 3042, by Champson. The herd consists of from 80 to 100 head, according to the time of year, and the average number of calves is 25. The Gentle family is of the old Burch strain, long bred upon the farm, and of long forgotten origin. The herd comprises also the Bracelet, Cherry, Lily, and other home-bred families. But it has also several very valuable branches of the old Champson tribe of Curly, derived from Longhomed Curly through Curly 92, the Forester cow, Longhomed Curly's daughter. The Eosebud and Primrose famihes are both of this origin, the Eosebuds having branched off from the Primrose line, which itself was an offshoot of that of Famous, a lineal great-granddaughter of Long- horned Curly, and granddaughter of Curly 92. Another branch, which retained the name of Famous through three consecutive generations, and at Champson took the name of Fancy, was also transferred to Burch : and the Bringgood family, that of Champson, well represented in the herd, was added by the purchase of Bringgood 10489, bred by Mr. John Quartly. This family diverges from Prettymaid, a daughter of Curly 92, through Curly 96, by Favourite 43, followed by Pink 951, a daughter of Earl of Exeter 38, and next by her daughter, Bringgood 1817, by Duke of Chester 404, and that cow's daughter Bringgood 10489, the cow bought by Mr. Tapp. Sir W. Williams purchased three cows in 1882, and three cows in 1884. They were Gentle 5878, Georgina 5879, Primrose 5881, Fancy 5863, Fancy 2nd 5864, and Graceful 5880. Mr. John Eisdon bought the cows Eosebud 10404, and Bringgood 11814. The bull Young AustraUan 1248, calved in 1869, was sent out to Mr. Amos, Australia, by Mr. Yeo, and he also exported the cow Polly 3792, calved in 1869, to Mr. H. C. White, Hunters Eiver, New South Wales. The herd at Burch has never been kept for show-yard exhibition, but many animals sold for that EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 169 purpose have been successful; for example, Mr. W. Smith's steer, which is thus mentioned in the Farmer's Magazine of 1869: — "At the Birmingham meeting, when three years and two months old, this steer took the first prize of £15, as the best steer, and an extra prize of £20 as the best of all the Devons, with a silver medal for his breeder. At the Smithfield Club Show he took the first prize of £30, in the class of Devon steers under three years and three months. At Liverpool he took the first prize of £15 for Devon oxen or steers. His weight when taken in London was 17211bs., and his girth 8 feet 5 inches.. This is a particularly handsome beast, full of high breeding, famouslj' fed, and with, perhaps, more prime meat about him than anything in the show. Indeed, with Mr. Heath's magnificient Hereford well out of the way there could be no manner of doubt that the Devon steer would have been the best of all, both in Bir- mingham and London." Sir W. Williams's cow Geor- gina 5879, was a very successful prize winner, having gained first prizes at the Bath and West of England Shows, in 1886, in competition with some of the most famous specimens of the breed, including Moss Eose 8th 7017. It may be mentioned that the cow Graceful 6366 bred thirteen bull calves (the only one of them steered being Mr. W. Smith's ox) and was then sold to Mr. Walter Farthing for breeding purposes. As is men- tioned elsewhere, Mr. John Eisdon's cow Eosebud 10404 continues to be fruitful, and to keep her con- dition at the age of sixteen years. Eepresentatives of the Bringgood and Primrose tribes are also breeding at the ages of thirteen and fourteen years respectively. Castle Hill, North Devon (Earl Fortescue). — The following is a list of some of the bulls that have been used from 1850 to 1892 in this herd, the property of the late and present Earls Fortescue : — Althorpe 139, calved February, 1850, bred by Mr. Eichard Merson, North Molton, sire President 97 by Duke 30, dam Flower 190 by Brinsworthy, bred by Mr. Merson, granddam Flower, 170 DEVON CATTLE. g.g.d. Old Flower, bred by Mr. J. Tanner Davy, Eose Ash ; Brinsworthy was the sire of Cambridge 12. Flitton 414, calved January 29, 1857, bred by Mr. Davy, Flitton Barton, sire Napoleon 3rd 464 by Wonder, dam Pretty maid, granddam Old Prettymaid, bred by Mr. Davy ; Old Prettymaid won first prize at the Barn- staple Agricultural Show. Great Western 647, calved September, 1859, bred by Mr. George Turner, Beacon Downes, near Exeter, sire Prince Frederick 494 by Australian 365, dam Vaudine 1699 by Palmerston 477, granddam Wallflower 472 by Duke of York 37, g.g.d. Mayflower 290 by a son of Hundred Guinea 56. A Bull bought of Mr. Passmore, AUer, Bishops Nympton, fifteen months old, for 50 guineas in 1864 — not in the Herd Book, though stated by Mr. James Quartly, West Molland, to have been " eligible." A bull, calved August 10, 1872, bred by Viscount Falmouth, sire Sun- flower 937, dam Trick Madame by Crown Prince 604. A Bull bought in October, 1876, from Mr. Brayley, Molland, bred by Mr. Isaac Clark, Lynch, near Porlock, sire Mr. WilKam Paramore's (of West Luckham) prize bull at Dunster Show, price 35 guineas, sold in 1880 for £31 10s. Young Tempter 2916, bred by Earl Fortescue, calved July 4, 1877, sire Tempter 1225 by Duke of Flitton 4th 827, dam Pretty by Harry 1117. Agricola 2nd 1676, calved February, 1881, bred by Mr. List, East Down, sire Agricola 1674, dam Cherry. Jupiter 1579, calved January 30, 1881, bred by Mr. W. Hancock, Wiveliscombe, sire Lord Stoford 1395, dam Jessie 4577 ; price £40 when a calf. Eob Eoy 1831, calved August 19, 1882, bred by Earl Fortescue, sire Eob Eoy 1435, dam Prettyface 5773 by Nelson, granddam Prettyface by Harry 1117. Jumbo 2007, calved May 3l8t, 1884, bred by Earl Fortescue, sire Jupiter 1579 by Lord Stoford 1395, dam Eose 8091 by Duke of Edinburgh 1064, granddam Eose, bred by Earl Fortescue, g.g.d. Princess 2272 by Earl 623, g.g.g.d. Duchess 667. Pretty Boy 1819, calved December 14, 1883, bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner, sire Lord Currypool 1589, dam Cutsey Pretty EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 171 Maid 2nd 5216 by Cetewayo 1519 : bought from Mr. T. H. Eisdon for 50 guineas. Baron Golsoncott, 2nd 1895 calved March 24, 1885, bought for 50 guineas as a calf, bred by Mr. John Eisdon, sire Baron Golsoncott 1681, dam Queen of Plitton 6927 by Nelson 1413 : after his service here was sold to Mr. Yeo and sent to Australia. Young Pretty Boy 2183, calved November 6th, 1886, bred by Earl JPortescue, sire Pretty Boy 1819 by Lord Currypool 1589, dam Prettyface 5773 ; sold February 28th, 1889, to Mr. Veysey for £40. Prettyface's Duke 2858, calved Sep- tember 25, 1888, bred by Earl Fortesoue, sire Baron Gol- soncott 2nd 1895, dam Prettyface 3rd 8085. Crusader 2210, calved November 15, 1887, bred by Mr. Henry Quartly, sire Druid 1317, dam Favourite 5999. Among the sales have been the following : December 11, 1885, a fat steer, two years old, sold at Exeter Fat Stock Show for £36, and won third prize. March 24, 1886, a bull calf sold to Mr. Tucker, Monkleigh, for £30. March 8, 1889, a young heifer sold to Mr. Skinner for 30 guineas. September 2, a young heifer sold to Mr. Veysey for £40. Septem- ber 12, a bull calf sold to Mr. Fowler for £17. August 26, 1890, a heifer sold to Mr. Tamlyn for £45 10s., and a cow sold to Mr. Newton for £34 10s. 1891, a bull calf sold to Mr. Huxtable for £25. The herd consists of about 90 Devon cattle ; the average number of calves is about 17. They are taken from the cows when about a fort- night old, and reared on skim milk and calf meal. The following are among the 17 cows and heifers in the Devon Herd Book of 1863— Beauty 1783, calved February 3, 1854, bred by the late Earl Fortescue, sire Lord Lieu- tenant 66, grandsire Earl of Exeter 38, dam Beauty; exhibited by his lordship, but not for a prize, and much admired at the Bath and West of England Show at Barnstaple in 1858. Beauty 1784, calved June 10, 1861, bred by the late Earl Fortescue, sire Flitton 414, grand- sire Davy's Napoleon 3rd 464, granddam Beauty. Cocker- dam 1862, calved June 26, 1859, bred by the late Earl Fortescue, sire Flitton 414, grandsire Napoleon 3rd 464. Quartly 2300 calved September 4, 1854, bred by the late 172 DEVON CATTLE. Earl Fortescue, sire Althorpe 139, grandsire President 97, dam Quartly, Thorns 2392, calved 1856, bred by Mr. Thome, West Buckland, sire Sultan 318, grandsire Earl of Exeter 38, dam Prettymaid, bred by Mr. John Quartly. Young Beauty 2445, calved April 1, 1859, bred by the late Earl Fortescue, sire Napoleon 3rd 464, grandsire Earl of Exeter 38, dam Beauty 1783, by Lord Lieutenant 66. Earl Fortescue says : " The cows in my herd at the pre- sent time are said, by those who remember them, not to be so large as formerly, e.g., the six mentioned above ; being not only more high-bred, but purposely bred smaller, as small beef and mutton have for some time been more in request than large specimens of the same breeds." With reference to the cow Thome 2392, referred to, Lord Fortescue remarks : " I well remember my father having told me some time before his 'death that when calling that day about some business on his neighbour, Mr. Thorne, Endercombe, West Buckland, he had' seen a cow of his vyhich he had so much admired that he bought her then and there at a good price. Both he and I have had good reason to be well pleased with his purchase, for most of the best animals in this herd have had more or less of her blood in them." Champson, Holland, North Devon (Mr. John Quartly). — Mr. John Quartly, one of the nephews of Mr. Francis Quartly, succeeded his distinguished kinsman upon that farm in the year 1836, and some references to his stock and to his work as a breeder will be found in the chapters relating to early herds. In that year his uncle sold the herd and retired from business, but continued to live at Champson, with Mr. John Quartly, until 1856, when he died at the age of ninety-two years. At the sale in 1836, Mr. John Quartly, as has already been mentioned, bought thirteen female Devons of various ages, cows, heifers, and calves, and one bull-calf, of the very best of the old Quartly blood, among them Curly 92 and her daughter Prettymaid 366, whose sire, although not on record, was no doubt worthy of her celebrated dam, considered by Mr. Francis Quartly one of the very best cows he ever bred. EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 173 With that cow, however, in his estimate of comparative merit, he bracketed her dam, Longhorned Curly ; and the sire of Curly 92 was certainly one of the most excellent of patriarchal Devons, the famous Forester 46. At least two generations of Longhorned Curly's dams were " bred by Mr. Quartly," presumably Mr. Francis Quartly, as no other member of the Quartly family is named in the record under No. 92. The farm, however, has been in the occu- pation of the Quartly family uninterruptedly for more than 190 years, and the family tradition is that the same breed of cattle has been kept upon it and passed from generation to generation of that family, receiving, of course, new blood from time to time, and having abundant reinforcement from the selections made by Mr. Francis Quartly, who quietly got the pick of his neighbours' cattle to improve his own, and to build up eventually a herd of unequalled merit. Beginning businsss as a Devon breeder fifty-six years ago, with the prestige of his famUy name and the advantage of possessing some of the very best of the old Quartly blood, Mr. John Quartly bamself became a leading actor in the events which brought the Devons to the front ; and he promptly proved his possession of the judgment and knowledge necessary to turn the old Champson blood to the best advantage. The very year after he started on his own account he bred such a bull as any man might be proud to produce after a quarter, or even half a century's practice as a breeder. That was the bull known as Hundred Guinea 56, named in commemoration of the price, 100 guineas, paid for him by Messrs. Bult and Bond, near Taunton. He was a son of Mr. Francis Quartly's SHlifant 120, whose dam's sire was Forester, and of Curly 92, also, as we have seen, a daughter of Forester. In the year 1842 Mr. John Quartly, having previously shown Devons very successfully at the county and local shows, came out as an exhibitor at the Bristol meeting of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England, where his Prettymaid 366 and Hundred Guinea 56 were both first winners in their respective classes, the cow being about seven, and the bull about five years old. 174 DEVON CATTLE. In 1848 he bred another famous bull, Earl of Exeter 38, a grandson of Prettymaid and through her a descendant of Curly by Forester, and of Longhorned Curly, -whilst both the father and the mother of Earl of Exeter were the offspring of Mr. James Quartly's Prince of Wales 105, whose parents were both by Hundred Guinea ; besides, his maternal granddam had the blood of Forester and Longhorned Curly, and his sire's dam, again, had that of SiUifant and Forester. The sire of Earl of Exeter also traced to Forester by his dam's line direct. Earl of Exeter won the second prize in his class at the Exeter Eoyal meeting in 1850, when the first prize bull in the same class was his half-brother, Mr. James Quartly's Duke of Devonshire 35. Inthe twelve months following, however, still in the possession of his breeder, he advanced to the place of highest honour, taking the first prize in the class of mature bulls at the Eoyal Show at Windsor in 1851, on which occasion the first volume of the Devon Herd Book was issued to subscribers. No true story of live stock breeding, however, ends like the old-fashioned tales of fiction, in which the heroines and heroes, duly paired, "lived happily ever afterwards." The histories of all our improved breeds, truthfully told, reveal success only as the fruit of constant effort, failure as the sure re- sult of slackness of purpose and of hand. Moreover, new dif&culties and dangers appear as the heights of success are gained, especially as regards the breeding of pedigree cattle. If some of these perplexing accompaniments of long-established success came within the experience of the Quartly family in past years, dispersion of Quartly Devons effected a renovation of old Champson tribes by various means, such as change of pasturage and new combinations of blood. The results are, the maintenance or restoration of many valuable old families, and the estabUshment of herds in which the old Champson blood largely prevails. The present choice little herd of Mr. John Quartly on the Champson farm comprises females bred up, some with longer recorded pedigrees than others, from the original Quartly stock, some cows and heifers EXISTING HBKDS IN ENGLAND. 175 tracing back in unbroken line to the oldest founda- tions, even to Curly and Longhomed Curly. Of this tribe is the family of Bringgood, including several females truly exemplifying the type associated with the name of Quartly in past years. The sprightliness, grace, and neatness of those cows are just what we have seen in pictures of representative Devons and in living specimens in the show-yard. Yet the herd is not kept as a show herd. The blood and character are there ; the rest is a question of meal and oilcake — milk and condiments in some cases. Mr. Quartly does not now strive for mastery in the show-yard as he did so successfully in the days of his youth. The bulls in use are Brian Boru, a remarkably handsome, stylish young animal of the Bringgood tribe, and by Mr. W. Perry's famous old prize bull Druid ; and Jan Eidd 1998, bred by Mr. Tremayne, at Sydenham, Lew Down, Devon, by Bravo (Druid's son), and tracing back through cows by sires of Quartly descent to Treasure 447, a noted prize cow in Cornwall fully half a century ago. These speci- mens may be taken as generally representing the type of the present Champson herd, in which the judgment of the veteran breeder has successfully met the dif&culties of his task, and has maintained, within narrowed limits, the traditions of his house. Chevithoene, Tiverton, Devon (Mr. Nathaniel Cook). — This herd was established by the father of the present owner as a dairy herd about forty years ago. The original herd was dispersed in 1871, but some descendants have been purchased and are still strongly represented. One of the best milking families, at present (and the characteristic appears to be strongly hereditary in that family), is that of Beauty, obtained at the sale of Mr. Thomas Blake's herd at Cutsey, in October, 1880. Mr. Blake had it from Mr. Bond, of Webb Hill. The pur- chase of lot 1 at the same sale restored to Chevithome a family which had been sold out to Mr. Blake some years previously. The original cow was bought by Mr. Cook's father from Mr. Griffin, in the parish of Bodmiscombe, 176 DEVON CATTLE. Devon, and as the sort had been in the possession of Mr. Griffin's family quite half a century before the Chevi- thorne herd was founded, its history extends, by tradition^ over nearly 100 years. The cow bought at Cutsey (lot 1) had been named by Mr. Blake, Chevithorne, in com- memoration of her descent from Mr. Cook's stock, but she was re-named, by Mr. N. Cook, Cherry, and her descendants still bear that name. There is, however, in the herd, another Cherry family, distinguished from the old Chevithorne Cherry sort as" Joyce's Cherry," because acquired at the Allercott sale when Mr. Joyce's herd was sold in 1875, on which occasion Mr. Cook gave as much as 74 gs. for a three-year-old heifer. The Elower family came from the stock of Mr. George Gibbs, of Tatham Farm, Bishops Lydeard. Maggy, a cow nearly twenty years old, still heads a family bred from her. She is really a representative of the old Chevithorne stock, but the record not having been preserved, she fails to be ehgible for registration. The Grumpy family very well illustrate the combined dairy and grazing properties of the Devon when trained for milk. An old cow named Minnie, whose long, many-wrinkled horns bear traces of the work of seventeen years, is of what is called the Carpenter or Bradley sort, in commemoration of its source. One of the best famihes, quality and per- formances duly considered, is that of Fancy, tracing to the second cow of that name, which was the first regis- tered, sire Mr. J. D. Hancock's Lord Donne, dam Fancy, the foundation cow of the family at Chevithorne, bred by Mr. E. Venn, of Northcote, and described as a par- ticularly good cow. From the sale of Mr. Punchard's herd at Bourton Mr. Cook brought home Dahlia 8227, of Mr. John Howse's Daisy family ; Lady Jane 10373, bred by Mr. E. Bickle ; and Eosebud 10447, the daughter of Mr. A. C. Skinner's champion winners. General Gordon and Moss Eose 8th. Eosebud, calved February 9th, 1888, and herself a winner of prizes at the Eoyal, the Bath and West of England, and county and local shows besides, was bought by Mr. Punchard for 200 gs.. EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 177 at the Pound sale, July 23, 1891, and by Mr. Cook at the Bourton sale, April 7, 1892, for exactly half that price. One of the early sires which left a lasting im- pression upon the herd of the senior Mr. Cook was bought by him as a calf from Mr. Eobert Gibbs, of Cothelstone. That Cothelstone bull was a son of the famous Quartly sire, Hundred Guinea 56, and the grand character of the stock left by him, their gay heads, true Devon horns, and their substance with symmetry, are still most distinctly remembered. Lord Quanfcock 874 was also successfully used some time before the dispersion of the original stock by sale in 1871. The first sire used in what we may describe as the second rise, or revival of the herd,' was Lord Donne 1382, bred by the late Mr. J. D. Hancock, at Halse, calved in March, 1873 ; sire Profit's Duke (Mr. Walter Farthing's), dam a Halse cow. He was succeeded by Lord Cutsey 2022, calved at Chevithorne, 1881, but from the cow, Chevithorne, bought at the Cutsey sale (lot 1), in-calf to Cetewayo. The offspring was Lord Cutsey ; and following Lord Cutsey his son, Briton 1911, from Mr. Blake's Beauty 3rd, came to the front. Chevithorne 1520, a home-bred son of Lord Donne, from a cow bred by Mr. Venn, was calved in the year 1879, and in due course taken into service ; and in turn Mr. Cook used principally Chevi- thorne 2nd 1925, a son of Lord Cutsey from Beauty ith (of the Cutsey blood again), Mr. Lutley's Lord Escott 2nd 2436, and Mr. Oatway's Somerset 2501 (the two last named at the same time), and'now, whilst retaining Somerset, he also has Myrtle's Jubilee Boy 2294, bred and used by Mr. A. C. Skinner. Childe Okefoed, Dorsetshire (Hon. C. B. Portman). — This herd, selected and bred with special reference to the class of cattle best suited to the land and district, com- prises a large number of pure-bred but unregistered Devons and some registered animals. The oldest regis- tered cow in the herd is Lofty 11655, ten years old, bred by Mr. E. B. Warren, of Childe Okeford, sire Lord Taunton 1397, dam Cricket 3316, and there is a con- 12 178 DEVON CATTLE. siderable quantity of the North Devon blood which he possessed, found at the sources of the herd. The four- year-old cows are nearly all by Eclipse 1728, bred by Sir William Williams from Flitton parents, Duke of Flitton 17th 1544, a direct descendant of the gold medal Temp- tress through Actress, and Temptress 4th 3962, daughter of the gold medal Temptress. The three -year-old cows are by Topper 2685, bred by Mr. Thomas Chick, of Stratton. The two-year-old heifers at Childe Okeford, with the exception of three purchased at the sale of Mr. W. H. Punchard's herd, are by Mountaineer 2653, bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner, and sold to Viscount Portman. Moun- taineer is full brother in blood, although not literally full brother, to the famous prize bull General Gordon, being by General Gordon's sire and from an own sister to General Gordon's dam. Zanzibar 2918 is the sire of the yearling heifers and heifer-calves. He was bred by Mr. Henry Mayo, and calved in December, 1888 ; sire Lord Fidget 2026, a son of Lord Eobin and grandson of Lord Molton, dam Crocus 8566. The sire at present in the herd is Tip Top 2900, a home-bred son of Mountaineer and of Lofty, of the old Childe Okeford strain, rich in Quartly and Davy antecedents. He received a commend- ation in the yearling class at the Bath and West of Eng- land Show, 1891. The rest of the present herd consisted of thirteen steers of two years and over, twelve yearling steers, and sixteen bull and steer calves. The following animals were purchased at the sale of Mr. Punchard's herd:- Butterfly 22nd 9810, Lady Jemima 10933, Fair- maid 2nd 11672, Gentle 30th 11732, Norah Wolseley 12389, and a heifer-calf from Cowslip 2nd was also bred by Mr. Punchard. Some of the cows are directly des- cended from Mr. Edward Whittle's stock, and some from the stock of Mr. H. Mayo. Chilfeome, Dorset (Mr. F. E. Pope). — This herd was formed in 1887, Mr. Pope had given up farming in 1884, and sold bis Shorthorns, but he resumed farming in 1887. Animals were purchased from Viscount Portman, Messrs. W. Eolles Fryer, Henry Mayo, T. F. Kella- EXISTING HEEDS IN EN'GLAND. 179 ■way, T. S. Stevens, Woolmington, and John Shepherd. Eeai Pink 2114 and Milkman 2291 were the sires used in 1888 and 1889, and Duke of Dorset 2584 and Lord Darling 2620 were in service in 1890 and 1891. Eeal Pink and Milkman were bred by Mr. T. Chick, Stratton, the former being full of his own best blood, and the latter descended from Messrs. T. F. Kellaway's, W. Pope's, and E. Whittle's herds. Duke of Dorset and Lord Darling were bred by Mr. Henry Mayo, at Coker's Frome, and were bought as calves with their dams, at his sale in 1889. These cows are excellent milkers, of great size, and very well represent the best type of what used to be called the " Dorset Eed " breed, as distinct from the smaller North Devon. Darling is descended from the herd of Mr. E. Whittle, Toller Fratrum, Maiden Newton ; her grand horns and head, large scale, dark red colour and large udder were the characteristics of the Toller Fratrum herd, which was bred by three generations of the Whittle family, and let to three generations of dairymen (sons, fathers, and grandfathers) for nearly a century. The herd contains at present (February, 1892) 2 bulls, 50 dairy cows (let as a dairy), 17 two-year-old heifers, 17 yearling heifers, about 17 cow-calves to rear, 6 extra dairy cows and heifers to be sold barren, 1 fat cow, total 110 head ; but these animals are not all eligible for the Herd Book. Mr. Pope only shows animals at two local shows, Dorchester and Melplash, and they are taken out of the dairy and hill pastures just before the shows without any preparation. In 1890, at Dorchester, Truelove was first for cows ; and Ladylove and Beauty 4th 10902 were first as the best pair of two-year-old heifers. At the Melplash Show the same year. Miss Pope 9792, Miss Toller 1st 10923, and Miss Toller 2nd 10924 were first in the class described as for the "best cow and two offsprings." At Dorchester Show, in 1891, Miss Pope had the second prize for cows ; and Pink Dumpling 11652 and Crocus the second for pairs of heifers under two years old. In sending pencil sketches of four of his cowB, Mr. Pope adds a few notes regarding them : — 180 DEVON CATTLE. "Duchess of Dorchester and Darling were both bred by Mr. Henry Mayo, and were both by Judge Jeffries,. 1751. The former belongs to a favourite family, bred at Coker's Frome, through many generations, and the latter, as already noted, shows all the characteristics of the old Toller Fratrum herd, her dam being exactly like her. Truelove, first prize cow in 1890, at Dor- chester, was also bred by Mr. H. Mayo; she is by Chevithorne 1697, used for many years in the herd of Mr. John Chick, and bred by Mr. N. Cook. Her short horns show the Somerset type, as distinct from the old Dorset heads of the other cows ; her dam's sire was bred by Mr. B. Bryant, Berwick, who possesses one of the best herds in the county of Dorset, though he has not registered all his cows. Miss Pope 9791 was bred by Vis- count Portman, who purchased her dam at the sale of the remaining portion of the Toller Whelme herd. She was then rising three years old, and made the highest price at the sale ; her sire, Vulcan 1865, was also bred by Viscount Portman, and was sold to Mr. N. Cook. His sire belonged to Mr. John Pitfield, who possessed a splendid herd at Symondsbury, some years ago ; and his grandsire was bred at Toller Whelme. The neat North Devon head, with long horns, inclining too much back- wards, her fine quality, length, and good milking proper- ties make Miss Pope a facsimile of the type bred by the late Mr. W. Pope, his father, and grandfather at Toller Whelme. The aWndance of hair between the horns, which the cow exhibits, appears in many descendants in the herd." Clampit Faem, Callington, Cornwall (Mr. Wm. Brent). — The Clampit herd, which comprises about 45 head, was founded nearly twenty-six years ago by Mr. Daniel Brent. The great majority of the animals are descended from an evenly-fleshed cow with grand character of head, called Longhorns. This cow was the dam of a steer which eclipsed all his rivals at the local fat stock shows of the year when he was exhibited. Longhorns was not regis- tered, but there is reason to believe that she was des- EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 181 «ended from the stock of Mr. F. H. Eodd, who established a herd of Devon s at Trebartha, probably a hundred years ago, and who purchased for the benefit of his tenantry ■some high class bulls, which had the effect of improving the general stock of the neighbourhood to a considerable extent. Specimens from the Clampit herd have been ex- hibited at the different fat stock shows, notably at the West of England Exhibition held at Plymouth, with marked success. When animals have been sent, they have never failed to win the highest honours, indeed three ten guinea cups offered by the West of England Society have fallen to Mr. Brent for Devon steers. At the local breeding stock shows, though the animals sent have been in ordinary condition, they have secured a good percen- tage of the prizes offered. None of the females were registered prior to the formation of the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society, but the best bulls that could be pro- cured have been used from the commencement ; among the earliest being an animal from the celebrated herd of the late Mr. John Nicolls, of Trerithick, who dispersed at very satisfactory prices a large and valuable herd of ex- cellent Devons which his grandfather, father, and himself had successfully built up. The next was a bull bred by Mr. Wm. Perry, of Alder, Lewdown ; this animal left some capital stock. Other sires used have been King of the West 1136, Agricola 2nd 1675, Harry 2nd 1743, bred by the late Mr. Henry Davy, of Penhole House, the winner of numerous prizes, including first at the Devon County Show at Torquay, and second at the Bath and West Show at Tunbridge Wells ; he scaled, when killed, 13 cwt. of dressed carcase. Sir Eobin 1876, by Fancy's Eobin 1556, did good service in the herd, as did also Duke of Pound 11th 2227, by Lord Currypool 1589, both bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner. The sire at present in use is The Curate 2897, by The Vicar 2156, and his progeny are very promising. About fifteen calves are dropped on an aver- age in the year ; half the males are kept for bulls and sold for breeding. The steers are sold fat, about two and a half years old, the last lot sold having averaged over 7 cwt. 182 DEVON CATTLE. each at the age stated, but this is somewhat above the general average ; probably 6 cwt. to 6^ cwt. would be nearer the usual mark. Many breeders do not fatten so young, three and a half years being about the age for sending to the butcher. The Devons fatten very readily, and carry the meat on the best joints ; consequently, they make a higher price than other pure or cross-bred cattle in the locality. Many of the surplus cows and heifers have been sold to breeders in the West of England. Some of the calves are suckled and others are fed from the tub. The dairy cows generally suckle two calves each. The other cows are milked, and yield, some months after being re- newed, about lib. of butter each per day on grass alone. Mr. Brent thinks the dairy properties should be more studied. His aim is to combine size with quality. The Devon breed has, Mr. Brent assures us, superseded all others in his part of the country. Their strong con- stitutions, quality of flesh, and aptitude to fatten, enable them to compare favourably with other varieties. CoLFOBD Faem, Elworthy, Somerset (Mr. John Sur- ridge). — This herd was brought prominently into notice by the success at the Birmingham and Smithfield Club Pat Stock Shows in 1884 and 1885 of an ox bred in it and exhibited by Her Majesty the Queen, and by the many prizes won in national and local showyards by the heifer Norah 7th about the same time. Mr. Surridge,. being stationed near to some half-dozen high-clasB- herds, has often preferred, instead of keeping a bull in his own herd, to send his cows to the most famous sires belonging to his neighbours. Thus the heifer Norah 7th was by Mr. Skinner's Lord Currypool. The Queen's ox was by Nelson 1413, which successively belonged to Mr. John Bradbeer, Mr. Howse and Mr. John Bisdon. Norah 2nd, the dam of Norah 7th, was by Admiral 1267. She was bred by Mr. Cecil Smith, and a very choice and valuable family is descended from her. Other families bear the name Loophorn and Dainty. Another matron of rare merit was Dainty,, dam of the Queen's ox above mentioned. EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 183 CHAPTEE VIII. EXISTING HEBDS IN ENGLAND (Continued). CoMPTON Valence, Maiden Newton (Mr. John Chick). — This herd was estabhshed in 1851, when ten cows were bought from the late Mr. S. Davis, Compton Valence ; many others from breeders in Devonshire and Somerset, and several from the late Mr. W. Watts' herd. The subsequent additions have included ten dairy cows, two three-year-old heifers, and two two-year-old heifers, at an average of 20 guineas each, from the late Mr. E. Whittle, Little Toller, Maiden Newton; eight were purchased at Mr. Bartlett's sale at West Chin- nock, and a similar number from Mr. John Sprake's sale at Wynford Eagle at good prices, while many others were bought at Honiton, Tiverton, and at Mr. H. Mayo's sale. The bulls used have been as follows : — A capital stock-getter bought at WiveUscombe ; in 1853, a ten-months-old bull from Mr. Brooks, Brins- more Tree, Yeovil, that was very well bred and of good quality ; in 1859, a young bull from Mr. E. Whittle, Little Toller, a very good stock-getter of great size and good quality ; 1862, a two-year-old from Mr. A. Chick, Askerswell, of large size, a very good stock-getter, his heifers having excellent milking qualities ; in 1864, a young bull that left good stock and was fuU of quality, from Mr. John Bradford, Look ; in 1867, a three-year-old from Mr. J. A. Smith, Bradford Peverell, massive, very well bred and of fine quality ; in 1868, a yearling from Mr. William Pope, Toller Whelme, also large, of good quality, and that left stock possessing superior milking qualities ; in 1871, a two-year-old from Mr. A. Chick, Askerswell, large and a good stock-getter, but lacking quality ; in 1874, a grand young bull was purchased from Mr. Wm. Watts, Littlewood ; in 1881, a young bull from Mr. 184 DEVON CATTLE. Henry Mayo, Coker's Frome, he was large, full of quality, and a getter of stock that had superior milking quality ; in 1881, a young bull of good dark colour and plenty of quality from Mr. Thomas Chick, Stratton. From 1882 to 1886 the bull used was Jumbo 1753, bought from Mr. GiUingham, AxnoUer, of great size, full of quality, and leaving animals of good milking properties, very well suited for the cold Dorsetshire hills. Then came, in 1886, by purchase from Mr. H. Mayo, the bull Chevithorne 1697, bred by Mr. N. Cook ; this animal was large, of good quality, and well suited for the district. In 1890 and 1891 Lord Cherry 2260, sire Lord Eobin 1787, dam Cherry 5th 5168, was purchased from Mr. W. Lutley, Escott Farm, Carhampton, Taunton, and he proved successful, as did also the bull Sunset 3061 bought in 1891, bred by Mr. N. Cook, sire Somerset 2501, dam Princess 4Ah 7736. The herd comprises 70 dairy cows and about 60 calves — 20 calves were reared from 1852 to 1872 each year, and 30 were reared from 1872 to 1892. From six to ten bulls are sold every year at from £15 to £20. All the cows are grazed and sold to the butcher at current market prices, and the bulls are disposed of for use in Dorset, Somerset, and Devon. First and second prizes have been won at the shows of the Dorchester Agricultural Society. Jumbo was used until he was seven years old, Chevithorne until he was eight years old, and Mr. Chick has had cows that bred until they were from twelve to sixteen years old. Court Baeton, North Molton, Devon (Mr. E. J. Stranger). — This herd — ^located at the original home of the breed, within half an hour's drive of the place where Mr. Quartly's celebrated Devons were bred, and adjoining Flitton Barton, whence so many triumphs were scored for the Davys — was founded by Mr. Eobert Stranger (great uncle of the present owner) about the year 1820. It is, therefore, one of the oldest herds in existence, and for over half a century the best strains of the " Eubies" have been bred upon the farm, although it was not until the year 1869 that the father of the EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 185 present proprietor, his uncle's successor, commenced to register his stock. Among the first entries from the herd which will be found recorded in the fifth volume of the Herd Book, were the four bulls Baronet, Duke, Eclipse, and Eoyal Duke, all having as either grand- sire or great grandsire the famous Battersea gold medaUst Duke of Flitton 613 ; and the females Beauty 2504, Duchess 2650, Fancy 2691, Fhtton 2704, Lady- bird 2797, Peeress 2910, and Lavender 2820. From these (tracing descent from Mr. Francis Quartly's and Messrs. Davy's blood) the numerous families of Beauties, Duchesses, Peeresses, and Lady Elizabeths have sprung. Full particulars must be looked for in the successive volumes of the Herd Book, our space limiting us to a few indications of the lines of descent of particular animals, which may be regarded as examples. It may be mentioned that both Mr. Eichard Stranger, and his son, the present owner, have always strongly held the view that it is inadvisable to submit breeding stock to the ordeal of fattening for exhibition, and consequently whilst the list of successes at the Fat Stock Shows is both lengthy and important, the prize winners at the breeding shows are comparatively few, and their honours have been obtained entirely at local exhibitions held but a short distance from North Molton. On the other hand, champion honours at the Smithfield Show fell to an animal from this herd in 1870, and in both 1874 and 1875 the best Devon in the show was from Court Barton. The gold medal ox of 1870, bred by Mr. Stranger, was by Eoyal Duke 918a, himself a son of the famous Duke of Fhtton 613. A picture and description of this ox (which was shown only at Smithfield) may be foimd in the Farmer's Magazine for 1871, and from that source we take the following extract : " Mr. Cave, one of the judges, pronounced this to be the most handsome beast he had ever seen, while we wrote of him as a wonderfuUy good beast in a wonderfully good class, and as all quality, famously ribbed, long and deep, on a short leg, thoroughly furnished, and set off by a good but not 186 DEVON CATTLE. delicate red coat." In 1874 and 1875 the best Devon in the Show at Smithfield, and, as such, the winner on both occasions of the £40 cup, was exhibited by Mr. T. L. Senior, and bred by Mr. Stranger, being got by Marquis 1158, dam Lavender 2820, by Wellington. The Lady Elizabeths are all descended from this good cow. Laven- der 2820. Briefly, since the year 1870 to the present time (1892), the Smithfield Show, with but four ex- ceptions, has found a representative of this herd among its exhibits, and on several occasions the honours have been multiplied. Thus, in addition to the distinc- tions gained in 1870, 1874, and 1875, already mentioned, in 1878 and 1880 prizes were won, whilst in 1881 a steer by Croydon Boy 1309, out of Peeress 3rd 3747, took first prize with reserve number for best steer in the show, and in addition a second and a third prize in other classes were at the same time gained. The other sires of these prize winners, in addition to Croydon Boy, were Marquis 1158, Duke of Devon 1056, Croydon 1307, Lord Flitton 1590, and Devonian 1937 ; while the dams were of the lines we have mentioned, and included Peeresses Ist, Srd, and 7th, Fancy 3rd, Actress 3rd, Lady 2nd and Srd, Lady Elizabeth Srd, and others. At the Birmingham Fat Stock Show the best beasts of the Devon breed in 1881 and in 1887 were drawn from Mr. Stranger's herd, the first of them being exhibited by the breeder, and the second being shown by H.E.H. the Prince of Wales. The present condition of the herd may be inferred, not merely from the regular appearances at Smithfield, to which reference has been made, and the success in 1891 of Her Majesty the Queen's famous heifer Pansy 9952 (by Devonian 1937, dam Peeress 14th 7143, both of which were bred and owned by Mr. Stranger), and which, though not exhibited at Smithfield,' beat the Smithfield champion both at Norwich and Birmingham ; but perhaps still more strik- ingly from the honours that have been achieved in regular succession at the only summer shows at which specimens of this herd have been exhibited, viz., those of the South EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 187 Molton Agricultural Society. In 1890, Mr. E. Stranger took reserve number for the championship of the show with Briton 2349, and in 1891 he won the championship with a heifer caU eight months old, Duchess 20th 11770, which has every appearance at the present time of continuing the successful career which it thus commenced so early, be- sides taking several other first prizes. Duchess 20th is by Briton 2349, whose celebrated sire Druid 1817 traces descent from the Quartly blood, while her dam Duchess 16th 9115 can be traced back to Duke of Flitton 613, the famous Battersea gold medal bull that belonged to Mr. James Davy. Thus, this heifer is connected with the two most famous Devon strains, and unites the blood of the renowned Longhorned Curly with that of Duke of Flitton. We have alluded to the first members of the herd entered in the Herd Book. Among the additions subsequently made may be mentioned the bulls Duke of Devon 1056, Croydon Boy 1309, and Lord Flitton 1590, with the services of Earl Dodington 1725, Druid 1817, and Young English Gentleman 1869, while a female lately added is the cow Flame 5868, a winner at the E.A.S.E. and Bath and West of England Shows, purchased at Sir Wm. Williams' sale in 1891. The bull, Croydon Boy 1309, mentioned above, was winner of first prize at the Bath and West of England Show at Croydon, the only time he was shown, and, like Earl of Dodington 1726, was pur- chased from the late Mr. Walter Farthing. The cows number about 30, and their calves are reared each season. Numerous sales have been made to Her Majesty the Queen, H.E.H. the Prince of Wales, General Sir Eedvera Buller, the late Mr. Walter Farthing, the late Mr. W. H. Punchard and others ; and animals have also been sent to Australia and the Argentine Eepublic. In March, 1892, the pure bred stock (no other are kept) numbered three buUs, 35 cows, 55 steers and heifers, and 25 calves. GowGBOVE Faem, Wimborne, Dorset (Mr. John Pearce Ghissell). — The herd at Cowgrove Farm was commenced in 1889, when four cows were bought from Mr. H. Mayo for £100 ; one of them, Nancy 6713, was pur- 188 DEVON CATTLE. chased for jE31 10s., she having won several prizes. Six heifers were acquired from Mr. Kellaway, Shilving- hampton. Other purchases have included another cow from Mr. Mayo, and Moss Eose 13th 11016, bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner, and bought at the Bourton Hall sale. The bulls used have been Friar's Balsam 2595, and Don Pedro 2575 ; the sire now in use being Alder 2189, bred by the late Mr. W. Perry, and got by Bravo 1686, dam Euby 6834, by Benedict 1504. Young bulls have been sold by auction at Dorchester, at from twenty-three to twenty-four guineas, and first prizes have been won at Blandford Show. Ceichel, Wimborne, Dorset (Lord ' Alington). — This herd has been established within the last few years, under the superintendence of Mr. Maunder, Lord Aling- ton's resident agent. The herds of Mr. E. B. Warren, of Childe Okeford, and Mr. Thomas Chick, of Stratton, have supplied the females recorded in the 14th and 15th volumes of the Herd Book, and additions have been made as opportunities occurred. The cow Sweet Lady, lately in the possession of Mr. Leveson-Gower, in Berk- shire, was bred by Mr. Eobert Farthing, and is a daugh- ter of his bull Perfection 2103. Stratton Queen 11123, bred by Mr. Thomas Chick in 1886, is now the |iead of a family at Crichel. Three females in three consecutive years, from one foundation cow, have helped up the herd greatly. Lady Mamhull 11119, moreover, bred by Mr. E. B. Warren in 1886, has produced heifers in 1890 and 1891. Bramble 8130, bred by Mr. Leveson-Gower, unites the blood of Young English Gentleman 1869, bred by Mr. Walter Farthing, and of Mr. Eobert Farthing's Lady Fillpail 8134. Dingle 10690, came from the PatshuU herd of the Earl of Dartmouth, in Staffordshire. Three heifer calves, by Whitehall 2175, are in the herd, all from PatshuU cows. Darkie, Dasher, and Dingle, the dams of these Whitehall heifer calves, are all daughters of Lord Stowey 1601. Besides these three calves of PatshuU blood, there are three bred by Mr. Thomas Chick, all by Lord Dorchester 2435, the son of Lord Eandolph, and EXISTING HEBDS IN ENGLAND. 189 representative of the Pink family of the Stratton herd. Fashion 11904, Myrtle 11907, Ehoda 11908, and Lav- ender 11905 are all from the same herd, and all for- vrard in their second year. The first is by the late Mr. William Perry's Alder 2189, a son of Bravo, and the three last-named are all Lord Dorchester's offspring. Daisy 2nd 10337 was bred by Mr. J. F. E. Morris, of Prixford House, Barnstaple. The purchased sires used have been selected from noted herds, and bull calves of the herd are occasionally reared. Lord Frome 2811 was bred by Mr. Henry Mayo, lately of Coker's Frome, Dor- chester. The next sire used at Crichel, EcUpse 2nd 2765, bred by Mr. E. B. Warren in 1888, was a son of Sir W. E. Williams's Echpse 1728 by Duke of Flitton 17th, and from Temptress 4:th, a daughter of Duke of Flitton 4th, and of Mr. James Davy's gold medal Temp- tress. A May bull calf of 1891, son of Eclipge 2nd is re- tained for use in another of Lord Alington's herds, consisting of ordinary cows. The process of building up a herd intended for practical usefulness is thus going on steadily, and with average success should make the Crichel Home Farm a source of power for the good of the agricultural classes of the neighbourhood. The fine young bull now at the head of the herd, Lord Dorset 3004, was bred by Mr. Maunder at his Hampshire farm, and is of the blood of Sir W. E. Williams's herd on both sides ; his sire. Captain 2204, the well-known prize bull, first at the Doncaster Eoyal Show in 1891 ; his dam, Frolicsome 3rd 9360, of the Temptress family of Flitton. CuLVERHAY, Wivcliscombe, Somerset (Mr. Wm. Han- cock). — This herd was begun by Mr. William Hancock in 1874 with animals which were purchased at Mr. John Lutley's sale at Culverhay ; from Mr. Edward Boucher at Jews, Wiveliscombe ; and from Mr. Thomas Blake, Cutsey. At Mr. Lutley's the animals bought were : Branch 4125, Minnie 1st 4786, Pink 1st 4829, Euby 4932, Stumptail 4985, and Trump 5015; at Mr. E. Boucher's sale : Jessie 4577, Jewell 4581, and Jewess 4582 ; and at Mr. T. Blake's sale : Cutsey 5214 (called 190 DEVON CATTLE. Heiress in the catalogue). Subsequent additions have comprised Gem 4511, bought from Mr. J. E. Eawlence, Park, Wiveliscombe, in 1879 ; Look-at-Me 4697, bought in 1874, and Daisy 5229, bought in 1886. One of the earliest sires used was King of the West 1371, from a dam of the St. Audries herd bought from Mr. Walter Farthing in 1874; he proved an excellent stock-getter. Eob Eoy 1435, bred by Mr. Hancock, out of Euby by Bang of the West, was a good getter, his stock having great substance ; he was put on the weighbridge, when sold for use in the herd of Mr. James Hosegood, and weighed 23 cwt. He was followed by Mr. Samuel Kidner's Agricola 1881, and by Eob Eoy 2nd 1832, sire Eob Eoy, dam Stumptail, from Mr. J. Lutley's stock. Agricola was a son of Tom Blake 2158, Lord Quantock's son whose dam, a registered cow, Halberton 5375, was bred by Mr. Webber, of Halberton Court. Next came Mr. J. D. Hancock's Lord Stoford 1395, sire Lord Donne 1382, dam Lady Beauty 1st 4616. Immediately following Lord Stoford were his two home-bred sons, Eed Eover 1825, from the original Euby 4932, and Juno's Bull 2009, from Juno 5418, first-prize cow with offspring at Dunster, 1886 ; and Jupiter 2011, a son of Agricola, was from the same excellent cow, of the Jewess family. Eisdon 2117, bred by Mr. T. H. Eisdon, of Washford, united the strains of Mr. Joyce's and Mr. Eisdon's herds, and left a large number of offspring in Mr. Hancock's herd. The next important addition was in the purchase of Draughtsman 1711, at Mr. W. Perry's sale at Alder, July 27th, 1887. This prize-winning bull was doubly a grandson of Mr. Perry's famous prize bull Druid 1317, his sire, Benedict 1504, also a winner, and dam. Bracelet 3229a, being respectively son and daughter of Druid. Following Draughtsman, Mr. J. D. Hancock's Lord Noble 1785, by his Lord Nelson from Lady Euby 5461, by Lord Stoford 1395, took his turn ; and Eob Eoy 3rd 2878, now in the herd, was bred by Mrs. Harriet Davis, of Preston Farm, Milverton, and is a son of Eob Eoy 2nd from Lily 3rd 10110 by The Deerhound 1854. At Mr. A. EXISTING HEBDS IN ENGLAND. 191 C. Skinner's sale in July, 1891, Mr. Hancock gave 60 gs. for the last lot in the catalogue, the ten-months-old bull calf Doctor 2747, a son of General Gordon 1974, and through his dam, a cow bred by Mr. J. F. E. Morris, of Prixford, inheriting the blood of Lord Falmouth's well- known prize bulls. Sir Michael and Sirloin. The herd now numbers 82 head, and about 52 calves are reared annually. The chief families represented are the Cutsey, Gem, Look-at-Me, Jessie, Pink, Bridesmaid, Euby, Trump, Dairymaid and Minnie. Among the sales have been the following : — In 1889, to Mr. Herbert Hancock, Los Bermanos, Pehuajo, Buenos Ayres, Peaceful 3rd, Poppy 2nd, and Eufus. To Mr. 0. L. Hancock, Stogursey, Bridgwater, Bunchy Trump 2nd 81 86, Junket 2nd 6396, Daisy 5229, Newton 5560, Pink 3rd 8207, and Stump- horn 2214. In 1890 to Mr. W. Lean, Blable, Cornwall : Pink 3rd 6581, Gentle 5340, Spot 6406, and Gaylass 2nd 8195. About four bulls are saved annually, and are sold at an average of 40 guineas. Mr. Hancock has exhibited only at the local shows, where he has usually been very successful : — In 1881, at Dunster, his animals gained three first and three second prizes ; 1882, at Taunton and at Dunster, several prizes ; 1883, at Dunster, one first and three second prizes ; 1884, two first, one second, and two third prizes ; 1885, at the Somersetshire Show, two prizes, and at Dunster, five first prizes and a second prize, whilst at the Smithfield Club Show a two-year-old steer bred by him and exhibited by Mr. S. B. Harding took the second prize in his class ; 1886, a second prize at the Somerset- shire Show, six first, four second, and two third prizes at Dunster, besides which an animal bred by him was a winner in the hands of another exhibitor, and at the Birmingham and Smithfield Club Shows the Queen's magnificent steer, bred by Mr. Hancock, was the winner of first prizes and special honours, as best Devon at Birmingham, and reserve for the breed cup in London. The winning cow at Dunster that year was Primrose, whose bull-calf. Lord Primrose by Jupiter, Mr. Hancock 192 DEVON CATTLE. sold to the Eajah Brook, Sarawak, Borneo. In 1887, two first, three second prizes, and one third prize were gained at the Somerset, Bath and West, and Dunster Shows, and at the Smithfield Club Show the Queen's three-year-old steer, bred by Mr. Hancock, won the first prize and breed cup. In 1888 his animals took, at Dunster, three first, two second, and one third ; 1889, at Dunster, five first and one third, and at Birmingham the Queen's steer and Mr. F. Coate's heifer, both first, prize winners, were bred by Mr. Hancock ; 1890, two prizes at the Somerset Show, and five first prizes and one third prize at Dunster ; and, besides other honours (and a great many minor commendatory awards not included in the foregoing list), Mr. Hancock exhibited only five animals at the Dunster Show on the 4th of December, 1891, and gained five first prizes. In this herd cows are frequently kept up to 12 or 14 years old and they breed regularly. Bulls have been used, and have been fruitful up to 14 years old. Agricola 1881 was used until he was 17 years old. The Culverhay, Jews and Cutsey stocks, on which the herd was founded, had long been noted for their large size and good quality — particularly in the families descended from Euby, Jessie, &c.; King of the West, the first sire used, though not a large bull, threw his stock of great size and good quality, and all this blood is at present largely represented in the herd. DoDiNGTON Hall, Bridgwater (Mr. Alfred Berry). — This herd was formed by the father of the present owner, Mr. John Berry, North Devon, about 1854. For some years bulls of the Quartly strains and others that showed size, quality and milk, were used. In 1878 and for a few years the noted sire Agricola was mated with cows suited to him, and from the stock got by this bull Mr. Berry considers the present herd was started. When Mr. Berry moved into Somersetshire the heifers were served by Premier 2nd 2476, who had great substance and quality, and his stock, possessed the same characteristics. Then followed Balfour 2924, of much the same class, possessing heavy flesh with good hair and skin. Following this bull, and at present at the head EXISTING HEBDS IN ENGLAND. 193 of the herd, came Pink'nn 2684, a massive animal of rich quaUty. Cows have been added from the herds of Mr. James Eisdon, Mr. J. Farthing and others. The oldest tribe of cows are the Lilacs, from which over twenty are descended ; the foundress of this family was ex- hibited at the Fat Stock Show at Barnstaple, and sold to Mr. Mogridge, Ilfracombe ; she weighed 64 scores (1280 lbs). The Fortmie family came from Mr. James Eisdon, and Lady Osborne 9th 8061 was bought from Mr. J. Farthing. About 30 cows are calved every year. Half the calves are usually hand-fed, the others being reared, one by each cow. Steers are sold fat when about three years old. Most of the calves are dropped, between November and February. The cattle ar& housed in yards, except the yearlings, which are kept, warmer, and a mixed fodder is prepared by steam for all. DuNSTEB, Somerset (Mr. George Eisdon). — Mr. Eis- don's farm is really best adapted for grazing, and that has been the object mainly kept in view ; but the desire to breed a few animals for himself, and to try his skill in producing something good, is often strong where the stock- keeper feels that he has judgment upon which he can rely, and it is sometimes found convenient to indulge this fancy to a reasonable extent. Mr. George Eisdon has conse- quently slided by imperceptible gradations into limited Devon-breeding, instead of restricting his practice to- buying and feeding Devons bred elsewhere. His herd yields about a dozen pure-bred calves in the year. With- in the last few years the following choice sires have been used : — Lord Snowdrop 1396, bred by Mr. John Eisdon, Golsoncott ; Lord Devon 1383, bred by Mr. E. Stranger, of North Molton, and fuH of Flitton blood ; Lord Falmouth 1773, bred by Mrs. Langdon, from the Actress and Temptress family ; Prince of Wales 1632, a prize-winner, bred by Mr. T. H. Eisdon, of Washford, from his Golden- cup family; Lord Golsoncott 2027, bred by Mr. John Eisdon, sire Mr. Perry's Druid, dam Daisy, a Nelson cow, descended from the stocks of Mr. T. H. Eisdon and Mr. E. Eisdon. After having used these bulls, Mr. George 13 194 DEVON CATTLE. Eisdon purchased, at Lord Falmouth's sale on the 8th of May, 1890, the then two-year-old bull Sir Frederick Eoberts, which is still in service in his herd ; a son of Lord Wolseley and of Quadrille by Sirloin, and therefore own brother to Pretty Middling 2859, whose Uneage traces back to a Cornish-bred cow, the Eev. Dr. Eodd's Treasure, calved in 1836, known as a prize-winner in her day, and descended from the Quartly stock, and from a cow bred by Mr. White, of Pilton, Barnstaple. The cows, few in number, form a remarkably good and well-assorted herd. They comprise : Sweet Pea 4992, in her sixteenth year ; Lady Eendell, a handsome cow, bred by Mr. Hugh Eendell, from a noted old show cow ; Eosebud 1st 9231, bred by Mr. C. G. Thome, of Wibble Farm, Williton ; Butterfly 19th by Mr. T. H. Eisdon's Viscount 1477; MoUy by Mr. Walter Farthing's Billy Gibbs 1684 from Wild Eyes 2nd 6055, bred by Mr. W. Oatway ; Balsam 2nd by Mr. Walter Farthing's Pine Apple 1816 ; Little Nell by Lord Golsoncott ; Lady Stowey by the same sire from Miss Stowey 8878, a descendant of Prettyface and the prize- winning Pink family ; Dolly 2nd by Baron 1892, from DoUy 8872 ; and Daisy 3rd by the same sire (a home- bred bull) from Daisy 2nd 8870 ; and a cow bred by Mr. G. F. Luttrell, of Dunster Castle, contribute also to the composition of this useful herd. Prizes are frequently won at the Dunster Show. East Coombe, Stockley Pomeroy, Crediton (Mr. John Tidboald). — This herd was begun in 1881, when a buU was bought from Mr. Thomas B. Powlesland, the animal being of his Queen tribe, and got by Stockleigh Prince. The bull Duke 1941 was added to the herd in 1884 ; a cow bred by Mr. F. Jutsum, Grilston Barton, South Molton, in the same year, and Lord Donne 2023, was bought from Mr. E. W. Venn, in 1886. The bulls named have all been thoroughly good stock-getters. The sire now in use is Foreman 2591, by Champion 1696, and the herd numbers about 65, twenty calves being reared annually. Earl Coombe 2394, who was used for some time, was sold to Sir Thomas Acland, Bart. A few of the EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 195 animals have been exhibited at the Devon County and Bath and West of England Shows, and have been highly commended. EscoTT Fabm, Carhampton, Somerset (Mr. William Lutley). — Mr. Lutley came from Wiveliscombe forty years ago, with some Devons which formed the nucleus of his herd. The Lily family and that of Beauty branching from it, and the Cherry, Fancy, and Lovely families trace to his own old stock ; the Fidget and Prettymaid families came more than twenty years ago from the stock of Mr. W. Pearse, Gupworthy, and the ■cow Lady Bradstone 10304, representing the stock of Mr. Eichard Bickle, of Bradstone Hall, Tavistock, was a comparatively recent purchase. Mr. Lutley's system of breeding has been, mainly, instead of buying bulls, to send cows to different sires, and occasionally to use bulls of his own breeding. He had the services of a Quartly bull, many years ago, and has since sent cows to bulls of high reputation, less on account of fancy for certain strains of blood than for what he considered the suitable character of the animals in each instance. The following names will indicate the character of the sires to which his cows have been sent. Mr. John Eisdon's Eobin Hood 914 appears among the early recorded sires of cows bred at Escott. The Earl 1465, an unbeaten prize bull, we believe, in the hands of his breeder, Mr. William Smith, of Whimple, near Exeter, was purchased and used by Mr. T. H. Eisdon, and to that sire Mr. Lutley had access. Cows were also sent from Escott to Mr. Stranger's Lord Devon 1383, Mrs. Langdon's Nelson 1413, the late Mr. J. D. Hancock's Lord Eobin 1787, The Vicar 2156, bred by Mr. John Howse, and Mr. A. C. Skinner's General Gordon 1974. Others might be named, but these will show some of the principal sources which have contributed to the com- position of the Escott herd. During the year 1891 Mr. Lutley sent again to Washford, to Daisy's Dumpling 1933, Mr. Eisdon's bull, bred by Mr. Jehu Perry, of Hazelton, Tavistock. Amongst the home-bred bulls used 196 DEVON CATTLE. as sires were Lord Shercombe 1600, Lord Eacott 1771,, Cherry's Dute 1924, Master Harry 2nd 2284, Lord Escott 2nd 2436, and Lord Escott 3rd 2809, the three last all high-priced buUs sold at the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society's auction sales at Taunton, or Exeter,. Master Harry 2nd to Mr. John Skinner for 74 guineas, Lord Escott 2nd to Mr. N. Cook for 76 guineas, and Lord Escott 3rd to Mrs. Davis, of Preston, Milverton, for 68 guineas. The herd produces about fifteen calves yearly, most of which come between Michaelmas and Christmas. The bull calves, after the best have been picked out to be raised for breeding purposes, are reared as steers and sold off in store condition at about two years old. The only cattle grazed on the farm are either superannuated cows, dams which have failed to breed regularly, or have proved breeders of inferior offspring, plain or barren heifers, or " misfits " of any other description. Whilst, therefore, the principle of selection for what is considered individual fitness is constantly observed in the choice of sires, a secondary safeguard of the standard of merit in the herd is provided in this systematic weeding-out of the worst and weakest. Mere age alone, however, 'is not looked upon as a sufficient reason for parting with a good stock dam, as there are at the present time two cows, each about fifteen years old, retained as breeders. GovEENMBNT Fabm, Prince Town, Devon. — This herd was started in 1881 by Mr. Alexander Watt, who was then the farm steward. Pure bred heifers were pur- chased from the herds of Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey Court ; Mr. J. Shapland, Fyldon Barton, North Molton; Mr. W. Gill, Crowndale ; and Messrs. Drew, Penwin- ham. In the above-mentioned year, the bull Baron 1500 by Baronet 1003, out of Gilliflower 3533, was purchased from the breeder, Mr. John Tremayne, of Sydenham ;. and, being mated with the purchased animals, is the sire of aU the older cows now in the herd. In 1889, the fol- lowing heifers were purchased from Mr. Daniel Brent, of Clampit :— Moss Eose 10226, by Agricola 2nd 1675; EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 197 Broadhom 11350, by Sir Eobin 1876; and Buttercup 11353, by the same sire. In 1883, Prince Town Agricola 2862, by Agricola 1881 andout of Cherry 7252, was bought from Mr. Wm. Tucker, Monkokehampton. In 1886, Prince Town Eobin 2865, by Young Eobin 1873, and out of Eosebud 2nd, was procured from the herd of Dr. Budd, North Tawton; from the stock of Mr. Chick, Maiden Newton, Prince Town Jumbo 2863, by Chevithorne 1697, and out of Lovely by Jumbo, was selected ; and the last sire added was in 1891, from the herd of Mr. W. S. Northey, Lifton, the animal being Premier 2658, by Mr. Perry's Bravo 1686, out of Cherry 13th 5163. The two last mentioned sires are now being used in the herd, which comprises 49 ; the average number of calves bom being 30. Bulls have been sold as under : — Prince Town Knight 2864, to Mr. Dingle, Callington; Prince Town Eobin 2nd 2866, to Hon. Ealph Dawson, Holne Park : Hursley Duke 2798 to Mr. Baxendale, Hursley Park, Winchester ; and Prince Town Jumbo 2nd 3042, to Mr. Eastcott, Lamerton. Fennington, Kingston, near Taunton (Mr. Wm. Kidner). — The Fennington herd was founded by Mr. William Kidner when he began farming on his own account, in early life, in October, 1865, after a capital training with his father, Mr. John Kidner, Thurloxton, who eventually retired from business in 1883 ; and from tis father he obtained his first stock of pure Devon cattle, bred mostly from the herd of Mr. Eobert Farthing, to whose buUs at Farrington, about half a mile distant, Mr. John Kidner had access — an opportunity of which he constantly took advantage. In the foundation of the Fennington herd, consequently, the Farrington influence was very strong. One of the leading tribes in order of time, and still one of the principal tribes in the herd — that of Fancy — is descended from a cow of that name which Mr. W. Kidner had from his father at the outset, about twenty-seven years ago. That cow, however, had been purchased shortly before, from Mr. W. Milton, who then lived at North Petherton, also only a short distance from 198 DEVON CATTLE. Parrington. The first record of her descendant family at Fennington is that of her grand-daughter Frolic 4507. The next tribe, that of Goldfinder, also came from Thurloxton, through a cow bred by Mr. John Kidner from one of his own cows, named Dairymaid, and one of Mr. Eobert Farthing's buUs. The original cow, Dairy- maid's daughter, ttansferred from Thurloxton to Fenning- ton, was calved in January, 1867, and went to Fenning- ton as a calf. She is entered in the Herd Book (Vol. VII.) as Goldfinder 4535, and she was calved in 1867,. and not in 1876 as stated therein. The Beauty tribe, from Beauty 4090, traces to a cow bought within the year of Mr. W. Kidner's coming to Fennington. The Anemone tribe, from Apricot 4053, springs from a cow bought at the same time and place with the founda- tion dam of the Beauty tribe, and is well but not largely represented at the present time. Although sufficiently prolific, this tribe has produced bulls much in excess of its heifers. The Molly tribe had its source in Molly 4753, bred by Mr. Hawkins, of Stockland, from a prize cow, a winner at Taunton and Birmingham, and on the sire's side having the blood of Mr. Walter Farthing's- Master Eobin 1162 and Milkmaid 3704, both great, prize-takers. The descendants are animals of a very useful stamp, with noticeably large growth in one or two instances. The Dolly tribe (see Dolly 4395) came from the highly -reputed herd of Mr. John Joyce, and is well represented by the comely cow Dolly Varden 4th 6596, a daughter of Mr. J. D. Hancock's Lord Pyrland 1596, so that she combines the excellent strains of Halse and Allercott. The bull Lord Pyrland 1596, was bred at Halse in 1879, got by Mrs. Langdon's Nelson 1413, from Lady Bright 4620, descended from Old Daisy. He was extensively used at Fennington, and was succeeded by his son, Duke of Cutsey 1714,, from a Cutsey-bred cow, Zenobia 5632, the foundation of other tribes in the herd. That bull was followed by Picture's Boy 2105, bred by Mr. E. J. Stanley, and uniting the strains of Mr. Samuel Eidner's Agricola EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 199 1881 and Mr. Walter Farthing's Picture 4th 4818, a half-sister, by the sire, to Molly 4753, mentioned above as the source of the tribe bearing her name. Cows also were sent to Yarde Farm, Combe Florey, where Mr. John Skinner had the high-priced Master Harry 2nd 2284, bred by and purchased from Mr. William Lutley, of Escott. The sire of the present time, at Fennington, Norah's Gordon 2473, was bred by Mr. John Surridge, of Colford, Bishops Lydeard, and is a son of the celebrated General Gordon 1974, from Norah 3rd 7168, a direct descendant of the Eev. Cecil Smith's Jessica 233, a cow born in the year 1845, and known in her day as a first prize heifer, winning again as a cow at the shows of the Taunton Agricultural Society. Mr. Kidner lately secured, by purchase at the Currypool sale, Mr. John Farthing's Miss Osborne 3rd 8065, sire Master Walter 1808, dam Miss Osborne 6281 by Eoyal Duke 1640. Fabeington, North Petherton, Bridgwater (Mr. Frank J. Merson). — This herd was commenced in 1879 and 1880, when two cows and two young heifers were pur- chased from the late Mr. Eichard Brown, Preston, Mil- verton. From these are descended the Primrose, Pretty- face, and Prettymaid families now in the herd. A cow was purchased from Mr. G. Coombe, Mountstephen, Halberton, and her descendants are known as the Mjrrtle tribe. From a heifer bought from the late Mr. Eobert- son, Stowey, by a bull of Mr. Walter Farthing's, came the Stowey family. Two heifers were obtained from Mr. Hayman, Hungerford, Washford, and from them the Eosebuds and Eoses have been bred. The first bull used was bred by Mr. E. Farthing, Farrington ; then came Lord Boomer 1760, bred by Mr. Merson, a mas- sive animal and also a good stock-getter. Lord Noble 1785, bred by Mr. J. D. Hancock, Halse, followed ; he was an excellent bull, but did not leave his mark so well as could have been wished. Latterly Fenton 2404, bred by Mr. W. C. Eayer, Holcombe Court, Devon, was used, and his stock are very promising. The sire at present in 200 DEVON CATTLE. use is Cherry Boy 2731, bred by Mr. Nathaniel Cook, Chevithorne, Tiverton, and this animal is assisted by a very promising, heavy-fleshed young home-bred bull, got by Fenton 2404, dam Stately 8611. There are about 50 pure-bred Devons, but as Mr. Merson grazes a good many he crosses some of them. About twenty calves are reared annually, of which ten are pure-bred. Mr. Merson does not exhibit at shows, and generally fattens all he breeds. He finds the Devons very fair milkers, especially the Stowey tribe, one of which gave 1^ lb. of butter a day in May when out at grass, and one cow, first cross with Devon bull and cross-bred dam, gave 1 lb. 15 oz. a day at the same time. Geeendale, Clyst, St. Mary, Exeter (Viscount Dun- boyne). — A herd of Shorthorns has recently been given up, and Viscount Dunboyne is forming one of Devons with animals mostly purchased from Mr. Eichard Bickle and the late Lord Falmouth. The following are the names of the animals from which it is intended to breed : — ^Beauty, calved 1880, sire Fancy's Eobin 1556, pur- chased at Mr. Johnson's sale at Farringdon in June, 1887 ; Bell 7403, calved 1889, sire Lord Somerset 1788, bought at Mr. Bickle's sale in 1889. Pink 4th 10146, calved 1888; Waterlily 10th 10149, calved 1888 ; Damaris 12100, calved 1889; and Dosmery 12105, calved 1890, were purchased at the Tregothnan sale in 1890. GoLsoNCOTT, Washford, Somerset (Mr. John Eisdon). — Mr. Eisdon commenced breeding Devons at Golsoncott in 1867. Euby 3028, Fancy 2688, and Eobin Hood 914 were the entries made in the fifth volume of Davy's Devon Herd Book. Euby was purchased from Mr. John Joyce, Allercott, and was descended from stock brought from Kingsbrompton, by his grandfather ; she was the dam of Eobin Hood 914 and Eecluse 1194 (who was given in exchange to Mr. John Joyce for Snowdrop 3988, tracing descent from the good old stock of his neighbour, Mr. Eichard Snow, Ashwell), whilst her other son Eoyal George 1212 was transferred to Mr. T. H. Eisdon, for a heifer of his Butterfly blood. Fancy 2688, bred by Mr. EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 201 Edward Eisdon, Washford, was a full sister of his cele- brated bull, King of Trumps, who, after being used for two or three seasons in his herd, was sold to Mr. Web- ber, of Halberton Court. Unfortunately this cow left no produce. This was also the case with the Butterfly heifer received in exchange for Eoyal George. Fidget 3495 proved a most valuable acquisition as — after pro- ducing a dead-born seven-months calf — she contributed five female and two male calves. This cow was bred by Mr. Francis Eisdon, Stogumber, and traced descent from the stock of Mr. Charles Gibbs, Bishops Lydeard. Dolly 4398 and Butterfly 7th 5141 were both purchased from Mr. T. H. Eisdon ; whilst Lady Love 4652 and Lady Lovely 5452 were both acquired from Mr. George Eisdon, Dunster. Several other cows were, from time to time, purchased, but they did little good in the herd. In 1880, the first pure North Devon cow was intro- duced; this was Actress 2nd 2478, bred by Mr. James Davy, Flitton Barton ; her dam Actress 1749 was a first prize winner at the Eoyal, Bath and West of England and Smithfield Club Shows : and she is generally considered to have been the best cow of the breed that has ever been exhibited in public. At the dispersion sale of the Flitton Barton herd in 1881, Temptress 2nd 3070, a daughter of "Gold Medal" Temptress was secured. In 1884, Queen of Champson 6926, a direct descendant of Longhorned Curly, was purchased from Mr. John Quartly, Champson ; Humility 5th 3577 was the next addition ; she was bred by Mr. Amos Parsons, Black Tornngton ; and was first purchased by Mr. Wm. Perry, Alder, from whom Mr. Eisdon bought her in 1884. At this stage in the history of the Golsoncott herd a choice had to be made between the North Devons and the original stock that had first been introduced, or rather their descendants. The decision was in favour of the former ; a sale was called, when the whole of the latter were dis- posed of. By the kindness of the company who attended at Golsoncott, on October 1st, 1886, the two aged cows, Queen of Champson and Humility 5th, with their calves W2 DEVON CATTLE. at foot, were allowed to remain as the nucleus of another herd. Since the sale, only animals tracing descent from the purest North Devon stocks have been added. Eosebud 10404, bred by Mr. John Tapp, Burch, was the next purchase. At Mr. Wm. Perry's sale at Alder in 1887, by permission (the sale having been placed in the hands of his firm), Mr. Eisdon bought Dolly's Darling 8783, Prettymaid 8795, and Drina 9807, then a young caU — the two first named being in calf to Bondholder 1905. A few weeks afterwards, the herd that belonged to Lieut. -Col. J. T. Davy, Eose Ash, was sold when Beauty 5092 and Lady 6233 were claimed for Golsoncott. The most recent purchases have been Artful 10825 and Homely 8320, both acquired direct from their breeder, Mr. Eichard Julyan, Tregidio, near Grampound, in Cornwall. The cow Bringgood 11814 has been purchased from the executors of the late Mr. John Tapp ; and is believed to be perhaps the only pure- bred Quartly cow in existence, being by Sultan 2nd 2890, dam Bringgood 10489. Eobin Hood 914 was the first sire used in the herd ; he was a massive bull of pre- cocious development, as will be shown hereafter in this notice. He begat stock of large size, such as in bye- gone days were more appreciated than at present. It is now evident that animals of smaller size are in greater request, as supplying joints more suitable for consump- tion. In order to meet these altered circumstances, it was determined to use North Devon bulls on the big sized cows of which the herd was then mainly composed. An excellent opportunity offered, Mr. T. H. Eisdon having purchased Corrector 1043, from Mr. James Davy, Plitton. This bull got some excellent stock, com- bining, when used with big cows, large size with quality ; the females sired by him were particularly good at the pail. The purchase, by Mr. George Eisdon, of Lord Devon 1383 afforded further means of breeding from North Devon bulls. Mr. John Howse bought Nelson 1413 from Mr. John Bradbeer ; this bull was bred at Plitton, and was of the Temptress tribe ; he was the sire of Mr. EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 203 Bradbeer's Nellie and Mr. Howse's Daisy 4th, both celebrated prize winners, and he also got Lord Stowey 1601, the sire of the renowned Moss Eose 8th. Sub- sequently Nelson came to Golsoncott. An anecdote related to us, showing how far people's prejudices carry them, may be repeated. A gentleman who had been en- gaged in agriculture all his life, and who was brought up on a farm where Devons were reared, on viewing this herd had his attention attracted by Actress 2nd ; he at once pronounced her to be a good one, and declared that she was worth a dozen North Devons. He wished to know where Mr. Eisdon obtained her. This information was for a time withheld, until he had inspected Nelson, whom he could not praise too highly, saying that these were the sort of Devons he admired. When he was informed that both were bred at Plitton and were pure North Devons, his surprise was unbounded, and it may be hoped that the experience proved a salutary lesson to him and others. Whitehall 2175, another bull of Flitton blood, was used and imparted great uniformity to his stock. Until the summer of 1892, the stud bull was Eoger Golsoncott 2485. The farm scarcely contains seventy acres, and it had been hoped long ere now to have obtained a complete collection of blue blooded stock, so as to raise the annual rear of calves to about ten. This aim has, however, been frustrated by the great preponderance of hull calves produced year after year; consequently both field and fold have had to be shared with cattle of less exalted lineage. In June, 1892, the herd comprised twelve females and five bulls, all tracing direct descent from Mr. Francis Quartly's Longhorned Curly ; one representative of the Flitton Actress tribe descended from Flower 189 by Hundred Guinea 56, pur- chased at the West Molland sale in 1840, which took place shortly after the death of Mr. Henry Quartly. It should be noticed further that Flower's dam Lily was by a son of Longhorned Curly and' Forester 46, whilst Hundred Guinea's dam. Curly 92, was by Forester 46, and her dam was Longhorned Curly. Two — one of 204 DEVON CATTLE. either sex — trace through Dairymaid 106, whose grand- dam was bred by Mr. Quartly, and one is of the Water- lily tribe, so highly appreciated in Lord Falmouth's herd at Tregothnan ; these trace through Cheesewring 2572a back to Lily 847, bred by Mr. J. H. Tremayne from the celebrated stock of Mr. Eodd, Trebartha. It may be con- venient here to mention that Mr. Eisdon sold in 1892 to Mr. Tait, for Her Majesty the Queen, the cows Homely, Dolly's Darling and Pretty Maid, and the bull caK Baron Golsoncott 7th, while the bull Eoger Golsoncott was temporarily acquired on hire for the Eoyal herd. Among bulls that had previously been sold were — ^Baron Golson- cott 1681 and Sir John 2493, both of which went to the herd of Her Majesty the Queen, the latter having after- wards been purchased by Mr. Mitchell for exportation to New South Wales. Baron Golsoncott 2nd 1895 was sold to Earl Fortescue ; this bull was subsequently exported to New South Wales by Mr. Yeo ; Baron Golsoncott 4th 2193 was sold to Mr. A. C. Skinner for use in his herd at Pound ; Baron Golsoncott 5th 2339 sold to Mr. W. S. Perry ; Baron Golsoncott 6th 2712 sold to Mr. E. K. Grace, New South Wales; Duke of Golsoncott 1949 sold to Earl Dartmouth ; Eobin Golsoncott sold to Mr. Edwin Maunder for use in his herd at Sheldons, near Winch- field, and Sir George to Mr. T. Chick, Stratton. One female was sold for exportation, viz., Eose 7th 6926 ; she was taken to the United States by Mr. John Hudson. At the sale of the descendants of the animals by which the herd was started, which took place on October Ist, 1886, the average realized was £34 18s. 8d. per head. No cattle have been exhibited direct from the herd, but instances are not wanting to prove that they would hold a creditable position if prepared for competition, as specimens purchased by others have been shown successfully. Perhaps a list of prizes gained at the Smithfield Club and Birmingham Pat Stock Shows by animals obtained from Mr. Eisdon may be useful. The following particulars were made out down to the end of 1890. In the year 1886 — one first at Birmingham, two EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 205 first and the breed cup at the Smithfield Club ; 1887 — two first and the breed cup at Birmingham, two first, one third, the breed cup and reserve for the breed cup at the Smithfield Club Show ; 1888 — three first at Birming- ham, one first, second, third, and fourth at Smithfield ; 1889 — one first and one second at Birmingham ; 1890 — one first at Birmingham, two first, one second, and the breed cup at the Smithfield Club Show ; total at those two shows — fifteen first, three second, two third, one fourth, and four breed cups. These figures, showing twenty-five honours in five years, or an average of five each year at the great leading exhibitions of beef animals, will suffi- ciently indicate the competency of the judgment which rules the breeding of Devons at Golsoncott. It may be added that the cattle referred to were not all bred at Golsoncott, but many were selected from other herds. In evidenceof earlymaturityorprecociousdevelopmentit may be stated that the bull Eobin Hood 914 scaled, when only twelve months old, 9cwt. 2qrs. lilbs., and that, too, with- out forcing. Eose 2nd 4910 was sold to Her Majesty the Queen, and won first prizes at the Norwich and Birming- ham Fat Stock Shows, although until the last week in May previous to these shows she was believed to be in calf, and was treated in every respect like the other dairy cows, by being milked regularly twice a day, and getting nothing beyond grass feeding. Fidget 3495 (the great grand-dam of Eose 2nd), when eleven years old, was accustomed to give 121bs. of butter weekly when fed on hay, grass and roots only. Amongst the cows in this herd which have been bred from for the longest period are Fidget 3495, which bred up to seventeen years old ; Actress 2ud 2487, Daisy 1st 4330, and Humility 5th 3577 all bred up to sixteen years of age ; Temptress 2nd and Queen of Ghampson 6926 both gave produce when fifteen years old. Halse, Bishops Lydeard, Somerset (Messrs. G. D. and H. C. Hancock). — Early in the present century, the father of the late Mr. J. D. Hancock, of Halse, near Bishops Lydeard, Somerset, possessed a herd of large 206 DEVON CATTLE. Devon cattle of the type at that time most approved in his county. Local tradition ascribes to him the credit of breeding and working some of the finest teams of oxen in his neighbourhood, and characterises his cows as wonder- ful examples of the size and substance to which Devons may be grown, upon suitable land, by systematic selec- tion of the best big animals. Mr. Hancock died in the year 1858, at the age of seventy-two years. His son, Mr. J. D. Hancock, whose lamented death occurred in the year 1891, had in early life developed that intensity of interest in stock-breeding which is essentially necessary to the making of a great breeder ; for among great breeders, in- deed, he certainly must be classed. Inheriting his father's quick perceptiveness of the various characteristics of the breed, and of those differences which place animals on one side or the other of the line of mediocrity, or which constitute degrees of goodness or badness, accord- ing to the standard used as the basis of judgment, he added more openness of mind, greater readiness to admit new ideas and to examine afresh the soundness of ideas which had been handed down from preceding generations. His advance was neither rash nor rapid, but it was con- tinuous and extensive. Those families in the herd which trace to the earlier foundations in the hands of Mr. J. D. Hancock's father may be classed as proceeding from the following roots, although branching, and occasional varia- tion in nomenclature, have obscured some of the original names: — Lady Bright 4620, Lady Love 1st and 2nd 4648-9, Lady Daisy 1st 4624, and Lady Donne 1st 4627, and Lady Pink 1st 5457, were descended from unregis- tered cows whose names. Old Daisy, Shorthorned Daisy, Young Daisy, Low-legged Daisy, and King-eyed Daisy, suggest the probability of a family group, or, as we may call it, a Daisy tribe ; but Lady Daisy Ist 4624 seems to belong to a different line. Lady Blake 1st 4617 was the grand-daughter of an unregistered Buttercup, and may give to her descendants, therefore, the classifying name of the Buttercup tribe. The Lady tribe has a registered starting-point in Lady Fair 1st 4636, and the Dorothy EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 207 tribe in Lady Luck 4654. The Beauty tribe had its source in the herd of the brother-in-law of the late Mr. Hancock, Mr. Joseph Gatchell, of Leigh Barton, who had a sale in 1857 (see supplement to D.D.H.B., 1885, p. 78), and it is represented by the descendants of Lady Beauty 1st 4615, the first registered descendant of the original Beauty. The Fancy tribe came originally from the herd of Mr. James Bond, of Heathfield, between the years 1850 and 1860. Its first admission into the Herd Book is in the entry of Lady Fance 4640, " Fance " being simply a herdsman's abbreviation or corruption of the family name of Fancy. The Lady Comely family is from this root. The record of another family, that of Lady Eobin 1st 6377, calved in 1879, does not supply particu- lars beyond the sire, Lily's Eobin, the dam. Young Prettymaid, and the dam's sire. Lord Donne, aU bred by Mr. Hancock, but whether from one of the original foundations or from one of later introduction does not appear. There is also a strain which came from Mr. T. Nurcombe's sale at Higher Hopcott, Minehead, in October, 1871 ; and there is a family descended from Gibbs' Prettymaid 1st 7100, bred by Mr. George Gibbs in 1879, and sold to Mr. E. J. Stanley, M.P., at whose sale at Quantock Lodge, October 19th, 1886, Mr. Hancock bought Gibbs' Prettymaid 5th 8614. This cow and some of her offspring bred at Halse are now in the herd. Lucy 8179, calved in 1878, was bred by Mr. Lewis Langdon, of Eunnington, near Wellington ; and Lady Bowering 1st 8156, by Lord Stoford, was bred by Mr. John Bowering in 1879. He had long used Mr. Hancock's bulls. Few, however, of this tribe are left. Down to about 1875-6, Mr. Hancock rarely used his own bulls. In a few excep- tional instances he would use sparingly home-bred year- lings, but his rule was to look about the country for bulls likely to suit his purpose, send to the fittest, and trust to suitable assortments for the constant reproduc- tion of the properties desired. From about the year 1860, North Devon strains of blood were introduced in various- proportions through sires in the hands of other breeders. 208 DEVON CATTLE. Sir Peregrine 722, bred by Sir A. A. Hood, had passed into the possession of Mr. Perkins, of the Grange, King- ston, and was there used by Mr. Hancock in the years 1863-64-65. Through his sire, Mr. John Quartly's Earl of Exeter, Sir Peregrine introduced the best old Quartly strains, comprising the blood of the Curly family and of the bulls Hundred Guinea 56 and Forester 46. After Sir Peregrine, his son, Lord Heathfield 1387, bred by Mr. Hancock, was used to a certain extent, followed, withiq. narrow limits, by two home-bred bulls, one of them the son of a bull bred by Messrs. Hearne, after which bulls bred by Mr. E. Davis, Mr. Gibbs, and Mr. G. Gibbs were used at their own homes. Subsequently to these, Profit's Duke 1194, bred by Mr. Walter Farthing, and combining Somerset and North Devon strains, became the sire of Lord Donne 1382, an influential home-bred sire. In the meantime, a bull bred by Mr. G. Gibbs, and Lord Blake 1376, a home-bred bull from home-bred parents, both had offspring in the herd, but Lord Donne's appearance seems to mark the beginning of a new plan — the constant use of bulls in Mr. Hancock's own possession, some of them home-bred sons of the bulls of other breeders, some purchased, and some home-bred sons of the purchased sires. We may take the period from which this new plan begins as in or about the year 1875. Most of the calves of the year 1875 were by one or another of three sires — Lord Donne, Lord Halse 1386 (sire, bred by Mr. Gibbs; dam, Mr. Hancock's Old Daisy), and Duke of Thorley (a son of Lord Heathfield). They were followed by a son of Lord Halse. Lord Donne still had his place among the sires, and for at least four seasons has stock recorded to his credit, whilst together with him, but not extending over his whole term of ofiice, we find Lord Allercott 1375 (bred by Mr. John Joyce and purchased by Mr. Hancock), Mr. Walter Farthing's Master Eobin 1162, Lord West, a son of Lord Donne, and Mrs. Langdon's Nelson 1413, the sire of a home- bred bull, Lord Molton 1592, in his turn extensively used in the herd. Lord Stoford 1395, another son of EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 209 Lord Donne, was much used, and Lord North 1392 and Lord Somerset 1598, both by the same sire, were also used. Lord May 1782 by Lord Molton, and Paradox 2101 by Lord May, show the working of the new plan in the continuation of a direct male line of succession, Para- dox being directly descended, through his sire and paternal grandsire, from the Flitton bull, Nelson. Together with Lord Stoford and Lord Molton, two principal sires, some bulls which do not appear quite so prominently were used as required. Mr. John Newton's bull, Lily's Eobin 1582, Lord Profit 1597 (son of Lord Stoford), Lord Pyrland 1596 (son of Nelson), Duke of Parrington 2nd, alias Eifleman 1828 (the same bull, although differently des- cribed under two different names). Lord Bright 1st 1761 (a son of Lord Molton), Lord Allercott 2nd 1729, Lord Nelson 2042 (sire of Lord Noble 1785), and the bulls above mentioned as bred in male succession from Nelson. Mr. Walter Farthing's Lord Hardy 1777 (son of General CoUey, from Mr. Pethbridge's Milkmaid), sold to Mr. J. D. Hancock, and Mr. Samuel Kidner's Agricola 1881, a noted sire in Mr. William Hancock's herd, were the sires of calves bom in 1885 and 1886, Agricola's name appear- ing again among the names of sires of stock calved at Halse in 1887 ; and in these and subsequent years we have also the names of Lord Currypool, Jumbo, his son Mammoth, Colonel, Eob Eoy 2nd, Pineapple, Juno's Bull, Jupiter, Mr. T. H. Eisdon's Gladstone, and one or two other sires. The two leading sires within the last five years have been Bard 1891 (a home-bred son of Agricola) and Draughtsman 1711, bred by Mr. William Perry. The herd numbers about thirty calving cows, as the annual average, with proportionate numbers of heifers and steers, one or tw.o stock sires, and any choice young bulls which may have been selected from among the calves as likely to make valuable bulls for home use or for sale. Heanton, Barnstaple, North Devon (Sir W. E. Williams, Bart.). — This herd was started by purchases made at the sale of Mrs. Maria Langdon's stock at Flitton Barton, 14 210 DEVON CATTLE. which took place on September 8th, 1881, when the following animals were secured, viz.. Actress 12th 4033 at 50 gs., Actress 15th 5069 at 61 gs.. Actress 16th 5070 at 60 gs. ; also Temptress 4th 3962 at 42 gs., Temptress 10th 5003 at 80 gs., and Lavender 3rd 4669 at 50 gs. After the sale there were purchased by private treaty Temptress 8th 5001 and Eosebud 5646, as also the bull Duke of Flitton 17th 1544. These all trace direct descent from Flower 189, purchased by Mr. James Davy at the "West Holland sale in 1840, when the entire herd of Mr. Henry Quartly was dispersed. Further selections were made at the Stowey Court sale in 1882, when the following were purchased, viz., Charlotte 3254 at 53 gs. and Famous 4448 at 35 gs. This latter cow traces descent through Famous 1965, purchased at the Champson sale in 1870 by Mr. Walter Farthing, to Mr. Francis Quartly's Longhorned Curly. Famous 4448 was the dam of Lord Newsham, winner of the champion prize for the best Devon bull exhibited at the Kilbum Eoyal and International Show, and of Famous 3rd, winner of the breed cup at the Smithfield Club Show in 1881, when she was also reserved as the best female exhibited. Another cow purchased at Stowey Court in 1882 was Lady Currypool 5430 at 125 gs., her bull calf at foot at the same time being claimed for H.E.H. the Prince of "Wales at 50 gs., or together 175 gs. This was the highest price that up to that date had ever been paid for a female of the breed at public auction. Famous 4th 5291 at 76 gs. was the last purchase on that day ; she was a granddaughter of Famous 4448. Several cows and heifers have been acquired from time to time from the old-established herd at Burch, near North Molton ; other animals have also been secured when those of a suitable type have been offered. The apparently high price paid for Lady Currypool has been fuUy justified, three of her progeny having been sold for £400. The first stud bull selected was Duke of Flitton 17th 1544, bred by Mrs. . Maria Langdon, Flitton Barton, his sire being Sir Bevys 1544, of the Flitton Cherry tribe, whilst his dam. Actress EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 211 13th, was a great-granddaughter of Temptress 1672, ■winner of the gold medal at the E.A.S.E. Show at Battersea in 1862. He was followed by Candy 1691, by Duke of Flitton 17th 1544, his dam being Famous 4448, purchased at the Stowey Court sale, and, as already mentioned, a direct descendant of old Longhomed Curly. Another sire used was Ferryman 2405, sire Candy 1691, •dam Temptress 10th 5003 by Jonquil 1131, bred by Lord Falmouth and sold to Mrs. Maria Langdon : this bull won second prizes at the E.A.S.E. Shows in 1870, 1871, 1872, first in 1873, and second in 1875. He was followed by Eclipse 1728, also by Duke of Flitton 17th, dam Temptress 4th 3962, who was the last calf pro- duced by Gold Medal Temptress when in her sixteenth year. Temptress 4th was also the dam of Nelson 1413, purchased at the E.A.S.E. Show at Taunton, when a young calf, by Mr. John Bradbeer, Pyrland, in whose herd he was sire of that beautiful show cow Nellie. He was also the sire of Mr. John Howse's Daisy 4th 5224 ; and of Lord Stowey 1601, whose daughter Moss Eose 8th gained numerous prizes — her greatest achievement having been the winning of the Jubilee Cup offered by H.M. the Queen for the best animal in the cattle classes, irre- spective of age, sex, or breed, at the Eoyal Counties' Show at Eeading. For a short time an exchange was made with the late Lord Falmouth, who had the service of Duke of FUtton 17th 1544 for that of Sir Michael 1646, who won second prize at the Eoyal in 1878, first in 1889, first in 1880, first in 1881, first in 1882, and second in 1883. Since then the bulls used have been Foreman 1968 and Foreman 2nd 1969, full brothers by Duke of Flitton 17th, dam Temptress 8th, purchased at the Flitton Barton sale ; Master Froth 2458, by Foreman 2nd, dam Foam 5872, a daughter of Duke of Flitton 17th and Lady Currypool, purchased at the Stowey Court sale ; Freshman 2778, sire Ferryman 2405, dam Fashion 5865, a daughter of Duke of Flitton 17th and Temptress 8th. The bulls now in use are Captain 2204, a home- bred one, sire Foreman 1968, dam Georgina 5879, a 212 DEVON CATTLE. purchase from the executors of the late Mr. John Tapp,. Burch; and Pretty MiddUng 2859, bred by Lord Fal- mouth and purchased at his sale when a calf, sire Lord Wolseley 2063, first-prize winner at E.A.S.E. Meetings in 1887, 1888 and 1889, and winner of the champion prize, at the Jubilee Show, as the best Devon bull ex- hibited ; his dam being Quadrille 5800, tracing descent from Treasure 447, owned by Mr. White, of Pilton House, Barnstaple. Since 1882 the herd has won a large number of prizes at leading shows, of which the fol- lowing are the chief :— 1882 : Duke of Flitton 17th 1544, first at E.A.S.E., Bath and West, and Devon County ; Teipptress 8th 5001, third at E.A.S.E., and second at Devon County. 1883 : Duke of Flitton 17th, second at Devon County ; Eosebud 5646, first at E.A.S.E. ; Frolic- some 5876, second at B. & W. E. and first at Devon County; and Fashion 5865, first at E.A.S.E. 1884 : Duke of Flitton 17th, second at Devon County. Frolicsome 5876, first at E.A.S.E., B. & W.E., and Devon County; Fashion 5865, second at B. & W.E. ; Flame 5868, first at E.A.S.E. and third at Devon County ; Lady Currypool 5430, second at B. & W.E. ; Candy 1691, second at E.A.S.E. 1885 : Candy 1691, first at Devon County ; Foreman, second B. & W.E. and reserve at E.A.S.E. and Devon County; Frolicsome 5876, first at E.A.S.E. and Devon County, second at B. & W.E. ; Flame 5868,. first E.A.S.E., B. & W.E., and Devon County; Duke of Flitton 17th, reserve at E.A.S.E., B. & W.E., andEoyal Counties. 1886 : Candy 1691, first Devon County, second B. & W.E., second Eoyal Cornwall ; Baronet, first Devon County; Foreman, second Devon County, and third Eoyal Cornwall ; Ferryman, first E.A.S.E., B'. & W.E., Devon County, and Eoyal Cornwall ; Georgina 5879, first E.A.S.E., B. & W.E., and Eoyal Cornwall; Flame 5868, first Eoyal Cornwall and Devon County, second B. & W.E. and reserve E.A.S.E.; Fearless, first Eoyal Cornwall, second Devon County ; Frantic, second E.A.S.E, class 1. 1887 : Frantic, first E.A.S.E., B. & W.E., Eoyal Cornwall, Devon County, and Somerset County ; Foreman 2nd, EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 213 '•second Devon County; Fancy 2nd 5864, third Devon County ; Fairmaid, second Eoyal Cornwall ; Mame, first B. & "W.E., third E.A.S.E., second Eoyal Cornwall. 1888 : Foam 3rd, first E.A.S.E., second Eoyal Cornwall, Devon County and Somerset County ; Fairmaid 9351, first E.A.S.E. and Devon County; Flower 2nd 9355, first E.A.S.E., Eoyal Cornwall and Devon County, second B. & W.E. ; Foreman 2nd, second B. & W.E. ; Georgina 2nd, second E.A.S.E. ; Daisy 4th, second E.A.S.E., and B. & W.E. 1889 : Captain 2204, first Devon County; Fairmaid 9351, first B. & W.E. and Devon County, ■second E.A.S.E.; Flame 3rd 9932, second E.A.S.E., first Devon County; Foam 3rd 9934, first E.A.S.E. B. &. W.E. ; Fancy 4th, second E.A.S.E. and Devon County; Fiction, second B. & W.E. ; Flower 2nd, first and ^old medalE.A.S.E., first B. & W.E., first and special Eoyal Counties ; Friendly 3rd, first E.A.S.E. and B. & W.E. ; Curlew, first E.A.S.E and first Eoyal Counties. 1890 : Flower 2nd, first E.A.S.E., B. & W.E., Eoyal Counties and Eoyal Cornwall ; Flame 3rd, first B. & W.E., second Eoyal Counties ; Friendly 3rd, first B. & W.E. ; Fiction 2nd, first B. & W.E. and Eoyal Counties ; Duke of Bourton, late Curlew, second E.A.S.E. ; Captain, third Eoyal Cornwall. Flower 2nd won first prizes also at Birmingham and Smithfield Falj Stock Shows. 1891 : Friendly 3rd 10517, third at B. & W.E. and Devon County; Fiction 2nd 11108, first E.A.S.E., B. & W.E., and Devon County ; Eosebud 5th, second Devon County, first Eoyal Counties ; Captain, first E.A.S.E. and B. & W.E. ; Pretty Middling 2859, first E.A.S.E., B. & W.E., Eoyal Cornwall and Eoyal Counties, with three special prizes; Flame 3rd, first E.A.S.E. and B. & W.E. ; Flower 2nd, first Eoyal Counties. Several first and second prizes have also been won at the Shows of the Smithfield Club. HocKWOETHY, Devon (Eev. W. F. Newman). — This herd was established by Mr. Newman with animals hrought from Mr. W. C. Eayer, Mr. W. Oatway, Mr. H. Mayo, and Mr. Eolles Fryer ; and Wild Eyes 5th 214 DEVON CATTLE. 5729, Cherry Eipe 6693, and May 9769 have since been added. The bulls used have been, Cetewayo, whose- stock were large, but not handsome ; Zulu, who left good steers and milking heifers ; Hamish, whose stock did not come up to- expectations; Premier and Lord Gurrypool 2nd ; the calves by the two last named having been good. There are eighteen pure-bred Devons in. the herd ; and about eight calves are usually bred every year. A few bulls have been sold for breeding purposes. HoLCOMBE CouET and Holcombe Babton, Welling- ton, Devon. — ^These two herds, belonging to Mrs. Eayer and Mr. John Bucknell, may be referred to under one heading. The Holcombe Court herd was established by the late Mr. W. C. Eayer. It was his ambition to- make a herd ; that is to say, not tobuy one ready-made and simply breed from a purchased collection of animals, but to breed up a herd from a smaU nucleus which his father- had formed, by the purchase of two cows of pure blood. With this ob j ect in view he bred only from the direct female- line descendants of the cows originally purchased by his father, and by an arrangement with Mr. Bucknell, who farmed the adjoining land of Holcombe Barton, and kept a good dairy herd of pure Devons, he secured for both stocks the use of bulls selected from high-class Devon herds. The two original cows purchased by Mr. Eayer's father were named respectively Titcombe andButterleigh,. and the tradition is that they were of Quartly blood. Mr. John Bucknell, the present owner of the Barton herd, succeeded his father in the occupancy of the farm. His father, after keeping a Devon herd more than twenty years at West Monckton, went to Holcombe Barton twenty-seven years ago, taking his stock with him. His herd was let in dairies, upon the system common in Dor- setshire, and he used to let 100 cows. Teams of Devon oxen were worked, and working oxen fed off at six-years- old would weigh from 60 to 70 score (12001bs. to 14001bs.). Besides his father's original stock, Mr. Bucknell has one family descended from the late Mr. E. J. Lutley's- herd, on the dispersion of which, at Jews Farm, Wivelis- EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 215 combe, in September, 1882, he bought lot 5, Broad 2nd 4154, for 46^' guineas. The bulls used as sires in the Court and Barton herds have been nearly all the same. Mr. Bucknell mentions as an early influential sire, after the removal of his father's herd to Holcombe Barton, a bull bred by Mr. Samuel Bruford, of Cheddon. The famous Newton's Old Bull was also used by Mr. Buck- nell, and by some of his neighbours. He was followed by one of his sons, bred by a neighbour, Mr. Badcock, and named after his breeder. Mr. Eayer also used one of Mr. N. Cook's bulls, which was not used by Mr. Buck- nell. In both herds the Cutsey sire, Cetewayo 1519, bred by Mr. T. Blake in 1877, was used. He was a son of Lord Blagdoa, whose sire. Lord Quantock, the sire of Mr. S. Kidner's champion ox, seems to have left a race of good, thriving, robust, profitable stock. Cetewayo was extensively used. Eobin 2119, bred by Mr. John Sur- ridge, was a son of Mr. Walter Farthing's Master Eobin 1162. He also was used in both herds. The next on the list is Mr. Hosegood's Eob Eoy 2nd, followed by Mr. Blackmore's Premier, Mr. Culverwell's Lord Stanley, and, in 1892, at the head of the two herds was Mr. John Farthing's Lord Currypool 2nd 2619, a prize-winner. The Holcombe Court herd comprised forty-four female Devons of all ages, all directly descended from one or the other of the foundation dams, Titcombe and Butterleigh. Mrs. Bayer's heifers have been reared mainly to bring out the grazing properties of their breed, and they are, with great scale, masses of beef, although in unforced breeding condition. Mr. Bucknell's, reared to develop the dairy powers, and breeding at earlier age, are hberal milkers, with reserve power of flesh-making for their latter days. HoENSHAT, Nynehead, Somersetshire (Mr. Stephen Bailey). — The herd with which Mr. Bailey started was established by his grandfather upon foundation stock purchased from Burlescombe, in Devonshire, in the year 1802. His grandfather's immediate successor, and his own immediate predecessor, was his uncle, who bred 216 DEVON CATTLE. from the old strain, and left direct representatives of the original stock. About forty years ago, another strain, distinguished by the name of Ash, was obtained from another uncle of the present proprietor of the herd, Mr. Baker, who lived close by Hornshay ; and about thirty years ago, Mr. Thomas Blake, of Cutsey, desiring to obtain one of the Hornshay heifers, offered in exchange one of his own breeding, which was accepted, and became a fruitful source of fresh materials. The herd is now rich in the Cutsey strain of blood, that being, indeed, the prevailing element. Other family lines appear in the Herd Book entries, but the foregoing may be regarded as fairly representative of the foundations upon which the herd has been raised. The following sires principally have been used by Mr. Bailey : — Lord Blagdon 1377, bred by Mr. T. Blake, of Cutsey, in 1872 ; sire. Lord Quantock 874 (the sire of Mr. Samuel Kidner's champion ox of 1876), and so descended, through Lord Dodington, from Sir Peregrine 722 and his illustrious ancestors, tracing to the Quartly stock. Secondly, Lord Blagdon's son, Cetewayo 1519, also bred by Mr. T. Blake, from a Cutsey family, and calved in 1872. Cows were subse- quently sent to Lord Stowey 1601, bred by Mr. Walter Farthing in 1878, from the union of Nelson, a son of Duke of Mitton 10th, with Prettyface 3803, a Bath and West of England prize winner. Mr. J. D. Hancock's Trump 1862, calved in 1881, was used in the Hornshay herd as a two-year-old. He subsequently went out to West Africa, where he was recently, and it is understood still is, living and serviceable. He is a son of Lord Profit (sire Lord Stoford, dam Lady Pink), from Lady Pearl, thus introducing some very good blood of the late Mr. J. D. Hancock's herd at Halse. The style and quality of Trump, described as excellent, are indeed still visibly in evidence at Hornshay, reproduced and illus- trated in his offspring. A further infusion of Lord Stowey's blood was introduced by the use of Colonel, his son, from Belle 6522, whose sire was Mr. Samuel Kidner's Eed Prince, bringing in again the blood of Lord EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 217 Quantock, and her dam Mr. Stuckey's Belle, distinguished as Old Belle. Colonel, retained at Hornshay for three years, and declared to have been one of the best sires that ever came into the herd, was bred by Mr. Samuel Kidner's brother, Mr. John Kidner, of Nynehead. Mr. Samuel Kidner's AUright 1884, calved in 1886, sire Royal Duke by Eoyal Aston, dam Lily 4685 of the Cherry family, and half-sister of the champion ox, and John Bull 2002, a home-bred son of Trump, calved in 1885 and sold to Mr. John Kidner, were sires of calves in the seasons immediately following the last year of Colonel's service, and were followed by Mr. John Badcock's Young Paul 2328, calved in 1887, sire Mr. Bailey's own Lord Hill 2030, which he bred and Mr. J. Badoock purchased, a son of Trump, from a dam by Lord Blagdon. The next bull used was Lordship 2820, bred by Mr. William Edbrooke in 1889, sire Mr. J. D. Hancock's Lord Noble 1785, the son of his Lord Nelson 2042. Knightshaybs Coukt, Tiverton, Devon (Sir John Heathcote-Amory, Bart.). — For many years past a good herd of Devons has been kept in the beautiful park at Knightshayes Court. It usually consists of about one hundred head, and the object has been to breed cows that will yield a plentiful supply of milk and butter, and pro- duce young bulls suitable for the herds of neighbouring farmers who breed steers for grazing purposes. Most of the cows are of good old pedigree families, such as have been well trained for the dairy. These are chiefly of the Beauty, Pearl, Fancy, Duchess, Nancy, Loop, and Lady tribes. Of eleven females which were entered in Volume 9 of the Herd Book eight were by Astonisher 1498, who was followed by Lord Allercott 1758, a son of Lord Stowey, bred by Mr. J. G. Davis, and grandson of Rose, lot 15 at the Allercott sale. He seems to have been an excellent sire, his daughters having nice flesh and good character. The next bull in service was Master Don 2282, bred by Mr. W. Ham. He was by a son of Lord Donne by Profit's Duke, and on his dam's side inherited the blood of Nelson 1413. The yearlings and calves are 218 DEVON CATTLE. by Lord Palmerston 2627, one of the sires at present in service. He was calved March, 1889, bred by Mr. William Hancock, his sire being Draughtsman 1711, a son of Benedict, while his dam was Primrose by Eob Eoy 2nd 1832. The herd has been increased recently by several important purchases, which include the young bull Eising Sun 3046, bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner. He was calved February, 1891, got by General Gordon 1974, dam Eosalie 10175, bred by Earl Fortescue and got by Eob Eoy 1831. Two valuable females, a cow and heifer, were bought at the sale of the late Earl of Dartmouth's herd — they were Darkie 10686 by Lord Stowey, and Dulce by Whitehall 2175. A still larger number of heifers bred by the late Mr. W. H. Punchard were bought at the Bourton Hall sale in April, 1892, comprising the following : — Gentle 27th by Earl of Molton 1957, Duchess of Molton by the same sire. Flower and Lady Blandford 2nd by Duke of Bourton 2581, and Norah by Earl of Molton 1957. The last named bull was bred by Mr. E. Stranger, and Duke of Bourton by Sir W. E. Williams, being a son of Foreman. Although Sir J. H. Amory has seldom ex- hibited cattle at the summer shows he has occasionally brought out a few steers at Christmas and has won prizes with them. The aim, as already remarked, has been to have cows that will breed and milk well, and yield a valuable carcase in advanced age. Leigh Baeton, Washford, Somerset (Mr. William Oatway). — The Wild Eyes, Broad, Lily, and Premium families form the bulk of the herd of Mr. William Oat- way, who came to Leigh Barton in the year 1857, and founded his herd there partly with cattle from his father and partly with purchases from the stock of Mr. Joseph Gatchell, his predecessor in the farm. Mr. Gatchell's sale took place on September 22nd, 1857, and Mr. Oatway selected lots 3, 6, 8, 11, 44, 46-7-8-9, two being cows in- calf, two two-year-old heifers, and five heifer calves. Mr. Gatchell's herd is represented by the Wild Eyes family, the herd of Mr. Oatway's father by the family named Broad. The Lily family was added by purchases from Mr. John EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 219 Howse at Leighland. The Premium family, like that of Wild Eyes, traces back to the stock of Mr. Gatchell, through a cow named Premium, bred by Mr. Oatway, as was also her dam, a cow of unrecorded name, whose granddaughter, the first registered cow of the family, Premium 1st 4840, was bred by Mr. W. Oafcway in 1872, and was by a sire combining the strains of Mr. J. D. Hancock, Mr. G. Brewer, Sir A. A. Hood, and Mr. Howse. The first bulls purchased were from Mr. J. D. Hancock, of Halse, and Mr. T. H. Eisdon, of Washford, and they were followed by home-bred sires, and by Sir Walter 1450 from Mr. Walter Farthing, Lord Magnum 1591 from Mr. J. D. Hancock, and latterly by Vicar 2nd 2169, bred by Mr. John Howse, and own brother to his excellent bull The Vicar 2156, which was sold to the late Mr. Punchard, of Bourton Hall. In the meantime, how- ever, Mr. Oatway had sent cows occasionally to Stam- borough (Mr. Howse's homestead, lying within a short distance lower down the hill), and had thus introduced into his herd directly the blood of Nelson 1413, Druid 1317, and The Vicar 2156. Among the home-bred bulls principally used were Squire Newton 1648, of the Lily family, and Wild Boy 1867, of the Wild Eyes family. Mr. Oatway has in Vicar 2nd a good, level, useful bull, bred from one of the favourite dams at Stamborough, and ovming the blood of that impressive sire and prize-taker, Mr. Perry's Druid. The year's increase by birth is about, or a little over, twenty. Little Bebdy, Dorchester (Mr. Wm. Eoper). — This herd was established by the late Mr. Norris Eoper. The sires recently used were bred by Mr. John Chick, Gomp- ton Valence, Dorset, those now, or lately, in use having been Compton Lad 2559, Lusty 2638, and Extra 2397. The herd numbers 200, and the average number of calves is 110 each year. A ready sale for bulls is experienced at good prices. Sires for use in the herd are always selected from good milking cows. Of the cows 100 are let to two dairymen. About 30 calves are reared each year, and if suitable, are put in the dairies when they are three years 220 DEVON CATTLE. ■old. The cows are heavy milkers, being milked for ten months in the year. About 30 are sold every year to be fattened. LowEE Amble, Wadebridge, Cornwall (Mr. Charles Menhinick). — This herd was founded with animals pur- ohased from the late Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey Court. A number of bulls, including Sir Eobert 927 and Marquis of Lome 1401, had been purchased prior to 1882, also Lobelia calved in 1874 by the celebrated sire Master Eobin 1162. At Mr. Farthing's sale in 1882, Lady Stranger 5464, and her cow-calf Lady Stranger 2nd 6722, with Lady Croydon 4622 were added, and since then pur- chases have been made from the late Lord Falmouth, Mr. J. C. WiUiams, Mr. A. C. Skinner, and Mr. Julyan— Lady 2nd, sire The Only Jones 1468, Rosebud 6731, Lord Valentia 1604, Sir Alexander 1841, Marquis of Sydenham 1798, Prince of Wales 2111, Lord Stoford 2nd 1791, and Vicar 3rd 2514, forming a portion of the number. Of the sires used none have left a better impression than Sir Alexander 1841, and Lord Stoford 2nd 1791 ; the former was by Sir Stafford 1448, dam Temptress 8th 5001 by Duke of Flitton 10th 1074 ; the latter by Lord Stoford 1395, dam Genteel 5339 by Eob Eoy 1435. The sires now in use are Vicar 3rd 2514, by Lord Eobin 1787, dam Lily 6th 5479 and Lord Waterford 2632, by Lord Wolseley 2063, dam Waterlily 4th 7996. The number of calves dropped annually in the herd averages twenty ; the herd altogether numbering about 60. Young bulls are sold every year, principally in the immediate neighbour- hood. It has not been a practice to pamper many of the animals for the summer shows, but at Christmas prizes have been won with fat stock. A steer from this herd was second at the Birmingham Fat Stock Show, and com- mended at Smithfield in 1891. MoLLAND, North Molton, Devon (Mr. W. Burnell). — Mr. Burnell is just starting a herd of pure-bred Devons. His yearlings of 1891 were by North Devon 2nd 2851, sire North Devon 2099, dam Beauty 4th 8736, and the calves of 1892, by a bull purchased at the Taunton sale EXISTINQ HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 221 in 1890, got by Duke of Wellington 1955. It is intended to have from 14 to 16 cows in the herd. MoNKLEiGH, Winkleigh, Devon (Mr. "William Tucker). — This herd vyas founded by the father of the present owner more than seventy years ago, and the breed has always been kept since.. The leading sires have been Agricola 1881, Agricola 2nd 1675, Young Viscount 2184, and Daisy's Duke 2378 — all of which have been good stock-getters, the last named being now in service. About ten calves are reared each year. Viscount 2184 won a champion and three first prizes, and Daisy's Duke gained two champion prizes and seven first prizes. Mr. Tucker adds : — " My Devons are good beef producers and good dairy cows as well. They must not, however, be kept too fat, if their milking properties are to be maintained. Steers are fattened and sold when they are about three years old, and weigh about 40 score (800 lbs.) I have had ten calves from some cows, and bulls will be fruitful at five or six years old, if they are not used very much when young." Old Cleeve, Washford, Taunton (Mr. T. Edward Eisdon). — This herd was begun in 1887 by the purchase of Honeysuckle 6832, My Queen 8792, and Floweret, from the late Mr. "William Perry, Lewdown, Devon ; Lady 5th 8676, and Pixey 6th 9780, from Mr. E. G. Norman, Luxborough, Somerset ; and Butterfly 16th 8890, Butter- fly 17th 8891, and Goldencup 10th 8901, from Mr. T. H. Eisdon, Washford, Taunton. The subsequent addi- tions have been : — in 1888, Stumptail 10th from Mr. G. F. Luttrell, Dunster Castle; and in October, 1890, Goldencup 13th 10405, Snowball 3rd 8912, and Goldencup 9th 8900 from Mr. T. H. Eisdon. The sires used have been those belonging to the owner's father, Mr. T. H. Eisdon, viz.. Viscount 1477, Squire Smith 2503, Bohnylad 1906, and Daisy's Dumpling 1933. There are now 96 head in the herd and the calves number 25 to 30 annually. Honeysuckle and My Queen were re-sold to Mr. Perry. Pound, Bishops Lydeard, Somersetshire (Mr. A. C. Skinner). — This herd has belonged to the same family 222 DEVON CATTLE. for many years, Mr. John Skinner having brought it to Pound Farm in 1844 from Pitpear, in the parish of Ash Priors, he having been the sixth John Skinner in succession who had owned that estate. It is beheved that all these gentlemen were breeders of Devon cattle; but at all events, it was a generation old when removed to its present home in 1844 ; and since the death of Mr. John Skinner in 1859, his son, Mr. A. C. Skinner, who took the management of the farm in 1862, and became sole owner of the entire herd in 1872, has brought it into great prominence. Mr. A. C. Skinner's mating record dates back to 1855 ; when the bulls used were bred by Mr. Farthing, Mr. W. M. Gibbs and Mr. Tucker, Staple- grove. Mr. Skinner began to exhibit in 1877, and then gained a second prize at the Dunster Cattle Show. From that year to 1890, there were 234 prizes won. These included the cup for the best female Devon at the Devon County Shows at Exeter and Plymouth, the cup for the best female in the Devon, Hereford, and Sussex classes at the Royal Counties Show at Southampton, the special prize for best bull of any breed at the Somerset Show at Wells, and also at the Eoyal Cornwall Show at St. Austell, the special prize for the best Devon bull at the Eoyal Cornwall Show at Camborne, and at the Eoyal Counties Show at Eeading for best Devon in 1887, together with the Jubilee Gold Cup given by Her Majesty the Queen, for best animal in the cattle classes, which included many of the best and most successful show- yard animals of the day. Thus the herd had occupied a distinguished position in the show-yard, and in 1891 a large portion of it was sold, realizing £2490 for 57 animals, making the high average of £43 13s. lOd. per head. The Myrtles, Gentles and Fancys in Mr. Skinner's present herd represent the descendants of the cattle bred by his late father. The bulls chiefly use^ between 1855 and 1865 (in which latter year Myrtle 1st 4765 and Gentle 1st 4514 were calved) were from the herds of Mr. W. M. Gibbs, Longlands ; Mr. John Newton, then at Northway, in the parish of Halse; and Mr. EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 223 E,. Davis, Halse, and afterwards of Prestou Farm, Milverton. Myrtle 1st, Gentle 1st, and Fancy 1st 4476 are the ancestresses of all the animals in Mr. Skinner's herd which bear these names. Old Myrtle, bred at Pitpear, by the late Mr. John Skinner, was dam of Myrtle 1st 4765, by Squire Winter 1453; she bred until she was sixteen years old. Gentle 1st 4514, who was by Newton's Old Bull, was also kept until she was sixteen years old, and bred some valuable stock. Fancy 1st 4476 was by a bull bred by Mr. W. M. Gibbs. Subsequent additions have included the ancestresses of the Duchesses and Moss Eoses. The Duchess family is descended from Boucher's Duchess 4123, a cow bred by Mr. Edward Boucher, of Jew's Farm, Wiveliscombe, and purchased at his sale in 1873, under the name of Diamond, for the highest price of the day. There are two families of Moss Eoses. One is descended from Boucher's Moss Eose 4124, bred by Mr. Thomas Langdon got by a buU bred by Messrs. T. and G. Hearne, Halse. The other Moss Eose family traces to the stock of Mr. Wilkinson, who owned a very choice herd in the Isle of Wight; Mr. Nixey, Upton Court, Slough, procured one of the sort, which at his death was bought by Mr. Trevor L. Senior, who won several prizes with her and her daughter. Mr. Walter Farthing eventually became possessed of Moss Eose 3716, the granddam of Moss Eose 8th by Lord Stowey, who was bought by Mr. Skinner at the Stowey Court sale in 1882, and became a most distinguished show cow, having won thirty-five prizes, including twenty-three firsts and five specials, one of which was the Jubilee Gold Cup offered by Her Majesty the Queen for best animal in the cattle classes at the Eoyal Counties Show at Beading in 1887. Turning now to the sires used by Mr. A. C. Skinner, the first to be noticed is Master Eobin 1162, who was purchased from the late Mr. Walter Farthing in 1876, after winning four first prizes at the shows of E.A.S.E., and the champion of the yard at the B. & W.B. at Bristol. Unfortunately he died in the following May, and left only nine 224 DEVON CATTLE. calves. After this loss, the late Mr. Farthing sold to Mr. Skinner, Duke of Farrington 1323, a bull which made a great mark in the herd, but as was more or less cus- tomary in those days, it was thought when he had been worked for three seasons it was time to have a change, and he was sold by auction in the Taunton market for £42 to the butcher, being generally considered too heavy for breeding purposes, as he weighed a ton at three years- old. It is Mr. Skinner's opinion now that this bull should have been retained for breeding purposes as long as he proved fruitful. His stock were heavy milkers ;. they had large frames and the flesh was evenly laid on. It was with his heifers, with Lord Currypool ISSQ' as their sire, that Mr. Skinner achieved a large pro- portion of his success in the showyards during the last- ten years. There are six cows by Duke of Farrington still in the herd. Following him as a sire came Fancy's Eobin 1556, a home bred bull, and a winner of several prizes ; dam Fancy 3rd 4478, by Eed Prince 1432, half brother to Mr. S. Kidner's noted champion ox at Smith- field and Birmingham, 1876 ; sire, the champion bull Master Eobin 1162. This bull was the principal sire used in 1880-82. In February 1888 Fancy's Eobin was- sold to Mr. E. Johnson, M.P., who kept him until he was nine years old. Lord Currypool 1589, calved in 1881, then began his career of usefulness. His stock proved so satisfactory and so uniformly good that Mr. Skinner used him as much as he could until his death at nine years old. His record as a stud bull is high, both as a sire of prize winners and on account of the prices made by his stock. Lord Cutsey 2nd 1767 did good service, alike as a prize-winner and a stock-getter. He was calved in 1882, and was used to help Lord Currypool (where the afl&nity was considered too close) and with good results. He was sold in 1887, and was afterwards used in North Devon. He left some very good stock, particularly Lady Passmore 4th 9000, a winner of many prizes and a good breeder. Lord Currypool's son, General Gordon 1974, from Moss- EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 225 Eose 3rd 5532, a daughter of Boucher's Moss Eose 4124 was calved in 1884, and proved himself, during a career of six years at the principal meetings at which Devons were exhibited, a most successful show bull. He was also the sire of many prize winners, and high prices were made for his stock, notably Eose- bud 10447 (200 guineas); Eosebud 2nd 11019 (100 guineas) ; and Fancy 10th 10434 (77 guineas). Fancy's Gordon, a full brother of the last named was winner of three firsts and a second, after which he was sold and went to Tasmania, to the herd of Mr. Charles B. Grubb, Strathroy, Launceston, at the price of £70. In January, 1889, Baron Golsoncott 4th 2193, was pur- chased from Mr. John Eisdon, Golsoncott. He was by Druid from Queen of Champson, bred by Mr. John Quartly, Champson, Molland. This bull was used, principally on the young heifers by Lord Currypool, as a change of blood. To follow General Gordon 1974, came Myrtle's Jubilee Boy 2294, from the noted dairy cow Myrtle 7th 5544, by Lord Currypool. He was used with cows to which he was not too closely related. In 1887 Bond- holder 1905 (a son of Benedict 1504 and Betterhalf 1606, a daughter of Bracelet 3229, the dam of Benedict and Bravo, of Mr. William Perry's breeding) was bought. Only two cows were put to him, and two bulls by him were reared. One of them was Duke of Pound 16th 2391, dam Duchess 12th 8984, winner of several prizes and a full sister of Duchess 17th 8988, who won the champion prizes for best Devon at the Somerset County Shows in 1889 and 1890 at Yeovil and Wellington. He was calved in 1888, has gained several prizes, and in 1892 was, with Masterpiece 2839 (the issue of two frequent champions, Moss Eose 8th and General Gordon 1974), at the head of the herd. Mr. Skinner looks forward to his being a successful sire, com- bining as he does the blood of such distinguished parents. There is also a promising young buU, Compensator 2942, of the Crape tribe, by Baron Golsoncott 4th 2193, which is being used with some of the young heifers. Since the 15 226 DEVON CATTLE. sale in July, 1891, important additions have been made by purchase ; and the herd is again up to its full strength, numbering about 100 cows, heifers, and bulls, including calves. These additions have chiefly been animals bred by Mr. Skinner or of Pound blood. In 1881 Mr. Skinner sold to Mr. P. V. A. Eeid, for export to Buenos Ayres, five heifers in-calf and a bull. These passed into the hands of Senor Serantes, who has since bought the bull Duke of Pound 10th, a winner of several prizes in 1886. They gave great satisfaction, and gained several prizes against other breeds. A bull was sold to Mr. A. Goldhawk, and was sent to Cape Colony in 1882. Two Myrtle heifers were sold to Mr. L. Parsons Fowler and ex- ported to the Cape in 1885. In 1886 there were sold to Mr. John Hudson, Moweaqua, Illinois, six heifers, a buU Charming Lad, by Lord Currypool 1589, dam Charmer 5151 (this bull was sold when nearly four years old for £100 in the United States), and a bull calf Eoyal Somerset, sire Lord Cutsey 2nd 1767, dam Moss Eose 8th 7017. Mr. Hudson has won several prizes with them, and always writes in the highest terms concerning them, mentioning that in June, 1892, Eoyal Somerset weighed 2030 lbs. and was very active and prepotent. Charming Lad also won several prizes. Mr. Hudson in 1888 bought other three heifers from the Pound herd. In 1887 two bulls were sold to Captain Loraine-Grews, for export to Monte Video, for Dr. G. J. French, who wrote Mr, Skinner on their arrival, expressing his great satisfaction with the animals, his admiration of the Devon breed, and his conviction of their fitness for the country ; in fact, he stated that he thought them the best cattle for Monte Video. In 1888 a bull was sold to Mr. T. Yeo, Swymbridge, North Devon, for exportation to Australia ; he was named Major General 2276, sire General Gordon 1974, dam Moss Eose 5th 7016. In 1889 the bull Duke of Pound 13th was sold to Messrs. Henniker and Hoggs for export to Buenos Ayres. In 1890 the bull Fancy's Gordon, winner of first prizes at the Somerset, Bath and West, and Eoyal Counties EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 227 Shows, and second at the Eoyal Show at Plymouth, was sold to Mr. Trethewie, Tasmania ; this bull has since passed into the hands of Mr. Chas. E. Grubb, Strathroy, near Launceston, Tasmania, who has a large herd of Devons. In July, 1892, Mr. Skinner shipped two heifers and a bull by Lord Passmore 2nd, from Myrtle 7th 5544, to Mr. W. E. Southey, Southey Siding, Cape Colony. The bull was the old cow's tenth calf, and Mr. Skinner thinks he is the best so far as present appearances go ; the heifers were from Gentle 13th and Duchess 11th, all the dams being very good milkers. Mr. Southey says that milk is of the first importance in that colony ; he has been keeping a herd of Devons for some years, and wishes to raise them to the highest state of perfection without los- ing their good milking properties. In 1 884, Mr. Tait se- lected twoheifers. Fancy 5th and Myrtle 12th for the Eoyal herd at Windsor. Nine cows and heifers and three bulls from Pound helped to build up the herd of Mr. E. Johnson, Farringdon, Exeter. Twenty-one cows and heifers were sold to the late Mr. W. H. Punchard, Bourton Hall, Totnes, in 1888 and 1891. In 1889, three heifers and the bull Duke of Pound 15th were sent to Merryton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, with the view of cross- ing with Ayrshire cows. Bulls have been sold to Mr. F. G. Dalgety, of Lockerley Hall, Eomsey, Hants., in 1883 and 1889 ; to Lord Mount-Temple, Broadlands, near Eomsey, Hants., the bull Lord Cutsey 3rd was sold in 1885, and to Captain Charlesworth, in Dorset, two heifers and a bull were sent in the same year. At different times bulls have been sold to many other home breeders. Of these 45 were sired by Lord Currypool 1589, and they averaged over £40 each for stud purposes, rang- ing from 20 guineas to 110 guineas. Thirty heifers by Lord Currypool have also been sold for breeding purposes at an average price of £44 each, ranging from 20 to 68 guineas. As regards the weights and prices of fat Devons, Mr. Skinner mentions the following: — In 1853 his father exhibited two fat oxen, six years old, at Taun- ton and Bridgwater, where one gained first prize, and 228 DEVON CATTLE. the two won as a pair of working oxen at both places the year before ; they were sold for 100 guineas, and weighed 80 score (1600 lbs.) each. The cow Fancy 1st 4476 was sold fat in 1878, at nine years old for £34, after breeding several calves. In December, 1880, a steer two years and eight months old, was sold by auction for £41 10s. ; a three- year-old heifer, Myrtle 11th, was sold in 1885 for £38 ; and a heifer two years and seven months old was sold in 1886 for £38, all to be slaughtered. Mr. Skinner's cow. Myrtle 7th 5544, will be remembered as a great producer of butter at the Dairy Show in 1883 ; she had her first calf in March, 1882, and milked until within a month of her calving in July, 1883. In the month of September, 1892, she was milking well ; her last calf dropped on November 16, 1891, having gone to the Cape. The two cows. Gentle 1st and Myrtle 1st, were both kept breeding until they were sixteen years old, and were then sold to the butcher, the latter being sold by auction, in milk (with a five- months-old bull calf sucking her) for £26 15s. 6d. without the calf. Moss Eose 2nd, by the champion bull Master Eobin 1162 was sold to the butcher in January, 1892, in her fifteenth year. Several cows now in the herd are from ten to fourteen and fifteen years old. Mr. Skinner likes to keep the old cows that he can rely upon to breed regularly, and give a liberal supply of rich milk. Master Eobin 1162 died at seven years old. Lord Currypool 1589 hurt his back and had to be killed at nine years old. Fancy's Eobin 1556 was kept by Mr. E. Johnson until he was nine years old. General Gordon 1974, who has gone to another herd, is in active service at nearly nine years old. Peixfoed House, Marwood, Barnstaple (Mr. John E. F. Morris). — Mr. Morris joined the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society about eight years ago, and at that time purchased the valuable and well-bred bull Daisy's Duke 1704, bred by Mr. Herbert Farthing, Thurloxton. From the union of Daisy's Duke and Primrose 8620 (a cow bred by Mr. John Thome, of Yarde, of a strain which has been in his family for many generations), Mr. Morris bred the cele- EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 229 brated bull Primrose Duke 2296, whom he had the mis- fortune to lose in the summer of 1891. His dead weight was over 80 score (l,6001bs.) ; he was full of flesh, and his girth measurement was 8ft. 9in. Primrose Duke was shown only once as a calf, at the show of the Devon County Agricultural Society, when he was first, and was also awarded the district special prize, being then seven months old. The following year (1889) he won second at the Bath and West, the Eoyal, and the Eoyal Counties Shows. In 1890 he was second at the Somerset, second at the Bath and West, and first at the Eoyal Counties Shows. A son of his, named Country Gentle- man 2741, was then used ; he was second in 1891 in the calf class at the Devon County, and at the Bath and West. In 1892 he was second at the Breeders' Show at Exeter, first at the Eoyal Show at Warwick, and first at the Bath and West Show at Swansea. Mr. Morris is also using a son of Lord Wolseley 2063, named Master- man 3026, who is out of Myrtle 23rd, by the noted old bull Lord Currypool 1589. Mr. Morris's grandfather, Mr. John Eidd, of Bratton, had a very fine herd of Devons, but, unfortunately, there is no record of them. An old and experienced breeder assured Mr. Morris that there are very few such Devons now to be seen. The young bulls from the Prixford herd are readily sold, many at long figures, and a few have been disposed of to go abroad. The heifer calves are hand-reared after they are a fortnight old. QuANTOCK Lodge, Bridgwater, Somerset (Mr. E. J. Stanley, M.P.). — The foundation of this herd was laid at the Stowey Court sale in 1882, and it was further strengthened at the second sale in 1884. Amongst the animals bought were several Moss Eoses, which family was for some time cultivated by Mr. T. L. Senior, who exhibited them with great success ; they trace back to Modesty, bred by Mr. Wilkinson, of Chawton, Cowes, Isle of Wight. The V. tribe, represented in the herd by Velvets and Velveteens, trace through Lofty 2143 (the dam of Master Harry, who won many prizes for 230 DEVON CATTLE. Mr. Walter Farthing) to the stock of Mr. Harper, of Cheddon, near Taunton. Another of the same initial letter is Venus 5705, of the Verbena tribe, which pro- duced the two celebrated show animals Master Eobin 1162, who won the champion prize for best bull against all breeds at the B. and W. of B. Show at Bristol in 1874, and First Fruit 3498, who ended her show-yard career by winning first prize in her class, and also the cup for best female exhibited, at the Smithfield Club Show in 1872 ; these two were full brother and sister, being by Master Arthur 882 (also a frequent prize winner) and from Verbena 2421. The Sarahs, Sallys and Statelys trace to the stock of Mr. Eobert Gibbs, who resided at Cothelstone. At his sale in 1852, Sir A. A. Hood became the purchaser of several cows and heifers, from one of which these are descended. The Pictures are descended from the stock of Mr. George Shapland, of Oakford, North Molton. The Cherrys came from Flitton Barton, and trace descent from the stock of Mr. James Davy's father, the first registered having been Fatrump 175, by Oxford 89, winner of first prize at the Oxford Eoyal in 1838; he was by Forester 46. Mr. Stanley has been a very successful exhibitor at the leading shows. EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 231 CHAPTEE IX. EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND (Continued). Ehode Faem, Bridgwater (Mr. W. Edbrooke). — The present herd is descended from Devons bred by Mr. Edbrooke's family for a hundred years, there being in his possession two silver cups from the Dunster Agricul- tural Association — one for the best bull under three years, dated 1800, the other for the best heifer under four years, dated 1801. The herd was at Luxborough when these trophies were won, and it was subsequently taken to Winsford ; from the latter place it was moved to Bishops Lydeard, and it has been at Ehode Farm since 1878. Many of the best bulls of the day have been used, among them animals from Messrs. Gibbs, Miles, Hancock, &c. The heifers are sent to Cutcombe, and bulls from Mr. John Joyce and Mr. W. Lyddon have been used. The following bulls have been used lately : — Profit's Duke 1194, Nelson 1413, Lord Newsham 2nd, Joe 2000, Fancy's Duke by Nelson 1413, Agricola 1881, Fairy's Duke by Lord Edbrooke 2024, Lord Noble 1785, Master Harry 2nd 2284, Baron 2336, Eobin Hood 2305, Gladstone 1737, Daybreak 1706, and Lord Yeandle 2nd 2451. Eugland, Kingsbrompton, Somerset (Mr. John Jarr). — In this herd the cows comprise Milkmaid 11068, Miss Blackmore 11069, Milkmaid 2nd 11840, Lady Eock 2nd, bred by Mr. John Howse, Stamborough ; Pink 11th, bred by Mr. T. H. Eisdon, Washford ; and Lovely 3rd, bred by Mr. Howse. Sheldons, Hook, near Winchfield (Mr. Edwin F. Maunder). — This herd was founded in 1890 by the pur- chase of three cows from Sir Wm. Williams, of Heanton, viz.. Fancy 6863, Friendly 2nd 9358, and Frolicsome 3rd 9360, and a heifer at the sale of the late Lord Fal- 232 DEVON CATTLE. mouth's herd, named Sylvatica 10147. The cow Fancy 5863 is of Quartly blood, her dam having been pur- chased at Mr. John Quartly' s sale in 1870, by the late Mr. John Tapp, but unfortimately she was never regis- tered. At the time of purchase. Fancy was in calf to the Eoyal prize-winner Captain 2204, the produce being a very smart heifer, named Fairy 12297. Friendly 2nd 9358, traces through her grandsire Actor 1494a, a Flit- ton-bred bull, to the celebrated Actress family, and her granddam Daisy was by Cato 1031, bred by the late Mr. J. Tanner Davy. She calved in November, 1891, a nice heifer calf, by Eclipse 2nd 2765. She was also the dam of Friendly 3rd 10577, which credited the Heanton herd with many prizes, and was reserve number at the Eoyal Show at Windsor, as best female Devon. Frolicsome 3rd 9360, whose dam was the Flitton bred Temptress 10th, is descended in direct line from Flower 189, by Hundred Guinea 56, and Lilly, by a son of Longhorned Curly and Forester. Sylvatica 10147 traces through Picture 4th, a Flitton bred cow again, to Lilly, by a son of Longhorned Curly and Forester. She was in calf to Mr. John Eisdon's grand bull, Eoger Golsoncott 2485. At SirW. Williams's sale in the autumn of 1891, Mr. Maun- der purchased Daisy 4th, got by the prize winning bull, Sir Michael 1646, her dam, Daisy 3rd, by Duke of FUtton 17th, whose heifer calf by Captain 2204 was also pur- chased. This calf has been called Duchess of Sheldons 12296, and is a promising heifer, with rare substance and style. The next purchase was Pink 10829, bred by Mr. E. Julyan, and again tracing direct through Flower 189 to Lilly, by a son of Longhorned Curly and Forester. From Mr. John Eisdon was bought the pure Quartly bred bull Eobin Golsoncott 3048, Mr. Maunder having deter- mined to stick to this old line of blood. Eobin Golson- cott's dam is Eosebud 10404, by Napoleon 1st 2471, tracing to Curly and Forester ; he is by Eoger Golson- cott 2485, being thus very closely bred ; but he is very robust, full of growth, and likely to make a valuable bull, and it is hoped to use him for some time. Mr. Maunder's EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 233 intention is to increase the herd as opportunity offers, by the purchase of females of the above strains. The calves are reared in as natural a manner as possible, there being no pampering. Stamboeough House, Washford, Taunton (Mr. John Howse). — The herd at Stamborough is chiefly descended from the Daisy and Lily families, with which the present owner's father established his stock at Leighland about sixty years ago. Mr. Howse's Devons are so often repre- sented by prize-winning animals at the principal shows that his name is familiarly known as that of a successful exhibitor. A considerable part of the herd passes through the show-yard, some of the animals appearing once or twice, others many times ; but there is, of course, as we nearly always find in show herds, a reserve of dams capable of breeding winners, yet never themselves com- peting for the honours of the exhibition. The Daisy tribe is descended from a heifer-calf bought from Mrs. Sully, Eoadwater, in 1834. The Lily family was first brought into prominent notice at Mr. John Joyce's sale at Allercott in 1875, when Old Lily made 36 guineas and her daughter. Young Lily, realised 75 guineas, a remarkable price at the time. The Lilys came to Mr. Howse by the purchase of a cow from Mr. Govett. Although it cannot be stated with absolute certainty, it is beUeved that the Beauty family has the same origin as the Daisy. The Broad family came from the stock of Mr. John Milton, Wiveliscombe, and the Fidgets trace from the herd of Mr. Charles Gibbs, Bishops Lydeard, who was a most successful exhibitor at the Christmas fat stock shows at London and Birmingham. Mr. Howse, as we have said, has, in his Daisy and Lily families, lineal descendants of his father's stock at Leighland. The Dairymaid family was also one of his father's, but was intermediately in the hands of Mr. George Strong. A branch of this family passed some years ago into the well- known prize-winning herd of Mr. T. H. Eisdon, of Wash- ford, where it bears the name of Miss Strong. Lady Eock 6442, lot 31 at the sale of Mr. Walter Farthing's 234 DEVON CATTLE. Devons in 1884, was purchased for 51 gs., and has added a valuable family to the herd at Stamborough. Foam 6872, bred by Sir William Williams ; Cutsey 4th 8622, bred by Mr. H. G. Moysey, of Bathealton Court, Wive- liscombe ; Gentle 26th, lot 19 at Mr. A. C. Skinner's sale in July 1891, and Moss Eose 12th 10444, are some of Mr. Howse's later selections. The following bulls have proved influential sires : — Young Profit's Duke, bred by Mr. John K. Farthing and used at Leighland ; Nelson 1413, bred by Mrs. Langdon, from the Temptress family ; Druid 1317, bought from his breeder, Mr. Perry, and sold to Mr. Henry Quartly, of MoUand ; Whitehall 2175, bred by Mr. W. S. Northey, of the Temptress family of Flitton Barton, by both parents (through the sire, Mrs. Lang- don's Duke of Flitton 15th, a well-known prize winner, representing the Actress branch of that family) ; and The Vicar 2156, a home-bred son of Druid, from a dam of the Lily family. To these Mr. Howse added, by purchase. Viscount Falmouth's Jack in the Green 2262, the son of Duke of Flitton 17th (of the Actress-Temptress line) and of Waterlily 5050. Duke of Flitton's sire. Sir Bevys, and Waterlily, were both the offspring of Lord Falmouth's celebrated prize bull Jonquil 1131, a son of Sun- flower 937, a remarkably promising two-year-old buU, when first in his class at the Plymouth Eoyal Show in 1866, but debarred from further success by the outbreak of rinderpest, until, the country being again clear of that murrain, the shows were re-opened to cattle, and he took honours at Leicester among the old bulls. Jonquil's pedigree on the dam's side traces to Flower 189 by Hun- dred Guinea 56. Mr. Howse himself bred the prize bull Shamrock 2311, another son of Druid, from his Lily 4th 6206. Lord Stamborough 2630, and Captain 2724 are young show bulls, both by The Vicar, the former from the noted prize cow Daisy 4th 5224, the latter from Lily 6th A 6446, and calved respectively in December, 1889, and May, 1890. The herd numbers between 40 and 50. About 13 calves are reared annually, and the principal families are the Daisy, Lily, Lady Eock, Dairymaid, Broad, Cutsey, EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 235 Foam and Gentle. Among the sales made from the herd have been : The Vicar 2156, Daisy 5815, Dahlia 8227, Carnation 10233 and Magnolia 1093, to the late Mr. W. H. Punehard. The cow Dairymaid continued to breed until she was nearly twenty years old. Mr. Howse, as has al- ready been observed, has been a very successful exhibitor at the leading shows. To record all the prizes he has won would occupy a large amount of space, but a few of the principal awards may be indicated : — Lily 5th 5478 won first prizes at Dunster in 1880, 1881 and 1882 ; second at the Eoyal Agricultural Society's Show at York, in 1883 ; second at the Bath and West at Bridgwater, and first at the Eoyal Cornwall Shows in the same year, while in 1884 she was first at Sherborne, and in 1885 first at Sherborne. Lily 6th A 6446 was a frequent winner of first and second prizes, at the E.A.S.E., Bath and West, Eoyal Cornwall, Devon County and Somerset Coimty Shows, from 1884 to 1887. Among other prizes Lily 6th 5479 gained second at E.A.S.E., at Preston, and first at the Eoyal Cornwall, in 1885. The greatest prize winner, however, was Daisy 4th 5224, which gained twelve first prizes and nine seconds from 1882 to 1887, having been first at E.A.S.E. Shows at Eeading in 1882, and Shrewsbury in 1884. Cowslip 8226, was also a prize cow, and Daisy 5815, was first at the Bath and West, and also at county shows. The bulls. Shamrock 2311 and The Vicar 2156, gained many prizes, the latter at E.A.S.E. and the Eoyal Coun- ties Shows. Stbatton, Dorchester (Mr. Thomas Chick). — This herd was founded by the grandfather of the present owner about the year 1796 at South Eggardon, Dorset. There are no records showing from whom the animals were bought ; it is believed, however, that a cow called Fancy is the ancestress from whom the Pink family in the herd is descended. The dam of Broad, from whom the family bearing that name is descended, was purchased by the present owner's father in 1842 from his brother, Mr. John Chick, when he succeeded him in the occupation of Stratton Manor Farm. In 236 DEVON CATTLE. 1863 Mr. Thomas Chick, the present owner of the herd, bought Jessamine bred by Mr. S. P. Newbery, at Scruel Barton, Honiton ; and from this cow the Jessamine tribe has sprung. At the dispersion sale of the late Mr. Edward Whittle's herd at Little Toller in 1876, the cow Dolly 6129, with her bull calf Duke of Toller 1548,, was pur- chased ; and from her a numerous family possessing excellent miUring qualities has been bred. About the year 1847 a bull, brought out of Devonshire by the late Mr. Jonathan Neale, was acquired ; and he and his two sons were used in the herd up to 1854, when two bulls, grandsons of Mr. Matthew Paull's celebrated old bull, were obtained from the Askerswell herd of Mr. A. Chick, and with their sons were used until 1861. Eobin Hood was used in the years 1861 and 1862 ; he was bred by Mr. John A. Smith, Bradford Peverell. For the next four years Prince Imperial 1630 was in service ; his grandsire was Napoleon 259 and his granddam Old Valentine by Hundred Guinea 56. He was bred by Mr. Samuel P. Newbery at Scruel Barton, and was the sire of many valuable dairy cows. In 1867 and the fol- lowing year a bull from the stock of Mr. Edward Pope, Great Toller, was the sire in use ; this bull was by The Poet 739, whose dam was Prima Donna bred by Mr. Peters, Bridge, near South Petherton. The next bulls were two full brothers bred by Mr. John Pitfield, Symonds- bury, and they were in service for four years ; their sire was Prince Jerome 1823, a Quartly-bred bull and winner of many first prizes ; their dam being Prima Donna, the cow before mentioned as bred by Mr. Peters. These bulls were entered in the Devon Herd Book as Don 1534, and Knight 1581, and they proved good sires. The last named was the sire of Mr. John A. Smith's cow Picture 3768, winner of first prizes at the Eoyal, Bath and West, and Smithfield Shows. By an error in the Herd Book another bull is stated to be the sire of this cow. In 1872 and 1873 'Pride of Stratton 1629, a home-bred bull and Donyatt 1533, bred by Mr. John Pitfield, were in service. In 1874 and 1875 Stratton EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 237 1215, a bull bred by Mr. John A. Smith from Mr. Matthe'Vv Paull's Yellowbat tribe, and by a sire bred by Mr. Hancock, Halse, was in use. For the next four years bulls bought at the dispersion sale of the Little Toller Devons in 1876 were in service, and left much good stock. They were Wide-awake 1664, Duke of Toller 1548, and Little Toller 1583. In 1880 Duke of Horsington 1545, got by a Flitton bull, was used and his daughters proved to be good milchers. From 1881 to 1885 inclusive home-bred bulls, sons and grand- sons of Duke of Toller 1548, were the sires used. This was done by crossing the Pink and Broad tribes, and with good results. In 1886 for change of blood Lord Eandolph 2051, was bought of Mr. Thomas Kellaway ; he was the sire used in that and the following year — the dam of this bull Primrose 8337, a wonderful milker, was descended from Mr. Shettler's old established herd. In 1888 and 1889 Unionist 2167, was at the head of the herd. His heifers are turning out very good for the dairy, and the old bull is still in service in West Dorset. Lord Dorchester 2435, by Lord Eandolph 2051 was used a little in 1889, and has since been and is still at the head of the herd ; he possesses a wonderful constitu- tion and should prove a sire of first-class milking cows, descended as he is on both sides from such very good milking strains. Alder 2189 has been used slightly in the herd, and Sir George 2671, bred by Mr. John Eisdon, Golsoncott, has been rather more freely used in 1891 and 1892. There are a few very promising heifer calves by Sir George, who is by Whitehall 2175, his dam being Dolly's Darling 8783, now in Her Majesty's herd at Windsor. The number of cows in the herd in September, 1892, was about 55, besides nine heifers, two and a half years old, in calf; also 16 yearling heifers, and 20 heifer calves. The bulls were Lord Dorchester 2435, Sir George 2671, Alderman 2919, and a bull calf by Lord Dorchester, and from Dumpling 6131, the dam of Unionist 2167. The usual' number of calves is from 40 to 50 each year ; the bull calves are 238 DEVON CATTLE. generally sold for grazing as steers, the heifer calves being reared by hand on skim or separated milk. The principal tribes in the herd are the Pink, Broad, Jessamine, and Dolly. There are not many direct female descendants of the Pink family, but several bulls of this strain have been used, so that almost every animal in the herd has some of this blood flowing in its veins. The Broad family is fairly well represented in the female line ; Broad Bridge and Broad Boy, sons of Broad 5124, a favourite cow, were used, and there is thus a good infusion of this strain all through the herd. The Jessamine tribe is descended from the cow of that name bred by Mr. S. P. Newbery; and got by Bonaparte the second prize bull at the Battersea show of E.A.S.E., and her dam was a pure Quartly cow. There are a good number of females of this tribe, which has been very prolific, but no bull from it has been reared. The Dolly family has done well at Stratton, as not only nearly every animal in the herd traces descent from Duke of Toller 1548, bought with his dam Dolly 6129, at Little Toller in 1876, but Dolly's daughter, Dumphng 6130, has five daughters, nine granddaughters, and two great- granddaughters, besides a son and a grandson still in the herd. The only other living son of Dumpling was Unionist 2167. Dumpling failed to breed one year; she, however, continued to give a good supply of milk for considerably over a year and a half, afterwards pro- ducing a heifer calf. No record of the yield of milk has ever been made, but the butter produced for the past two years from this herd has averaged over 180 lbs. per cow per year, including the yield of heifers with their first calves. Sydenham, Lew Down, North Devon (Mr. John Tre- mayne.) — We have the following interesting account from Mr. Thomas Smale, steward to Mr. John Tremayne at Sydenham : — The Tremayne herd of Devons was founded at Heligan, Cornwall, sometime before 1830, by Mr. John Hearle Tremayne, who, in conjunction ■with Mr. Francis Hearle Eodd, the founder of the Tre- EXISTING HEBDS IN ENGLAND. 239 bartha Hall Devon herd, and after him his brother, the Eev. Dr. Eodd, were the first breeders of reputation in Cornwall. The late Mr. Tremayne was a frequent and leading exhibitor at the Truro Agricultural Shows, commencing in 1830, and from the date mentioned to the commencement of the Herd Book he was very successful in taking many principal prizes there, in both male and female classes. Prior to the establish- ment of Davy's Devon Herd Book a cow named Treasure 447, calved in 1836, which won first prize at Truro Agricultural Show, was purchased by Mr. Tremayne of Dr. Eodd and added to his herd, and of her descendants and the progeny of Lily 847, also from Trebartha Hall, most of the herd consisted when the present Mr. Tre- mayne succeeded his father. In 1860 the present owner sold off his Devons at Heligan. They were a good even lot, of fashionable type, and two heifers, granddaughters of Treasure 447, were transferred to his seat at Sydenham, Devon. The chief part of the herd was purchased by Lord Falmouth, and with them the foundation of the Tregothnan herd was laid, the Treasure and Lily tribes having produced among other animals the noted bulls Sunflower 937, Sir Michael 1646, Cairo 1690 (the sire of Lord "Wolseley 2063), and lastly. Pretty Middling 2859. The chief animals added to the Sydenham herd since it came into the possession of the present owner have been bulls. Baronet 1008, purchased from Mr. T. Julyan, of Creed, Grampound Eoad, was first in his class, and se- cured the special prize for best bull in the Show against all the various breeds at the Eoyal Cornwall Agricultural Show. In the previous year at the same exhibition he won first in his class also, these being the only two occasions upon which he was exhibited. In 1884 Duke of Mitton 15th 1542 was bought of Mrs. Langdon, of Flitton Barton, after winning seven first prizes, including two at the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England, and two at the Bath and West of England, having indeed never been beaten. In 1887 Bravo 1686 was added, he having been bred by Mr. William Perry, of Alder ; this 240 DEVON CATTLE. bull, along with his own brother Benedict 1504 and their sire Druid 1317, took for many years in succession very prominent places in the prize lists at the various leading shows in the kingdom. Among the cows of note added were Actress 19th 5073, Lovely 2nd 3661, and Temptress 5th 3963, both the last-named being by Duke of Flitton 5th 1069, and Temptress 7th 5000 by Duke of Fhtton 10th 1074, all of the Davy-Langdon breeding. The before-named Lovely 2nd and Temptress 5th were notable cows, as from the former many fine animals in the Tregothnan herd traced descent, among them being Dorothy Draggletail 2nd 5784, the Blooming Cow 6809 and Blooming Heather 7976, sold respectively at the Tregothnan sale in 1891 for 120 gs., 140 gs., and 260 gs., the last-mentioned price being the highest ever given for a Devon at a public sale in this country. Through Temptress 5th, and her daughter Temptress 8th 5001, descended many fine animals, which figured so promi- nently at the Jubilee Show at Windsor and at other leading meetings when exhibited by Sir William WUliams. As to the principal sires used from the foundation of the herd, bulls from the Trebartha Hall, Quartly, Davy, Merson and Perry herds were chiefly purchased, the late Mr. Tremayne and the present owner having resorted to the following : — Champion 16, Uncle Tom 328, Lord Kerry 664, Warrior 548, Champion 1035, Baronet 1003, Druid 1317, Duke of Flitton 15th 1542, and Bravo 1686 — both Mr. Tremayne and his father having been great believers in the excellence of Quartly and Davy blood. All the bulls have answered their pur- pose well in perpetuating healthy strong stock, having the true characteristics of the North Devon type. The sires in use now, or lately, have been Bravo 1686, Lovely Laddie 2612, Bravo Tempter 2542, and Baron Golsoncott 5th 2339. The herd does not average quite thirty animals, the dams breeding with fair regularity, but for years past producing an excessive number of bull calves. The Treasure tribe has the largest number of repre- sentatives ; next comes the Lovely 2nd family, and EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 241 thirdly the Temptresses. No pubhc auction has been held since the Heligan sale of 1860, as the herd since then has been rising to its present position, and. owing to the great number of bull calves it has increased but slowly. The owner seldom exhibits his cattle. A few young bulls have occasionally been shown and have taken prizes at the various county shows, as also at the E.A.S.E. and Bath and West of England meetings, whilst a few steers and heifers have been exhibited and have taken several prizes at the local fat stock shows near home. The milking properties of the herd are fairly good, the milk and butter being of rich and good quality ; the cows produce more than sufficient to rear their calves, although the latter are hand reared for various reasons, one being that suckling is a greater tax upon the dams than hand milking, and another that it conduces to keeping their udders free from udder ill and deaf teats, which so often occur in suckling, and thereafter similar deformities are transmitted to the progeny. The steer calves are mostly sold in infancy to the tenantry, and the drafted cows generally as beef. Touching longevity, within the last few years, the following animals have been drafted and sold to the butcher, having bred regularly up to that time, and their ages were as follows, viz.. Gadfly 3526, 14 years ; Galliflower 3533, 16 years; Lovely 2nd 3661, 13 years; Temptress 5th 3963, 18 years; Temptress 7th 5000, 16 years ; and the bull Bravo 1686, 11 years. Tale House, Payhembury, Ottery St. Mary (Mr. Charles Pratt). — This herd was founded in 1879 by the present owner, good animals having been bought with- out regard to pedigree, and unfortunately registration has been neglected. Since that time there have been added— King of Trumps in 1886, Noble in 1889, Lord Hembury 1693 in 1890, Lord Petit Hembury 1692 in 1890, Lady Whitford 2nd 11735 in 1891, and Foam 2nd 9356 in 1891. In 1879 a son of Duke of Flitton 6th, bred by Mr. James Davy, left his mark in the herd. Then followed several sires bred by Mr. Pratt himself, and got by some of the best bulls in the neighbourhood. 16 242 DEVON CATTLE. King of Trumps, bred by Mr. E. W. Venn, Uffculme, and used from 1886 to 1889, left an excellent impression on the herd, and was the sire of four prize winning steers and heifers. Another bull used was Noble, pur- chased from his breeder, Mr. Bussell, Gittisham, and sired by a bull bred by Mr. F. Langdon, Exbridge. The sires now in use are Lord Hembury and Lord Petit Hembury. Of the 120 animals in the herd about half are pure-bred Devons. Only four animals have been shown, but these have all been prize winners. First prizes have been won at Ottery St. Mary, at Honiton, and second at Exeter for bulls and steers. The Lodge, Dubston, Taunton (Mr. J. C. Kidner). — The herd is descended from the stock of Mr. Kidner's father, the late Mr. Samuel Kidner, who used bulls from the late Mr. T. "W. Fouracre, Buckland, Durston ; others from the late Mr. Eobert Farthing, Farrington, North Petherton, and a bull bred by himself called Goliath (unregistered), this animal being pronounced by some prominent Devon breeders to be the largest of his species. His produce were good, but generally not remarkable for extra size. Cows were bought by the late Mr. Kidner, and by the present owner at sales of Devon herds, but they have nearly all given place to those selected from his own stock. The bulls used latterly have been Eed Prince 1432, and Lord Bickley 1378, from the herd of Mr. Samuel Kidner, Bickley, Milverton. The former was a remarkably good stock getter. These were succeeded by Earl William 1727, from Mr. W. Kidner's herd at Fennington, Kingston ; Uncle Tom 2165, bred by Mr. T. H. Eisdon, Washford ; and the bull now in service is Golden Coin 2698, bred by Mr. N. Cook, Chevithorne, Tiverton, purchased by Mr. W. Bond and Mr. Kidner for joint use in their herds ; he cost 70 gs. as a yearling. The calves got by this bull are uniformly good and so far very promising. The herd numbers about 60 head, and from 12 to 15 calves are reared annually. Thueloxton, Taunton (Mr. Herbert Farthing). — This EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 243 herd was established in 1882 by the purchase from Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, of the following animals: —Peeress 2nd 3746, Daisy 4357, and Stately 3rd 6259. The chief animals since added have been Fancy 3rd 4464, Lady Passmore 2nd 6257, Lady Passmore 2nd 8041, Sir Alexander 2130, Eose 4903, Graceful 2nd 5367, andHome- spun 2nd 6256, also bought from the late Mr. Walter Farthing. Other additions have been Punch 6112, from Mr. E. C. Carew, Crowcombe, in 1885 ; Prettymaid 6027, from Mr. J. Bradbeer, Pyrland, Taunton, in February, 1886; Tempter 1852, in December, 1886, and Eosina 7312, in July, 1887, both from Mr. Walter, Bearwood ; Grace 11400 from Mr. T. W. Strong, South Molton, in February, 1890; Bijou 2nd 5974, from Mr. F. Biffen, Cross Moor, Bridgwater, in March, 1890 ; Myrtle 33rd 11739, from Mr. A. C. Skinner, Pound Farm, Bishops Lydeard, in July, 1891 ; Lord Colford 9th 2617, from Mr. J. Surridge, Colford, Bishops Lydeard, in February, 1890 ; Lady Osborne 4th 6276, Lady Currypool 4th 8053, Prolific 9th 9584, and Lady Osborne 22nd, from Mr. J. Farthing, Currypool, Bridgwater, in April, 1892. The sires used have included : Forester 1560, General CoUey 1564, Perfection 2103, The Peer 1859, Daisy's Duke 1704, Tempter 1852, Famous Duke 2236, and Lord Col- ford 9th 2917. The last named is now in service. There were in the herd in April, 1892, ten cows or heifers in milk or in calf, one bull, five heifers and three bull calves. Among the sales made the following may be mentioned : — Daisy's Duke 1704, sold to Mr. P. Veysey, Chittlehampton, South Molton, and used in the herd of Mr. J. F. E. Morris, Prixford House ; Viscount 2172, sold to the late Mr. E. Farthing, Farrington, North Petherton ; The Earl, sold to Mr. Banfield, Bricknell, near Taunton ; a steer, dam Eose 4903, sire Agricola 1674, and a heifer, dam Graceful 2nd 5367, sire Agricola 1674, sold to Mr. Walter, Bearwood ; the heifer won first prize at the Smithfield Club Show ; Lord Stately 2447 and Eose's Duke 2486, sold to Mr. F. Veysey, Chittlehampton. The prizes won by animals from the 244 DEVON CATTLE. herd have included : The Peer 1859, second at the B. & W.B. Show at Bridgwater and first at E.A.S.E. at York in 1883, first at the Devon County Show at Exeter, first at B. & W.E. Show at Maidstone, second at the Sher- borne Show, and first at E.A.S.E. at Shrewsbury, in 1884. Mr. Earthing remarks that nearly all cows will continue to breed until they are about twelve years old, but a great many are fattened for the butcher at an earUer age, as it is only particularly good ones that are allowed to have more than six or seven calves. Tempter 1852 continued to be fruitful until he was nine years old. TowNLEiGH, Lew Down, Devon (Mr. H. B. Blackburn). — In this herd there were to be found in September, 1892, the three very celebrated bulls, Druid 1317, Lord Wolseley 2063, and Michael Angelo 2289, Mr. Blackburn's own fine young show bull, Star 2888, bred by Mr. Tremayne, and the young bull Bungy 2933, bred by Mr. Blackburn himself from the union of Mr. Tre- mayne's handsome bull Lovely Laddie 2612, with the Townleigh cow Brentor 6th, of a very old family, from the herd of Mr. Amos Parsons, of Black Tor- rington, and originally from the Quartly stock. Druid was then within a month of the completion of his fifteenth year, while Lord Wolseley was in his ninth year — ^both these sires being still in good condition. Among the cows in the herd was Princess 3rd 7437, bred by Mr. Eichard Bickle, and bought at the Bradstone Hall sale, August 27th, 1889. She is a daughter of Champion 1696. Two of the females at Townleigh were purchased at the Tregothnan sale. May 8th, 1890 — ^the cows Harem 9561 and Eiddle 9568, and the heifer Symmetry 10th 9569. AU are daughters of Lord Wolseley, and all, through Lord Falmouth's celebrated herd, trace to dams bred at Flitton by Mr. James Davy, and to the old Davy stock ; Harem to Mr. Davy's Curly 97; Eiddle to his Flower 189, through the Temptress Une ; and Symmetry 10th to his Beauty 30, and so belongs to one of the oldest lines possessed by the Davy family. The Flitton Cherry family, tracing to Mr. James Davy's Cherry 65 by Mr. James EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 245 Quartly's Duke 30, a son of Prince of "Wales, and further to dams of the old Davy blood, is also represented in the Townleigh herd, and previously belonged to the herd established by Mr. Edward Blackburn at Haine, Lew Down. To Haine also belonged the Brentors and the Lavenders, the former derived from Dairymaid 106, bred by Mr. Amos Parsons in the year 1842, by a Davy sire, from his noted cow Old Vellacott, a great prize- winner at Lifton and Launceston, tracing to the Quartly stock. Seven generations of the direct line were bred by Mr. Parsons, who stuck to the Quartly blood until the seventh generation, when he used a Dorset-bred bull from the good old dairy herd of Mr. Pitfield, of Symonds- bury. The offspring of the alliance was the cow Brentor, sold to Mr. E. Blackburn, who capped the union with Duke of Flitton 15th, of the Actress family of Fhtton, thus returning to the original strain. The Lavenders are excellent animals of the Flower 189 tribe, of Davy and Quartly blood. Mr. E. Blackburn obtained the cow Lavender 4th, bred at Flitton. On one occasion he paired her with Sir Ealph 2140, bred by Mr. Samuel Kid- ner, and the offspring of that union is Mr. H. B. Black- burn's Lavender 6th 10000. TEEGiDGio.Grampound, Cornwall (Mr. EichardJulyan). — From the very beginning of the registration of Devons, the name of Julyan appears in the forward ranks of the breeders in the county of Cornwall. Mr. Eichard Julyan is the son and representative of the late Mr. Thomas Julyan, who went to the fountain-head in North Devon, that is to say, to Champson, and to one of the two oldest homes of the highest class of Devons in Cornwall, that of Dr. Eodd, of Trebartha Hall, for the materials of a first-rate herd. Mr. E. Julyan has in his possession the portraits, both dated July 20, 1848, of two cows, one named Trebartha, bred by Dr. Eodd, and the other Treasure 448, bred by Mr. John Quartly. The latter was a daughter of Hundred Guinea 56, and of Cherry by the celebrated Forester 46. She was the winner of a first prize at the Cornwall County Show in 1847. The 246 DEVON CATTLE. Herd Book entries of Mr. Thomas Julyan begin, as already stated, in the first volume, issued in the year 1851. They are continued without a break to the seventh volume, issued in 1878, in which his latest entries are found, and in the eighth volume, issued in 1881, we find those of his son, Mr. Richard Julyan, who has registered his animals in each succeeding volume, without a break, down to and in the fifteenth, which is the volume issued in 1892. Among the early cows, registered as the property of Mr. Thomas Julyan, is one bred Isy himself in 1851, named Daisy 337, whose sire was Duke of Cornwall 32, a bull bred by Mr. John Quartly in 1846, and registered by Mr. Julyan as in his own possession, and her dam, also named Daisy, was bred by Dr. Eodd. Eose 1017, calved in 1851, was the grand- daughter of a cow bred by Mr. James Davy ; and Trebartha 1094, not to be mistaken for the Trebartha whose portrait hangs in the house, was another cow of the Davy blood. Emma 1306 and Treasure 1686 were both derived from the stock of Mr. Eodd. The bull Duke of Cornwall 32 left three sons — Albert 136, Favourite 199, and Symmetry 319, all home-bred; the two first calved in 1852, the last in 1853. Champion 157, bred by Mr. W. Harvey, of Hayle, also followed Duke of Cornwall, and introduced more of the Quartly blood. Heart of Oak 211, bred by Mr. Amos Parsons in 1852, was another of the sires used by Mr. Thomas Julyan, and was likewise from a prize-winning Quartly cow. The next bull we find in his records. Honest Tom . 435, bred by Mr. Samuel Anstey, of Menabilly, was a prize winner and purely of the Quartly blood. Immediately after this period, in which Mr. Thomas Julyan seems to have concentrated the Quartly power upon foundations from Champson and Trebartha, we find him, about the years 1855-60, introducing the unrecorded blood of a bull bred by Mr. Clark, or Clarke, and that of a recorded Quartly bull, Mr. James Quartly's Lord Truro 451, used by apparently the same Mr. Clarke. From this time we notice that his herd became extensively renovated by EXISTING HEBDS IN ENGLAND. 247 infusions of fresh blood from the herd of Lord Falmouth, "whose earliest foundation-stock came from the herd of Mr. J. H. Tremayne, of Heligan, and was full of the old Trebartha strain of blood. The herd of Lord Falmouth also contained abundance of the Quartly strain, so that Mr. July an thus obtained more of it, " differentiated " at Tregothnan. Bonnie Lass 2527 by Mr. John Quartly's Duke of Chester 404, and her dam, Bloomer 541, both passed into Mr. Julyan's possession. Tyrant, a bull bred at Tregothnan, appears as a sire of animals a little later ; still later Symmetry 1222, a Tregothnan bull, as Mr. Julyan's property, and several choice females from Tregothnan were added to the herd. Mr. Eichard Julyan's Herd Book entries, in Vols. viii. to xv. inclusive, show a large reliance upon the Champson, Flitton, and Tregothnan strains of blood. The successive sires of the largest numbers of registered calves bred by Mr. Eichard Julyan are Duke of Somerset 1546, bred by Mr. Walter Farthing and used by Mr. Clarke ; Master Stowey 1409, bred by Mr. Walter Farthing ; Sir Alexander 1841, representing the Temptress family of Flitton, bred by Mrs. Langdon and sold to Mr. Charles Menhinick, near Wadebridge, Cornwall ; Tempter 1851, also of the Temptress tribe, bred by Mrs. Langdon and sold to Mr. Julyan ; Festoon 1731, bred by Mr. W. S. Perry, and representing the Quartly family of Flower ; Lord Salis- bury 2054, bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner and sold to Mr. Julyan, representing Boucher's Moss Eose family, and combining the blood of Lord Currypool and Duke of Farrington, being, in fact, full brother to the champion prize bull. General Gordon 1974 ; Jan Eidd 1998, bred by Mr. Tremayne, uniting the blood of the late Mr. W. Perry's famous bulls Bravo and old Druid with that of the herds of Messrs. John and James Quartly upon an old Trebartha foundation ; Duke of Tregidgio 2231, a home- bred prize-winner, sire Duke of Flitton 17th, dam Maria Langdon, bred by Lord Falmouth ; and Hotspur 2606, also home-bred, a son of Duke of Tregidgio, from Forget-me-not, bred at Tregothnan. The bull now at 248 DEVON CATTLE. the head of the herd, Harold 2791, is a home-bred son of Jan Eidd, from Homely, of the Watercress tribe from Tregothnan, and got by Sir Alexander. Among the older cows are Antic by Sir Alexander (Flitton blood), dam Actress 3rd by Duke of Flitton 3rd, granddam Actress, the Manchester Eoyal first prize cow, daughter of the gold medal Temptress. Forget-me-not is a grand speci- men of the Tregothnan herd. The cow Maria Langdon is of one of the oldest traceable lines belonging originally to the Davy family, being directly descended from Beauty 30, calved in 1846. Upcott, North Molton, Devon (Mr. Charles Voysey). — This herd was founded by Mr. Voysey's father, who came to Upcott, from near Crediton, in March, 1847, and began to buy Devon cows in the district around his new home. That he was bent upon raising a good herd may be in- ferred from the fact that soon after entering upon the Upcott farm he bought a bull at one of Mr. Quartly's sales, and from that time had bulls from Mr. James Davy, and sent cows to Flitton, and bought two or three bulls from Mr. Merson, of Brinsworthy. Mr. Charles Voysey immediately succeeded his father, who died in the year 1867 ; and he continued to breed from the same stock and in the same way, using the bulls of breeders who had the purest blood ; but, as he bred for dairy purposes, he still, hke his father, did not care to register his cattle. About the year 1874, however, he began to keep records of their breeding, and most of the bulls which he used were registered, although his own name as a contributor of the Herd Book does not appear until 1881, in the eighth volume. Cato 1031, bred by Colonel Davy, Eose Ash, December, 1871, and entered in the sixth volume, was sold to Mr. Jutsum, of Grilstone, Bishops Nympton, and used by Mr. Voysey. A son of Duke of Flitton 4th, from Sun- flower by King of the Bretons, he traces back to Mr. John Quartly's Beauty (Vol. i.. No. 29). After Cato, an un- registered sire was used at Upcott — Duke of Kent, bred by Mr. Eiohard Mogridge, by Duke of Kent 1830. The sire was a son of Mr. James Davy's Duke of Dorset 1063. EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 249 The next sire, after Duke of Kent the younger, was Gril- etone 1352, bred by Colonel Davy in 1875, and sold to Mr. Jutsum, from whose place he took his name. He was a son of Mrs. Langdon's Duke of Bedford, and was full of Flitton and Champson blood. Mr. Voysey's own home- bred and unregistered Napoleon, a son of Cato 1031, was then taken into service, and afterwards Monarch, another son of Duke of Kent 1330. The Flitton bull. Actor 1494a, bred by Mrs. Langdon, was then introduced, bringing in the blood of Jonquil, Duke of Flitton 3rd, and the su- premely excellent Actress, the Manchester Eoyal first prize cow. Actor was used four years, and as Mr. Stranger's Lord Flitton 1590 was then available at the Court House Farm for the use of Mr. "Voysey, no im- mediate purchase was made. Lord Flitton also was bred by Mrs. Langdon, and, like Actor, had the blood of Jon- quil, but not immediately, being a grandson, whilst Actor was a son, of that bull. Then Mr. Voysey bought Mr. Stranger's Duke of Court 2582, calved in 1882, sire Eoyal Duke 3rd, dam Lady Elizabeth 4th. Mr. Jas. Hosegood's Lord Woodland 2634 by Lord Luxborough, dam Lady Corner, came next in order, followed by Grand Duke 2989, bred by Mr. William Tucker, of Monkokehampton, which was used only one season, 1890 ; and Mr. Voysey has been latterly using, at their homes, the bulls of Mr. John Quartly and Mr. Eichard Stranger. A very favourite family in the Upcott herd is that of Mayday. These Maydays are always to be trusted for thriving upon what- ever they can get, and for liberal contributions to the dairy. One of the Gentle family, a long-framed cow, with the gaily exalted horn of the pattern Devon, heads a family of four promising daughters ; and Dainty is one of Lord Woodland's stock, has been a prize winner, and has a smart yearUng daughter by Grand Duke. Animals from Mr. Voysey's herd have won important prizes, in- cluding first and reserve for the cup at the Smithfield Club Show, in 1879, taken by one of the Mayday family ; the cup at South Molton, won by a Lily ; and three years consecutively the first prize at the Molland local fat stock 250 DEVON CATTLE. auction. The Smithfield winner, named Mabel, belonged to a Kentish exhibitor, Mr. B. W. Tassell, near Canter- bury, but the breeder's medal was awarded to Mr. Voysey, and is now in his possession. Washfoed, Somersetshire (Mr. T. H. Eisdon). — This herd was founded by the great-grandfather of the present owner in 1770. This gentleman, whose name was Edward Eisdon, entered upon the farm at Lady- Day of that year, and died on the 28th of July, 1825, leaving, with other property, his herd of Devons for apportionment among his children. A valuation of the cattle was accordingly ordered, and as prices fixed by competent men sixty-eight years ago will probably interest some of the present generation, the particulars, preserved in the family, are here given : — One barren cow, £13 ; four cows in calf, £70 ; ten two-year-old steers at £12 each = £120 ; one heifer, £12 ; one ditto, £13 ; eight plough oxen at £17 = £136 ; six three-year- old steers at £14 = £84 ; six fat oxen at £23 = £138 ; two fat heifers at £15 = £30 ; two two-year-old steers at £8 = £16 ; nine yearling steers, £72 ; four yearling heifers, £28 ; and five calves, £20. Mr. T. H. Eisdon succeeded to the farm at Michaelmas, 1864. The first bull he had at the head of the herd was one bred by his father, Mr. E. Eisdon, in 1861, and named Lord Para- more 1151, who was followed by Sir Alexander 1206, a Dunster cup- winner, bred by Sir A. A. Hood. In 1871 two home-bred sons of Sir Alexander, named Prince Louis 1190, and Lord Nelson 1149, filled an interval between their sire and his next purchased successor, Mr. James Davy's Corrector 1043, of the Pink family of Flitton Barton. The choice of Corrector was an important event for the Washford herd, at the head of which he stood during the seasons of 1872-6, about five years. Yet, whilst he was principal lord of the herd, he had a very excellent colleague in his son. Ace of Trumps 984, in the years 1874-6, and in 1874 another son also. Sir Eoger 1212, was a supplemental sire in reserve. At the Tredegar show at Newport in EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 251 1873, the Eev. A. Morgan's cup for the best bull, cow, and offspring was awarded to Mr. Eisdon's group, com- prising Corrector, Queen of Trumps, and their twin sons Ace of Trumps and King of Trumps. Corrector and Ace of Trumps were immediately succeeded by The Earl 1465, and Master Bertie 1402, the latter bull bred by Mr. C. G. Thome, Wibble, WiUiton, from the stock of Mr. Eobert Hole, Harwood. This bull, himself a winner of several important prizes, was a son of Sir Harry, the Dunster Cup bull of 1872. The Earl 1465, bred by Mr. Smith, of Whimple, Exeter, and in his hands greatly distinguished in various show- yards, was introduced. A notable home-bred bull suc- ceeded The Earl, taking his place as junior sire during the latter part of Master Bertie's time. This was Master Bertie's son, Prince of Wales 1632, from Goldencup 2nd 3545 by Lord Nelson 1149. Twice, once as a yearhng, and again in his fourth year, he won the first prize in his class at Dunster, and during three successive years he remained at the head of the Washford herd, 1878-9-80. In 1880, Mr. E. Stranger's Lord Devon 1383 (sold to Mr. George Eisdon, Dunster) was the sire of a part of the pro- duce. In 1880 also, another prize-winning home-bred bull, King of the Gipsies 1580, became serviceable, and Pretty Boy 1819 was used a little in the same year. King of the Gipsies held his place for three successive years, and in the show-yards was a winner of first prizes at Taunton and Dunster as a yearhng. From Goldencup 2nd, the dam of Prince of Wales, Mr. Eisdon in 1882 bred Glad- stone 1737, another son of Nelson 1413. This buU, al- though not long retained at Washford, did good service while in the herd. Mr. John Joyce's Viscount 1477, a son of Mr. Walter Farthing's King of the West 1137, which was a Dunster cup-winner, followed Gladstone, al- though eight years his senior. Early in 1887, a little fresh blood was obtained from Lord Cutsey 2nd 1767 (Mr. A. C. Skinner's), and Squire Smith 2503, bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner and acquired by Mr. T. H. Eisdon, consorted with a part of the herd in 1887-88. In the 252 DEVON CATTLE. seasons of 1888-9-90, Mr. Eisdon had Mr. W. Perry's Bonny Lad 1906, a son of Bravo (by Druid). Daisy's Dumpling 1933, calved in April, 1886, followed Bonny Lad. He was bred by Mr. Jehu Perry, and is by Mr. W. Perry's Dumpling 1723. The foregoing list will indicate Mr. Eisdon's habit of choosing bulls, whether from the produce of his own herd or from other herds, with a view to the immediate wants of his own cattle. If he has ever reason to think that a bull differing some- what from the last in use is required to keep up size, or, on the other hand, to prevent size from leading to coarse- ness, and to improve the general quality of the herd, he does not hesitate to regulate those properties, so as to keep the balance true between size and quality, by the selection of a bull likely to modify the particular ten- dency he wishes to keep in check. Sometimes the finer, sometimes the more robust type, will best suit his pur- pose. Among the females in the herd, the members of the Butterfly, Goldencup and Kitty families are conspicuous. The herd numbers eighty head, and about twenty-five calves are reared every year. Mr. Eisdon does not now exhibit at shows of breeding stock ; but before he with- drew from competition at these, the cow Goldencup 2nd 3545, first in her class at Lord Tredegar's Show in 1874 and 1875, had won two special prizes, as being the best horned female animal of any breed at these exhibitions. The following are a few of the prizes that have been gained, . by animals bred in the herd, at the Smith- field Club and Birmingham Fat Stock Shows : — In 1876, Goldencup 2nd 3545, first at Smithfield, and first at Birmingham ; 1876, a steer out of Pink 3779, first at Smithfield, and first at Birmingham ; 1881, a steer out of Snowdrop 3937, second at Smithfield; 1882, a steer out of Laurel 3631, first at Smithfield and special prize for best Devon ; in 1882, a steer out of Snowdrop 3937, second at Smithfield (exhibited by Mr. E. Wortley) ; in 1882, a steer out of Buttercup 3244, first at Smithfield ; in 1883, steer out of Buttercup 3244, first at Smithfield and special prize as best Devon (exhibited EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 253 by Mr. J. Wortley) ; 1883, Laurel 2nd second at Smithfield ; in 1888, steer out of Butterfly 5th 4167, first at Smithfield ; in 1889 steer out of Butterfly 5th 4167, first ' at Smithfield, and special as best Devon (exhibited by Mr. J. Wortley) ; in 1889, steer out of Golden Cup 6th 8899, first at Smithfield ; in 1890, steer out of Golden Cup 6th 8899, third at Smithfield (ex- hibited by Mr. J. Wortley) ; in 1890, steer out of Pink 6th 8910, first at Smithfield ; in 1891, steer out of Pink 6th 8910, first at Birmingham and champion at Smithfield (exhibited by Mr. .J. Wortley) ; in 1891, steer out of Butterfly 18th 8892, first at Birmingham, but not ex- hibited at Smithfield owing to pleuro-pneumonic restric- tions ; in 1891, steer out of Buttercup 15th 9809, second at Birmingham. In 1889 Mr. Eisdon sold to Mr. Henniker, Miss Strong 2nd 8909 and Kitty 13th 8904 for South America ; Golden Cup 11th 8902 to the late Mr. Punchard, and Golden Cup 12th 9811; to Mr. Tait, Windsor, First Love 5214 in 1889, Pink 4th 8910 in 1889, and Pink 12th 10416 in 1892. Mr. Housman remarks : — " To generalise upon the herd, according to the impressions left by a single inspection, we should say, first, that we take the breeder's object to be, mainly, the production of good animals, generation after genera- tion, good especially in the direction of beef; and secondly, that he has accomplished his object very suc- cessfully. This object, rather than that of breeding strictly to one type, is inferred from analysis of the breeding of the sires used, and from the present charac- teristics of the cattle. Mr. Thomas Eisdon's strength as a Devon breeder appears to consist in his ripe judgment of the animal's personal properties, and in his art of judicious blending, for immediate results." Wbeeington Paek, Launceston, Devon, and Caeehays Castle, St. Austell, Cornwall (Mr. J. C. Williams, M.P.). — These herds are now the largest and most important in Cornwall, and it is satisfactory to find that Mr. Williams has retained in the county so large a proportion of the blood that made the late Lord Falmouth's herd at Tre- 254 DEVON CATTLE. gothnan so famous. The herd at Werrington Park was started in 1887 by the purchase of the bull Duke of Flitton 17th 1644, which Sir W. Williams had previously acquired at the Flitton Barton sale, and from' which are descended nearly all the animals with which he has been so successful in the show ring. Mr. "Williams purchased, either at the sale or afterwards, eleven of the females mentioned in the catalogue of the late Mr. Wm. Perry's sale at Alder, on July 27th, 1887, and they are for the most part of the best Quartly families. He has also bought from Mr. W. S. Northey the Flitton cow Temp- tress 16th 5691, with her two daughters Temptress 17th and Temptress 18th, and the Cherry cow. Cherry 14th 6764, out of the Flitton Cherry 13th 5163, which, with Queen 3rd 4885, born at Flitton, are the principal animals at Werrington. The herd at Caerhays Castle is composed almost entirely of animals bought at Tre- gothnan in May, 1890, when Mr. Williams sold off a herd of Polled Aberdeen- Angus and started there a second herd of Devons. Among these Tregothnan animals may be mentioned Waterlily 2nd 5724, by Sirloin 1443, of the Trebartha Lily tribe ; Waterhly 3rd 6810, by Sirloin 1344, of the same family ; Miss Williams 5793, by the Only Jones 1468, from Waterlily 2nd 5724 ; Nessie 7989, by Sir Michael 1646, also of Mr. F. H. Eodd's Lily sort ; Waterlily 7th 7999, by Tempter 1857, from Waterlily 2nd 5724 ; Waterlily 8th 8000, by Sir Watkin 1846, from Waterlily 5060 ; Waterhly 9th 10148, by Lord Wolseley 2063, from Waterlily 5060 ; Dorothy Draggletail 5253, by Jonquil 1131, from Lovely 2nd 3661, tracing to Curly 97 ; Kate 7984, by Plum Pudding 1817, from Dorothy Draggletail 5263 ; Molly 7986, by Sir Watkin 1346, from Dorothy Draggletail 2nd 6784 ; Dorothy Draggletail 3rd 10140, by Lord Wolseley 2063, from Dorothy Draggletail 2nd 5784 ; Pound Foolish 5798, by Sirloin 1443, from Penny Eoyal 4811, descended from the Quartly Lily ; Careful Maid 7977, by Tempter 1861, from Pound Foolish 6798 ; Pound Foolish 2nd, by- Lord Wolseley 2063, dam Pound Foolish 6798 ; Pink 12th 7991, by Sir Michael EXISTING HERDS IN ENGLAND. 255 1646, dam Penny Eoyal 4811 ; Blush 9557 by Tempter 1851, dam Pink 12th 7991 ; Pink 11th 7990, by Sir Watkin 1846, dam Scent 5802, of the Trebartha Lily tribe ; Pink 13th 7992, by Duke of Flitton 17th 1544, dam Pink 11th 7990 ; Pink 15th, by Jack in the Green 2252, dam Pink 11th 7990 ; Actress 27th 5779, sire Sirloin 1443, dam Olivette 5794, of the Quartly Lily tribe, trac- ing through those noted cows Temptress 1672 and Actress 1749 ; Ellen Terry 7979, by Arthur Eoberts, 1887, out of Actress 27th 5779 ; The Blooming Cow 5809, sire Sirloin 1443, dam Maiden All Forlorn 5503, tracing to Curly 97 ; The Blooming Calf by Lord Wolseley 2063, dam The Blooming Cow 5809 ; Myosotis 5539 by Lord of the Valley 1150, dam Eemembrance 3882, also tracing from the Quartly Lily; Jubilee 7983, by Lord Wolseley 2063, dam Keepsake 7985, a daughter of Myosotis 5539 ; Pussy in the Well 9567, by Duke of Flitton 17th 1544, dam Ding Dong Bell 5246, a descendant of Mr. Jas. Davy's Beauty 30 ; Chime 10139, by Sir Mi'chael 1646, dam Ding Dong Bell 5246 ; Polka 9566, by Duke of Flitton 17th 1544, dam Quadrille 5800, of the Trebartha Treasure 447 sort ; Polka 2nd, sire Humphrey 1997, dam Polka 9566 ; Mirabel 4729, by Lord of the Valley 1150, dam Eeflection 3880, a Quartly Lily; FUxweed 10142, by Sir Michael 1646, dam Little Miss 5790. The older females at Wer- rington, it may be mentioned, comprise specimens of Quartly's Curly 92 strain as well as the Davy Flower tribe and others. Mr. Williams has used at Werrington and Caerhays, the bull Marmaduke 2280, bred by Mr. Perry, and who traces through his dam Mouse to Flower 190. For two or three years Duke of Flitton 17th was used, and a son of his is being used there now. Doleful 2384, and another son, Doncaster 2750, in the Caerhays herd. Mr. Williams writes us: — "I am of opinion that I shall never again have a sire who will make such a mark on every thing he touched as Duke of Flitton 17th 1544, judging not only by what he left at Werring- ton, but by the stock he got in the herd of Sir W. Wil- liams. I am more disposed to use his sons than other 256 DEVON CATTLE. bulls.'' There were, early in 1892, forty females of all ages at Caerhays, and not quite so many at Werrington, but of course, the numbers have since increased by births. Gnly a few bulls have been sold at the spring sales, others being used by the tenants, but the greater number of bull calves are cut. Bulls have been shown at the Eoyal and Bath and West Shows with success, but with one exception Mr. Williams has not prepared females for exhibition. He has also exhibited successfully at the Smithfield Club Shows, in 1890 and 1891. Several in- teresting notes have been given us as to the ages at which some of the cows continued to breed, and it is to be noted that these cows are somewhat remarkable for their vigour as they are very closely bred. In another section we have quoted Mr. Williams' aims in breeding, but we may re- peat them here. Briefly stated they are, that he has en- deavoured to obtain as much of the Quartly and Davy blood as possible, for he believes they throw their own sort much more certainly than other families do ; that though not large cattle they are well adapted to the light land and hilly ground of the district, that they carry the best of meat on small bone, and that sooner or later the consumer will insist on having such joints as they produce in perfection. A few further notes on the leading families represented at Caerhays and Werrington fark are added. The descendants of Mr. Quartly's lower 189 are conspicuously numerous in both herds. Fourth in the direct female line of descent from her was Temptress 1672, known to fame as the " Gold Medal Temptress " of the Battersea Eoyal and International Show in 1862. This line is strongly represented, at Werrington by the Temptresses, and by Active, of the Actress branch of the family of Temptress ; at Caerhays by several females of the Actress branch, and by some of the Frolicsome, Eosebud, and Penny Eoyal branches. The Myosotis branch, headed at Caerhays by the cow of that name, fifth in line direct from Flower, has represen- tatives in both, but the family name is not always retained. The Keepsakes and Jubilees are of this branch. Another EXISTING HBBDS IN ENGLAND. 257 sub-division has produced the Mirabels and the Apple Blossoms, to which the Antonia oifshoot is nearly related. The old Trebartha herd was the source of a tribe which sprang up in the Heligan herd from the Trebartha cow Lily. It is now represented at Caerhays by the Waterlily and Pink families, and at Werrington by one of the Waterlily family, whose only daughter in the herd is named Waterhen. Another Trebartha foundation, tracing remotely to the stock of Mr. White, of Pilton, Barn- staple, is that of the Polka family at Caerhays, descended from the stock of Dr. Eodd, through the Heligan and Tregothnan herds. Mr. Francis Quartly's Longhorned Curly is the foundation-dam of the Diamond Necklet, Dowager, and Duchess of Alder families, all belonging to the Werrington herd. All the three families are descended from the Champson stock, through the herd of the late Mr. William Perry. Mr. James Davy's Curly 97, bred from the old Davy stock, is the root of the Queen and Ismailia families of Werrington, and of the branch families of Blooming Cow, Kate, Molly, and Dorothy Draggletail at Caerhays ; all the four latter, and the Ismailias, derived from the Flitton cow, Lovely 2nd 3661, whilst the Queen, or Lovely Queen family, is of another Mitton branch. Mr. James Davy's Beauty 30 has descendants in the Caerhays herd in the Tregothnan families of Flitton Lass 4th and Pussy in the Well, and in the daughter of the latter. The old Rose Ash herd contributes a female descendant of Mr. John Davy's Old Flower, the cow Mouse 8791, bred by the late Mr. William Perry. Mr. Davy's Cherry family, from Old Cherry 65, has a place in the Caerhays herd. At Werrington we find the Bloomer family tracing through Lord Falmouth's herd to a cow of that name bred by Mr. George Turner in the year 1852, from the Quartly stock on the sire's side, and by the dam derived from the stock of Mr. Baker, of MoUand. The Janeys at Werrington are of a family bred by Mr. William Perry, from a cow obtained from Mr. E. Jackman ; and the Victresses in the same division represent the old stock of Mr. Amos Parsons. To these 17 258 DEVON CATTLE. must be added the recent purchases from Sir William Williams of Flame 3rd and Daisy; and Primrose from Mr. Bickle's herd. West Clyst, near Exeter (Mr. Edwin Palmer.) — This herd was established by Mr. Palmer in 1882 with animals purchased from the late Mr. Eichard Stranger, Court House, North Molton, and Mr. Edward J. Lutley, Jews, Wiveliscombe. The additions since made have been — Scabious 8105, bought from Mr. W. Eolles Fryer, at Lytchett Minster, Dorset, in 1887 ; Magnum Bonum 8716, bred by Mr. Philip Eock, Gratton, North Molton ; Temptress 8719, bought from Mr. FoUett, North Molton ; Jess 9506, in calf to Baronet 1897, descended from one of the best Flitton tribes, was purchased from Mr. Veysey, Chittlehampton, in 1889. Subsequently to 1882 three bulls have been used in the following order — Eoyal Duke 3rd 1641, Young English Gentleman 1869, and Champion 1696. These have all been impressive sires, possessing the best characteristics of the North Devon breed. Champion is the bull now in use. The herd numbers 60 head, and 15 calves are reared every year. The following tribes are represented : — Actress, Temptress, Peeress, Sunflower, Magnolia, Daisy, Beauty, and Jess. Whiteeow, Lew Down, Devon (Mr. W. S. Perry.) — A Devon herd was kept from 1840 by the present owner's late father, Mr. John Perry, but although pedi- gree bulls have always been used registration was not begun until 1880. The more important recent additions were made between 1881 and 1892, viz. : — Actress 20th 5073, Primrose 5604, Lady Huxtable 6040, Princess 2nd 6843, Cowslip 4th 6226, Duchess of Alder 8786, Actress 29th 10915, and Actress 6th 5080. The leading sires have been Duke of Flitton 15th 1542, Daybreak 1706, Marmaduke 2280, Bondholder 1905, and more recently Baron Golsoncott 5th 2339 and Duke of Alder 2751. There are generally twelve cows in the dairy, and sixteen calves are reared per annum. The Cherry s are a very useful, thriving and prolific family. Mr. Housman, who inspected the herd in September, 1892, wrote : — " Of a EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 259 iot of ten beautiful two-year-old heifers seen together, eight, by Bondholder, were so evenly good that the task of placing them according to merit would be a difficult ■one, and might be differently performed by eight judges severally, or by one judge on eight several occasions. They all had the same high-blood character, and their broad backs were all moulded to one pattern. Their two companions were an Actress heifer by a son of General Gordon and a heifer by Fancy's Eobin. One cannot often find a lot of ten better heifers bred in one herd in one season. Primula 8,820, a very neat cow, by one of Druid's sons, from Lord Falmouth's Primrose, of the Cheesewring and Mr. Tremayne's old Heligan tribe of Lily ; Prudence, a cow of good frame and substance, with true lines of beauty; Pith, a fine cow of a not deeply-dyed shade of colour, by Daybreak, from Petunia by Druid, granddam Mr. H. Davy's Lady Penhole ; Dew- drop 4th, of the darker cherry-red hue, thick-fleshed, rather back-horned, somewhat in-bred, by Marmaduke — Bravo's son — from Dewdrop 2nd by Benedict ; Actress 29th, a neat compact cow, bred at Tregothnan, of the Temptress and Actress family of Flitton, and showing much of the style peculiar to that line (she is readily recognised by her short tail) ; and Devon Beauty 10929, a nicely-moulded, useful-looking cow of deepish colour, bred by Mr. Stranger, but bought by Mr. W. S. Perry at the dispersion of Mr. Punchard's herd ; and a deep- milking cow, bred from Mr. WilUams's old Queen family, are fairly representative of their different families. The Cowslips, well represented by Cowslip 5th, an excellent milker by Daybreak, are descendants of a tribe bred on the Cornish moors, and have a dash of Bickley blood through Mr. C. List's Agricola 2nd." Bondholder and two heifers were sold to go to Sydney, New South Wales, and many others have been disposed of to home breeders. Whitstone Head, Holsworthy, Devon (Mr. Edward Mucklow). — This herd was established in 1884; by Mr. Muchlow, who purchased heifers from Mr. Cole, Harbland, North Devon, and Mr. Symons, Cann Orchard, 260 DEVON CATTLE, Launcells, Cornwall. Since then the following have been added : — Moonbeam 9767 bought from Mr. W. Perry, Lew Down, in July, 1887 ; Betty 3rd 7405 from Mr. E. Bickle, Bradstone, in September, 1889 ; and Diana 10573 from Mr. H. B. Blackburn, Townleigh, in July, 1890. The bulls used have been Arabi 1676, a good stock-getter and an impressive sire ; Baron Bennetts also possessing similar good qualities ; Hartington 2250, who was not a success ; Jubilee 2422, who has left promising calves ; Gay Man, from Mr. Skinner's herd, has lately been intro- duced, and Vulcan 2695 has also been used. The herd numbers twenty-four cows. The tribes represented are those descended from Beeswing 2508, Flower 190, and Taunton Daisy 7483. Prizes for steers, and also for bulla and heifers, have been won at the Holsworthy Show, among them the champion prize for Devon heifers with Mignonette 10898 by Baron Bennetts : this bull also gained many prizes. WiTHYCOMBE Paem, Carhampton, Somerset. — Mr. Eobert Case has not yet any long records in the Herd Book, but he has begun to register his Devon stock, tracing through the forty years which have passed since he began business as a breeder, from the stock of his father, who about sixty-five years ago bought heifers from Mrs. Newton, Eodhuish. The sires were at first either home- bred or selected from neighbouring stocks of pure Devons, but no memoranda of the names and order of those animals appear to have been kept. Having, however, within the last twelve or fourteen years selected registered bulls, Mr. Case is recording the pedigrees of their progeny as they become eligible for entry in the Herd Book. The first notable purchased sire used at Withycombe was Mr. A. C. Skinner's Lord Beaconsfield 2429, calved in 1877, a son of Master Eobin 1162 (Mr. Walter Farthing's, and a noted prize winner), and from Gentle 5th, by Mr. Samuel Kidner's Bed Prince 1432. The next sire was Lord Eobin 1787, bred by the late Mr. John D. Hancock, Halse, near Bishops Lydeard, got by Lord Molton 1592. The sire at the EXISTING HEEDS IN ENGLAND. 261 head of the herd in 1892 was Captain 2548, bred by- Mr. Nathaniel Cook, of Chevithorne Barton, Tiverton, and third winner in his class at Dunster in 1891. He is a son of Pine Apple 1816 and Beauty 4th, by Mr. N. Cook's Chevithorne 1520. The Withycombe herd has all the character of a long-established herd of pure breeding. The cows are a remarkably good and even lot of animals, thoroughly well matched, a fact which speaks volumes for the breeder's skill, and as evidence of a definite design in his work ; and in the young stock, male and female, the type of the older part of the herd is well maintained. Wrafton, Barnstaple (Mr. Chas. N. Skinner). — Mr. Skinner does not keep a large herd of pedigree Devons, his farm being principally adapted for grazing rather than for rearing. Still, his late father and himself have generally had a few good Devon cows, and have reared their calves, but have not registered them. The stock were originally obtained from Messrs. Passmore, Bishops Nympton ; Mr. James Merson, and Mr. James Davy, of North Molton ; and more recently strains of blood have been secured from the late Mr. Tapp, Burch ; Mr. Voysey, North Molton ; Sir W. Williams, Mr. J. F. E. Morris, and Mr. A. C. Skinner. The bulls now being used are Marsh 3021, bred by Sir J. Heathcoat Amory, and a yearhng bred by Mr. J. F. E. Morris, and got by his celebrated bull Primrose Duke 2296. In addition to the herds that have been described in the foregoing pages, there are several others, of which notices have not reached us. AU the breeders were afforded an opportunity of sending particulars for in- corporation in this work, and any omissions that may have occurred are due either to their own failure to furnish particulars or to the mistakes of the post. No herd has been intentionally overlooked. 262 DEVON CATTLE. CHAPTER X. HEEDS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND THE COLONIES. It is impossible to fix, with any approach to accuracy, the date when Devon cattle were first introduced into the United States of America. The opinion prevails that the Pilgrim Fathers, who landed in the " Mayflower" on the shores of the Massachusetts Bay, brought with them no farm live stock, and we thirtk the facts that are known regarding that famous incident in history support the idea that the emigrants were not likely to have encumbered themselves with cattle. But their suc- cessors, who sailed subsequently from the West of Eng- land in other and more commodious vessels, are beheved to have been accompanied by cattle suited to their wants. Not a few of them came from Devonshire, and naturally enough they were attached to the beautiful breed of the county, so that an American writer is probably correct in saying that " the plough which turned the first furrow slice in the soil of New England, if not in that of any of the origi- nal colonies, was drawn by a Devon ox." But, continuea the writer whom we have just quoted, the preference of the early colonists of the old Bay State for the breed was not one of sentiment only. It was based upon the many excellent qualities of the Devons. These soon became known to the Quakers of Pennsylvania, and led to the introduction of the breed into that colony, where it be- came well-known and deservedly popular. The late Mr. Lewis F. Allen in his book, entitled American Cattle, says, " There is little doubt from the appearance of many of the New England cattle in the last and present cen- turies that some Devons in their purity were early brought into Massachusetts. Traditional tales of their neat, limbed, sprightly, red, high-horned cattle have existed, and that they spring from a Devon cross is beyond a question." However, leaving speculation for sober fact, it appears that Messrs. Winthrop and Davenport, about HEEDS IN FOEEIGN COUNTBIES AND THE COLONIES. 263 the year 1800, imported Devons into Plymouth, Mass. In 1805, General Eaton imported some into Otsego County, New York. Of these early importations there is no further record, and for all practical purposes the first authentic information that has been preserved is that re- lating to the importation of a bull and six heifers, pre- sented by Mr. T. W. Coke (afterwards Earl of Leicester), to Mr. Eobert Patterson, a celebrated merchant of the city of Baltimore, Maryland. To this transaction refer- ence has already been made, but we may here go into the matter a Uttle more fully. The following letter from Mr. G. Patterson, of Maryland, to Mr. E. Peters, of At- lanta, appears in Davy's Devon Herd Book, Vol. ii. : — " Sykesville, Maryland, Sept. 3rd, 1853. " Deae Sie, — Your letter of the 29th August has been received. In 1817 Mr. Coke, afterwards Earl of Leicester, of Holkham, England, gave my brother, Eobert Patterson, six Devon heifers and a yearhng Devon bull, named by Mr. Coke, Taurus. My brother gave three of the heifers to his father-in-law, Eichard Caton ; the other three he gave to my father, William Patterson. The bull Taurus was the joint property of Caton and my father. Two of the heifers belonging to my father were in calf to a bull of Mr. Coke's ; the third heifer was piit to Taurus, and the progeny of the whole were bred together. In 1835, after the death of my father, I became possessed of his Devon cattle, descended from Taurus, the three heifers before mentioned, and the calves of the two heifers which were in calf before leaving England. Taurus was bred by Mr. Denny, a tenant of Mr. Coke's. Mr. Coke gave 50 guineas for Taurus. In 1820 I saw the dam of Taurus on the farm of Mr. Denny ; she made 13 lbs. of butter a week. In 1835 I wrote to the Earl of Leicester that I owned the Devon cattle descended from the stock he had giyen my brother some years before, and that I was anxious to procure a bull for a cross. He sent me out Anchises, and wrote to me that he had bought him from one of the best dairies in Devonshire for his own use. — (Signed) G. Patteeson." 264 DEVON CATTLE. The bull Taurus, just referred to, is registered in the American Devon Eecord as 197, and v^as calved in 1816. In many old pedigrees he is called Denny. It is stated that an accident in 1821 rendered him useless. The six heifers were nained as follows : — ^Europa 128, Fancy or Fanny 134, Flora 143, Longhorn 206, Nancy 244 and Strawberry 849. They are entered simply as having been calved in 1815, bred by Mr. Coke, presented to Eobert Patterson, and imported in 1817. After the injury to Taurus 197 Mr. Patterson seems to have used the imported bull Oliver 126, calved 1818, bred by Lord Leicester, Holkham, Norfolk, imported in his dam Fanny 134, and calved, the property of Eobert Patterson, sire Patriot 131. These animals and their produce were widely distributed in the country, and they seem to have bred very well. Along with the bull Anchises 7, who was sent out by Lord Leicester in 1836, Mr. George Patterson received the heifer Effie 123 from the herd of Mr. John Blomfield, Warham, Norfolk, and in 1841 he imported the bull Eclipse 72 from the same breeder : he was by Wilhngham 212, dam Pink 269, Mr. Blomfield's best cow. In 1852 he imported Norfolk 123 and the cow Jenny Lind 175, both from Mr. Blomfield, and Priam 1.38 in his dam Jenny Lind 175 ; Norfolk was by Sultan 191, bred by Mr. E. Merson, Brinsworthy, got by Northampton 124, dam Lovely 211 by Hundred Guinea 56. Other animals imported by Mr. Patterson were Chatsworth 30, Dick Taylor 47 from Mr. Blomfield, and President 137 from Mr. James Davy. These Herd Book numbers are from the American register. In the account of the breed in America, which appears in the first volume of the American Devon Eecord, it is remarked " Most of the Devons in . this country are descended from the different Patterson importations, and it is unfortunate for the breeders of this stock that he did not keep a regular breeders' record and enter all his stock in the Herd Book. As he had no other breeding stock on his farm but Devons, he thought it useless to enter them for Tecord. He was not in the habit of naming cows bred HEBDS IN FOEEIQN COUNTEIES AND THE COLONIES. 265 by himself, and any that have been recorded by persons purchasing cattle from him have been named by them and recorded with his consent. His only mark for his different strains was his private mark, regardless of names. He never retained any heifers out of his imported cows to breed from, but sold them all." The Honourable Eufus King, Jamaica, Long Island, in 1818, imported a few animals from Mr. Coke's herd. In 1825 Mr. Henry Thompson, Baltimore, imported Devons which had been purchased at the sale of Mr. W. Childe, Kinlet Hall, on Sept. 27, 1824 ; they were Garrick 81, out of Fillpail 140 by Prize 152, Flora 144 out of Stately 346 by Prize 152 ; the other heifer was shipped, but died at sea. Other early importations were made by Mr. John Cowlin, Truxton, New York, in 1835 (one of them bred by Mr. Prancis Quartly) ; Mr. Ambrose Stevens, Batavia, New York ; the Massachusetts Agricultural Society ; Mr. L. G. Morris, Fordham, New York (from Mr. John Quartly, Mr. James Quartly and the Earl of Leicester) ; Hon. Daniel Webster, Marshfield, Mass. (a pair of Devons which had been presented to him by an English noble- man) ; Messrs. W. P. and C. S. Wainwright, Ehinebeck ; Mr. John Mason, Coburg, Canada West ; Mr. E. G. Gapper, Toronto, Canada; Mr. D. W. CatUn, New York City ; Mr. E. H. Van Eensselaer, Morris, New York; Mr. W. E. Sanford, Orwell, Vermont; Mr. George Vail, Troy, New York ; Mr. B. G. Faile, West Farms, New York ; Mr. John AUen, Saybrook, Connecticut ; Mr. John Burke, Darlington, Canada ; Mr. J. Howard McHenry, Pikesville, Ma. ; Mr. C. P. Hulcomb, New- castle, Delaware ; Mr. E. Peters, Atlanta, Georgia, and many others. The animals came from the herds of the Quartlys, Davys, G. Turner, Lord Portman, Walter Farthing, Her Majesty the Queen, Messrs. Passmore, John Blomfield, E. Merson, J. Halse, C. Boucher, the Duke of Norfolk, &c. The first volume of the American Devon Eecord was pubHshed in 1881, having been compiled by Mr. James Buckingham, Zanesville, Ohio, who stated that some 266 DEVOK CATTLE. twenty-four years previously he began to collect the history of all the Devons imported into America, with their pedigrees, and the produce of the cows, and on January 1, 1878, he had them arranged ready for publi- cation. At the request of many breeders he added a list of all known pure-bred Devons in America with their pedigrees up to January 1, 1880, with the view of making a complete Herd Book. The first volume of the Eecord gave the pedigrees of 1,268 bulls, of which 235 were imported and 2,736 cows, of which 396 were imported or the ancestresses of imported cows. The Eecord was acquired by the American Devon Cattle Club, by whom Volume v. was issued in 1891, Mr. L. P. Sisson being secretary and editor. The number of bulls in that volume was brought up to 5,350, and of cows to 9,450. The largest number of entries were made by the following : — Agricultural College of Missis- sippi ; A. Dwight Allen, Brokenstraw, New York ; C. B. Andrews, Fort Collins, Colorado ; G. Baker & Son, Hustisford, Wisconsin ; Truman, Baker & Co., Earlville, New York; E. J. Baldwin, Les Angeles, Cal. ; Banker Bros., TJpsonville, Pa. ; James A. Bill, Bill Hill, Ct. ; S. Bonar & Sons, Coon Island, Pa. ; John A. Bowlby, Bath, New York ; A. F. Bronson, Vernon, New York ; Dr. H. W. Buell, Litchfield, Ct. ; John A. Carse- well. Lone Eock, Ct. ; Fred. E. Carsewell, Lone Eock, Ct. ; Chapman Brothers, Wells Bridge, New York ; W. F. Chirmside, Beaver Creek, Colo. ; N. B. Choate, Waterloo, Ohio ; T. D. Cofi&ng & Son, Wagoner, Ind. ; Seth Cook, Danville, Cal. ; W. G. Coulter, Newark, Ohio ; Jas. L. Crawford, Oakland City, Ind. ; C. B. Davis, Eunice, Pa. ; P. N. Denis, Trout Creek, N.Y. ; Dillard & Graves, Lahore, Va. ; J. W. Dobbs, Wir- temburg, Pa. ; H. S. Durant, Torringford, Ct. ; Ben E. Eldredge, Provo City, Utah; J. P. Fish & Son, Chelsea, Vt. ; John P. Gage & Son, Southbridge, Mass. ; D. W. Gallup, Oneonta, N.Y. ; G. B. Giddings, Lanes- ville, Ct. ; Estate of Stanley Griswold, Torringford, Ct. ; F. A. Gulley, Agricultural College, Miss. ; James Gurnsey, HEEDS IN FOKBIGN COUNTBIES AND THE COLONIES. 267 Woodlmll, N.Y. ; S. W. Guthries, Indiana, Pa. ; T. W. Hardy, Artesia, Miss. ; B, B. Harris, Fort Collins, Colo E. G. Hart, Lapeer, Mich. ; Edward D. Hicks, Nash ville, Tenn. ; Joseph Hilton & Son, New Scotland, N.Y. Jonathan Hoag, Tomhannock, N.Y. ; L. Banks Holt Graham, N.C. ; E. S. Hoppin, Dexter, Minn.; Edwin House, Waitsfield, Vt. ; John Hudson, Mowequa, 111. Edward Hungerford, Burlington, Vt. ; Hon. E. H Hyde, Stafford, Ct. ; Julius Johnson, South Otselic N.Y. ; W. H. Jones & Son, South Montrose, Pa. ; W F. Kasson, Bethlehem, Ct. ; S. E. Knox, Independence Mo. ; J. Hooper Leach, Bridgewater, Mass. ; Lock- wood Bros., Watertown, Ct. ; J. B. Longenecker, Union Deposit, Pa. ; E. A. Love, Chester, S.C. ; Dr. J. T. Macpherson, Cambridge, Ohio ; J. M. Miller, Hickory, Pa. ; Dr. J. Cheston Morris, West Chester, Pa. ; J. W. Morse & Son, Verona, Wis. ; D. T. Newton, Bridgewater, South Dakota ; J. D. Northrop & Son, Clinton, Wis. ; M. W. Oliver, Conneautville, Pa. ; Isaac A. Ormiston, Barlow, Ohio ; P. Palmer & Son, Whipple, Ohio ; Ward Parker & Son, Eeed's Ferry, N.H. ; B. F. Peck & Son, East Bethany, N.Y. ; H. C. Pfeiffer, San Antonio, Texas ; J. A. Pomeroy & Son, Sidney Centre, N.Y. ; Powell Bros., Shadeland, Pa.; Orin Prichard, Springville, Pa. ; E. L. Eawson, Oak Creek, Wis. ; N. B. Eeed, Princeton, Mass. ; J. W. Eobinson & Son, Hickory, N.C. ; Dwight Eogers, North Cornwall, Ct. ; J. E. Eose, Lakeville, Cal. ; M. B. Eowe, Frederichsburg, Va. ; Eumsey Bros., Emporia, Kansas, or Westfield, N.Y. ; John B. Sanborn, East Concord, N.H. ; S. M. Shellar, Claysville, Pa. ; L. P. Sisson & Sons, Eoney's Point, W. Va. ; Charles M. Smith, Gardner, Colo. ; E. L. Smith, Wethersfield, Ct. ; J. W. Smith & Son, Sparta, Wis. ; W. S. Smoot, Langley, Va. ; Duncan Stewart, Laurel Hill, La. ; W. S. & J. W. Stockwell, Sutton, Mass. ; Augustus Storrs, Storrs, Ct. ; F. L. Taylor, Torrington, Ct. ; M. B. Thayer, Linesville, Pa. ; Daniel Tom, Eix Mills, Ohio: D. Wait & Son, Wells Bridge, N.Y. ; A. Y. Walton, Jr., & Co., San Antonio, Texas ; George A. 268 DEVON CATTLE. Wason, New Boston, N.H. ; J. D. Whitmore & Co., Cess- town, Ohio ; Thos. H, Williams, Columbia, Tenn. ; Seth Wilson, Service, Pa. ; Thomas B. Wilson, Saandersville, Tenn. ; George & William Wolfe, Keene, Ohio ; A. S. Worden, Ulysses, Pa. ; S. C. Work & Son, Buffalo, Pa. ; Julius M. Yale, Meriden, Ct. ; Irvin York & Bon, Brock, Ohio ; Wm. Younger, Fairbury, 111. Altogether there are given in the American Devon Eecord, Volume v., the names of as many as 800 breeders; and it will thus be seen that it would be impossible to furnish even brief accounts of all these herds. We, how- ever, append a few notices of representative herds, and incorporate descriptions of the management. Heeds in the United States. The herd of Messrs. A. Y. Walton, Jr., & Co., was founded in 1886 by a firm composed of Mr. A. Y. Walton, Jr., San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., and Mrs. Mary W. Gage, Memphis, Tenn., by the purchase of a bull and five heifers from Mr. Henry Terrell, of San Antonio, who bought them in Ohio from Messrs. B. B. and W. H. H. Scarff. The bull Put Up 3374 was bred by the former and the heifers Addison 6255, Adaird 6266, Adena 6267, and Aid were bred by the latter ; Eamona 6462 having been bred by Messrs. J. J. Scarff & Sons, all of New Carlisle. They afterwards bought from Mr. Terrell twelve cows and a bull Dick Daisy 2601, all also bred in Ohio, mostly by Messrs. Scarff. Amongst the best of the latter lot were May Blossom 4537, Laura Scarff 4536, Carolina 4834, Pair France 4836, Mead's Four 4966 and Leota 5521. In 1888 they bought from Mr. J. B. Sims, Laurel Hill, La., eleven cows, chief among which were Gossip 4568, Woodbine 4570, Eed Hebe 4573, None Such 4574, and Poesy 4984. All these ■cattle came from New York, and were bred by Mr. Truman Baker, Earlville, in that State. In 1890 they purchased from Mr. Duncan^ Stewart, Laurel Hill, La., the bull Champion Cup 2606, and sixteen cows. The best ones are Emma Com 4912, Day Dream 5663, Dextress 5689, Delle 5694, Happy 5696, Daisy Dale HEEDS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND THE COLONIES. 269 5696, Dutch Girl 5752, and Tchefuncfca 7551. The bull Champion Cup 2606 was bred in Iowa by Mr. N. B. Choate, and the majority of the cows were bred in Ohio by Messrs. Isaac Moses, Irvin Yorke, Abram Peacock and others, besides a few bred by Mr. Stewart. Messrs. Walton & Co. continue : — " We have had in use three bulls since our herd was founded. Put Up 3374, our first, was a rather small but splendidly made animal, and a fine sire. Nearly all his bull calves have been very ' blocky ' in form. We used Dick Daisy 2636 one year, and now have at the head of our herd Champion Cup 2636. He is one of the largest, if not the very largest Devon bull in the south, weighing in ' show fix ' 2000 lbs. He is a little light in hind-quarters, but, apart from that, is well made everywhere else. He is an extraordinarily good sire, his heifer calves especially showing well, and our only fault with him is that he breeds rather light-coloured calves. . The stockmen here all want to get very dark red animals when they purchase a bull of us. In 1889 we had for a short time a noted buU, Marquis 2nd 3387, owned formerly by Messrs. Eumsey Bros., Emporia, Kansas. He was bred at the Ontario Experimental Farm, Guelph, Ontario, and was out of imported NeUie 6312, who was bred by Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor. We have two heifers by Marquis 2nd 3387, Maraquita 8835 and Miss Laura Pendennis 8926. We bought last summer a very fine bull calf, that gives great promise of being a good sire, from Mr. A. E. Baker, Beaver Dam, Wis. He is Duke of Bexar 5477, sired by Eector 4534, dam Nau Nuggett 2838. We had on January 1st, 1892, 101 registered animals in our herd. We think 90 per cent, would be a fair average of calves dropped. Some years it goes higher, and some lower. A year following a hard drought is generally apt to be a light one in point of numbers. Cows on the range drop about 75 per cent, of calves in Texas, but this apphes to where they are not cared for, and have to shift for them- selves. We make exclusively a business of selUng young buUs. We have offered very few heifers for sale, as we 270 DEVON CATTLE. could not spare them. Our bulls generally go to ranch- men who wish to improve their native cattle, and in spite of low prices of the latter there is a great demand for Devons amongst them. Some years we have had orders for over 100 more than we could fill, but they are not always for pure-blooded bulls. "Where they have to buy 50 or 100 bulls most ranchmen cannot afford to get pure bloods, and have to content themselves with grades. They count one bull to every twenty cows on the range, and it can be readily seen what a demand there should be for good stock in a State that has 7,000,000 cattle, mostly natives. We get £20 easily for a well-grown calf ten to twelve months old, and never have sold any under £15, even when quite a lot were disposed of to one buyer. These prices are double what can be obtained, as a general rule, in the north. It is so very risky bringing northern cattle here, on account of acclimative fever, that buyers prefer to give double for stock grown at home. We have shown at five fairs, viz., San Antonio, 1888, winning four premiums ; same place, 1889, taking nine premiums; same place, 1890, taking 30 premiums; Dallas Fair, 1890, fourteen winners ; and at DaUas, Texas, 1891, taking 28 premiums ; 85 in all, amountiagto £281. We have not noticed any material change in our cattle for the better or the wofse. We may add that this is a hard climate on fine stock, especially the summer weather, so that if we keep them to their present standard we shall do all that we expect. Our cattle have the run of 900 acres of good Mesquite grass all the year. For about six weeks during winter, if any are in thin flesh, we feed them with all the hay and cured sorghum they will eat during the night. The cows that need more nutritious food (such as are suckling young calves) are fed on grain and cotton seed or cotton seed meal. We aim to have our calves dropped in the fall and early spring, and by so doing they get the benefit of the green grass that generally lasts until the first of June or July. Calves dropped in the summer are not worth much here. We keep the young bull calves HEEDS IN FOREIGN COUNTEIES AND THE COLONIES. 271 up until they are a couple of months old, and then turn them out with their dams and let them run until they are eight months old when they are weaned, and from then on until they are sold, which is generally at a year old, they are fed on a little grain and bran, and have the run of a small pasture. We do not believe in too much feeding, for our customers are all ranchmen, who buy young bulls, and at once turn them loose to shift for themselves, and they are never hand fed. It can, therefore, be readily seen that an animal that was not accustomed to hunt for its own living, would fare badly, and hence our plan is to make them, as far as possible, take care of ■ themselves. In our chmate, stock need Uttle or no shel- ter, provided they have plenty of food. It is best to have good sheds and barns to keep them out of the cold rains which we sometimes get in the winter ; but as they seldom last over two days, cattle do not mind them if they are in good flesh. We have found our Devons to take on flesh extremely fast. We have started with cows rather thin, and in sixty to ninety days would have them fat enough to go in the show-ring. They also fatten very quickly in the spring on the grass, and by May some are sights to see. The milking properties have been neglected until this year, and so we are unable to give any experience on that subject, other than saying we have always found them giving plenty of milk when they are fed for it. The young bulls usually weigh, at twelve months, between 500 and 600 lbs., which is light, we know, judged by orNthern or English standards ; but is good for our State, considering the fact that they have not been forced. The cows are prolific breeders. In conclusion, we consider that the future of the Devons in Texas is extremely bright, they having made friends within the last three years by thousands ; and we think it only remains for Devon breeders to properly bring their cattle before the Western cattlemen in order to create for them a hitherto unheard of demand." Messrs. Eumsey Brothers, Emporia, Kansas, write : — " Our herd was founded by our grandfather, the late 272 DEVON CATTLE. Mr. E. C. Bliss, in 1853, by purchase from Mr. J. W. Collins of the bull Bonaparte 327, and from Mr. Lewis F. Allen of the cow Eosa 2377. Upon his death in 1882, we became owners of the herd. Since our ownership the leading sires used have been True Briton 2471, descended from imported Prince of Wales 151 ; Marquis 2nd 3387, used from 1884 to 1888 ; Champion 2324, imported, used from 1884 to 1886, and Nat Barnes 4747, now in use. True Briton 2471 descends from Prince of Wales 151, imported from the Queen's herd. Marquis 2nd 3387, was bred by the Canadian Government at its Experi- mental Farm ; his grand-sire was Prince Albert Victor 2275, imported from the Queen's herd, and his dam was- Nellie 6312, also imported from the Queen's herd. He was the best stock getter we have ever owned, and the best Devon bull we ever saw. Champion 2334, imported from the herd of the late Mr. Walter Farthing, was a good stock-getter, but too light coloured for us. Nat Barnes 4747, is of much the same breeding as Marquis 2nd, with the addition of having the blood of Prince Al- bert Victor 227^, on the dam's side, as well as on the sire's. He is now the leading bull in the herd, and we are using with him Lord Verb 2nd 4975, by Marquis 2nd 3387, out of Verbena 6591, imported from the herd of Mr. Walter Farthing. There are now about 100 head in the herd, and we have from 40 to 50 calves every year. Our cows are mostly selected animals from seven or eight different herds in the United States and Canada, the stock descended from the importations of the Canadian Government predominating. Our sales during the past five years have been to twenty different States, and are mostly young stock calves or yearUngs. With the excep- tion of bulls to ranchmen, we seldom sell more than five or six to one person. Most of our calves go to the Southern States, where the Devon is very successful, and at that age stock acclimatise more readily. We have had fair prices, ranging from £10 for a good calf to £35 for a, fine cow, and as high as £40 for a service bull. In the past five years we have won over 100 first and 50 second HEEDS IN FOBEIGN COUNTRIES AND THE COLONIES. 273 prizes. Among the more important was at the Pennsyl- vania State Fair, in 1886, where there was the finest show- ing of Devons we ever saw in the ring. Four large herds competed against us, and we took first for bull, first for cow, and first for herd. In 1886, at Virginia State Fair, our herd was first over all beef breeds, and our bull took sweepstakes over all breeds. Other prizes were gained at the State Fairs of Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. We know by experience that the Devon can be developed into a heavy milker, though not naturally classed as such. We have had cows give 60 lbs. per day, and have won numerous prizes in dairy classes against aU breeds, in- cluding Jerseys and Holsteins. We raise most of our calves by hand, giving them skim milk by the Small's Calf Feeder ; with bran and oil cake, as soon as they can eat it. We raise large crops of roots for winter feed of cows and young stock ; and feed prairie hay, corn fodder and sorghum fodder. Usually the bulls are kept running with the cows. In winter milking cows go into a barn ; all other stock winter under large sheds. We raise no grades ; but sell all our buUs to stockmen and ranchmen, who say no cross gives them better satisfaction, as they get a cross-bred that matures as early as any, that re- sponds quickly to feed and is ready for market sooner, and on less expense to the lb., than is the case with the larger breeds ; moreover, they get a compact animal of uniform colour. Parties to whom we sell bulls from our dairy animals say the crosses are large milkers, hold out long in flow, and give a far richer quality than is usual. We have had cows in show form weigh 1450, 1605, and 1700 lbs. and bulls up to 1900 lbs. The Dovons are long-hved and good breeders. Blossom 3514, calved September 15th, 1877, dropped a fine bull calf in Febru- ary, 1892 ; Lady Dufferin 6415, was then about to calve, and we have had many cows continue to breed until they were twelve or fifteen years old." Messrs. W. H. Jones & Son, South Montrose, Pa., founded a herd in 1850 from stock purchased from Mr. 0. Prichard, SpringviUe, Pa., which were de- 18 274 • DEVON CATTLE. seended from the Patterson importation of 1817. In 1875 they bought Prince of Wales 12th 1002 ; in 1876 Helena's Huron 8th 663 ; in 1886 Eetainer 2735, and the following females in 1884 : — Leena Prichard 4274, Queen 7062, Surprise 3548, and many others of lesser note. The bull Prince of Wales 12th was a descendant from the Queen's herd, and his get were large rangy cattle ; one of his female progeny they have now weighs 1,500 lbs. Helena's Huron 8th was bred by Mr. Walter Cole, Batavia, New York ; his get were smaller, but very fine. The produce of Eetainer are large and beefy, as well as good milkers. The sires now in use are Lord Fleming- ton 4773 and Controller 5015. In 1888 several Devons were sold to Messrs. Powell Bros., Springboro, Pa. A large number of cattle have been shown, and only one defeat has been sustained by the herd. Lord Flemington and Belle of Baltimore 8946 have been very successful. The herd has won 27 first group prizes in five years in six different States. The cows drop their first calves when they are three years old, which gives them a long growing period, this being followed by greater size and better development than they otherwise would attain. The cattle are very easy to fatten. More beef can bo made out of the same amount of food than with the Shorthorn or Hereford. Mr. John Hudson, Woodland, Mowequa, Illinois, gives the following account : — " My herd was founded in June, 1886, by the purchase of the following animals — from Mr. A. C. Skinner, Pound Farm, Bishops Lydeard, Charming Lad, calved January 31, 1885, sired by Lord Currypool 1589, dam Charmer 5151 ; Eoyal Somerset, calved January 21, 1886, sired by Lord Cutsey 2nd 1767, dam Moss Eose 8th 7017 ; this calf was sucking his dam when I bought him, and Moss Eose 8th had not won her great record, else Eoyal Somerset would not be on this side of the Atlantic ; Myrtle 15th, calved February 12, 1884, sired by Lord Currypool 1589, dam Honey 7012, in calf to General Gordon 1974 ; she dropped a bull calf, which became a most impressive sire, besides being a HEEDS IN FOEEIGN COUNTEIES AND THE COLONIES. 275 grand individual ; he went to Utah Territory, where he died a year or so ago, but he left some good calves ; Tulip 2nd, calved May 2, 1884, sire Lord Currypool 1689, •dam TuHp 7025, in-calf to General Gordon 1974 ; she ■dropped a heifer calf, which has been a splendid breeder so far ; Duchess 14th, calved August 21, 1884, sire Lord Currypool 1689, dam Duchess 5th 5258, in calf to General Gordon 1974 ; she dropped a bull calf, which now heads the herd of Messrs. Wm. Younger and Son, Fairbury, IlUnois. The above animals were all bred by Mr. Skinner. Eose 7th, alias Eosette 6929, was pur- chased from Mr. John Eisdon, Golsoncott, sire Lord Nelson 1783, dam Eose 4th 5639, in calf to Champson, who is by Merson, out of Queen of Champson ; she dropped a bull calf in quarantine at Quebec, Canada, on January 3, 1887 ; this bull has proved a grand breeder, more especially on Lord Currypool and General Gordon heifers. I am still using him in the herd. These animals formed my first importation and foundation stock. My second importation was made in June, 1888, from the herds of Mr. E. J. Stanley, Quantock Lodge, Mr. Samuel Kidner, Milverton, and Mr. A. C. Skinner, Pound Farm. The following animals were from Mr. B. J. Stanley's herd— Picture 5th 9097, by General CoUey 1564, out of Picture 4th 4818 ; also Picture 7th (full sister to Picture 5th), calved February 7, 1887, and Sarah 4th, calved Febifuary, 1887, sired by General Colley 1564, out of Sarah 4944. These were all bred by Mr. Stanley. From Mr. Kidner was purchased Fanny 10th 8417, her daughter. Favourite 9706, and her bull calf Milverton, who was sired by Unionist 2166. Milverton has proved one of the best sires in my herd. I also pur- chased Fancy 8416, who has produced a bull by Bullfinch 2200. I call him John Bright, and am using him on Eoyal Somerset heifers. Fancy has also dropped three buU calves by Eoyal Somerset. The best heifer purchased from Mr. Kidner, called Flirt, was lost in quarantine. From Mr. Skinner I bought three Curry- pool heifers, being Fancy 9th 8993, Tuhp 3rd 9014 276 DEVON CATTLE. and Duchess 16th 8987, all safe in calf to General Gordon 1974. Fancy 9th and Tulip 3rd dropped heifer calves. Charming Lad, the first bull used in my herd, being half-brother to my Currypool heifers, I could not employ so extensively as I should like to have done ; I used him with all my grade cows, and he sired some of the best cows and steers I ever owned ; his calves were all thick, low down, and had beautiful mossy coats. He was sold to Mr. Seth Cook, Danville, California, in November, 1888, and has proved a very successful sire in that herd. His weight was about 1700 lbs. Eoyal Somerset is a chip of the old block, and is pronounced by good judges to be the best Devon bull in America ; as a sire he is not the kind of animal to nick well with all cows as was Charming Lad, but he is an excellent stock- getter out of blood lines. He is lighter in colour than Charming Lad, and is a little dappled or ' spotty.' He now weighs 2030 lbs., and is as nimble as a kitten. Quebec, of Mr. Eisdon's breeding, is quite a successful sire in the Woodland herd, being low down, wide out and mellow, with a buU's head and neck, which speak volumes for a good getter. He has been very successful as a sire of show calves, as they mature young and are curly and mellow. He has sired some heifers that are good milkers, and his weight is about 1600 lbs. MUverton, bred by Mr. S. Kidner, sired by Unionist 2166, out of Fanny 10th 8147, is a bull of large size, and will make 2200 lbs. at maturity; his calves show plenty of scale with good quality. He is just the bull that suits the average cattlemen of this country. I parted with him last August (1891) to go to the herd of Mr. Ben. E. Eldridge, of Provo City, Utah. I will have about 18 calves by him, and I think a great deal of them so far. The number now (March, 1892) in the herd is as follows : females 45, bulls 13, steers 17. Average of calves from cows bred in 1891 100 per cent., and for that year 22 calves Representing 13 tribes : 11 English and two American, as follows : — Myrtle, Honeydew, Heartsease, •Tulip, Duchess and Fancy (Skinner) ; Fancy and Fanny HEEDS IN FOEEIGN COUNTEEES AND THE COLONIES. 277 (Kidner), Picture, Sarah and Eose (Eisdon) ; American tribes, Oleosa and Jean. A considerable number of sales have been made at prices from £120 down to £30 per head. The Woodland herd has been very successful when shown having won a large number of prizes at the Illinois and St. Louis fairs. At the American Fat Stock Show, Nov., 1891, the following prizes were gained : — First prize for Humbug 4923, sired by Charming Lad, out of Oleosa 2nd, an American cow ; second prize to Lord Stanley, sired by Oharming Lad, out of Picture 7th — he being the first Devon steer ever shown at Ohicago out of an imported cow by an imported sire ; his age being only twenty-six months went against him, otherwise he would have been champion of the Devon classes. For steers one and under two years old first went to Abe Lincoln, sired by Quebec out of Oleosa 2nd, another object lesson as to what the English sire does on the Httle narrow in-bred American cow. The sweepstakes herd prize was awarded to the Woodland herd, composed of the three first prize-winners — Humbug, Abe Lincoln, and Taffy-on-a-stick. The prize for best Devon steer went to Humbug. The American-bred cow Jean, also belonging to me, gained third prize, all breeds com- peting, in the dairy test, butter-fat 1.09 lbs. per day. I had not seen any English-bred Devons from about 1856 till 1886, and coiild notice a vast improvement, more es- pecially in their beef qualities, and I think the milking properties are being improved along with the beef and early- maturing propensities. I handle my cattle as follows : — The steer calves are weaned at about six months old, and are learned to eat bran and oats, in the meantime being on good pasturage (the cows are milked on till the next calving period). In the fall, when the grass begins to get scarce and tough, the feed is increased till they go on the winter ration, which is corn, meal, oats, bran, and oil-meal. The calves have the run of the wood pasture during the winter, with no other shelter than the timber. The next winter they are run through on hay alone, without any grain, and when about 26 to 30 months old. 278 DEVON CATTLE. are put in the feed lot, and are fattened on full feed of corn and oil-meal to finish off in 90 days, and top the market. My heifer calves are treated the same as the steer calves the first winter ; the second winter they get a liheral ration of grain in addition to the hay. I breed most of my heifers to calve in May and June, tying them again in January to make them gentle and in good condition before calving, which insures good cows and thrifty calves. The cows get grass alone in summer time, and in winter they are fed according to the date when they are due to calve. Cows that are not due till May are fed about four qts. per day, and are not brought in out of pasture till January. Those that calve earlier in the year are brought in sooner. Most of the cows are allowed to raise their own calves, milking the surplus till the calf can take all the milk, which is not until three months after calving. Some of the cows have two calves put on them to raise, and I then give them a third one. I turn out all cattle that I tie up every day, if only for an hour or two. The bulls are Uberally fed, but I only aim at keeping them in good thrifty condition. They are kept out as much as possible, so as to have them hardened up. Thus, when one is sold, he will not go back in condition. I am opposed to the pampering of breeding stock. Having fed a good many bullocks, I always find the Devons ready for market first ; they respond more readily to feed than any other breed I have ever tried. In thia neighbourhood a number of Devons are now scattered, and when a load of steers are brought in to ship to the Chicago market, if there is a grade Devon in the bunch, he invariably tops the lot. The Devon cow in this, country is called ' the family cow,' being docile, easy keepers, good rich milkers, and, after the cream is taken off, there is the skim milk, equal to the fresh milk of some breeds. Our chemists tell us that Devon milk comes nearest to human milk of that of any domestic animal. My grade cows are always in demand for family pur- poses. I received 7 cents per lb. live weight for the steers sold at Christmas, 1891." HEEDS IN FOEEIGN COUNTEIES AND THE COLONIES. 279 AuSTEAIilA. Mr. P. E. Gordon, Chief Inspector of Stock, Brisbane, Queensland, favours us with the following interesting notes : — ' ' The first Devons introduced into Australia of which we have any record were imported by the Aus- tralian Agricultural Company many years ago, but their identity has long since been lost in the Shorthorn herd belonging to that company. The late Mr. Hobbler, of Aberglassy, on the Hunter Eiver, was the pioneer breeder of Devons (as well as of Herefords) in New South Wales, and it is also believed in Australia. Mr. Hobbler brought his cattle with him from Tasmania, but it is now uncertain whether he took them to that colony from England, or whether a small Devon herd had been established by some one else in Tasmania. The herd was a small select one, the origin undoubtedly good, and no stock that have since been imported from England have better maintained the characteristics and purity of type of the breed. They have always held their own against the best imported stock, and it is questioned whether a better Devon cow is to be found anywhere than the present Australian champion cow. Coquette 13th, who is descended from the Tasmanian stock. The late Mr. Charles Eeynolds, founder of the Tocal herd of Devons, who managed for his father, Mr. Thomas Eeynolds, of Eaddon Court, Thorverton, Devon, whose herd was dispersed about the year 1839, came to New South Wales in 1840, and in 1842 commenced breeding pure Devons at Louth Park, near Maitland, on the Hunter Eiver, by the importation in that year of the two Devon bulls, Molland and Eed Eover, both of which were bred by Mr. Quartly and selected by Mr. Wm. Hutch- ings and Mr. James Quartly for Mr. Eeynolds, and the purchase of the pure Devon cows, Pretty, Cherry, Susan, Dirmpling, Lovely, Molly, Bloomer, Beauty and Favourite from Mr. Hobbler. The history of Mr. Eeynolds' herd may be taken to be the history of Devons in Australia, for although the late Mr. G. S. Yeo, a Devonshire man, the Messrs. White, of the Hunter, and Mr. Mitchell, of 280 DEVON CATTLE. Tabletop Station, imported several valuable specimens of the breed, most of the same blood as these importa- tions has been incorporated with the Eeynolds' herd. Though for many years Mr. Eeynolds did not keep any special record of pedigrees, he always preserved his cattle perfectly pure. In 1843 he purchased three more Devon heifers from Mr. Hobbler, and in 1844:, having leased the Tocal estate, he removed his cattle there, and on the dispersal of Mr. Hobbler' s herd he purchased the pick of his Devons, the remainder having been bought by Mrs. Lord, of Underbank, Williams Eiver. In 1854 Mr. Eeynolds imported Gardoni 206, a remarkably successful sire. This bull was bred by Mr. Turner, Barton, sire Louis Napoleon 231, grandsire Duke of Devonshire 35, dam Placid 353 by Baronet 6, granddam Jenny Lind 230. His Devon herd had now increased to such an extent that he purchased the estate of Dunenald, on the opposite side of the river, and removed his Devons to it. This has since been their home, the Tocal portion of the estate being kept for the Hereford herd, although both these stud herds are known throughout Australia as the Tocal herds. In 1871 he imported the buU Emi- grant and the cow Eden, selected in England by Mr. Frank Eeynolds, the former bred by Mr. T. Blake, Cut- sey ; and the latter was bred by Mr. James Davy, Flit- ton Barton, being by Duke of Flitton, and dam Treasure. Mr. C. Eeynolds, founder of the Tocal herd, was acci- dentally killed by a fall from his horse in 1871, and the management devolved on his eldest son, Mr. Frank Eeynolds, who has continued ever since on the same hues, sparing no expense or trouble to keep the herd up to its standard of excellence. In 1872 he purchased from the importer, the late Mr. G. S. Yeo, the bull Duke of Flitton 4th 827, probably the best bull ever introduced to Australia, for £320, a very high price for a Devon at that time. The purchase, however, proved a very profitable, as well as a very wise one. It is said that no bull ever imported into Austraha has done more for the advance- ment of Devons in public favour at the Antipodes, as he HEBDS IN FOEEIGN COUNTEIES AND THE COLONIES. 281 proved himself a most valuable stock - getter. He eventually died of hoven. At the time when he pur- chased this bull, Mr. Reynolds also acquired from Mr. Yeo the imported cow Lady Mary by Conqueror, grand- sire Duke of Fhtton 2nd. Duke of Devon by Emigrant (imported), dam Eden (imported) by Duke of Fhtton 2nd, was also used with very marked success in the herd. He was a noted prize winner, and was sire of Curly 2nd a champion winner ; Orville, a champion ; and Prince 5th, also a champion. In 187-3 Mr. Reynolds purchased from the importer, Mr. G. S. Yeo, the cow Devonia by Young Herbert 967, grandsire, Prince of Wales 910, for £300; and during the same year, while on a visit to Tasmania, he bought 23 cows and two heifers from the Hon. John Lord, who gave the following certificate of breeding : — ' All these cows are the direct progeny of Defender 22 and Comely, purchased in England by my- self, and imported to Tasmania by the ship Windermere in 1851.' He also bought some cows, bred by Mr. French, at one time a breeder of Devons in Tasmania. Orville was also used in the herd with success ; he was by Duke of Devon, dam Maid of Devon 2nd by Duke of Flitton 4th 827, granddam Maid of Devon by Shamrock, dam by Gardoni 206. This bull was also a great prize taker. In 1879 Mr. Reynolds bought the imported bull Prince of Wales 1193, bred by Mr. Wm. Smith, Whimple; he was by Pennsylvania 898, dam Gipsy 2726 ; and the same year he purchased, for £275, from the importer, Mr. G. S. Yeo, Duke of Flitton 14th 1328, bred by Mrs. Langdon, Flitton. In 1884 he selected the bull Captain 1692, bought by Mr. G. S. Yeo while in England, and bred by Sir W. Williams, his sire being Uppacott 1660, dam Gentle 5878. Denman, bred by Mr. H. C. White, and purchased for the Tocal herd, proved a marked success. He was by Sunflower (imported), dam Yoimg May Rose 2nd by Prince Christian Victor 1187, grand- dam Young May Rose 4023. Forest King,' by Captain (imported), dam by Duke of Devon, granddam -Bella by Emigrant, was also used with much success in the herd. 282 DEVON CATTLE. This bull was a frequent prize wirmer, having four cham- pionships to his credit. Kinsman, another successful sire used, was by Denman, dam by Prince of "Wales. Cen- tennial, now (1892) being used in the herd, is by Captain, dam Coquette 13th (the present champion Devon cow of AustraUa), by Eainbow, son of Duke of Hitton 4th. Centennial takes his name from having headed a large and fine class at the great Centennial Exhibition in Sydney in 1888, and so far he has an unbeaten record. In 1892 Mr. Eeynolds purchased from Mr. H. C. White, six pure Devon cows, by Sunflower, Prince John and Prince Edward, and all the direct progeny of stock im- ported by Mr. White. Next in importance to the Tocal herd are those of the Messrs. White, of Hunter Eiver, estabhshed about 1872 or 1873; and Mr. James Mitchell, of Tabletop, founded some years ago by stock imported direct from England. It was not until 1870 that the Devons came into public favour in Australia, when it was noticed that the Devon cross on the Shorthorn produced an excellent beef animal. It was also discovered that on the coast lands and hilly runs the Devons were more hardy than the Shorthorns or Herefords, and being active, coidd stand the long journeys to market — frequently several hundred miles — better than any other breed. They have now been very largely introduced into the coast herds of Queensland, which are gradually being graded up to the Devon type. The Hon. J. D. MacAnsh, of Canning Downs, Queensland, has now an extensive stud herd of Devons, bred from stock from the Tocal and Mr. White's herds. As beef producers on the indigenous pas- tures of Australia the Devon has no equal, unless it is the Aberdeen-Angus cattle. Though the pure Devon is some- what small, it is found that the carcase weighs more in proportion than any other breed here ; while the first cross — Devon on Shorthorn — produces an excellent and heavy butchers' beast, more fleshy than either the Short- horn or Hereford. Australia is subject to periods of drought during which large numbers of cattle perish, and it is found that the Devons hold their own during such HEEDS IN FOEEIQN COUNTBIBS AND THE COLONIES. 283 times better than the Shorthorns. They are remarkable for longevity. Some cows, imported by Messrs. White in 1873, were alive within the last two years, and bred up to a great age on a run, in the highest point of New South Wales, some 400 feet above the sea-level. Judging from the favour in which they are held it would appear to be only a matter of time when most of the coast water- shed and mountainous districts of Austraha will be stocked with cattle graded up by the use of Devon bulls. The Devons have had, in Australia, no trial as milkers. The proportion in these colonies of dairy cattle to those bred solely for beef is so small that the demand is more than satisfied by the other purely milking breeds. In the yoke the Devon is unapproachable ; active to a degree, the Devon steers are the perfection of working bullocks, being tractable, and splendid walkers." Mr. George A. Brown (" Bruni " of the AustraHan Press) gives us the subjoined account : — " Devon cattle have been bred in New South Wales and Tasmania for considerably over half a century, but though much prized by the butcher they never became general favourites. In both colonies the early settlers imported pure Devons of the finest type, and the stock were kept pure, but the impression that the Devons were small prevented their being largely bred. Pedigrees were not kept in Tasmania, but for some time there was a Devon Herd Book in New South Wales. Among the earliest breeders of pure Devons in Tasmania was the late Mr. John Lord, of York Plains. I remember years ago seeing the pedigrees of some of his imported cattle, but I do not think any record of pedigrees in the herd was maiatained. In New South Wales there were several breeders of pure Devons from the earhest days of the colony. The late Mr. G. S. Yeo imported many pedigree animals, and had a well-known herd. When the Short- horns became the fashion about thirty years ago the Devons were neglected, but a few cattle breeders pre- served their herds, and eventually it was found that bulls from them were of great value for crossing with the 284 DEVON CATTLE. Shorthorns, the produce being of much more robust con- stitution than the pure Durhams. The principal herds in New South Wales are those bred by Mr. F. Eeynolds at Tocal, Mr. J. Mitchell, Table Top, and Mr. P. N. Osborne, of Currandooley. I know of only one herd in Queensland, that of Mr. J. D. MacAnsh, of Canning Downs, near the town of Warwick, Darling Downs. In Victoria a few breeders have lately obtained some pure Devons, mostly from the herd of Mr. J. Mitchell. For working in a team, recovering after a severe drought and doing well on pastures, where the heavier framed Durham would not hold his own, the Devons have no equals." Mr. Brown proceeds to give us an account of Mr. Eeynolds' herd, but as this repeats a good deal of what has been furnished by Mr. Gordon, it is not necessary to enter into further details. He goes on to say : — " Mr. P. H. Osborne, of Currandooley, Bungendore, New South Wales, has a herd of Devons descended from cows imported from Tasmania by Mr. John Trethewie, whose herd was formed in 1845 with stock imported from Eng- land by Mr. E. Bryon, Mr. Hobbler, Mr. Manley, and Mr. W. N. Whittle, all of Tasmania. The best of Mr. Osborne's cows were by Banting 783. Since he has bad the herd Mr. Osborne has used bulls bred by Mr. Frank Eeynolds of Tocal, N.S.W. I have heard the stock from this herd spoken of very highly. Mr. Osborne says of them : ' My Devons have had the advantage of being well kept, and they do credit to the care bestowed on them.' The Devon herd bred by Mr. J. D. MacAnsh, of Cann- ing Downs, Darling Downs, Queensland, was formed in 1883, with all the prime cows and heifers in the herd bred by Mr. J. C. Irving, of Tomki, Eichmond Eiver, N.S.W. Mr. Irving's herd was formed with selections from the studs of Messrs. Trethewie, Lord, Plater, Bisdee, and Eogers, aU of Tasmania, to which were added a few animals bought from Mr. F. Eeynolds, Tocal. The bulls used in the Tomki herd were drawn from the herds of Messrs. F. Eeynolds and H. C. White. The buUs used in the Canning Downs herd were ob- HEBDS IN POKEIGN COUNTEIES AND THE COLONIES. 285 tained from Mr. F. Eeynolds and Mr. W. Lamb. The bull bought from Mr. Lamb was by Lord Salisbury (imported) from Actress 12th by Sir Stafford 1448, grand- dam Actress 11th 4032. Eecently a bull named King Tom, bred by Mr. E. Wyndham, of Leconfield, N.S.W., was used in the herd, and since then, a bull named Fisherman, imported from England by Mr. J. Mitchell, of Tabletop, N.S.W. Young bulls, bred by Mr. J. Mitchell by the imported sires. Foreman and Foreman 2nd, are now in use. Some cows and heifers bred by Mr. E. Wyndham were lately added to the herd, which now contains 400 breeding animals. I have seen this herd and learned from Mr. MacAnsh that he formed it for the purpose of supplying bulls for a large cattle station he has ' out west.' The cattle on this station were Durhams. Li seasons of severe drought it was found that they were not sufficiently hardy to stand a heavy strain. The stock by the Devon bulls are a great improvement after a drought. When the rain comes the Devons wUl be half fat before the Durhams have begun to mend. They will live through a hard time, when the Durhams will die of starvation. Mr. James Mitchell, of Tabletop, N.S.W., formed his herd about six years ago with all the females in the herd of Mr. White, whose stock were descended from the following females imported by himself — Annie 2nd 3174, Bonny Lass 8223, Buttercup 2nd 3245, Crafty 6th 3813, Curly 2nd 3319, Damsel 10th 3372, Echo 2nd 3419, Lily 2nd 3643, Polly 8792, Prim- rose 3824, Yoimg Beauty 4017, and Young May Eose 4023. With these cows was imported the bull Prince Christian Victor 1187, bred by Her Majesty the Queen. In 1888 Mr. J. Mitchell imported four bulls, namely (1), Foreman 1968, bred by Sir W. WiUiams, Bart., by Duke of FUtton 17th 1544, dam Temptress 8th 5001 ; Foreman won second prize at Axminster, 1886, and third prize at the Bath and West of England Show held at Bath in 1886 ; these were the only times he was shown ; (2) , Foreman 2nd, full brother to Foreman; (3) Fisherman; (4) Monarch. Neither Fisherman nor Monarch was used in the Table- 286 DEVON CATTLE. top herd. In 1890 Mr. Mitchell imported two biills Sir John 2493, bred by Mr. John Eiadon, Golsoncott, Taunton, sold to Her Majesty the Queen, and afterwards purchased by Mr. J. Mitchell. Sir John was by Bond- holder 1905, dam Dolly's DarHng 8783. The other imported bull was Tregothnan, bred by Viscount Fal- mouth, by Lord Wolseley 2063, dam Dorothy Draggle- tail 5253. Mr. W. Lamb was a breeder of Devons for many years. He imported Actress 11th 4032, who dropped a heifer calf to Sir Stafford 1448, soon after arriving in New South Wales, and several other pure-bred cows. Earl of Devon was used by Mr. Lamb, and a famous bull named Conqueror bred by Mr. John Trethewie, Tas- mania. His sire was an imported bull bred by Mr. John Quartly,of Molland, dam Curly 1247. Conqueror's dam was bred by Mr. Trethewie from imported stock. He won six- teen first prizes in Tasmania and first prize at the Sydney Show in 1873. Mr. Lamb's original cattle were obtained from Tasmania, and were all from pure imported stock. Latterly he has gradually got rid of all his Devon cattle. The late Mr. G. S. Yeo was a weU-known breeder of Devons, and he imported several high-class sires and dams from the best herds in England. Besides the animals mentioned in the herds noticed, he imported Young Australian 1247 (a bull of the same name num- bered 1248 was imported by Mr. Amos). He also imported several females, and his stock were noted for their excellence. His brother, Mr. Yeo, South Devon, selected most of the finest Devon cattle that have been imported into New South Wales." In September, 1892, Mr. Thomas Duckham selected for Mr. H. C. White, of Havilah, New South Wales, the remarkably promising young bull Applecrop 2921, bred by Mr. J. C. Williams, M.P., Werrington ; got by Marmaduke 2280 (bred by the late Mr. Wm. Perry) from Apple Blossom 7973. Applecrop was winner of the first prize at the Devon County Show and at the Swansea meeting of the Bath and West of England and Southern Counties Society, and he was second at the HEEDS IN FOEEIGN C0UNTEIE8 AND THE COLONIES. 287 Warwick meeting of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England in 1892. Mr. Duckham had sent out, in 1873, for Mr. White, two lots of Devons — a bull from Windsor and several heifers from various herds. In Tasmania also some fine specimens of the Devon are to be found, and at a show at Launceston in 1891 there were as many as 21 entries of the breed. One of the principal breeders in the colony is Mr. Charles B. Grubb, Strathroy, near Launceston, whose Devon herd com- prises over 100 breeding cows. In 1892 he secured a number of animals from the herd of Mr. E. Bickle, Bradstone Hall, including Jenny 10562, Blue Bell 10555, and Flower 10560. The first named especially was very much admired on her arrival, a newspaper report remarking that " a more perfect Devon does not Uve under the southern cross." At the Launceston Show, which has already been referred to, the competition practically lay between Mr. Grubb and Mr. James Thirkell. Mr. Grubb gained the first prize and champion- ship with the bull Forester 2594, bred by Mr. Bickle. Eed Bank, also the property of Mr. Grubb, was first in the class for younger bulls ; he is descended from imported stock bred by Mr. Thomas Hardman. In the class for bulls not over three years old Mr. Grubb exhibited Fancy's Gordon 2589, bred by Mr. A. C. Skinner, Pound Farm, Bishops Lydeard, and he was awarded first prize. Mr. Thirkell was also a prize- winner, and it was remarked that Messrs. Grubb and Thirkell had proved by the quaUty of the animals they exhibited that they were doing their utmost for the improvement of stock in Tasmania. 288 DEVON CATTLE. CHAPTBE XI. CHARACTEEISTICS OF THE BREED. The earliest records show that the Devon was highly- valued as a plough ox, and that, after he had been kept at work until he was five or six years old, he was sold to be fattened in other districts where pastures were of richer quaHty, and where, when finished, he could, with- out too long a journey by road, with consequent wasting, reach the principal markets in the metropolis and else- where. It is a pretty rustic sketch that Youatt has pre- served of that stage in the history of the Devon breed. " There is," he says, " a pecuUarity in driving the ox team in Devonshire, which is very pleasing to the stranger, and the remembrance of which, connected with his early days, the native does not soon lose. A man and a boy attend each team ; the boy chants that which can scarcely be regarded as any distinct tune, but which is a very pleasing succession of sounds resembling the counter-tenor in the service of the cathedral. He sings away with un- wearied lungs as he trudges along, almost from morning till night ; while every now and then the ploughman, as he directs the movement of the team, puts in the lower notes, but in perfect concord. "When the traveller stops in one of the Devonshire valleys, and hears this simple music from the drivers of the plough on the slope of the hill on either side, he experiences a pleasure which this operation of husbandry could scarcely be supposed to be capable of affording. This chanting is said to animate the oxen, somewhat in the same way as the musical bells that are so prevalent in the same county. Certainly the oxen move along with an agUity that would hardly be expected from cattle, and the team may be watched a long whUe without one harsh word being heard, or the goad, or the whip applied. The opponents of ox husbandry CHAEACTEBISTICS OF THE BEEED. 289 should visit the valleys of North or South Devon to see what this animal is capable of performing and how he performs it. The profit derived from the use of oxen in this district arises fromi the activity to which they are trained, and which is unknown in any other part of the kingdom. During harvest time and in catching weather they are sometimes trotted along with the empty waggons at the rate of six miles an hour, a degree of speed which no other ox but the Devon has been able to stand." There can be no doubt whatever that, regarded chiefly as a plough ox, the Devon was then unrivalled. What the Devon was like towards the end of the last century may be gathered from the account which Arthur Young prepared as the result of a conversation he had in 1796 with Mr. Quartly at Holland, and which has already been referred to, but may here be given more fully for the purposes of comparison ; — " The points they (the Quartlys) have aimed at in breeding have chiefly been to gain as great a width as possible between the hips ; to have the hip-bones round, and not pointed ; that the space from the catch to the hips should be as long as possible ; the catch full, but not square ; that the tail should fall plumb, without a projection of catch and rump ; to have the tail not set on high — not to rise — but be snug, and the line to be straight with the backbone ; no pillow just below the cross-line from pin to pin ; to be thick through the heart under the chine ; that the shoulder point be not seen — no projection of bone, but to bevel off to the neck, all elbowing out being very bad. AU the bones to be as small as possible ; the rib-bones round, not flat; the leg as small as possible under the knee ; not one atom of the side to have any flatness. In respect to size, if other points be the same, he prefers a small cow rather than a large one for breeding a buU, because it is very rare to see any large one handsome ; but to breed oxen a large cow. To have them sharp and thin from the throat to the nose ; in the throat the cleanest have small variations from the perfect snake ; though fat there, it should not bag. To be thin under 19 290 DEVON CATTLE. the eyes, and tapering to the nose, which should be white, but the original breed was yellow. Between the eyes to be rather wide ; eyes themselves to be very pro- minent, like those of a blood horse, and no change of colour round them. The horns to be with yellow tips; thin at root, and long spreading at the points. The breast or bosom should project as much as possible before the shoulder and legs ; and the wider between the fore legs the better. To have the line of the neck from the horns to the withers straight with that- of the backbone. The belly to be Ught, and rather tucked up ; if fat before the udder it is a sign of a good milker." The red colour of the breed is not touched upon in the foregoing, but con- temporary writers are expUcit upon that point. It is evident from the foregoing quotation that even a hundred years ago — if not for a longer period — the most prominent of the Devon breeders were conducting their •operations with other views than those of suitability for the plough, with, as a subsidiary object, a good carcase at the end of the animal's career. The frame and quahties described show that the development of early fattening properties was being aimed at by the breeders in Devon- shire, as they were by Bakewell, in Leicestershire, and by other agricultural improvers of that era. Still, as a general rule, it has to be borne in mind that the main object then was to produce an animal fit for five years' work in the team, and that would afterwards be a kindly feeder. If this is kept in remembrance it vrill explain the principal alterations that have since been effected in the general forpi and character of the breed, for, with the changes in husbandry, the extended, and now almost universal, use of the horse for farm work, and the facilities for communication with distant parts that were opened up, the uses and functions of cattle were quickly revolutionised. Lord SomerviUe, writing at the end of the last century, said the graziers Uked this breed best at five years old. The worked-out steers of the vale sold for more at five years than at six, but six was "the proper age." Sir John Davy, he stated, had let a CHAUACTEEISTICS OF THE BREED. 291 hundred cows at £6 6s. a cow. His lordship added : — " The fact remains triumphant for the West Country breed, that in addition to their well-earned character of being the best working cattle in the kingdom, they have for ages been confessed at Smithfield to be one of two or three, if not the very best as to quahty of meat." Our next picture of the Devon — when these variations in farm practice had so far been accomplished, and when the breed was being cultivated chiefly as a beef or milk producer — will be taken from the notes of an old breeder, the late Mr. George Turner, Barton, who, writing in 1855, said : — " Their colour is generally a bright red, but vary- ing a little, either darker or more yellow ; they have seldom any white, except about the udder of the cow, or belly of the bull, and this is but little seen. They have long yellowish horns, beautifully and gracefully curved ; noses or muzzles, white, with expanded nostrils ; eyes full and prominent, but cahn ; ears of moderate size and yellowish inside ; necks rather long, with but Httle dewlap, and the head well set on ; shoulders obUque, with staall points or narrow bones ; legs small and straight, and feet in proportion. The chest is of moderate width and the ribs are round and well expanded, except in some instances where too great attention has been paid to the hind quarters at the expense of the fore, and which has caused a falhng off, or flatness, behind the shoulders. The loins are first-rate, wide, long and full of flesh ; hips round and of moderate width ; rumps level and well-filled at the bed ; tail full near the rump and tapering much at the top. The thighs of the cows are occasionally hght, but the bull and ox are full of muscle, with a deep and rich flank. On the whole, there is scarcely any breed of cattle so rich and mellow in its touch, so silky and fine in its hair, and altogether so handsome in its appearance as the North Devon ; added to which they have a greater proportion of weight in the most valuable joints, and less in the coarse than any other breed, and also consume less food in its production." The next description given will be that of the late 292 DEVON CATTLE. Colonel J. Tanner Davy, which is dated 1872 :— " The general form of a Devon is very graceful, and exhibits a refined organisation of animal qualities unsurpassed by any breed. The expression of the face is gentle and intelligent ; the head small with a broad, indented fore- head, tapering considerably towards the nostrils; the nose of a creamy white ; the eye bright and prominent, encircled by an orange ring ; the jaws clean and free from flesh ; the ears thin. The horns of the female are long and spreading, gracefully turned upwards and tapering off towards the ends. The general aspect of the head should in many points resemble that of the deer. The horns of the bull are thicker set and more highly curved, in some instances standing out nearly square, with only a slight inchnation upwards. Eed is the true Devon colour, which varies from a dark to a lighter, or almost to a chestnut shade. In summer the skin is mottled with beautiful spots of a shghtly darker shade than the ground colour of the skin. The outUne of a fat Devon very nearly approaches a parallelogram. The frame is level from the tops of the shoulders to the tail ; the belly is longitudinally straight and well filled out at the flanks. The breast is wide, coming out prominently between the fore legs and extending downwards almost to the knee joint. The neck is long and thin, increasing towards the shoulder, which is tapered off to meet it. The ribs project at right angles to the back, vsdth wide flat loins, and long rumps well filled out, thus enabUng them to be loaded with more beef in the most valuable parts than almost any other breed." Finally, as regards specific descriptions of points, we may reprint here the " Standard of Excellence" drawn up by the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society, which it should be added starts, both in reference to the bull and the cow, with a registered pedigree as an essential con- dition. This first appeared in 1886 : — " Devon Bull. — Head mascuUne ; forehead broad, tapering towards the nose, which should be flesh coloured ; nostrils high and open ; muzzle broad ; eyes full and CHAEACTBEISTICS OF THE BEEED. 293 placid; ears medium size and thickness, fringed with hair ; horns growing at right angles from the head or sHghtly elevated, stout and waxy at the base, tipped with a darker shade ; cheek full and broad at the root of the tongue ; throat clean ; neck of medium length and muscular, growing from the head to the shoulders, and spreading out to meet them ; withers fine ; shoulders flat, sloping and well covered ; chest deep, broad and somewhat circular in character ; ribs weU sprung from the back-bone, nicely arched, deep and fully developed ; back straight and level from the withers to the setting on of the tail ; loins broad and full ; hips of medium width and on a level vsdth the back. Eumps moderately long, full and level. Hind-quarters deep, thick and square. Tail thick at the root and tapering, with a brush of strong hair reaching to the hocks and hanging at right angles with the back. The underline as nearly as possible parallel with the top. Arms and thighs muscular. Legs straight and squarely placed when viewed from be- hind, not to cross or sweep when walking. Skin moder- ately thick and mellow, covered with an abundant coat of rich mossy hair of a red colour ; a little white in front of the purse is admissible, but it should not extend beyond the navel forward, on the outside of the flanks, or on any other part of the body. " Devon Cow. — Head moderately long, with a broad indented forehead, tapering considerably towards the nostrils ; the nose of a creamy white ; the nostrils high and open ; the jaws clean ; the eye bright, hvely and pro- minent ; throat clean ; ears thin, the expression being gentle and intelligent ; horns matching, long, spreading and gracefully turned up, of a waxy colour, tipped with a darker shade. Neck of medium length, growing from the head to the shoulders and spreading out to meet them. Withers fine ; shoulders flat, sloping and well-covered. Eibs well-sprung from the backbone, nicely arched, deep, and fully developed. Back straight and level from the withers to the setting on of the tail ; loins broad and full ; hips of medium width and on a level with the back. 294 DEVON CATTLE. Eumps moderately long and level. Hind-quarters deep, thick and square. Udder not fleshy, coming well forward in line with the belly, and well up behind ; teats moder- ately large and squarely placed. Tail thick at the root and tapering, with a brush of strong hair, reaching the hocks and hanging at right angles with the back. The underline as nearly as possible parallel with the top. Legs straight, squarely placed when viewed from behind, not to cross or sweep when walking. Skin moderately thick and mellow, covered with an abundant coat of rich mossy hair of a red colour ; white about the udder is admissible, but it should not extend beyond the navel forward, on the outside of the flanks, or on any other part of the limbs- or body." Notice should be taken of the dates of these four de- scriptions— 1796, 1855, 1872 and 1886, for it will be ap- parent that each of them refers to the same type of animal, the variations being comparatively sUght. We thus find that for a period of a hundred years and more, the general structure, character and qualities that have been aimed at by many in breeding Devon s have been identical — the objects have been the production of an animal that was almost wholly red in colour, of singularly handsome form, short on the legs, thick, wide and deep in the carcase, with small bone, and excellent flesh carried abundantly on the most valuable parts. It is, we think, extremely doubtful if as much could be claimed for any other breed as must be allowed for the Devon, viz., that for over a, century there has been little alteration in colour, shape or general character — at least as regards the leading herds. The result would be, one might suppose, that among breeders of Devons to-day, opinions as to type would be almost unanimous, but this is not the case, and a very little enquiry as to the varied uses of the breed will show that there must of necessity be certain well-defined differences. A well-known authority remarks — " The characteristics of the Devon breed vary more than those of any other with which the writer is acquainted, caused, it is believed, through the influence of soil, climate and CHAEACTEEISTICS OF THE BEEED. 295 management. The North Devons are by common consent recognised as the original type of the breed, and are smaller in size, with exquisite symmetry and quality. They have to live in many instances on steep, broken hillsides, where a heavy animal would have difficulty in travelling. Proceeding into Somerset the character soon alters ; the cattle become larger, and by comparison rather coarser, the breeders here generally depending on the profit of their herds through the outcome of heavy- fleshed steers of good quality. As a rule the dairy pro- perties of the cows in West Somerset are regarded as but of secondary importance. Getting away to the higher end of the county we find large dairies of the breed, as well as in Dorsetshire, where they are let to dairymen, and generally realize £12 to £13 per cow. The dairy type of Devon cow is thinner in the carcase and longer on the legs than those bred in North Devon and West Somerset." Now the chief explanation of the divergencies in the character of these several types of Devons is to be found in the soil and climate of the various districts, and in the aims which breeders have had in view. The writer from whom we have just quoted has these further pregnant remarks: — "The great secret of success in cattle breeding is to keep animals adapted to the soil, climate, and pasturage. In order to succeed we must necessarily study this, for a breed which is invaluable ia some localities may be ill-adapted for, and consequently un- profitable in others. Eespecting size, it should be ob- served that ' Nature operating on food and climate is imperious, and will produce cattle proportioned to those circumstances in the course of time, whatever the original size of the breeding stock has been.' " It has not, unfortunately, always been the habit to regard the matter in this reasonable way. Breeders who wanted large steers have spoken contemptuously of the " little Devon " ; the men who have retained the original character of the breed as adapted to its native hills and scanty pastures have been indignant because size has been developed at the expense of symmetry and elegance 296 DEVON CATTLE. of form ; while the East Somerset and Dorsetshire breeders could not see that either the admirers of the small or the larger Devons were quite right when they neglected dairy properties. It is our wish to show that aU three classes of breeders have been in the main working upon correct lines. There may have been slight mistakes committed by all of them. For example, too close a reliance upon in-breeding, without the rigorous weeding out of animals of delicate constitution, may have done harm among some of the North Devon herds ; in Somerset the beautiful proportions and handsome heads of the breed may have been held to be of too httle im- portance in the race for scale, while in the dairy herds the milking qualities may have been developed while shapes and flesh have been to some extent overlooked. Errors have no doubt occasionally been made in all these respects, but the broad plan of each set of breeders has been intelligible, and thoroughly intelligent. They have by their united efforts produced a class of stock which, instead of being confined to a portion of one county, has become the leading breed of four large counties, and which is calculated to yet further extend the range of its influence. It has needed the work of all to bring about this result, and still further progress wUl be made, if due respect is paid by one to the motives and necessary aims of the other. Taking for further illustration the Devon as it is known in its highest type in North Devon, we find that here also the herds are sub-divided into two classes — those that are kept to a large extent for bull breeding, and those in which the chief purpose is the rearing of steers, which may not be finished on the spot for the butcher, but are sold out as fresh stores. How these herds are managed will be found fully described in the chapter specially devoted to that subject. In the bull breeding herds the greatest care has been devoted to preserving the colour, symmetry and quality of the stock. In a note we have from Mr. J. C. Moore Stevens, Winscott, Torrington, he says : — " For 45 years I have had no other breed here. I CHAEACTEBISTICS OF THE BEEED. 297 remember my late father having told me, in the year 1820, of his sending two heifers in calf to Lord Howe at Gopsall, in Leicestershire. Some thirty years ago I recollect that an East country dealer informed me that he had seen at Torrington Fair what he had never witnessed before — 2,000 head of cattle of one family — the red Devon breed. Farmers near here are very particular about their bulls." The late Mr. Wm. Perry, who used in succession fifteen Quartly-bred bulls, wrote : " I hold that small as well as large sized animals are needed to turn our various cattle foods to the best ac- count, for the production of the best supply of animal food for the people. All producers cannot raise the foods required for the proper development of- large sized ani- mals, nor are large sized joints of meat suitable to all households. Again, smaU animals can be brought to per- fection on pastures which will keep large animals only in store condition, and when fodder is scarce the small animals wiU pick their food in sufficient quantities, while the large animals will starve ; and if wanted for the market, the former can in a few weeks be fattened on concentrated foods before one's eyes, whereas a large animal must have its time. There is this, however, to be said of large class animals — if their owners can keep them fattening from birth they must, to have heavy weights at an early age, have growth. My conclusion is that an animal which is right in form, quality, and con- stitution is a first-class one, whether it be of large or small size ; and it therefore remains for those who have them to place them in suitable situations for food and markets. I have often found my small-framed animals make me the most money, and my motto is to have an animal that will swell rather than grow into value. The flesh of the North Devons is well-marbled and mixed, and their meat is of fine texture, firmness and flavour. They are handsome and easily fattened, and are particu- larly adapted for hilly districts, where they wiU. frisk about with pleasure, and do well on short pastures ; and with a little indulgence for a few weeks will be fit for the 298 DEVON CATTLE. butcher, nothing in the way of beef selling at a higher price per pound. Animals of this breed jQt for slaughter- ing at 5 cwt. may be made 8 cwt. or 9 cwt. with extra feeding." Mr. J. C. Williams, M.P., says, and we repeat his remark in this connection : — "I have en- deavoured to obtain as much of the blood with which the Davys and Quartlys worked as possible, for I believe that they throw their own sort with much more certainty than other families do; that though not large cattle they are well adapted to our light land and hilly ground ; that they carry the best of meat on small bone, and that sooner or later the consumer will insist on having such joints as they produce in perfection." The principal objection that has been urged against the North Devon is its comparative deficiency in size, but even on this point there has been modification of opinion during the last few years. The unlimited imports of foreign animals and beef have for some time now made the larger breeds of English cattle of less comparative value, because it is with these that the foreign and colonial produce comes into competition. Then, again, higher wages have enabled the families of working men to indulge more frequently in beef as an article of ordi- nary diet, and large joints are not suited for their re- quirements. But even in the families of the opulent, neat, juicy little joints are in greater requisition, and we believe that this tendency wUl continue in the future, giving a higher value to the carcases of all good flesh- producing varieties of the smaller-sized home-bred stock. The breeders in Somerset, in Cornwall, in the lower lying parts of Devon, and in Dorset, however, find it more profitable to breed a bigger class of steer than the North Devon, and there are in these counties numerous stocks in which bulls suitable for use in fanners' herds, as well as larger-sized steers, are bred. The tendency to coarseness is corrected by a judicious blending of North Devon blood, but in several of these herds there have been so frequently in use — ^from the time of the celebrated Quartly sire Hundred Guinea 56 — ^bulls of CHAEACTBEISTICS OF THE BREED. 299 North Devon blood that the character and style of the highest type of the breed are maintained without the necessity for having recourse to constant infusions of fresh strains. These herds, in fact, are simply North Devons, with the addition of the necessary scale. The Herd Book — with its standard of excellence and the care in breeding which it has inculcated — has done much to raise the character of the breed all over the counties in which it is cultivated. Turning to the feeding properties and weights attained by Devons, we find one of the first recorded experiments to be that which was carried out by the Duke of Bedford on his Tavistock estate in 1797-98. Six oxen were selected on November 16, 1797, and fed until December 10, 1798, and the following was the result : — 1 Hereford 2 3 Devon i „ 5 Sussex 6 Leicester First Weight cn-t. qrs. lbs. 17 1 18 1 14 1 7 14 2 4 16 2 15 2 14 Seconc Weight cwt. qrs. lbs. 18 3 21 25 17 2 7 19 1 19 3 18 2 Gained. cwt. qrs. lbs. 1 2 27 Consumed Oil Tur- Cake. nips. lbs. lbs. — 2700 2 3 25 423 2712 3 10 438 2668 4 2 14 442 2056 3 10 432 2655 2 3 14 434 2652 Hay. lbs. 487 432 295 442 392 400 Another experiment was made in order to compare the fattening properties of the Glamorgan with the Devon. They were fed from January 6 to December 1, 1804, and the following was the result : — First Weight. Second Weight. Gained. cwt. qrs. lbs. cwt. qrs. lbs. cwt. qrs. lbs 1 Devon . . .. 13 1 7 17 3 7 4 2 2 , .. 16 10 20 3 14 4 3 2 3 Glamorgan . . .. 13 3 6 16 14 3 3 18 The first of these experiments proves that for which Devon breeders always contend, viz., that when cost of production is taken into account their cattle will do better than any other variety, i.e., they will yield a better return for the food consumed, both in weight and quahty, so that from the consumption of the herbage of any given number of acres the Devons will produce in 300 DEVON CATTLE. the aggregate as much beef as any other breed, a greater number being of course required to consume the food, and there will be a heavier weight of the most valuable beef with less of the coarse joints and offal. Specimens of the breed have been raised to great weights. lu 1816 Mr. John Bult, of Kingston, Taunton, sold a Devon cow bred by himself and fed on grasfe, hay and roots only, without cake or com, which weighed 1448 lbs. In 1872 Mr. J. D. Hancock, of Halse, had a Devon ox which was stall-fed only for three months, previous to which he got no artificial food of any description ; he weighed 1788 lbs. at five years old, and he had been in the plough until twelve months before he was slaughtered. Mr. Thomas Oatway, Dunster, had a Devon ox which weighed 1714 lbs., and another bred by Mr. George Brewer, of Chidgley, at four years old weighed 1648 lbs. ; none of these were stall-fed for more than three months. The above weights are those of the dressed carcase. Mr. T. H. Eisdon's cow, Golden Cup 2nd 3545, which won first prize at the Smithfield Club Show, when only just over four years old, weighed alive 16 cwt. 3 qrs. 2 lbs ; she was at that time also the dam of two living calves. In 1875 the second prize cow weighed ahve 18 cwt. 1 qr. In 1883 Mr. Wm. Hancock, Wivelis- combe, exhibited at the Dunster Show two steers under three years old, they being winners of first and second prizes ; one weighed 18 cwt. 3 qrs., and the other 19 cwt. 2 qrs. The stud bull Bob Eoy scaled, only a few pounds under 23 cwt. Another of Mr. Hancock's steers gained in stall feeding 125 lbs. in five weeks. In 1853 Mr. A. C. Skinner's father showed at Bridgwater and Taunton two oxen from the Pound Farm herd which weighed over 80 scores each (1600 lbs.) , dead weight. At four years and one month old Mr. S. Kidner's champion ox at the Smithfield and Birmingham Shows in 1876 scaled over 19 cwt., live weight. Her Majesty the Queen's Devon heifer at Islington in 1885 was somewhat heavier for her age than the champion Aberdeen-Angus heifer exhibited that year. In the United States the bull Duke of CHAEACTEBISTICS OF THE BEEED. 301 Hampden 832 at thirty-six months old weighed 2030 lbs. ; cows weigh from 1300 to 1500 lbs., and bulls from 1500 to 2100 lbs. During the last four years Mr. George T. Turner has ascertained, for the Live Stock Journal, particulars as to the slaughter of a number of the cattle exhibited at the shows of the Smithfield Club, the weights of the dressed carcases having been supplied by the butchers who pur- chased and killed the animals. We give on the next page information obtained as regards Devons at the shows in 1888, 1889, 1890 and 1891. Eeferring to the quality of the beef of these highly fed specimens of the breed we quote a few of the butchers' statements : — Of Mr. Giles's steer shown in 1888 the ob- servation was, "The steer weighed 135 stone, and was about as good beef as can be fattened, fat and lean being well-proportioned." As to Mr. J. Wortley's champion steer of 1888 (bred by Mr. E. Bickle), the remark was " Weight of carcase 1160 lbs.; weight of loose fat, 129 lbs. ; the lean meat is of first-rate quality and in good proportion to that of fat, with but a slight amount of waste in cutting up ; a good butcher's beast." Her Majesty the Queen's ox, of 1888, was thus described — " Every one connected with the trade who has seen the carcase con- firms our opinion that he is the best and most pro- portionate bullock we have ever seen of his weight. The quality of the lean ineat is first-rate, and the fat on ribs and sirloin not so thick as on many beasts weighing only 100 stone. He had not a good kidney, but died well in respect of loose fat. He was what we call in the trade a first-rate butcher's beast, and we think that breeders and feeders cannot do better than try to turn out a similar class of stock." A steer exhibited by the Queen at Birmingham (sire Baron Golsoncott), was sold to the butcher at that show after winning second prize. The butcher testified that : " The carcase was a good body of beef, fat and lean being well intermingled, but the kidneys were barely covered. One great point in which it excelled was colour ; this it was 302 DEVON CATTLE. O W CO n o o lit C? E-' = o O s Q H 02 O °2-s G aj * si? .2'S C ijO.S 5 C 3 Tl O O O V ^OrH^O -"" O 00 o to 00 -t< IN QO Tl .J- -* i~ i-H Oi CO ,ooo-* >aCO 1- OO O Oi ta -O O (>J M CO tn CO -*• "* CO IS cv ,=. ■2aS 1.S I 8 :g iS ■S . "o .h i* .i3 * a Ss : ^1 ■ ■ »1 - ■ (* ■ ■ t^ i = ^ §■ s IsSp spi o - ■ggog £'-'- " S u u u a V CO . ° S t- „ „ R~JS^xg "I'BgS'Sgfi S^ 3 '^ " >. «J t^ 5 t. ■ : -j2 CO ffl t-3 o i^a fa ( o ^-^ llg SB e >^ ill MO Ci O CfS CHAEACTEEISTICS OP THE BEEED. 303 impossible to beat, and the meat was very tender, even in the most muscular parts." This animal dressed 70.97 per cent, of his gross live weight, the dressed carcase weighing 1093 lbs., live weight 13 cwt. 3 qrs. Passing over the reports for the shows in 1889 and 1890 we come to 1891, when the Devons again won the champion prize at Smithfield, the steer to which this honour fell having been one exhibited by Mr. J. Wortley, and bred by Mr. T. H. Eisdon (sire Bonny Lad, dam Pink 6th, by King of the Gipsies). Mr. Turner stated that "the carcase as it hung in the slaughter house appeared to be remarkably handsome — thick through all the more valuable parts with a comparatively thin covering of fat on the back, no coarse meat and the smallest of shins — quite a model body of beef for a champion prize winner, excepting that it had a rather small kidney." Messrs. E. Barrett and Co., Jewish butchers, London, who slaughtered the steer, re- ported that "it made a grand body of beef, not too thickly covered with fat outside, full of rich lean meat, finely marbled (greater in proportion than was ex- pected), and very fine in bone ; the kidney was small and the flanks and brisket very fat ; it died fairly well for loose fat." The foregoing notes are, as will be seen, upon carcases of animals that have been highly fed for showing, and we have to look to the ordinary markets to find out what position a breed takes as the cattle of commerce. The Devon, as is well known, occupies a high place in these markets. So much indeed are its merits now ap- preciated in its own home that very few specimens are sent even to the metropolis : still, at the Christmas market in London the Devon usually ties for highest price with the Aberdeen-Angus. The following notes are by an expert in the Metropolitan Cattle Market: — "The London season for Devons usually starts in September, finishing •shortly after Christmas ; but they have lately been forwarded only in very small numbers, partly on account of the low rates ruling in the Islington Cattle Market, which have not allowed a sufficient margin over the 304 DEVON CATTLE. prices obtainable at local markets to pay expenses. The markets that take most of these cattle, besides the large number of small markets and auctions, are Winchester, Chichester, Salisbury, Dorchester, Yeovil, Exeter, &c. On the ' Great Market Day ' at Islington (the Monday following the Smithfield Cattle Show week) a large number are sent for sale, the salesmen as a rule not being London men, but those who come up specially for that day — ^very few of them being seen there either before or after. The following are the approximate numbers of Devons forwarded for the Christmas markets during the last six years, with the top rate obtained per 8 lbs., sinking the offal : — Number. Price. S. cl. S. a. 1891 ... .. 500 . . 5 2 to 5 4 1890 ... .. 450 . . 5 2 to 5 4 1889 ... .. 440 . . 5 to 5 2 1888 ... .. 650 . . 5 2 1887 ... .. 700 . . 5 4 1886 ... .. 780 . . 5 The quality of these beasts vies with that of the Scotch, and as a rule they make about the same rate. They are fed and grazed chiefly in Devonshire, though large numbers are also matured in various parts of Somerset- shire and Cornwall. The average weights of the best selling animals range from 85 stone to 90 stone (of 8 lbs.) — 680 lbs. to 720 lbs. — these weights being ex- clusive of those sent to the Cattle Show. The numbers now (November, 1892) arriving at the Islington Market do not average more than about 40 to 50 head per week, the primest of which were making from 4s. 8d. to 4s. lOd. per 8 lbs., sinking the offal. The districts from which supplies are mostly forwarded to London are the neigh- bourhoods of Taunton, Hatherleigh, Barnstaple, &c. The percentage of dead to live weight is about the same as in the best Norfolks." The following may be taken as a tolerably accurate description of a Devon body of beef : — The carcase of a -well-bred Devon bullock, though not very big to look at. CHABACTEEISTICS OF THE BEEED. 305 ■will generally weigh heavier than those not accustomed to this class of beast might suppose. This is because the bone is very small — particularly noticeable in respect of the shins — and the chine of great thickness for the size of the animal, being often as good as a Polled Scot in this respect, whilst the neck is short, and the propor- tion of coarse meat thereon is very inconsiderable. The brisket is not as a rule deep, but it is very thick, I)evon bullocks standing very wide in front ; and it is rather fat in a well-fed beast. The thick flank is generally full, but the small rounds sometimes detract from the weight of the hind quarter. The shoulder is usually well covered, and the neck vein full, so that the whole fore rib of beef will cut to advantage both to the butcher and the consumer. The sirloin and rumps are usually well covered, and the lean meat is of fine grain and full of "nature," the fat being of a rich colour, not too high. As a rule, there is a fair kidney and a moderate weight of loose fat ; the hides are light, and altogether the carcase will give in the usual way a high percentage of the live weight of he animal. The following notes on grazing Devons were given to us by the late Mr. W. Perry some years ago, when prices were better than they are now : — " My animals, forty in number, were all turned on the pastures, except five (which were bought late in June), by the end of April. They were all purchased, except four steers, a cow, and a heifer, which were well-bred pedigree animals, and were all Devons, except a Shorthorn cross, and the other a cross with the Jersey. On July 29th, I sold three fat heifers from pasture only at £19 15s. each ; about August 15th, sold eight fat steers at £21 each, four of these under two years and six months old ; but these had had extra food, with grass. October 8th, sold six steers from pasture only at £21 10s. ; October 8th, sold an aged cow and small heifer at £33 ; both of these animals had been ill. November 5th, sold one Short- horn cross and one large-framed steer at £21 each. November 12th, sold eight steers at £18 each ; this lot 20 306 DEVON CATTLE. were small in frame, and had been kept on the second- rate pasture of the farm ; two of them were of inferior breeding and quahty, consequently a superior pedigree animal had to be put in the lot to make up for them. At Exeter Christmas Fair, held, I think, on 10th December, two steers, which had had extra food on pasture for six weeks, and fed in the stalls for six weeks, were sold at auction at £59 ; and one steer one year and nine months old sold at £21 ; also were sold one heifer £20 10s. ; one ditto (purchased), £18 10s. ; one aged cow, about £20 ; the last mentioned three animals were only turned on the best pastures late in the autumn, from which they were taken when sold, after having had cake in addition for about six weeks. The five steers purchased late in June ran in inferior pasture until the autumn, and were sold from the said pasture, on January 14th, at £17 10s. each. The prices made were not large, but the animals were brought to the market easily and disposed of without difficulty or inconvenience, and on the whole paid moderately well. A friend of mine purchased some Shorthorn cross steers in the spring at £18 each ; they were fed on some of the best pastures in the district, and were offered for sale at Tavistock in the beginning of November. The owner told me he had been bid £19 10s. each, but thought he might have sold at £20 each if he had consented to do so. These animals had certainly cost much more than mine in every way, for they had been bought at a much higher price to begin with, and their pasture was much richer than mine." It may be of interest to put on record here some measurements of Devons. Garrard in his work on Cattle gives a coloured painting of a Devon heifer which won a prize at Smithfield in 1802. She was bred by the late Duke of Bedford from the stock of Mr. White Parsons. Her height at hind-quarters was 4 feet 5 inches, her measurement round the chest 7 feet 2 inches, length from poll to tail 6 feet 8 inches. Carcase weight 106 st. 1 lb., fat 19 St. 4 lbs. Mr. A. C. Skinner, Pound Farm, CHAEACTEBISTICS OP THE BREED. 307 furnishes us with the following weights and measure- ments of animals that belonged to him : — General Gordon 1974 weighed a ton, as did his grandsire, Duke of Far- rington 1323. His measurements were — length 8 feet 8 inches, girth behind arms 8 feet, around loins and flanks 8 feet 5 inches, around body 9 feet, breast from ground 1 foot, behind arms 1 foot 6 inches, back flank 2 feet, buttock 2 feet, height at shoulders 4 feet 6 J inches. Lady Passmore 4th 9000 — length 7 feet 5 inches, girth behind arms 7 feet 8 inches, before hips 8 feet, breast from ground 1 foot 3| inches, behind arm 1 foot 7 inches, flank 2 feet, buttock 2 feet, height 4 feet 2 inches. Duchess 17th 8988 — length 7 feet 5 inches, girth behind arms 7 feet 8 inches, before hips 8 feet, breast from ground 1 foot 3J inches, behind arm 1 foot 7 inches, flank 2 feet, buttock 2 feet, height at shoulders 4 feet 2 inches. The ordinary weights of breeding cattle and steers will be found referred to in the chapter on " Manage- ment." Devon cattle are a long-lived race. On this matter a number of details are furnished in the notices of existing herds, and in the chapter containing descriptions of systems of management. Here a few specimen cases may be mentioned. Newton's Old Bull was kept until he was more than sixteen years old — some say twenty years— and was fruitful up to the last. Gold Medal Temptress bred until she was nineteen years old, not- withstanding her severe showyard training. The old cow was slaughtered at North Molton and was a good carcase of beef, the flesh being of good flavour and very rich. Mr. W. S. Perry says the bull Druid is now (1892) vigorous and in good condition ; he has been regularly used and still remains fruitful at over fourteen years old. Mr. Perry remembers a Devon cow belonging to his father that had nineteen calves. Many cows have ten to fifteen calves. Mr. A. S. Lovelace says he has known two cases of cows that have given birth to fifteen calves each, and one of them was in-calf for the sixteenth time. Mr. J. 308 DEVON CATTLE. C. Williams, M.P., has in his herd the cows Waterlily 2nd 5724, now fifteen years old, and he believes her dam is still alive ; Dorothy Draggletail 5253 is over seventeen years old ; Queen 3rd 4885 is eighteen years old and is the most certain breeder in his herd ; Mirabel 4729 is over eighteen years old. These are somewhat remarkable for their vigour, as the cows are vety closely bred. Mr. Kidner's Cherry 2nd 4218 produced nineteen living calves. The Devons have not been extensively used for crossing in this country, possibly because, as a general rule, the object in crossing is to increase size. They are, however, largely used for crossing in foreign countries, their solid red colour being a great recommendation. Messrs. A. Y. Walton, Jun., & Co., San Antonio, Texas, attribute to the fact that the cattlemen of that State have used the larger breeds, the circumstance that dis- satisfaction has been felt with fine stock for the range. " The cattle owners," they add, " who have tried Devons are pleased with them to a man. We have never heard a single complaint against them by men who have used them. On the contrary, every one who has ever handled them at all, that we know of, is most enthusiastic, and will handle no other. They all report them as active and hardy as native stock, travel just as far to grass and water, and keep fat, where Shorthorns and Herefords starve. One of the largest ranch men in West Texas told us he has had Herefords and Devons in the same pasturage for the last six years, and the Devons have beaten the Hereford two to one, taking care of them- selves. Devons cross beautifully on native Texas or grade Shorthorn cows. They give form, colour, and fattening qualities to the former, and quickness and hardihood to to the latter. The largest price ever gotten in Texas for steers was paid to Joe Moss for beeves out of grade Shorthorn cows, by pure blood Devon bulls. A Devon, no matter how small, is always saleable, as he is generally round and plump. They are the most deceptive creatures in their weight we know of. Though CHABACTEEISTICS OP THE BEEED. 309 we have handled them six years, we often underguess a yearling more than 100 lbs. One reason that persons think them so small is that they have such short legs and compact bodies." Mr. P. E. Gordon (Queensland) says : " The Devons are fast coming into favour in this colony. Cattle here are grazers pure and simple. We know no such thing as hand-feeding, except in the case of a very few stud herds when they are stabled at times preparatory for show purposes. They have to travel, and sometimes work hard for their living, as on our indigenous pastures it takes from 8 to 40 acres to keep one bullock. The Devons are found to be the hardiest of any pure breed here. Their only fault is their smallness, but it is computed that a square mile of our pasture will grow as much Devon beef as either Shorthorn or Hereford, weight being made up in numbers. But it is as crosses on the Shorthorn that the Devons are so much valued here. These crosses have an abundance of flesh as contra- distinguished iioia fat. " All our coast watershed — that is, the country lying between the main coast range of mountains and the sea, averaging from fifty to a hundred mUes in width — is totally unsuited to sheep and not first-class for cattle. It con- tains none of the saline pasture growing profusely on the great cretaceous plains west of the coast range. Hence cattle do not, as a rule, do so well on our coast runs. On many of these coast runs the Hereford is supplanting the Shorthorn as being more hardy ; and it is on these coast lands that the hardy little Eubies are becoming so popular. On the highlands they are quite at home, and several large runs on the mountains of New England have herds now graded up to the third generation — that is f th Devon. They are very prepotent, the second cross giving the deep red colour and all the outward appearance of the true Devon, but maintaining, to a large extent, the square quarter of the Shorthorn." The general opinion in reference to the milking pro- perties of the breed is, that the Devon cow gives a small 310 DEVON CATTLE. quantity of milk which is exceedingly rich in quality. This is so far correct ; but in large districts of Somerset- shire and Dorsetshire there are numerous dairies full of Devon cows that yield a large supply of milk of the best quality. The breed has, indeed, when the milking properties have been attended to and developed, been famous for milk production. We have, in a previous chap- ter, given particulars as to the experiment carried out by Mr. Conyers at Copt Hall, Essex, the results of which are recorded in the Annals of Agriculture for 1801, vol. xxxvi. Vancouver, in his Survey of Devon, published in 1808, says : — " In the neighbourhood of Holland, a single cow, judged to be rather less than eight score per quarter, within three weeks from her time of calving yielded in seven successive days 17g lbs. of butter ; several of the meals of milk were measured during this time, which gave an average of fourteen pints per meal." He also relates other instances of good dairy produce. More recently Mr. J. G. Davis's Cherry 5157 yielded in one day thirty-three pints of milk, from which was made two pounds five ounces of butter. This cow was clean milked the evening before being tested, and was running in common with the other cows. Mr. Francis Eisdon, of Stogumber, had a Devon cow which gave twenty-eight quarts of milk daily ; it was measured on several occasions; she was kept in common with the other cows, and received no artificial food whatever. Mrs. Stone, who lived at Catford, on Brendon Hill, owned a cow, which yielded two-and-a-half pounds of butter daily for a considerable time ; she was milked until nearly twenty years old, was then fattened on grass only, when her dressed carcase weighed over 800 lbs. Mr. A. C. Skinner's Myrtle 7th 65i4, after winning first prize as a breeding cow at the Eoyal Agricultural Show at York in 1883, was sent the same year to the London Dairy Show, where, in the contest for the best dairy cow exhibited, she took second honours. She gave a percentage of 5.28 fat and 9.47 solids not fat ; total solids, 14.75. CHAEACTEEISTICS OF THE BREED. 311 Mr. Buckingham gives the following particulars in Vol. i. of the American Devon Eecord as to the milk and butter qualities of the breed. Mr. Wainwright, Ehinebeck, N.Y., says he made 14 lbs. of butter per week from Helena 171 ; F. P. Holcombe, Newcastle, Del., 19^ lbs. a week from Lady ; Hon. H. Capron, formerly of Eobins Nest, III., 21 lbs. in nine days from Flora 2nd; C. P. Holcomb, Newcastle, Del., in the summer of 1843, in twelve weeks made from one cow 174| lbs. of butter or an average of 14 lbs. 9 oz. per week ; during one week she made 19 lbs. and in three days 9| lbs. ; W. L. Cowles, Farmington, Connecticut, 16| lbs. in ten days ; J. Buckingham, Duncan's Falls, Ohio, in three months, summer of 1856, from four cows an average of 44^ lbs. per week, besides using the cream and milk in a family of seven persons ; L. G. CoUins, Newark, Mo., from the dam of Eed Jacket 16| lbs. per week ; Mr. Coleman, Connecticut, from Beauty averaged 16 lbs. per week during June, 1850, when she was 16 years old. A sample of milk from a cow in the herd of Mr. Thomas Chick, Stratton, Dorchester, was analysed for us by Mr. Fredk. J. Lloyd, F.C.S., on November 3rd, 1892, with the following result : — " The sample contains the following constituents : — Percentage of — MOENING. EVENING. Fat 5.34 5.40 *Other solids 10.18 9.94 Total solids 15.52 15.34 'Containing— Casein 4.03 4.00 " Samples of morning and evening milk from the cow Lady 5th 10279, belonging to Mr. Samuel Kidner, Bickley Farm, Milverton, Somerset, were analysed by Mr. Fredk. J. Lloyd, F.C.S., on November 18, 1892, and he gives the following report : — 312 DEVON CATTLE. '* The samples contain the following constituents : — MOENING. EVENING. Fat 4.36 4.77 Casein 3.23 3.54 Albumin 44 .43 Sugar 5.89 5.46 Mineral matter 82 .82 Total solid matter (per cent.) 14.74 15.02 " We now introduce a description of the system of dairy letting in Dorsetshire, for which we are indebted to Mr. Campbell F. S. Sanctuary, Mangerton, Melplash, Dorset. ■ Other notices of the system will be found in the chapter on "Management" and also in the chapter describing the breed in Dorset. Mr. Sanctuary writes : — " In many parts of the West of England, more especially in Dorset and Somerset, a system of sub- letting dairies has long existed, to which the breed of Devon cattle is pecuharly adapted. This system has been the result of large mixed farms at a distance from great centres of population, so that milk-selling is impossible, and cheese and butter are almost universally made. Hence close attention and technical knowledge combined with economy are required in order to produce an article which can face the competition of the present day, and this close attention cannot be given by large farmers whose time is fully occupied with the general management of their farms, and especially of their flocks. Under the sub-letting system an agreement is drawn up between the farmer and dairyman, somewhat on the following lines : The farmer agrees to supply a given number of cows of average quality as milkers and to provide them with a sufficient amount of pasturage for spring and summer, of hay for winter feeding, and a certain amount of oil-cake. The dairyman agrees to pay a fixed rent for the milk produce and calves of these cows, from the time of their calving so long as they remain in milk. The dairyman takes possession of the CHAKACTEEISTICS OF THE BEEED. 313 dairy house, cows, stalls and piggeries, usuEtUy about February 14th, or earlier when, the cows begin to calve about the middle of January, and himself attends to the rearing of the calves, and the making and marketing of all produce throughout the year. He expects to find half his cows calved by about February 14th, and the remainder by April 6th, and deducts from his rent about 6s. per cow per week for all such as have not yet calved until their time of calving, and one quarter's rent for any which have not calved by May 14th. In the spring the cows usually have early grass feed in the meadows. About the beginning of May they go into the summer pastures ; when the aftermath is fit to stock they have the feed of certain meadows throughout the autumn, and afterwards such hay and straw as may be required. In the case of any cow being unfit for the dairy, it is usual for the farmer to remove her in May, and supply a young heifer for the remainder of the season. Heifers three years old are accepted as fair cows, and two-year-olds are taken at a lower rent. AU barren cows are given up by the dairyman on November 22nd, and all cows are given up by him on January 1st. During the whole of this time the dairyman has control of the cows, and pays all expenses connected with their management, and a quarterly rent to the farmer varying from £10 to £12 per cow per annum for what he can extract from them. It is often agreed beforehand that the farmer shall take at May Day a fixed number of calves at a certain price, or else he has the refusal of some or all at ' time's price.' The rent is usually prepaid early in February, May, August and November, and is subject to a discount for prepayment. By this system of hiring the dairyman has every interest to make the greatest return possible from the cows, and he and his family usually do most of the work themselves, whilst the farmer knows accurately what his dairy return will be, and is freed from the labour of superin- tending managers and finding a market for the produce. As the cows are still the property of the farmer and 314 DEVON CATTLE. return to him at the end of the year, he has no less inducement to keep an animal of first-rate quaUty ; on the contrary, he has to ensure excellence at once in milking and grazing properties in order to satisfy the dairyman, and at the same time to ensure that the barreners when given up to him shall be of value for the butcher. Although, under this system of sub-letting, difficulties no doubt occasionally arise from the lack of capital or knowledge on the part of the dairyman, yet on the whole it has worked well, and many farmers have been enabled to tide over the bad times by the help of a good dairyman. Unless factories become general, and consequently milk selHng with its simplicity renders it unnecessary for each farm to make its own butter and cheese, the system will remain in vogue, and so long as this is the case the Devon cow — which above all others combines the two qualities that are requisite for its suc- cessful working — will be the favourite." We have already mentioned a few facts by American authorities concerning the dairy properties of the breed. The following details, which appeared under the heading of " Sketches of Devon Breeders " in the third volume of the American Devon Eecord published in 1884, are so tersely expressed and are so full of interest that they deserve a place in a permanent account of the breed. From Lewis F. Allen : " I bred Devons for about 40 years, side by side with Shorthorns, each in their purity of blood, and in their grades with common cows, both steers and heifers, to my entire satisfaction. The Devons were, as a rule, excellent milkers." Mr. Allen, from the year 1845 to 1883, was the editor and publisher of 24 volumes of the American Shorthorn Herd Book. James A. Bill began to breed Devons in 1845. After so many years' experience and observation, Mr. Bill gives his verdict in most unqualified terms. He writes : " I never bred any other cattle in my life save Devons. I have owned many other breeds, but have never yet found so good a breed for butter and milk combined as the Devon. Take the cost of keeping into account. CHAEACTEEISTJCS OP THE BREED. 315 and, in my opinion, they out-do any other breed of stock. Their calves come m.atched up for steers ; and for prac- tical purposes of the farm, they are the breed for the farmer." Elam C. Bliss began breeding Devons in 1853, and seems to have bred with a view to butter, and had marked success — his full-grown cows yielding him an average of 300 lbs. per annum. He writes that his cow Helena 32nd 1438 has a record of 19 lbs. in seven days on grass alone. After an experience with Durhams, Herefords, and Jerseys, Mr. Bliss gives his verdict in favour of Devons, and adds : " All things considered, I prefer the Devons. They will keep fat on less feed, and, at the same time, make as much butter as any breed of cattle I ever experimented with ; and they will make more beef to the amount of feed and care than any other breed." J. W. Collins gives the following opinion as to the merits of Devons : " After trying nearly all kinds of cattle, I can say that, in my opinion, the Devons are as good cattle for general purposes as there are, taking feed into consideration. I have one cow (Lucky 3784) that has produced 2 J lbs. of butter per day for weeks, and I have frequently had others that have made from 2J to 2| lbs. per day." William L. Cowles regarded Devons as more valuable, not only for milking qualities, but for draught cattle and beef, than any of the other breeds. Harvey Dodge was compelled to sell out because his advanced age and infirmities forbade his giving the herd his personal attention. His interest in the breed, how- ever, and his faith in their future, were undiminished. He wrote : " If I were young again, I would go on with the same cattle. Never breed a heifer until three years old, nor a bull until two, and never sell an imperfect animal, but send it to the shambles. Never sell to a poor keeper on any account. If I had the blue grass of Kentucky, I would keep Devons for grazing, for they carry more high-priced meat to the shambles, take flesh 316 DEVON CATTLE. faster, make as much butter, and are more hardy for any section than any other breed I know of." Stanley Griswold, who founded his herd 34 years ago, usually keeps about 40 head, and thinks the Devons the best for milk and butter of any that he has had, having tested them with Durhams, Ayrshires, and Jerseys, and finds none that make such good butter and pay so well for their feed. They are hardy, keep easily, make the best beef, and for the yoke are not excelled by any breed. Ephraim H. Hyde : " I like the Devon stock best. It is kept much easier than any other breed that I have handled, which includes Shorthorns, Jerseys, and Ayr- shires ; some of them I had side by side with the Devons for years." C. H. Jewell: "The Devons are the most hardy, easiest to keep, and make a better quality of beef and more of it, according to the amount of food consumed ; they make the best draught cattle, being easy to train and quicker of motion than any other breed." Owen Brown King gives the result of tests for butter made with three of his Devon cows, as follows : " This cow (Beauty 589) is one of the three I have tested for butter. In 21 weeks she produced 196| lbs. on grass, without grain. The butter was tested by good judges, and compared with Jersey butter as to quality, colour, &c., by the owner of a Jersey herd. He pronounced it to be superior in flavour and as rich in colour as the Jersey. This test was made in the summer of 1877. In 1878 I tested the cow Eose 2416 for 112 days (or 16 weeks). She produced 168 lbs. on grass alone. My cow Amanda 443 made 156 lbs. in the same length of time." Payne K. Leech : " The few Devon breeders in this section have all done well, and are, with me, satisfied that the Devons are the easiest keepers, will stand hard fare as well as a native, and, when fed, give better results on the same amount of feed." Mr. Leech con- cludes by saying that the breed is rapidly increasing in popularity in his neighbourhood, as well as in the entire State of Michigan. CHAEACTEEISTICS OF THE BREED. 317 Joseph B. Longenecker has made no butter tests, but from his observation of Devons in this regard he con- siders them the equal of any breed. The Devons combine more good qualities than any other breed, and they are second to none in any valuable trait. Dr. J. Cheston Morris, as to butter tests, says : " For some 15 years I made butter, and my yearly average varied from 170 to 175 lbs. per cow, taking the whole number of pounds made, and adding to it that obtained by dividing the number of quarts of milk used for other purposes by 14, as given by Flint on Milch Cows, and dividing the amount by the number of cows in the herd, counting a heifer with her first calf as half a cow." " As compared with other stock, the Devons in our section require less care, are more hardy, and thrive on less food than any other breed, though with them, as with others, good feeding, not pampering, pays. As milkers, when the quality of the milk is considered, they are second to none. For several j'ears I have been in the habit of placing at the agricultural shows, side by side in a box with ice, jars filled with milk obtained from the cows of the different breeds on exhibition, such as Jersey, Guernsey, Ayrshire, and Durham. The cream line stood nearly equal in the two first-named with the Devon, perhaps sometimes one-eighth of an inch more, but was much less in the latter (Ayrshire and Durham). The skim-milk was poorest in the Jersey, and successively richer in the rest, but could not compare with the whiteness of the Devon, while the taste readily showed the greater richness of the latter in sugar. I think that the greater richness of the Devon milk causes it to part with its cream more slowly, and hence has arisen the erroneous impression that they are not good butter cows." Ward Parker : " My cows average something over 200 lbs. of butter a year for each cow, besides furnishing all the milk and cream used by my family of not less than four persons. In the year 1872 the cash income from my five Devon cows was 780 dols. Jessie 1607 318 DEVON CATTLE. dropped her calf January 18th, 1874 ; in the month of February following I made from her 12-^ lbs. of butter per week. In October, 1873, I tested the milk of all my Devons with the lactometer, with the following results : — Jessie 1607, 25 per cent, cream ; Nelly Bly 5th 2131, 25 per cent, cream ; Venus 2644, 27 per cent, cream ; Eose 2nd 2397, 24 per cent, cream ; Gem 4th C 1346, 24 per cent, cream. I have not found any other breed of cows that wiU make as much butter for the same keeping as the Devons." B. F. Peck : " I have made no point of milk until the present time, but have bred exclusively for perfection of form and constitutional vigour. I have now put in a creamery, and have met with very gratifyiiig success thus far. We have constantly kept our Devons side by side with other cattle, and have invariably found them the easiest keepers, being quiet in pasture, never breaking down or jumping fences, and always in better flesh than the others, and when in stables during the winter con- suming less food. Ten years of breeding have more and more confirmed me in the opinion that for the general farmer, and especially on rough and hilly lands, no cattle are so well adapted as the Devons. For working oxen the steers are unequalled, being very intelligent and docile, and wonderfully muscular and courageous. I have used many ox-teams of grade Shorthorns, but never found any that would at all compare in usefulness with the Devons." Luther Eawson has not made dairy products a point in breeding. Notwithstanding this fact, he writes that he has raised some extra milkers, and that his experience goes to prove that Devons give as rich milk as any other breed. He thinks the Devons will do better in our northern climate than any other breed. They will thrive where others would almost starve, and for beef they are far in the lead. J. A. Pomeroy, after speaking of the popularity of other breeds in the dairies of his neighbourhood, adds : " But we make as much butter from a cow as the best of them. CHAEACTBRISTICS OP THE BEEED. 319 We average 230 lbs. per annum to the cow in a dairy of 24 cows." L. F. Eoss : " As to feed and care, I can raise three Devons on less feed and with less care than I can two Shorthorns, and the three will make more and better beef than the two Shorthorns ; and, being hardier than the Shorthorns, the losses in calving by accident and want of care are much less." 320 DEVON CATTLE. CHAPTEE XII. SYSTEMS OP MANAGEMENT. The Devons are generally reared in a hardy and natural manner, but as might be expected from the di- verse objects that breeders have in view there are certain variations in the details of herd management. Thus, some breeders concentrate their attention chiefly upon maintaining good pedigree herds from which surplus heifers and bulls may be sold for breeding purposes ; others look mainly to the rearing of first-rate steers for their return ; a third class rely principally upon the dairy ; and there are many who keep good herds of Devons for general purposes. We are enabled, by the courtesy of breeders, to present a tolerably comprehensive account of the varied systems of management that are adopted in the different herds. Mr. Alfred C. Skinner, Pound Parm, Bishops Lydeard, writes as follows : — Up to ten years ago, the custom was to take the calves from their dams when they were about ten days old and to rear them by the hand with new milk for about a month; then skim milk with linseed gruel was gradually worked in until they were about three months old when the new milk was left off. But as now and then a calf refused to take the milk by hand until the animal was nearly starved, and as a demand was springing up for bulls and heifers for sale, I abandoned the former practice and allowed the bull calves to suck their dams until they were six months old, and the heifers to do so until they were three months old. That is the method now carried out by me excepting in the case of any heifers I may want to show the following year, and they are allowed to have their dam's milk until they are six months old. The cows go to grass land all the year, . SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 321 regardless of the weather. We very seldom have a cow that is barren, or one that slips calf; they all keep healthy. They are in an open shed by night in the winter. The cows bring their first calves when from two and a-half to three years old. About three-fourths of the calves are dropped in the first half of the year ; the others linger on through the remaining six months as it is im- portant to have a supply of milk all through the year, a regular quantity being sent daily to the village, and a steady consignment of butter to London. The calves now are nearly all kept for breeding purposes. The young bulls are given a moderate quantity of linseed and compound cake with a little meal and generally a mixture of maize, oats, and barley (ground together in equal quan- tities). They get their allowance increased as they be- come older, and we aim at selling them when they are about a year old except those that are retained for show- ing, which of course receive more liberal treatment. The heifer calves receive a little help in a similar way, and those that are dropped early in the year go to grass about June, and later, as they become four or five months old. Those dropped after midsummer are generally kept in or have a run in a meadow by day, and are housed by night — the first winter they get hay and roots and a run by day on the pastures, and then, when the grass comes in the early summer, they are properly seasoned, and do well on the pastures until the winter comes round again, when they have a shed by night, and a run to pasture all the winter, with a little straw, hay, and sometimes roots, if they are plentiful. The steers are fed similarly untQ the second winter. They are fattened at from two to two and a-half years old, and make from 36 to 40 scores (720 to 800 lbs.) dead weight. Mr. Thomas Chick supplies us with the following ac- count of the system of management adopted by him in his herd at Stratton, Dorchester : — The cows run in the pastures and water meadows during the spring, summer, and autumn. As they become dry, they are drafted into straw yards, where they get from two to three lbs. per 21 322 DEVON CATTLE. day of cotton and linseed cake mixed, until they calve, when they are brought home. The calves are taken from their dams when they are about ten days old and are brought up on separated milk, with perhaps a little crushed linseed or calf meal added. When old enough to eat they are allowed crushed oats, beans, or linseed cake, instead of meal, mixed with the milk. As soon as the grass grows in May the calves are let out by day and are gradually weaned from milk. The cows after calving are allowed 3 or 4 lbs. of cake or com per day with hay, and unless the weather is very bad they run out in the pasture by day and are tied up in an open stall at night untU. about the 1st of April, when they remain out night and day. The heifers are brought into the dairy at from 2| to 3 years old ; should any of them be likely to turn out bad milkers they are not bred from again, but are sold for grazing. The production of the best butter is the chief object. The new milk is separated by a De Laval machine into cream and skim milk. The cream, after being ripened, is churned and the butter made up into half pound rolls and sent away for sale. The skim milk is used for rearing calves, and any surplus is given to the young pigs, a large herd of Berkshires being kept. For the past two years the average yield of butter per year has been over 180 lbs. per cow. This average includes the yield of heifers with their first calf, which form one- fifth of the whole number. Mr. J. C. Williams, M.P., Caerhays Castle, says his cows when in calf are kept in as natural a condition as possible, with large runs of poor grass and open sheds to go in and out of when they like, hay and straw being supplied in the winter. Particular care is taken to pro- vide the in-calf cows with pure water ; they have also access to salt in those fields which are not near the sea, and these precautions seem to have overcome the severe attack of contagious abortion from which the herds, both at Caerhays Castle and Werrington Park, suffered for some years. The calves suck their mothers for six or seven months, the former being brought in to the dama SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 323 twice a day. The calves are also encouraged to eat a little cake as early as may be, which is increased when the weaning takes place. The bulls are kept in loose boxes with open yards, and are either led on the road or turned into a small paddock for exercise. Mr. Williams mentions in reference to crossing that he had a black heifer out of a Devon cow by an Aberdeen- Angus bull, which seemed to be a useful one. He is keeping an Angus cow to cross with the Devon bulls, but he has only lately had a calf from her, which, however, is red. Some of his Devon cows milk well and he endeavours to use only those bulls that are from dams that are good milkers. In Mr. John Risdon's herd at Golsoncott, the months of February and March — when it can be so managed — form the favourite time to have calves dropped, but this, of course, cannot always be arranged. As a rule the female calves are, when a week or two old, put to a stale cow, i.e., one that has already reared a calf, or that has for a time been milked. When the grass comes they are either turned on the pastures with their foster dams or fed in the yards, according to circumstances. Bull calves intended to be kept for breeding purposes are allowed to suck their dams or some other good milch cow. If it can be arranged these calves run with the cows in the fields during the summer, which tends to produce a vigorous constitution. Calves are taken indoors as soon as the nights get cold. All except very young calves and bulls are turned on the pastures daily during the winter, the cows and younger animals getting hay and roots ; dry cows and other females have either rough hay or straw, with roots. In all cases both hay and straw are supplied without being chaffed. Young bulls intended for sale, of course, get artificial food, as also do calves when weaned, but this indulgence is not often long con- tinued. The stud bull is kept in a paddock with shelter- shed ; during the winter he receives only hay and roots, while in the summer the pastures alone are sufficient. Steers from the herd of Mr. W. Hancock, Court House, Wiveliscombe, are usually grazed and sold at 2| years 324 DEVON CATTLE. old when they average about 45 score (900 lbs.) each. A steer exhibited at Dunster in 1882 when under three years old weighed 19 J cwt., and another in 1887, 18| cwt. Heifers are put to the bull at about two years old. The cows suckle their calves until they are from ten to twelve weeks old. The cows run over the pasture every day, and at night come in and have mangels, hay, and chaff, but no corn or cake. The young heifers usually run in the pastures by day and are taken in by night, re- ceiving straw and roots during the winter. The stud bulls are always kept in houses. The heifers in Mr. T. H. Eisdon's herd at Washford are usually brought into profit at about three years old. The calves run with their dams either in the field or in the open yards, according to the time of the year in which they are born, feeding in common with their dams, and getting no extra food whatever whilst sucking. The calves are generally weaned at from five to six months old, when if the season is favourable they are turned to grass. It is aimed to get as many of the calves as possible born about Christmas. The steers are sold fat when they are two or two and a half years old. The drafts from this herd, owing to their good flesh and quality, are eagerly sought after by butchers and dealers. In the management of the herd the aim is to produce animals with good flesh, nice quality, and great aptitude to fatten. Hay and straw are both served to the cattle without manipulation ; and the turnip-cutter is but little used, as roots are generally served whole. It is argued with regard to this system of feeding, that by supplying the animals with long straw they are enabled to pick it over ; what is left is found to be no more than is required for 'bedding in the stables and stalls. The bulls are confined to the stalls all the year round. The bulls that are bred for sale are consigned to the periodical auctions instituted by the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society, where the prices they realise are satisfactory to their breeder. A limited numljer only are kept as bulls, seldom exceeding three or four in a year. Mr. Edward Eisdon, the late SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 325 owner, was decidedly adverse to going far from home for breeding animals of either sex, contending that those bred in the locality had been acclimatised and had be- come thoroughly adapted to the requirements of the neigh- bourhood. He was also opposed to breeding from aged animals, considering that stamina and constitution waned with age. The breeding from coarse-headed cows, and from bulls which were of extra big size compared with the females, met with no approval from him ; or, to put the last theory in his own words, " I never knew any good come from the use of over-big bulls, nor in breeding from big oxey -headed cows." Mr. Samuel Kidner, Bickley Farm, Milverton, writes : — The young calves are reared with cows, the general treatment being to put two calves to one cow, or one to a " stale " cow from which the flush of the milk has been taken. One cow generally rears three calves : two at first and one when these are weaned at three or four months old ; cake or corn is given as soon as the calves will eat it, up to 2 or 3 lbs. a day until they are about six or eight months old, when it is discontinued. An ex- ception is made to this rule when bulls are being reared, and sometimes with young heifers when they rear their own calves. The cows and all heifers, when it can be managed, are turned in the field by day throughout the winter. When being fed on straw all get a little help in cake or corn, and a small quantity of roots is generally given to all. Good hay is considered sufficient without any assistance, except in the case of young bulls or where the animals are being grazed for the butcher. A good supply of water is always available. The milking properties are perhaps not made the chief consideration ; still it is a point always kept in view, and Mr. Kidner has always discarded a poor milker, one which will not bring up her own calf really well. He has at different times registered 1 lb. of butter each from all the cows milked, they having no artificial feeding, but this would be when all had calved at a comparatively recent date and keep was plentiful. The steers are usually sold at 326 DEVON CATTLE. about two years and nine months old, when, with ordinary grazing, they weigh about 112 stones ; in better times than the present Mr. Kidner has made as much as £37 each for the steers averaging three years old, and they always command the very top market price. Mr. W. S. Perry, Whiterow, Lew Down, remarks that his herd may be said to have been kept as a general purpose one. He has always considered the Devon breed well adapted for a poor district, such as Lew Down, which faces Dartmoor. They are particularly active in summer time, when grazed on the rough hillsides, in going long distances to find food, and have an extra aptitude to fatten when the time comes. The rule has always been followed, when a cow becomes defective in her udder, or incapacitated by accident, or otherwise as a breeder, to at once send her to the best pastures and get her fattened, so as not to keep any idlers about. "Ex- perience," says Mr. Perry, "has taught me that the original Quartly type of Devons are the proper animals for the poor districts of Mid, North and West Devon as well as Cornwall, although the larger sort called Somerset, thrive so well in their own locality. It may not, however, be amiss to have a dash of the larger class once in seven years, keeping in view that the best breed should be found in the sire — always breed from a thoroughbred sire." The stock are subjected to plain feeding, without artificial food. The calves are reared on skim milk and hand-fed in well- ventilated sheds. The Devons show a great aptitude to fatten, being of medium weight, but of the finest quality, carrying abundance of meat on the best cuts. Mr. Perry has the descendants of a tribe which are heavy milkers, and he has known a cow, the ancestress' of his Tulip tribe, yield about 2 lbs. of rich butter per day. The steers from pure-bred cows fire fattened on grass alone and sold at two and a half to three years old, averaging about 6 cwt. (672 lbs.). They make the highest prices in the market. Mr. Eichard Bickle furnishes the following notes in reference to the management of his herd at Bradstone SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 327 Hall : — In the summer the cows and heifers are turned on to the rough pastures ; those that are in calf and not in milk run with the sheep. In winter they are turned on the pastures by day, and are taken in at night, when they are fed with a few whole roots and straw or hay. The calves are as a rule reared by their dams, but they are not allowed to run together. They are kept in the pastures as much as possible all the year round, this being considered more conducive to their health than if they were always kept indoors. After the bulls are past the age of twelve months they are put in loose boxes, which are well ventilated. The stud bulls have an open yard adjoining to move in and out at will. They are liberally fed with green food in the summer, and in winter they get roots three times during the day, with plenty of hay or straw and a little oil cake. The young stock are treated similarly to the cows, except that in some cases when they have sheds in the field they are kept out entirely during the winter, getting a little straw or hay ; artificial food is always used when it is considered necessary to keep them in a thriving state. Having had considerable experience in grazing and feeding different breeds of cattle, I have come to the conclusion that the Devons are the best animals to breed, as they fatten quicker and consume less food ; and another advantage is that they produce more of the finest beef and have less waste than either the Short- horn or the Hereford, and I find that the butchers and dealers in this district are much mOre anxious to buy the Devons than other breeds. A few years ago a somewhat noteworthy incident occurred. I had three Devons, two cows and a steer, for sale about Christmas. My butcher and I rather differed in our opinions respecting their weight. My price for the three animals was £100 ; the butcher offered £90, and considered I had over-weighed them. Eventually he bought them by weight, at £4 per cwt. They were all three killed in about three weeks, and the price he paid was £106, or £16 more than he bid. The steers of my own breeding are usually sold fat at 328 DEVON CATTLE. two and a-half to three years old ; the price varying from £20 to £30 each : some of them being sold for show purposes at two years old, when a better price is oc- casionally reahzed. Her Majesty the Queen purchased a heifer, which won first prize at the Birmingham Fat Stock Show. H.E.H. the Prince of Wales was supplied with a young steer, which took honours both at Birming- ham and Smithfield. Another steer was sold to Sir Harry Bullard, which also came in for distinction, as well as winning, when under two years old, a prize for his breeder. Mr. John Wortley, Norfolk, was the most fortunate pur- chaser of another two-year-old steer, as after taking the second prize in his class for his owner, he was brought out by Mr. Wortley the year following and carried everything before him, taking four first prizes, two reserves for champion, and finally won the champion prize at Smithfield as the best beast in the show, realizing for Mr. Wortley over £400, with a gold medal to the breeder. Bull breeding is at present the principal object in the herd. Some of the young bulls are dis- posed of at the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society's annual sales, and others are sold for exportation to New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Africa, where they have succeeded in gaining champion as well as other prizes. The milking properties have not been practically tested, but care is taken to select bulls from good milking strains, and also that the cows have good bags and give milk in all their teats, the defective ones being drafted and sold to the butcher. A few of the cows that prove true breeders are kept to a good old age, although I am not quite sure if it is a good plan to do so, as the younger cows produce healthier calves, and their progeny have more stamina and are better able to resist disease. The pure-bred animals, with the exception of the bulls, are kept on the pastures as much as possible in the summer, a little cake and meal sometimes being given them before they are taken indoors, when they receive a plentiful supply of roots, hay and artificial food, if they are intended for sale at Christmas. They are sold at various ages, the steers SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 329 from two to three years old and the cows from three to fifteen years old. The steers, if well fed, usually weigh from 6 to 8 cwt., making from £14 to £20, these being the most that is at present received for them. Mr. E. J. Stranger, Court Houss, North Molton, says : — For three or four months the calves suck their dams and are afterwards brought up in the ordinary way on grass, roots and hay. The cows during summer are fed entirely on grass, and in winter get oat straw with roots mixed with chaff, and a little hay after calving. The bulls are similarly fed, whilst the young stock feed exclusively on grass in the summer, and in the winter get roots, chaff, hay and a little meal. The cows and heifers when indoors are tied in stalls, and the bulls and calves occupy loose boxes. The steers and surplus stock are fattened for sale almost exclusively on grass, and the former are commonly sold at the age of two and a half years, when they reach the weight of from 35 to 40 score (700 to 800 lbs.). In reference to the herd at the Government Farm, Prince Town, Mr. Alexander Watt, who for many years was steward, advised us that the dairy qualities have been kept in view, both in breeding and selecting, and for this purpose in a bleak climate the breed answers well, yield- ing an average quantity of very rich milk. The calves are mostly suckled, each cow rearing five during the period of lactation. Calves are only allowed with cows twice or three times a day, according to age, so as to let the udder fill as if for milking. First calves are not usually suckled. In addition to grass, roots, hay and ensilage, the milch cows get a ration of ground oats, cotton cake and bran. Steers are sold at three years old ; they weigh from 6 to 7 cwt. (672 to 784 lbs.) and make from £18 to £24 each. Mr. F. B. Pope, Chilfrome, Dorset, gives the following account of the management of his dairy herd : — My herd is treated entirely as a dairy herd, and I may say that all the herds in West Dorset are managed in the same way, except a few, where the dairies are carried on by the 330 DEVON CATTLE. owners instead of being let, and then the animals are reared and treated similarly. The calves are reared on skim milk by the dairyman, who gives them cake or beans at his own expense, and are taken by me on May 12th at about £4 each. They are then from three to four months old and are placed in a warm shed, in which they are shut at night for the first two weeks. In June they are sent to the hill pastures, where they run with the sheep all the summer and autumn, and have a little linseed cake and water ad. lib. In November they go into a yard with an open shed in it at night, and have hay of rather poor quality, grown on the hills, and are driven to the same pastures for water and exercise every day in all weathers. In April they are turned out altogether and live on the hills, summer and winter, until they go into the dairy at three years old, having the roughest hay and sometimes straw in winter. The dairy is let at £12 per cow in the usual way, the cows going into the water meadows the middle of April, and the cowleaze the first or second week in May. They are tied at night in open sheds during January and February until the middle of March, when they lie out, and are kept on rough grass and in straw-yards. My bulls above one and a-half years old are kept on the roughest hay, &c., in boxes, being very seldom turned out with the cows, as there are paths through most of the fields. I have had some experience in crossing breeds. In 1860-69 my father used pure-bred Hereford bulls (selected from good milking cows) on Devon cows to increase the size. The produce were much larger than their dams, very hardy, full of flesh and grazed well, but with very few exceptions were bad milkers. They all had white or spotted faces. The first cross between a well-bred Devon bull and a Longhorn cow is generally a grand animal for size, milk and beef, but the second cross is usually a failure. No calves fat better than the produce of a Devon bull and a Jersey cow, and they generally turn out good milkers. My barren cows are generally sold in November, when the dairyman gives them up. In SYSTEMS OP MANAGEMENT. 331 November, 1891, when barreners were selling very badly (some lots averaging £6 to £8) my ten made an average of £13 15s., but they generally make about £15 each. I sold three cows in January and February, 1891, by weight ;' they weighed respectively 41 scores 15 lbs. (835 lbs.), 47 scores 8 lbs. (948 lbs.), and 51 scores (1,020 lbs.) dressed carcase, after being milked in the dairy till November. Mr. C. Birmingham, Holnicote, Taunton, who manages for Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart., says they do not breed many Devons, but purchase steers, &c., for fattening; and he is of opinion that young animals of this breed with plenty of quality are very suitable for the district. The better they are fed the higher return will be obtained. Mr. Birmingham never winter feeds a Devon, but carries out summer feeding, with the aid of a few pounds of oil-cake ; quality in the steer is indispens- able. A few years ago Sir T. Dyke Acland bought a good Somerset Devon bull, of good size and full of growth. He was first sent to Holnicote, and after that was at Winsford for nearly two years ; and to this day his influence can be seen on many cows in that district, they being of nice size and quality, and the steers were all good. The effect of using this bull taught many a lesson, and great attention is paid to selecting the best animals that can be obtained. The beef of Devons is very good, there being but little waste for the butcher ; the size is not too large, and a good price can be made, the present price for beef being 12s. per score (20 lbs.). Early maturity in cattle depends much upon the district. In the hill country the land is not so good, and, of course, it takes a longer period to fill up the animal, and frequently it is forgotten that a little oil-cake is needed to keep the young steers growing. In a general way the Devons are kept on grass only, being housed by night in the winter- time, unless farmers want to feed some young steers on straw to make manure. The district is adapted for breed- ing, and the young steers are sold for fattening purposes, to go into the marsh lands. Always at the auctions the best 332 DEVON CATTLE. price is paid for quality. Mr. Birmingham does not think it will pay to keep Devon cows for milking ; but the great advantage with them is that at any time it is not much trouble to make them fit for the butcher, if they are not suitable for breeding. Steers are finished at from two and a half to three and a half years old, and make from 33 to 42 scores (600 lbs. to 840 lbs.) ; cows make from 30 to 36 scores (600 to 720 lbs.), a good size for the butcher, and the bones are not too large, hke those of some other breeds. The Chevithorne Devons, the property of Mr. Nathaniel Cook, whilst comprising animals, and the descendants of animals, that have been acquited by very liberal outlay in money, form essentially a dairy herd, bred and managed expressly with a view to the dairy business, which is found to yield higher interest upon capital invested when the off-going stock can realise handsome prices, than when the cows are, at the end of their milking, mere skin and bone, without the power to yield any adequate profit upon further ex- penditure. Another gain in keeping well-bred and thoroughly good cows is in the superior value of the steers, and any barren heifers from such cows ; and then there is the extra value of a bull calf, occasionally reared for sale as a stock sire, or for home use. Mr. Cook has steadily kept before him, as objects of first importance, qualifications for usefulness as dairy cattle, and the hereditary aptitude to make flesh and to fatten readily, and with these objects in view he has borne in mind the value of pedigree, whenrightly used. Such, generally, are the outlines of the principles indicated in the practice of Mr. Cook as a Devon breeder, continuing and enlarg- ing upon the practice of his father, who founded the Chevithorne herd about forty years ago, choosing pure- bred Devons as best adapted for his purpose. Mr. Cook lets, apportioned among four dairymen, in numbers rang- ing from eleven to twenty-one cows, upwards of seventy of his milking cows, and retains about a score for his own dairy. SYSTEMS OP MANAGEMENT. ' 33S Mr. A. S. Lovelace, Winsford, Dulverton, favours us ■with the following notes : — My own animals have never been registered in the Herd Book, and farming as I do rather more than 1,000 feet above sea-level, I have never exhibited any cattle for prizes, but for the last thirty years I have had several bulls from the late Mr. John Joyce, of Allercott, Mr. Walter Farthing, Mr. WiUiam Oat- way, and Mr. W. Hancock ; bulls have also been brought and kept in the immediate neighbourhood from the herds of Mr. John Surridge, Mr. N. Cook, Mr. Badcock, of Burlescombe, and others. My own herd, however, is not worth saying anything about, but in answer to the en- quiry as to management, I would remark that the general treatment of cattle in this hill country in winter is better than it used to be — especially in the case of the young stock. Farmers formerly sold the greater part of their oats, whereas they now cut the oat sheaves to chaff, which makes good fodder when well harvested. By this means the growing cattle keep their condition, and there is much less flesh lost than there was under the old system of marketing the oats and feeding the straw. The calves were generally reared by hand until a scarcity of labour and the difficulty experienced in getting servants made it almost impossible. The calves were allowed to suck their dams for two or three weeks, then were taken to hand (as it is commonly called J, and were fed with raw milk for two or three weeks, and then had skimmed milk v?ith a little linseed, or meal, or cake, mixed, until they were four months old, when they would be weaned. Now the rule is to let them suck either their dams or staler cows (for the sake of the butter) instead of rearing by hand, and I have often noticed when turning calves to grass in the spring that those that have sucked the cows have been in much better condition and much heavier than the others ; but if those reared by hand have been kept in a growing state and have not been allowed to lose their calf flesh, they almost invariably pass the others during the summer, and are in better condition in the autumn. The cows that are in milk generally get the 334 DEVON CATTLE. best of the hay and a little oat sheaf chaff (a good thing for milk), and if the hay is not good a little linseed or cotton cake. BuUs are kept only in store condition ; they generally receive, in addition to hay, a few roots, or 2 or 3 lbs. of linseed cake per day in winter, and if quiet they run on pasture in summer with nothing but grass. Cows and calves are generally kept in stalls or shippons, and young stock in open linhays, with an out- let on pasture by day. My opinion is that the feeding properties of a well-bred fleshy Devon wiU bear favour- able comparison with those of any breed. I have seen some good results from first crosses with Shorthorns, but when those whom I know have tried it have gone much beyond that they have got lost, and have had to go back to the pure breed again. Devons as a rule are not heavy milkers. The plan adopted by most farmers in this neighbourhood with reference to the feeding of steers is to keep them from 3 to 3f years old. Until within the last few years, they have been sold in good fresh store condition, such as they would get on the pastures, to go on the richer pastures in more favoured districts, and sometimes they would be kept for the Christmas markets. Now, however, most of us help them on with some linseed cake through the summer, and the greater part go for slaughter. For several years past they have been sold at from £20 to £25 each, but this year (1892) at from £18 to £22. The cows are generally sold as barreners to be grazed in the lower levels, but a few are fattened, and the best of them make from 36 to 40 scores (720 to 800 lbs.) dead weight, and sometimes 45 scores, and even 60 scores (900 to 1,000 lbs.), in which latter cases, perhaps, the purity of the breed may be question- able. Mr. W. H. Tremaine, Trerice Manor, Newlyn, East Cornwall, says he crossed his Shorthorns with a Devon bull seven years ago. He has only a few pure-bred cows in the herd, but .he likes the Devons, as they keep them- selves fatter than the Shorthorns upon the same food, and come fit for the market first. Steers are sold at SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 335 from two and a half to three years old, and one thing is certain — that if they have a fat Devon it will always sell in a bad market, and make more money. All calves are allowed to remain on the cows for four months, and in the winter pulped roots are given them with mixed chaff, consisting of half hay and half straw. Mr. Tre- maine does not think the Devons are so good for milk as the Shorthorns. The young growing stock consume the straw and roots, and they are allowed to run out by day in an open yard where there is a tank of water. Mr. W. Stevens, Budlake, Broadclyst, Devon, says : — I am sorry that I cannot give you much information respecting the breed of pure Devon cattle, although in Sir T. Dyke Acland's home farm, we have for many years used pure-bred sires from the herds of Lord Fal- mouth, Mr. Stranger, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Skinner, Mr. Blake, and other noted breeders. We have not entered any of our cattle in the Herd Book, but many of them are of sufficient merit. I am strongly of opinion (formed by the experience and obsenvation of many years), that a pure-bred Devon will fatten faster than any other breed of cattle, and I think a spectator and fair judge at our Exeter Christmas Fair could not fail to come to the con- clusion that a well-bred Devon will sell at Is. per score lbs. more money than any other breed. As to the milk- ing properties of the breed, we sometimes find an excellent milker and creamer, but, as a rule, their beef producing qualities surpass their milking properties. Our steers are generally sold off fat at from two and a half to three years old. We try to keep them doing well from birth, giving them cake both in the yards, and when out on grass, augmenting the quantity as age increases. The price, when sold, varies according to the market price of beef, but on an average, steers from two and a half to three years old, fetch from £20 to £25. Our best heifers are kept for breeding purposes ; the best milkers for the dairy ; and the plain ones are fattened and sold. In the herd at Burch, South Molton, Mr. J. Quartly Tapp informs us that the prevalent custom is followed, 336 DEVON CATTLE. the calves being usually reared by suckling until they are old enough to use their teeth. Cows are fed in vfinter on hay, straw, ensilage, or chaff, with sometimes a few roots, and they are tied up at night. This also applies to the herd generally, young bulls, calves, &c., having the addition of a little oatmeal. Steers are generally sold in fresh condition to graziers at about two years old, but they were formerly kept until they were about three and a quarter years, fattened for Christmas markets, and sometimes they made as much as £45. Mr. John Chick, Compton Valence, says : — The dairy- has been let to the same dairyman for the last eighteen years, which is a sufficient guarantee of the milking qualities of the cows. They are in good stock condition. The rearing calves are taken from the dams when the former are about fourteen days old ; they are put into pen and reared up to May 14th with skim mUk, the bulls being similarly treated. They are then weaned off and let out a few hours in the middle of the day, and are gradually hardened for a few weeks, receiving cake and corn until the weather becomes settled, when they stay out alto- gether and have from 1 to 21bs. of mixed cake or corn per day through the summer. They are taken into open sheds during the winter months. We give particular at- tention to the milking qualities, as no dairyman will offer any rent for them unless they give a fair proportion of milk. All the animals that go barren or throw their calves are grazed on the farm and sold to the butcher. Mr. Herbert Farthing, Thurloxton, informs us that most of his Devons are very good milkers and they have plenty of flesh. It is of great importance that the cattle should have warm sheds in which they can take shelter during the winter. Shorthorn or cross-bred cows that are put to a Devon bull usually produce very good calves, and they generally follow the bull as regards colour. Mr. Farthing's pure-bred animals are usually partly fattened at grass and finished off in stalls, where they have a little cake and meal in addition to hay and mangels. Mr. James Haynes, Blagdon House, West Devon, says SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 337 his steers are sold either at two years old for Sussex grazing, or fattened at two and a half to three years old. The heifers calve at three years old, and are fattened after having two or three calves — sometimes an excellent cow may be kept for another year or two. The weight of the steers varies from 30 to 40 score (600 to 800 lbs.), and the price ranges from lis. to 13s. 6d. per score. Mr. Haynes finds it an advantage to keep the spring calves in the house through the summer and first winter, on clover, vetches, &c., followed by hay, turnips, mangels, &c. Mr. J. P. Chissell, Cowgrove Farm, Wimborne, finds the Devons early maturing, possessing beef of fine quality and fairly good dairy properties. The cows are treated in the ordinary way. Bull calves are kept in the house and fed mostly on hay and a little cotton cake. The other calves are reared on linseed meal and milk, and as soon as they will eat it they receive a little linseed cake, crushed oats, and a few carrots and hay until May, when they are turned out to grass and have a moderate supply of cake once a day. The following winter they come into straw yards. The bulls are fed on hay, straw, roots, linseed, and cotton cake and crushed oats and barley. The cows are fattened off at all ages as they go barren, and weigh from 36 to 40 score (720 lbs. to 800 lbs.). Mr. J. C. Kidner, The Lodge, Durston, says his heifers calve at three years old and rear their own calves. The older cows rear two calves until they are about four months old, and the cows are afterwards milked for the dairy, or given a single calf to rear. When in milk the cows are fed on hay and straw and a few roots, with about 4 lbs. of cotton cake or meal in the winter ; getting the run of the pastures in the summer. All the herd is housed at night in the winter, but the cows, and some- times the yearlings, get a run in the fields for an hour or two. Barley straw and roots are the food of the young heifers in the yards, the steers getting hay once daily, and generally 2 or 3 lbs. of cake or meal, so that they 22 338 DEVON CATTLE. may leave the yards in May in condition to be finished by the help of about 4 lbs. of cake during the last fort- night of September, which allowance is gradually in- creased or perhaps supplemented by an addition of 6 lbs. of mixed com meal after they are taken into the stalls. They are finished at Christmas and weigh 40 to 50 score (800 to 1000 lbs.) at three years old. In Mrs. Merson's herd at Bickham, the cows are kept as a useful breeding herd, yielding about twenty calves in the year, and neither they nor the heifers are favoured in the matter of food beyond an ordinary allowance, which is considered sufficient to promote healthy growth and development. The calves come mostly from Sep- tember to Christmas, and after the usual suckling, &c., are weaned and turned out to grass. Yearlings come in at night, in winter, for hay, receiving nothing else. The heifers are calvers at the age of about three years, and the steers are grazed off at about the same age, when their average weight is fully 44 score (880 lbs.) each. Last year's average was 45 score (900 lbs.). The surplus heifers are fatted ofif after the first calf. Two or three bull calves annually are reared to sell for stock purposes. With these exceptions, all the calves produced are kept, either to maintain the number of the breeding herd or to graze, and as a rule, none are added by purchase, excepting a bull when required. The business of the farm is breeding to feed, and feeding off the home-bred animals. Steer breeding and feeding all the home-bred steers, with occasionally, but not every year, a few purchased steers besides, are salient features of the system adopted by Mr. Wm. Kidner at Fennington, near Taunton. The management prescribes the last quarter of the year as the most convenient time for births, but as it is not always possible to enforce compliance with this rule, a few calves will make their appearance at various intervals from January 1st to December 31st. They are always welcome, but most welcome when they arrive between Michaelmas and Christmas, or thereabout. SYSTEMS OP MANAGEMENT. 339 Many of the cows prove very good milkers. The calves are suckled, often two together by one cow, and often, also, two in succession by one cow. In either case a cow is set free for the dairy. Sometimes one cow rears even more than two calves. The heifer and steer calves are treated much alike, weaned when from three to four months old, and plainly kept upon hay and a little cake or other provender before turning out to grass, with hay next winter, and small feeds of mangel added as the spring advances, until grass time comes again. As grass keep is good and plentiful at Fennington, the good Devon blood is well supported and stimulated during the out-of-doors seasons, and the steers, after wintering as two-year-olds upon hay once and straw once in each day, with some roots, are mostly finished off upon grass, without supplemental food (excepting in the event of a bad grass season), and upon grass alone 'feed up to 40 score, many quite that weight, others a trifle less. A few, however, are kept on until Christmas, and finished in the usual way, up to various weights from 40 to 60 score (800 to 1000 lbs.). The ages of the steers when killed vary from two and a half to three and a quarter years old. Bulls are seldom brought up, but when any favourite bull-calf is reared its treatment includes longer suckling than the heifers and steers are allowed. The calves in Mr. George Eisdon's herd at Dunster, are born mostly in April and May, and after the usual rearing of the district, the two-year-old steers, wintered under cover night and day, on hay and roots, are turned out to grass about the 1st of May, sometimes, seasons favouring, in April (the farm being much more sheltered than the hill farms around), and they remain at grass until October, the worst being drafted off to the butcher during summer, the best remaining out until October, when they are taken in and fed for Christmas, the very best of all going to the Dunster Show, or as it has happened, to the Smithfield Club. Mr. Eisdon's entries, for many years, have won numerous prizes at Dunster. In 1882, his cow Lily by Lord Devon, having been 340 DEVON CATTLE. ■wintered on the roughest fare (" orts" or waste scraps of hay and straw), the usual feed of the breeding cows, was then turned out to grass in the ordinary course of management, and until June was supposed to be in-calf. She then proved barren, and was fed on grass until the middle of August, up to which time she had not tasted cake or corn. When put up to feed she made such marvellous progress that Mr. Eisdon decided to exhibit her, and sending her to the Smithfield Club Show, December 4th in the same year, after only between three and four months of indoor feeding, he had the satisfaction of winning by her the first prize in a class that cora- prised several noted animals. In 1888, an ox, bred by Mr. G. Eisdon and sold to the Queen, won the first prize in his class at Birmingham, and in 1890, a steer bred by him and exhibited by Her Majesty, won the first prize and breed cup at the Smithfield Club Show. Other distinguished honours have been gained by animals of his breeding, including the first prize at the Birmingham Show in 1891, and second at the Smithfield Club for Mr. James Blyth's ox, the same animal for which the breed cup was in the previous year awarded to the Queen. In prices, also, Mr. Eisdon has gratifying evidence of the excellence of his Devons. For instance, in the year 1876 he sold two oxen and five steers at an average of £50 each, and in 1877 again, six oxen and steers at an average of £50 each, some of them worked oxen from Leigh Barton. The dairy letting from the herd of Mr. John Bucknell, Holcombe Barton, Wellington, Somerset, averages from £11 to £12 for each cow for the year. Two acres are allowed by the lessor for each cow — that is, one acre for pasture and one for hay — and all the straw required by the dairyman is supplied to him free of charge, and, of course, returns to the land. If cake is used, the cost is borne equally by both parties to the contract. Any other food, if required, must be found by the dairyman, but roots being grown upon the farm are usually to be had, when wanted, upon the easiest of terms. Mr.Bucknell's principal birth-season is from Christmas to the end of SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 34;1 March or beginning of April. His steers, and the bull- calves which he has purchased from Mr. Eayer for steers, are fed off at two and a half years old, and sold at Christmas. Mr. E. Case, "Withycombe, Carhampton, breeds and feeds some choice steers. These, after the usual suck- ling, are plainly reared, and as two-year-olds wintered on hay and roots, finished on grass only, and sold off in August, when most of them are a month or two under three years old. The books show an average price of about £26 each. In Mr. John Howse's herd at Stamborough House the bulls are always kept in ; the cows are turned out by day in the pastures all through the winter, with hay and roots at night. No cake or corn is given excepting for the show animals. Besides the home pastures and meadows there is high land up on the Brendon Hills, to which part of the herd is driven. The calves are generally reared with the cows until they are about six months old, but a few are hand fed. On Messrs. G. D. and H. C. Hancock's farm at Halse an uncommon feature is the lingering use of Devon oxen for work. Animals picked out from the steers are re- tained for plough teams, and fed off as oxen in pairs at the age of about five years, the grazing steers being fed off under three years old. These have made great weights, with good results under the block test. An ox killed about twelve years ago, of 23 cwt. 1 qr. 23 lbs. live weight, brought to the block test, gave a carcase of 89 score 8 lbs. The calving season is reckoned as between the middle of October and the beginning of April, and is at its height in November and December. The earlier calves are usually fed from the pail, and those which come late in the season are suckled by " stale " cows. Cows which have continued in milk through the summer and are still yielding a fair quantity as the autumn wears on run out until the end of November, weather per- mitting, and towards the end of the time have cabbage to compensate for the lessening virtue of late autumn grass. 342 DEVON CATTLE. Mr. Stephen Bailey's chief object in managing his herd at Hornshay, Nynehead, is steer breeding, and his lines of practice run upon the reckoning that the weight of a fat Devon steer a little under three years old should be about 40 score, or 100 stone of 8 lbs. For the pro- duction of those steers he breeds cows of generous growth, thick and heavy-fleshed, yet is careful to have them of the true type as recognised in the district. He en- deavours to combine with the more solid properties the characteristic liveliness of " out-look," to express which the heads must be gaily carried, and the horns stylishly up-twisted, the faces cleanly cut out, and the eyes bright and prominent. About five-and-twenty calves, whose births cover the! year without distinction of seasons, make the average number of annual offspring. They are suckled for about three or four months, but not all by their own dams beyond the first week or tenth day after birth. Some of them, whose dams are wanted for the dairy, are then separated from them, and either given to " stale " cows singly, or wet-nursed in pairs. The subse- quent rearing is quite of a rough and an ordinary sort, not stinted or niggardly, and, on the other hand, not forcing. Hence, good, healthy, lean flesh is plentifully developed ; the animals thrive and fatten readily without turning coarse or blubbery, and those cows which are parted from their calves after the first week yield a fair quantity of milk to the hand for the dairy. Mr. Bailey for some years turned his attention to the Shorthorn, but after what he believes to have been a fair, a patient, and a thorough trial, came to the conclusion that it is not, and that the Devon emphatically is, the right breed for his district. In Mr. Wm. Oatway's herd at Leigh Barton, upon the Brendon Hills — where the house stands at a height of more than 700 feet from the sea-level, the hills above it where the grass land is, varying from 1,000 to 1,200 feet — January and February are the months in which most births are desired, and the management is regulated to secure if possible the greatest number then. The SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 343 calves are suckled until the approach of the grass season, when they are weaned, and, as soon as possible, are turned out to pasture. The young calves, before going out, get a little com. "When November comes they lie in and have hay and mangel-wurzel at night, going out to grass in the daytime. Two or three bulls each year are reared, the remainder of the males, as steers, being sold off at the age of about two and a half years, and the heifer calves (subject to culling if necessary), pass into the breeding herd as they come of age. "Working oxen were formerly used and sold off fat and of excellent quality, as the following averages show : — At "Williton auction in the autumn of 1872, six five-year-olds, sold in pairs, averaged £32 6s. 8d. ; six four-year-olds, £31 10s. ; and eight three-year-old steers, £29 5s. each animal, making a total of £617 for the twenty animals, or an average of £30 17s. all round. The highest price was £80 for one pair of five-year-old oxen : not bad for animals which had all worked until shortly before the sale. Mr. "Wm. Lean, Blable, St. Issey, Cornwall, says his breeding cows are kept in old pastures during summer, and in winter they run out in the same from about 10 a.m. until i p.m.; and get a feed of chaff when tied in, (chaff consisting of dredge corn [oats and barley] sheaves with a little wheat straw) ; and dredge corn straw at night. At 6 o'clock in the morning they are fed with roots and straw again before going on to the pastures. The bulls receive roots three times a day in small quantities and a little home-grown corn mixed with best linseed cake or "W. C. A. compound cake, with as much hay as they will eat. Bull calves that it is intended to keep entire, and any cow calves that are meant to be shown suck their dams imtil they are about six months old. The others are weaned at eight days old and fed with milk from the pail. All get roots, hay, cake and com mixed together. It is found that cows suckling their calves do not take the bull again so quickly as those that are hand-milked. Young stock get roots and straw, they are kept in yards night and day with sheds 344 DEVON CATTLE. to lie in. All the cattle are under cover at night during the winter. "The breed," adds Mr. Lean, "is making great progress in this part of Cornwall, the farmers greatly favouring the larger Somerset type. Although the land is not rich like that of the Taunton Vale, yet it has been proved that the Somerset Devon becomes much heavier at the same age than the North Devon. There is certainly a brilliant future for the ' Bubies ' in Bast Cornwall, many within the last few years having given up other breeds in favour of the Devon, which is now by far the most popular. One strong reason for their popularity here is that they sell better than any other. In the months of May and June there is a brisk demand for good fresh steers to go to the eastern counties for fattening ; those who have no good pasture land sell in this way, as they cannot fatten the stock on their own farms, and they get a good price for their animals, which, indeed, is often more profitable to them than the fattening proves to be to the graziers." Mr. Charles Menhinick, Lower Amble, Wadebridge, Cornwall, writes : — I make it a practice to keep my young stock as much as possible out of doors some part of the day during the winter, and find they do better than when they are confined closely in houses. They are fed on straw and roots ; some of the calves are reared by hand and others with the cow, the former way proving to be rather less risky in regard to taking the blackleg, which unfortunately proves fatal in a few cases almost every year. My steers are usually sold in the spring after being in open yards through the winter, and with their nice coats always meet with a ready sale. The females generally go for breeding purposes, so that the older cows are drafted and fattened. A noted charac- teristic of the breed is their docile disposition ; this is especially noticeable to me, as I have an off-farm where nothing but grass grows on the top of the fences, and whilst the Devons may be seen contentedly grazing in the fields, in the case of neighbouring cattle of the cross- bred type or any purchased ones that may be on my own SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 345 farm, it is often a difficult matter to know where to find them. Mr. Edward Mucklow, Whitestone Head, Holsworthy, finds that the Devons have a decided tendency to lay on flesh rapidly, they mature early, and the cows are good milkers. He treats his herd naturally ; the cows range the pastures, the calves suck their dams for a fortnight, and are then gradually weaned on skim milk, with crushed oats, and are allowed 1 lb. of linseed cake per head per day. By this treatment Mr. Mucklow says quarter evil has been reduced to a minimum. He rears about 50 calves annually, and in twelve years his loss from this cause has been four head. The young bulls are sold off as calves. Mr. Mucklow informs us of an experiment which was tried of crossing a Polled Suffolk buU on Devon heifers. This answered in the first cross admirably with females for dairy purposes ; the males, when castrated, grew fast and fattened well, but they were coarse. In Mr. Mucklow's herd steers are fattened at from twenty-two to thirty months old, and make up to 6 to 8 cwt. (672 lbs. to 896 lbs.) dead weight.' His last sales for these have averaged £23 each. The Devons have proved very satisfactory and prolific, with the ex- ception of a bull. Only one heifet has failed to breed. Mr. W. Bond, Buckland House, Durston, says that most of his cows are good milkers ; two calves are put to one cow for three or four months, and as a rule they do well. The calves are then weaned and receive cut swedes and hay. Steers are sold at about three years old, being fattened with cut swedes, hay, chaff, and a little com occasionally for about two months before they are sold to the butcher. Mr. Edward Palmer, West Clyst, Exeter, has his steers as a rule fit for the butcher at about two and a half years old, they being always kept well and they have averaged about £30 each. He finds that they have made about as many pounds as they are months old. They are invariably sold by auction and bring more than the acknowledged top price per score. The bull calves are 346 DEVON CATTLE. allowed to run -with their dams until they are from five to seven months old, as Mr. Palmer finds they get deeper fleshed and masculine in appearance without showing coarseness. In the herd of Mr. H. Gorges Moysey at Bathealton Court, Wiveliscombe, the cows are kept in about the same condition all the year round. From October till May the cows in milk get from 5 lb. to 6 lb. of cotton cake and bruised oats per day, with hay, cabbage, or roots. The heifer calves are taken from their dams at fourteen days old, and fed by hand with new milk up to a month or six weeks old ; they then have half new and half skim milk up to ten weeks old ; skim milk or skim milk and calf meal up to sixteen weeks old. Most of the steer calves suck their dams up to fourteen weeks old. All the calves have an allowance of Waterloo round feeding cake and bruised oats, with hay and roots. The young stock are kept growing so as to turn them out to grass in the spring in about the same condition as when they are taken in in the autumn. The steers are fattened at from two to two and a half years old, and are sold at the neighbouring auctions for from £20 to £31 each. Fat cows have been sold at £20 up to £33. The cows are calved all the year round, to keep up a supply of milk for the house. Mr. S. A. Passmore, Aller, Bishops Nympton, writes: — I have found that a good Somerset Devon buU on my cows produces larger cattle than the little North Devon bulls. The heifers may not be quite so neat after the former as the latter, but the steers got by a Somerset Devon bull will produce more beef by scores than those by a little North Devon bull at the same age, consequently one can mature them earlier for the market, which is most essential for rent-paying farmers. I do not feed my store cattle with a lot of cake and artificial food. I beUeve if you keep cattle in houses, fed up with artificial food, the constitution is weakened, and the sires are not likely to get such healthy stock as those kept on ordinary food with plenty of water and fresh air. My calves are SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT. 347 always turned off on skim milk at three weeks old, with a little oilcake for the first few weeks to keep them up. Bulls run to an open linhay, with plenty of water, plenty of oats and hay, and a few roots, and in the summer months they are turned out in a grass field. I generally keep my cattle in the yards through the winter, and by night in houses that are well ventilated. I have found some of the very best bred Devons good milkers — in fact, better than inferior Devons. I generally fatten off my cows at various ages, milking them up to about six or seven weeks before they are killed — weight about 35 scores, prices from £18 to £20 on the average. Steers I fatten off at two years old, or a little over that age — weight, 35 score (700 lbs.), and they make £20 each. Mr. Frank J. Merson, Farrington, North Petherton, states that his steers are generally turned out fat at Christmas at the age of two and a half to three years old or a little more, at which age they weigh from 40 to 48 scores (800 to 960 lbs.), and they command the top price. The cows are housed in winter during the night, but are always allowed to run in the pastures during the day unless the weather is very severe. The young stock are run in open bartons during the winter where they get an ad lib. allowance of straw, &c., with a few roots, but very little hay, except the yearlings which are allowed to run out in the pastures, and are taken in by night and fed on hay, straw, and a few roots. The calves are generally kept in until the summer is pretty far advanced, when they are turned out in the pastures, but come in early at night in the fall. Mr. Chas. Pratt, Tale, Ottery St. Mary, rears his calves by hand in the usual way, with skim milk and calf meal. Cows when dry are fed on straw and roots. BuUs, for the want of a suitable place to run in, are always kept in. Young stock over a year old, are fed on straw and roots in winter, and grass in summer. Until last winter, a good many of the young stock have run in the fields all the year round on account of the absence of sufficient house accommodation. The cows are good 348 DEVON CATTLE. milkers, and are let as a dairy at £10 per cow on poor land, the owner keeping the calves. Not being a grazing farm, the animals are mostly sold as stores. Of the steers which were successfully exhibited at the Ottery, Honiton, and Exeter shows, one, three years and eleven months old, weighed 60 score (1200 lbs.), and sold for £33 ; another, two years and eight months old, weighed 48 score (960 lbs.), and sold for £29; and a third at one year and eleven months old, weighed 32 score (640 lbs.), and sold for £20. THE HEED BOOK.; SHOWS; AND SALES. 349 CHAPTEE XIII. THE HERD BOOK; SHOWS; AND SALES. It will be convenieut to group in one chapter what has to be said regarding the Herd Book, Shows and Sales — the three chief agencies by means of which the breed has been kept before the public ; and although there may be some question as to the relative importance of these we have no hesitation in giving priority to The Heed Book. The Devon breed, as has been shown in the preceding pages, has not been without patrons occupying high stations in society ; yet the late Colonel J. Tanner Davy was quite right when he said that until a comparatively recent period its existence and reputation were mainly sustained by yeomen who could not afford to give each other the almost fabulous prices which at one period used to be paid for specimens of other varieties, while, more particularly, owing to the isolation of the county, and the difficulty of communication with their native district, the Devons had not become so fashionable beyond their homes. Colonel Davy, however, was able to claim that the Herd Book, even in the early period of its existence, had each year secured fresh adherents and admirers among noblemen and extensive landowners. Previous to the publication of the Herd Book breeders spoke of their best animals by some distinguishing name (often that of the donor of the prizes they had won, as, for instance, the bull Sillifant was so called to identify it with Mr. SilUfant, who first gave the prize for a bull yearly at Exeter), or the title was suggested by accidental cir- cumstances connected with the career or characteristics of the animals, which enabled the owners and their neigh- 350 DEVON CATTLE. bours to indicate and recognise any particular specimen that was alluded to. Strangers, however, found this more difi&cult, and, therefore, Colonel Davy, observing the deficiency, thinking the breed deserved to have the pedigrees recorded, and that it would assist the public in tracing out different sorts of blood, compiled and pub- lished the first volume of Davy's Devon Herd Book. This is Colonel Davy's own account of the institution of the Herd Book. We may note that in January and February, 1851, he sent out circulars to breeders asking for their support of the undertaking, and explaining that his intention was to take in all those bulls, whether living or dead, which had obtained prizes at the shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society or any other agri- cultural meetings since January 1, 1840, and any bulls or bull calves then living calved prior to January 1, 1851, which might not have obtained a prize, but which the owner might wish to enter, and any cow dead or living in the same way as the bulls. The response was satisfactory, and Colonel Davy was able to compile and publish the first volume of the Herd Book in time for distribution at the Eoyal Agricultural Show at Windsor in 1851. This initiatory volume contained the pedigrees of 132 bulls and 483 cows, alphabetically arranged, and numbered separately for the sake of distinction and reference. These were contributed by 36 breeders, of whom 18 were in Devonshire, four in Somerset, four in Cornwall, two in Dorset, three in Warwick, two in Hampshire, one in Norfolk, one in Northampton, and one in Orkney. The plan of the Herd Book was in most respects similar to that adopted in the Shorthorn Herd Book and the Hereford Herd Book, which had already been published, but there was one important modification which enhances the value of the Devon Herd Book. Not only the bulls, but, also, as we have seen, the cows were numbered, an arrangement which certainly facili- tates reference, and tends to promote accuracy. The second volume was published in 1854, after an interval of three years, and showed a great advance, containing THE HEBD BOOK; SHOWS; AND SALES. 351 the pedigrees of 213 bulls, and 656 cows, contributed by 78 breeders, of whom 31 were in Devon, nine in Corn- wall, seven in Somerset, three in Dorset, three in War- wick, two in Hampshire, one each in "Worcester, Norfolk, Ireland, and Wales, while in this volume 16 American breeders, and one Canadian breeder, made entries. For more than thirty years the Herd Book was carried on by Colonel Davy at his sole risk and expense, during which time eight volumes were issued, " the work," as is stated in an appreciative memoir prefixed by the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society to the reprinted edition of Volume i., " having throughout been conducted in a most impartial manner, and we are sorry to add at a pecuniary loss to the proprietor." .It may be mentioned here that Colonel Davy, the Editor of the Herd Book, was born at Ashtown Barton, Hose Ash, near South Molton, Devon, on June 29, 1828, and died on April 19, 1887. In the memoir to which allusion has been made, and which is accompanied by a portrait of Colonel Davy, it is further remarked that " He was one who with his pen has done more than any other man to elevate the Devon breed of cattle to its present position. Had it not been for his forethought in collecting and getting into order the pedi- grees of Devons, and thus establishing the Herd Book, breeders of the present day would find themselves sadly in arrear; much valuable information would be lost which it would be impossible now to recover." In 1883 the copyright of the Herd Book was disposed of to Messrs. Hawkes and Eisdon, Williton, who soon after- wards transferred their interest in the work to the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society which had then been established, and Mr. John Eisdon was appointed the first secretary and editor. The accuracy of the Herd Book was well maintained, and a most useful Supplement was issued, the first volume of which appeared in 1885. It con- tained a record of births and other pedigree information, as well as a list of sales by auction and prize winners at shows from 1850. Owing to other engagements Mr. John Eisdon resigned the secretaryship and was ap- 352 DEVON CATTLE. pointed auctioneer to the Society, his son Mr. John Eisdon, Junr., Wiveliscombe, being selected as his successor. The Supplement has been incorporated with the Herd Book during the last few years, and thus the statistical history of the breed for each year is fully disclosed in the annual volumes. It is universally admitted that Davy's Devon Herd Book is one of the most complete breed records published in this country. In Volume xv. the number of bulls registered was brought up to 3,067 and of cows to 12,587. The first volume of the American Devon Eecord was published in 1881. SHOWS. For many years the Devon classes have formed a very attractive feature of all the leading shows in the South of England, and they have always followed the flag when the Eoyal Agricultural Society has visited the North. Considering that the breed is par excellence a farmers' breed it is greatly to the credit of the supporters of the Devons that they have displayed so much public spirit in exhibiting their stock at a distance, for there can be little doubt that showing does not directly remimerate those who indulge in it to any large extent, although of course exhibitors have the hope of rewards in addition to the mere prize money. Among the earliest show records of the Devons, is one mentioning that in 1796 a silver cup was won by Mr. Francis Quartly, of Champson, MoUand, at Bath, for the " best collection of neat cattle, any breed, for general stock, consisting of bull, cows and heifers." The animals were, of course, Devons. They were so cut up by walking the journey from Molland to Bath and back, that Mr. Quartly would send no more. In 1796, a prize of ten guineas was offered by the North Devon Agricultural Society for the best bull four years old, and of the North Devon breed, which had to be produced at the ploughing match, to be held on Monday, September THE HEBD BOOK; SHOWS; AND SALES. 353 26th of that year. In the Annals of Agriculture, there is a challenge dated August 31, 1797, by a Somersetshire farmer, who offered to produce for a bet of 200 guineas, a yoke of oxen " of the Somerset or North Devon breed " against two oxen of any other breed in the kingdom, but no evidence exists to show whether or not this challenge was accepted. Mr. John White Parsons, West Camel, Somersetshire, sent in 1795, a Devon bull to claim the premium given by the Earl of Egremont at Petworth, and in 1794, this breeder had gained the Bath Society's prize of a silver coffee-pot given for the best Devonshire cattle. In connection with the Woburn sheep shearing in 1800, it is stated that a sweepstakes of five guineas each had been made by the Duke of Bedford, Lord Winchilsea, Lord Somerville, and Mr. Bouverie to show the best two-year-old heifer of the Devonshire breed. The Duke of Bedford being dead, and Mr. Bouverie not exhibiting, the contest rested with Lord Winchilsea and Lord Somerville, and a committee having been appointed, they, after considerable examination, declared in favour of Lord Winchilsea. Mr. W. Edbrooke has in his possession two silver cups or goblets gained by an ancestor of his, one for the best bull not exceeding three years old, date 1800 ; the other for the best cow or heifer not exceeding the age of four years, having had a living calf, date 1801. Both were from the Dunster Agricultural Society. At the Holkham sheep shearing in 1806, it is noted that Mr. Purdy's "remarkably fine steers and heifers of the Devon breed were much admired." These are some of the first references to the Devons in exhibition. Shows were held at Exeter, Barnstaple, and Taunton, commencing about 1830. Mr. Thomas F. Plowman, secretary of the Bath and West of England and Southern Counties Society, in- forms us that previous to 1852 (when prizes were first offered by that society generally for stock), a premium of £15 had for some years been awarded for the best bull and breeding cow with at least one of their offspring, male or 23 354 DEVON CATTLE. female, twelve months old, all of the same breed (cross- breds excepted). This premium was won in 1846 by Mr. S. Farthing, Nether Stowey, with Devons ; in 1847, by Mr. W. F. Craddock, with Devons ; and in 1850, by Mr. S. Farthing, Nether Stowey, with Devons. It will not be necessary to go into great detail regard- ing the prize winnings of Devons at any of the shows except those of the Smithfield Club and the Eoyal Agri- cultural Society of England, because the full details from 1850 up to the present time will be found in the Supple- ment to the Devon Herd Book which wUl presumably be in the possession of many of the readers of this History. In giving a few particulars in reference to the shows of the two Societies named, we have to acknowledge the courtesy extended to us by Mr. Ernest Clark, secretary of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, and Mr. E. J. Powell, secretary of the Smithfield Club, who have placed the records of their Societies at our disposal. Smithfield Club. The first show of this club was held in 1799, but until 1802 we have not found any special allusion to the breed. It is stated that in that year a Devon heifer, bred by the Duke of Bedford, won a prize. In 1805 a Devon ox was shown, which had been driven 126 miles to the exhi- bition. At the show in 1806 the first prize of twenty guineas in Class III. for beasts of 100 to 140 stone, fattened without cake or corn, was awarded to Mr. Samuel Chandler, Moorton, near Aylesbury, Bucks, for a. brown Devonshire ox bought at Sampford Fair in Devon- shire on April 28, 1806; he "was then five years old; after a drift of 170 miles he reached Moorton on May 7 in a lean state, having worked through the barley seeding, and was fed on grass until October 27, after which his food was hay and Swedish turnips only." The ox was killed by Messrs. Thomas Prince and Son, Kingsgate Street, Eed Lion Square, London, and the weights were : — THE HEBD BOOK; SHOWS; AND SALES. 355 St. lbs. Carcase 119 6 Pat 17 3 Hide and Horns 12 1 Head and Tongue i 5 Feet 2 7^ Total 156 6i At the same show, in Class IV., Mr. Chandler was first with a four year old brindled half-bred Devonshire steer, which had a carcase weight of 164 stone 7 lbs. At the show in 1807, in Class V., for Devon oxen or steers 120 stone or upwards, Mr. Martin Webber showed a pair bred by Mr. Surridge, Chipstable, which had been worked by him for three years, ending February 25, 1807 ; they were bought at Wiveliscombe market, being then five years old and very lean ; they lay on grass until October 1, from which time till November 30 they ate 3,290 lbs. of hay, having had no corn or cake. They had travelled 170 miles. The butcher's return was, for No. 1. St. lbs. Carcase or Quarters 153 6 Loose Fat 29 Hide and Horns 11 6 Head and Tongue 4 1 Feet 3 2 Heart and Lights 2 3 Liver and Melt 1 7 No. 2. Carcase or Quarters 141 Loose Fat 23 5 Hide and Horns 10 2 Head and Tongue 3 6 Feet 2 7 Heart and Lights 2 1 Liver and Melt 2 2 356 DEVON CATTLE. In Glass VI. at this show, for steers of any mixed breed, Mr. S. Chandler was first with a French and Devon ox bred by Mr. Greenal, of Milcote, Warwickshire, which at six years old had a carcase weight of 136 stone 2 lbs. The classification by breeds, which from 1807 to 1815 had been for Herefords, Longhorns; Shorthorns, Sussex, Devojis, and Mixed Breeds, was discontinued after the latter year, but was resumed in 1852— for Devons, Here- fords, Shorthorns, Scotch, Welsh or Irish, Other Pure Breeds, and Cross or Mixed Breeds, and since then the Devons have always had the first place in the catalogue. But in 1840 the Duke of Norfolk, Fornham, Suffolk, was highly commended for Devon cows, and in 1841, in Class I., Sir E. Throckmorton, Buckland, was commended for a, Devon ox bred by Mr. Quartly, Molland. In Class III. Mr. Trinder, Wantage, Berks., was commended for a Devon ox bred by Mr. James Quartly, Molland, and in Class V. Mr. J. Williams, Buckland, Farringdon, had the like honour for another of Mr. Quartly's breeding. In 1843 Mr. G. Turner, Barton, was commended for a steer bred by Mr. E. Mogridge, Molland. The prize of £15 and silver medal to . the breeder, were won by Mr. Thomas Umbers, Wappenbury, Leamington, for a North Devon steer, bred by himself, fed on grass, hay, turnips, 850 lbs. cake and 800 lbs. barley and bean meal. In Class VI. Mr. Umbers was also first for a North Devon steer. In 1845, in Class II., Mr. Thomas White Four- acre, Durston, Taunton, was first (£30) for a Devon steer bred by himself, and in Class III. for steers under 100 and above 70 stone Mr. Umbers was first with a Devon. In Class IV., for steers under 85 stone, Mr. T. W. Four- acre was first, and in Class V. Mr. Umbers was first, both with Devons ; for cows the Earl of Leicester, Holkham, was first with a Devon bred by the late Mr. G. Talbot, Temple Guiting, Winchcombe, Gloucester. In 1846 Lord Leicester was first in Class V. for a North Devon ox, bred by himself. In 1847 the third prize in Class I. was won by Lord Portman with a steer bred by Mr. John Quartly, Molland, and he was second in Class THE HEM) BOOK ; SHOWS ; AND SALES. 357 III. for one also bred by Mr. Quartly. In the cross-bred class Mr. James S. Bult was first for a Shorthorn and Devon cross. The second prize in Class IV. went to Mr. Fouracre for a steer bred by Mr. James Welch, Kingston, Taunton ; Mr. J. Wippell, Brenton, Exmouth, was first with a Devon. In Class V. Lord Leicester was first. In 1848 the Earl of Leicester was very successful, being first in Classes IV. and V. with Devons of his own breeding ; the gold medal for best steer or ox was also awarded to him. Sir E. G. Throckmorton was second in Class V. with a steer bred by Mr. J. Quartly. In 1850 Mr. J. Tucker, Staplegrove, Taunton, was first with a Devon ox bred by Mr. Priscott, Staplegrove ; Lord Aylesford was first in Class V., and Mr. Thomas Bond, Bishops Lydeard, was second. In 1851 Lord Leicester was first in Class IV. with a Devon steer bred by Mr. W. Baker, Bishops Nympton, Devon, and he was first in Class V. with a steer bred by Mr. Turner, Barton. Prom this date the record is given in the Supplement to the Devon Herd Book, and we need only mention that in 1856 the gold medal for best steer or ox was won by Mr. Wm. Heath, for one bred by Mr. John Passmore. The silver cup for best steer or ox in 1862 was awarded to Mr. John Overman, for a Devon and Shorthorn «ross steer. Mr. W. Taylor had this trophy in 1870, for a Devon bred by Mr. E. Stranger. In 1870 and 1872 the silver cup for best cow or heifer was awarded to Mr. Trevor L. Senior, the breeder of the winner in the former year being the late Mr. C. Gibbs, and in the latter year Mr. Walter Farthing. No doubt the comparatively small size of the Devons militated against them in the champion contests at the Smithfield Club Show, at which for a considerable time the highest honours were awarded to the heaviest beasts. But with the greater favour for small, neat carcases the Devons now have a better chance of having credit given to them for their beautiful symmetry and rare quality. Thus, since 1876 the Devons have taken the champion honours of Smithfield three times — in 1876 the winner 358 DEVON CATTLE. ■was Mr. Samuel Kidner's grand steer, bred by himself ; in 1888 Mr. John Wortley's steer, bred by Mr. E. Bickle, •was the champion ; and in 1891 the trophy fell to Mr. John Wortley, for a steer bred by Mr. T. H. Eisdon. In 1885 Her Majesty the Queen's Devon heifer Baroness stood reserve as best female, and reserve as best animal in the Show, and in 1689 Mr. John Wortley's steer, bred by Mr. T. H. Eisdon, was the reserve as best steer in the Show. Boyal Agricultural Society of England. It will be convenient if we print here for reference the winners of first prizes in the adult classes for bulls and cows at the Shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, since the opening meeting at Oxford in 1839 : — 1839, OXFOED. Bulls.— M. Paull's Oxford 89, calved 1836, bred by the late "William Davy, Fhtton, sire Forester 46, dam bred by the late W. Davy ; granddam bred by Mr. Davy, and won a prjze at Exeter. Cows. — J. W. Peters' Countess 77, calved 1828, bred by F. Quartly, sire a brother of Pretty Maid 364, Silli- fant'sdam; dam Flower 187, by Prize. [Countess gained a prize as one of a dairy of cows at Exeter in 1833, and first prize as best cow at Exeter in 1844.] 1840, Cambeidge. Bulls. — Wm. Porter's Cambridge 12, calved in 1837, bred by Eichard Merson, North Molton ; sire, Brins- worthy, and grandsire, both bred by E. Merson ; dam and granddam bred by Mr. Davy, Flitton. Cows. — S. Umbers' five-year-old cow, bred by the late Mr. Talbot, Temple Guiting. 1841, Liveepool. Bulls. — Charles Gibbs' three years and four months old bull, bred by J, Fullerton. THE HEED BOOK J SHOWS ; AND SAXiES. 359 Cows. — Thomas. Umbers' five years and three months old cow, bred by the late George Talbot, Temple Guiting. 1842, Bristol. Bulls. — J. S. Bult's and J. Bond's Hundred Guinea 56, calved 1837, bred by John Quartly, sire Sillifant 120, dam Curly ,92, by Forester 46, granddam Mr. Quartly's Longhorned Curly. [Hundred Guinea also gained the following prizes : — First at Devon Agricul- tural Society at Exeter as a yearling, in 1838 ; first in 1839 as best old bull ; a silver cup at Taunton in 1840, and first at Tiverton in 1844.] Cows. — John Quartly's Pretty Maid 366, calved in 1835, bred by Francis Quartly, dam Curly 92, grand- dam Longhorned Curly. 1843, Debet. Bulls. — George Turner's Derby 23, calved 1840, bred by George Turner, Barton ; sire Hundred Guinea 66, grandsire Sillifant 120 ; dam Countess, bred by Eiohard Mogridge, MoUand. [Derby also gained first prize as a yearling bull at the Devon Agricultural Show. He was sold to the Earl of Aylesford.] Cows. — George Turner's cow. 1844, Southampton. Bulls. — George Turner's Prince of Wales 106, calved 1841, bred by George Turner, Barton ; sire Pasha, bred by Mr. Davy, North Molton ; grandsire Forester 46 ; dam Victoria 463, by Sillifant 120 ; granddam Lily, bred by Mr. Quartly. [Prince of Wales was sold to the French Government.] Cows. — George Turner's cow. 1845, Shbewsbuey. Bulls. — T. White Fouracre's bull, bred by Mr. Stacey, Dulverston. Cows. — James Quartly's cow, bred by himseK. 360 . devon cattle, 1846, Newcastle. Bulls. — George Turner's Protection 110, calved 1843, bred by George Turner, Barton, sire May Boy, grand- sire Hundred Guinea-56, dam Countess, bred by E. Mog- ridge, got by Forester 46. Cows. — T. White Fcfuracre's cow. 1847, NOBTHAMPTON. Bulls. — Thomas Bond's Northampton 86, calved in 1844, bred by E. Merson, North Molton. Cows. — Duke of Manchester's cow. 1848, YoEK. Bulls. — J. Hole's Champion 17, calved November, 1843, bred by James Hole, Knowle, Dunster, sire Hundred Guinea 56, dam Favourite, bred by F. Quartly, got by Sillifant 120. Cows. — Thomas Bond's cow. 1849, Norwich. Bulls. — James Quartly's Baronet 6, calved 1846, bred by James Quartly, Molland, sire Quartly's Prince of Wales 105, dam Beauty 20, by Hundred Guinea 56. Cows. — Earl of Leicester's cow. 1850, ExETEB. (123 entries of Devons.) Bulls. — George Turner's Duke of York 37, calved 1846, bred by James Quartly, sire Quartly's Prince of Wales 105, dam Picture, and granddam, bred by Mr. Quartly. Cows. — James Quartly's Beauty 21, calved 1845, bred by James Quartly, Molland, sire Symmetry 124, dam Beauty 20. iAt this show, James Quartly was first for two-year- bulls, also second for cows ; first for in-calf heifers, and second for yearling heifers ; John Quartly being second for two-year-old buUs, and first for yearUng heifers.]^ THE HERD book; SHOWS; AND SALES. 361 1851, WiNDSOE. Bulls. — John Quartly's Earl of Exeter 38, calved 1848, bred by John Quartly, Holland, sire Baronet 6, dam Cherry 66. Cows. — George Turner's cow, bred by himself. 1852, Lewes. Bulls. — S. Farthing's Lewes 226, bred by S. Far- thing, Stowey Court, sire Wonder, bred by Mr. Farthing, dam lored by Mr. Farthing. Cows. — S. Farthing's cow, bred by himself. 1853, Gloucestee. Bulls. — George Turner's Duke of Devon 34, calved October, 1850, sire Duke of York 37, dam Princess 382. Cows. — George Turner's Lady Wallflower. 1854, Lincoln. Bulls. — S. Farthing's Baronet 145, calved 1851, bred by S. Farthing, sire Baronet 6, dam Dairymaid. Cows. — S. Farthing's Beauty. 1855, Carlisle. Bulls. — J. Quartly's Napoleon 259, calved 1852, bred by James Quartly, sire Duke of Devonshire 35, dam Eosebud 402. Cows. — G. Turner's Lady Hawthorn. 1856, Chelmsfoed. Bulls. — John Quartly's Sultan 318, calved February, 1852, sire Earl of Exeter 38, dam Princess Eoyal 385. Cows. — James Quartly's Stately 1058, calved January, 1853, sire Earl of Exeter 38, dam Picture 342. 1857, Salisbury. Bulls. — James Davy's Napoleon III. 464, calved March, 1854, bred by James Davy, Flitton, sire Earl of Exeter 38, dam Curly 97. 362 DEVON CATTLE. Cows. — James Quartly's Graceful 759, calved January 1852, bred by James Quartly, Holland, sire Duke of Devonshire 35, dam Curly 93. 1858, Chestee. Bulls. — S. Umbers' Birmingham 147, bred by himself. Cows. — John Quartly's Picture 942, calved March, 1852, bred by John Quartly, Holland, sire Earl of Exeter 38, dam Beauty 29. [John Quartly's Milkmaid was second prize cow, and his Duke of Chester 404 first prize yearUng bull. James Quartly's Duchess of Chester 1299 was first prize yearling heifer.] 1859, Waewick. Bulls. — Walter Farthing's Sir Peregrine 722, calved January, 1857, bred by Sir A. A. Hood, Bart., sire Earl of Exeter 38, dam Miss York 300. Cows. — James Merson's Lovely 1461, calved Septem- ber, 1852, bred by E. Merson, Brinsworthy, sire bred by E. Herson, dam Dairymaid 634. 1860, Cantebbuey. Bulls. — T. & J. Palmer's Warrior 548, calved Harch, 1857, bred by James Quartly, sire bred by John Quartly, dam Hilkmaid 295. Cows. — Jas. Quartly's Bertha 1179, calved February, 1855, bred by James Quartly, sire Napoleon 259, dam Beauty 516. 1861, Leeds. Bulls. — J. Bodley's Perfection 688, calved June 1, 1858, bred by John Bodley, Stockley Pomeroy, sire Napoleon I. 462, dam Duchess 1292. Cows.— H.E.H. The Prince Consort's Ilex 1408, calved May 13, bred by H.E.H. The Prince Consort, sire The Zouave 556, dam Fancy 703. 1862, Batteesea (International). Bulls.— James Davy's Duke of Flitton 613, calved May, 1859, bred by James Davy, Flitton Barton, North THE HEED BOOK; SHOWS; AND SALES. 363 Molten, sire Napoleon 259, dam Lady Bess 820, grand- dam Curly 98. Duke of Flitton at this show also gained the gold medal as the best male Devon in any of the classes. Cows. — James Davy's Temptress 1672, calved May, 1856, bred by James Davy, Flitton Barton, North Mol- ten, sire Davy's Napoleon III. 464, dam Pink 955. Temptress at this show also won the gold medal as the best female Devon in any of the classes. 1863, WOECESTEE. Bulls. — S. P. Newbery's Prince Jerome, bred by S. P. Newbery, sire Napoleon, dam by Hundred Guinea 56. Cows. — J. A Smith's Eachel 2307, calved November 27, 1858, bred by Lord Portman, sire Palmerston 476, dam Eachel by Sherborne 119. 1864, Nbwcastlb-on-Tyne. Bulls. — Walter Farthing's Viscount 746, calved November, 1859, bred by Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, sire Sir Peregrine 722, dam Molly 902. Cows. — J. A. Smith's Young Goldcup 2449, calved October 2, 1859, bred by Lord Portman, sire Palmerston 476, dam Goldcup by Alderman 357. 1865, Plymouth. Bulls. — J. Sobey's Sobeiski 728, calved October 13, 1860, sire Duke of Chester 404, dam Brown 1196. . Cows. — J. Davy's Empress II., calved June, 1860, bred by James Davy, Flitton Barton, sire bred by Mr. Davy, and sent to Australia, dam Empress 1307. 1866, No Show. 1867, hoeses only shown. 1868, Leicestee. Bulls. — George Turner's Albert Victor 776, calved December, 22, 1864, bred by George Turner, sire Leotard 866, dam Vaudine 1699. 364 DEVON CATTLE. Cows. — J. A, Smith's Daisy 2621, bred by J. A. Smith, Bradford Peverell, sire Constitution 805, dam Daisy 1909. 1869, Manchestee. Bulls. — Walter Farthing's Master Alic 881, calved May 4, 1864, bred by Sir A. A. Hood, Bart., sire Vis- count 746, dam Lily, bred by Sir A. A. Hood. Cows. — James Davy's Actress 1749, calved May, 1860, bred by James Davy, sire Palmerston 476, dam Temptress 1762. 1870, OxPOED. BtJLLS. — Walter Farthing's Master Arthur 882, calved April 26, 1867, bred by Sir A. A. Hood, sire Master Alic 881, dam Miss Battersea by Sir Peregrine 722. Cows.— W. Smith's Musk 2883, calved 1865, bred by Mr. Shapland, North Molton, sire Alabama 774, dam Pink 2234. 1871, WOLVEBHAMPTON. Bulls. — J. H. Buller's bull, bred by himself. Cows. — W. Taylor's Profit's Duchess 2986, calved July 16, 1865, bred by W. Taylor, Glynley, Sussex, sire Duke of Flitton 613, dam Profit 2288. 1872, Caedifp. Bulls. — .James Davy's Duke of Flitton 5th 1069, calved October, 1868, bred by James Davy, sire The President 904, dam Actress 1749. Cows.— J. A. Smith's Picture 3rd 2923, calved Sept. 22, 1867, bred by J. A. Smith, Bradford Peverell, sire Augustus 778, dam Picture, granddam Honest 2757. 1873, Hull. Bulls. — Viscount Falmouth's Jonquil 1131, calved Sept. 5, 1868, bred by Viscount Falmouth, Tregothnan, sire Sunflower 937, dam Picture 4th 2224. Cows. — T. Lee Senior's Moss Eose 3716, calved March 25, 1868, bred by Mr. Wilkinson, Isle of Wight, THE HEED BOOK ; SHOWS ) AND SALES. 365 sire Island Prince 862, dam Modesty, bred by Mr. Wilkinson. 1874, Bedfoed. Bulls.— Walter Farthing's Master Harry 1161, calved December 8, 1869, bred by Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, sire Master Arthur 882, dam Lofty 2143. Cows. — J. A. Smith's Picture 3768, calved September 16, 1871, bred by J. A. Smith, Bradford Peverell, sire Duke of York 1085, dam Picture 2nd, 2922. 1875, Taunton. Bulls. — Walter Farthing's Master Eobin 1162, calved July 3, 1871, bred by Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, sire Master Arthur 882, dam Verbena 2421. Cows. — Mrs. Maria Langdon's Lovely Queen 2846, calved June, 1866, bred by James Davy, Flitton Barton, sire Admiral 771a, dam Princess 2nd 2276. 1876, Birmingham. Bulls. — Walter Farthing's Master Eobin 1162. Cows. — Walter Farthing's Prettyface 3803, calved December 21, 1872, bred by Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, sire Lovely's Duke 1152, dam Prettyface 3804. 1877, LivEEPOOL. Bulls. — -Viscount Falmouth's The Only Jones 1468, calved October 18, 1873, bred by Viscount Falmouth, Tregothnan, sire Arthur 997, dam Photograph 3758. Cows.— Walter Farthing's Prettyface 3803. 1878, Bristol. Bulls. — Viscount Falmouth's Sirloin 1443, calved October 8, 1874, bred by Viscount Falmouth, sire Lord of the Valley 1150, dam Peach 2905a. Cows.— Walter Farthing's Prettyface 3803. 1879, KiLBUEN (International). Bulls. — Lord Falmouth's Sirloin 1443. At this show the champion prize for best Devon 366 . DEVON CATTLE. bull was awarded to Walter Farthing's Lord Newshafn 1391, who was first in the two year old class. He was calved November 4, 1876, bred by Walter Farthing, sire Master James 1404, dam Famous 4448. Cows. — Walter Farthing's Prettyface 3803. [To Prettyface was awarded the champion prize as best female Devon.] 1880, Carlisle. Bulls. — Viscount Falmouth's Master Molesworth 1612, calved July 14, 1876, bred by Viscount Falmouth, sire Master Flitton 1160, dam Christmas Eose 3280. Cows. — Mrs. Maria Langdon's Temptress 8th 5001, calved May, 1876, bred by Mrs. Maria Langdon, Flitton Barton, sire Duke of Flitton 10th 1074, dam Temptress 5th 3963. 1881, Derby. Bulls. — Viscount Falmouth's Sir Michael 1646, calved September 17, 1877, bred by Viscount Falmouth, sire Sirloin 1443, dam Water Lily 5050. Cows. — A. C. Skinner's Famous 2nd 5289, calved October 17, 1877, bred by Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, sire Master Willie li63, dam Famous 4448. 1882, Beading. Bulls. — Viscount Falmouth's Sir Michael 1646. Cows. — John Bradbeer's Nellie, bred by himself. 1883, York. Bulls. — William Perry's Druid 1317, calved October 8, 1877, bred by Wm. Perry, Alder, sire Dalesman 1310, dam Dewdrop 3392. Cows. — A. C. Skinner's Myrtle 7th 5544, calved March 4, 1879, bred by A. C. Skinner, Pound Farm, sire The Shah 1230, dam Myrtle Ist 4765. 1884, Shrewsbury. Bulls. — William Perry's Benedict 1504, calved Sep- THE HEED BOOK ; SHOWS ; AND SALES. » 367 tember, 1810, bred by Wm. Perry, Alder, sire Druid 1317, dam Bracelet 8229a. Cows. — Jobn Howse's Daisy 4th 5224, calved April 30, 1880, bred by John Howse, Leighland, sire Nelson 1413, dam Daisy 1st 4360. 1885, Peeston. Bulls. — William Perry's Benedict 1504. Cows. — Sir W. Williams' Frolicsome 5876, calved January 6, 1882, bred by Sir W. Williams, Bart., Heanton, sire Jonquil 2ad, 1577, dam Temptress 4th 3962. 1886, NoEwiCH. Bulls. — John Walter's Young English Gentleman 1869, calved September 8, 1883, bred by Walter Farth- ing, sire Gentleman 1566, dam Velveteen 5702. Cows.— A. C. Skinner's Moss Eose 8th 7017, calved February 5, 1881, bred bv Walter Farthing, sire Lord Stowey 1601, dam Moss Eose 5th 4758. 1887, Newcastle. Bulls. — Viscount Falmouth's Lord Wolseley 2063, calved January 8, 1884, bred by Viscount Falmouth, sire Cairo 1690, dam Eemembrance 3882. Cows. — A. C. Skinner's Moss Eose 8th 7017. 1888, Nottingham. Bulls. — Viscount Falmouth's Lord Wolseley 2063. Cows. — Sir Wm. Williams' Fairmaid 9351, calved February 16, 1884, sire Duke of Fhtton 17th 1544, dam Oentle 5878. 1889, WiNDSOE (Jubilee Show). Bulls. — Viscount Falmouth's Lord Wolseley 2063. {This bull also won the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society's champion prize as best male Devon.) Cows. — Sir Wm. WiUiams' Flower 2nd 9355 calved June 2, 1886, bred by Sir Wm. Williams, Heanton, 368 DEVON CATTLE. sire Eclipse 1728, dam Flower 8th 4502. (Flower QnA also gained Her Majesty the Queen's gold medal as best Devon, and the Devon Cattle Breeders' Society's champion prize as best female Devon). 1890, PLyMOUTH. BxjLLS. — J. C. Williams' Marmaduke 2280, calved November 21, 1885, bred by William Perry, sire Bravo 1686, dam Mouse 8791. Cows.— Sir Wm. Williams' Flower 2nd 9355. 1891, DONCASTEE. Bulls. — Sir Wm. Williams' Captain 2204, calved October 14, 1887, bred by Sir W. Williams, Bart., Heanton, sire Foreman 1968, dam Georgina 5879. Cows.— Sir Wm. Williams' Flame 3rd 9932, calved March 2, 1887, bred by Sir Wm. Williams, Bart., Heanton, sire Eclipse 1728, dam Famous 4th 5291. 1892, Waewick. Bulls.— Sir Wm. Williams' Pretty Middling 2859, calved October 18, 1889, bred by Viscount Falmouth, sire Lord Wolseley 2068, dam Quadrille 5800. Cows.— Sir Wm. Williams' Fiction 2nd 11108, calved April 9, 1889, bred by Sir Wm. Williams, Heanton, sire Foreman 2nd 1969, dam Fiction 9352. SALES, Devon breeders have been saved from the temptations and dangers that sometimes arise from the fictitious value of pedigree stock. The whole record of sales extending over a century affords no instance of what could be accurately described as extravagant prices, the market for pedigree Devons never having been inflated by "booms," either from wealthy amateurs at home or from speculative buyers abroad. It has already been stated that the first authenticated export of the breed to the United States consisted of a presentation lot THE HEBD BOOK ; SHOWS ; AND SALES. 369 sent out by Lord Leicester. The Devons were favour- ably received in America, and they have spread widely over the Eastern States, but they have been culti- vated on strictly business lines, and the American supporters have never attempted to make a "corner" in the "Eubies." We think they would find it very beneficial if they were more frequently to import fresh blood in order to keep up the type and character of the breed. The fact remains that the history of the Devons will not contain a list of sensational prices. And yet we question if any other breed can point to a more steady and remunerative trade over an equally long period of time. If Devon breeders have not been conspicuous on the crest of the wave, neither have they been engulfed in the resulting trough of depression. The best specimens of good strains of blood have, even in the darkest times of agricultural distress, maintained an added value that has proved satisfactory to breeders, and rewarded them for the care and trouble which they have expended upon the management of their herds. The breeding of this race of cattle has been conducted as a rule upon utilitarian principles. Thus, though the Devons have not had the adventitious aid of abnormally high prices (which is generally a fleeting notoriety), they have had the more substantial advantage of a steady range of values, given usually by one practical farmer breeder to another. Among the earlier sales there are few that stand out on account of large individual quotations or high averages, although these auctions possess historical interest as indicating the distribution of representatives of choice strains. A few of these will be summarised. The sales at Fhtton Barton, Stowey Court, Alder, Tregothnan, Bourton Hall, and Pound Farm are noteworthy for ex- ceptional prices, the high water mark having, so far, been reached at the sale of the late Lord Falmouth's herd, when an excellent average and several very high indi- vidual prices were obtained. At some of the sales of old herds in Somersetshire and Dorsetshire the prices paid in public competition were also above the ordinary run. 24 370 DEVON CATTLE. . It shoiild be mentioned that the Devon Herd Book con- tains a record of many important sales that have occurred since 1850, so that minute details regarding these public auctions of the breed are rendered superfluous here, and we shall record briefly only what may be described as historical sales : — Ghampson Sale, 1836. On March 16, 1836, the Ghampson herd was sold by auction. The following report appeared in the Farmers' Magazine: — "On Wednesday, March 16, the sale by auction of the farming stock of Mr. Francis Quartly, of Molland, took place, and as a breed of pure North Devon cattle it had acquired such celebrity that it was attended not only by a great number of gentlemen amateur breeders of Devon and the adjoining districts, but it also attracted several from Norfolk and other counties. Mr. Quartly's breed of cattle have for many years been considered as pre-eminent, of the correctness of which there can no longer remain the least doubt, from the great and unparalleled prices for which they have now been sold. The twenty-one-months-old-bull, which obtained the SiUifant prize at Exeter in November last, was sold for 97 guineas ; another bull, eighteen months old, fetched 83 guineas ; one cow made 53 guineas ; ten cows were sold for 371^ guineas; one two-year-old heifer went' for 50| guineas; another for 30 guineas; and another for 28 guineas ; one yearUng heifer sold for 23 guineas ; one for 18^ ; one for 18 ; and one for 17^ ; and one heifer calf for 214 guineas. Curly (the admired cow) sold for 53 guineas ; she was the dam of the highest-priced bull; the heifer calf also sold for 21^ guineas. The above stock of cattle consisted of 73 head, 15 of which were calves, and, together they pro- duced the sum of £1,621 13s. 6d., prices unprecedented in the county. Several lots were purchased for His Graca the Duke of Norfolk ; as were others for Mr. Coke, of Holkham ; many lots were also bought by different gentlemen in Cornwall and Somerset, and many of the THE HEBD BOOK ; SHOWS ; AND SALES. 371 very prime blood were purchased and retained on the farm by Mr. John Quartly, who succeeds his uncle." Thanks to the courtesy of Mr. Henry Quartly, we are enabled to furnish particulars of this sale : — Description. Purdiaaer, Price. £ a. d. Bull, 21 months old Baker . . . . 101 17 Bnll, 18 months old Reynolds . . . . 87 3 Bull, 12 months-old Bulmer . . . . 27 IB U CoitJS. Duchess Green .. .. 31 10 Conntess Pester .. .. 42 Darling .. .. Burgess .. .. 22 Total SneU .. .. 23 12 li Fancy Eeynolds ,. .. 18 13 Cherry Tapp .. .. 19 19 Comely Bulmer .. .. 32 11 Young Sprightly , .. Passmore .. .. 15 fi Flower Passmore , , . . 36 15 Favourite Reynolds .. 37 16 Dairymaid Bulmer .. .. 39 7 Famous Tapp . . . . 17 6 G Graceful Tapp . . . . S6 15 Stately Hnxtable.. 17 17 Sprightly Hnxtable . . . . 29 8 Brown IBeauty Hoxtatla .. .. 23 17 (> Prottymaid Hnxtable . . . . 30 19 C Lovely Merson . . . . 16 16 Curly Bf ynolds . . . . 55 13 Comfort Pester . . . . 26 15 Old Dairymaid . . Foote . . 39 18 Yonng Iteirymaid Mathews . . 16 5 6 Nonpareil . . . . . . , . Green . . . . 37 16 Madam SneU . . . . IS 7 Damsel . . Burgess . . . . 19 19 Marchioness Gibbons . .. 18 7 6 No. Two-years-old 1. Heifer ..• .. Gibbons .. .. 29 IS li 2. Ditto .. . Baker .. .. 21 10 6 3. Ditto Merson .. .. 8 8 4. Ditto Baker . . . . 31 10 5. Ditto Baker .. .. 10 6. Ditto Merson . . . . 25 14 « 7. Ditto Tapp . . . . 53 8. Ditto .. .. .. Baker .. .. 7 Yea^iiri/js. 1. Heifer Yearling Tapp . . . . 2* 3 2. Ditto Aeland .. .. 9 19 (3 3. Ditto Aeland .. 8 4. Ditto Merson . . . . 18 7 6 a. Ditto Tapp . . . . 12 6. Ditto Merson . . . . 19 8 « 7. Ditto . . Tapp . . . . 8 18 6 8. Ditto . . Arming . . . . 5 15 9. Ditto Hole . . . . 16 16 10. Ditto Aeland .. .. 5 15 6 11. Ditto Tally .. .. IS » d72 DEVON CATTLE. Calves. Price. No. Description. Purchaser. £, s. d- 1. HeiferCalf Fassmore . 22 11 & 2. Ditto Reynolds . 4 6 3. Calf out of Whiteloclc Dunn 7 15 4. Ditto Burgess . 3 7 6 5. Ditto Dunn 6 6. Ditto Dunn 4 12 G 7. Ditto Coles 8 5 8. Ditto Hancock . 7 9. Calf out of Flower Coles 10 16 10. Ditto Roberts 7 10 11. Ditto Tapp 6 6 12. Ditto Cole 9 13. Ditto Huxtable . 8 14. Ditto Huxtable . G 10 15. Ditto Bulmer 8 18 & As has been said, several lots were secured, for Mr. John Quartly, but inasmuch as his name does not appear amongst the list of purchasers, it is somewhat doubtful which they were. In Colonel Davy's paper on " The Eise and Progress of the Devon Breed of Cattle," we find the following statement by Mr. John Quartly: — " At my uncle's sale in 1836, I bought one bull calf, six cows, five heifers and two heifer calves." Champson Sale, 1849. For a great number of years the Champson herd had been bred within itself, or with the occasional use of a bull belonging either to Mr. John Quartly's father or to his brother James. The herd increased and multiplied so much, that in 1849 a sale was held. As only a part of the particulars are given in the Supplement, we print the list in full. The sale took place on September 18th, 1849, Mr. John Mogridge, auctioneer. Vows. Price. Lot. Description. Purcliaser. Guineas. 1. Quartly, Jas 41 •2. Quartly, Jas 86 3. Unsold 4. Turner 30 5. Turner 30J G. Carey 37 7. Unsold 8. Carey 82 9. Quartly 30 10. Mogridge 27 11. Curly 92 Unsold THE HERD BOOK ; SHOWS ; AND SALES. 373 Caivs. Price. Lot. Description. Purchaser. Guineas. 12. Turner 27 13. Anstey 31 14. Anstey 25 1^. Davey . . . . . . 19 IB. Smale 20 17. Carey 17 18. Carey 23 19. Turner 15* 20. Cole 18i 21. Cole 18 Hufcn in Coif, 1. Hole 30i 2. Pester 2(i 3. Pester 315 4. Smith 43 j. Lord Leicester . . . . 22 B. Pester 30 7. Hole 21i 8. Northey 20i '■). Southcombe, Jas. . . 34 10. Perry isj EitjhUen-moiblhs-old Heifers in CcUf. 1. . . Anstey 37 2. Partridge . . , . 30 3. Smith 21 Heifer Yearlings. 1. Duekham .. .. 17i 2. Gough 3.5 3. Pester 17 4. Lord Leicester .. .. 20 0. Olive 13J Heifer Cctlves. 1. Partridge 30 2. Davy 15J 8. Turner 11} BuUs. 1. Quartly, Jas 35 2. Anstey 28 3. Parsons 24 4. Unsold 5. Nichols l(i 6. Unsold Bldl Calves. 1. Morle, T. B 42 a. Name not given . . . . 18} 3. Unsold ■4. Name not given .. .. 9 5. Name not given ., ., 9} 374 DEVON CATTLE. Ghampson Sale, 1860. Another sale took place at Ghampson on September 20th, 1860 (Messrs. Ellis & Son, auctioneers), when 35 head of cattle were offered. Lot. 1. Brown ,. 2. Beauty .. 3. Peace and Plenty 4. Picture ._ 5. Graceful.. 6. Flower . . 7. Famous .. 8. Lily 9. Curly .. 10. Buttercup 11. Daisy 12. Lady 13. Boxer 14. Bracelet . . 15. Dolly .. l(i. Dainty . . Description. Cows, Price. Purchaser. Guineas,. Soulby 37i Hole.Jas 2S TheQueen 40 Anstey, S 41 Soulby 30 Halse, P Austey, S Halse, I Halse, I Palmer 25t Anstey, S 30 Soulby 25 Clarke 25 Balnrnn 19 Clarke 21 Balman ITJ 51 IT 23 17. Dairymaid IS. Heifer .. 19. Ditto 20. Ditto 21. Ditto .. 22. Ditto 23. Ditto 24. Ditto. .. Heifers in Calf, The Queen . . . . 25 Turner 37 WaiTen 25 Northey 20 Visct. Falmouth.. .. 21 Unsold Jackman 20^ Palmer .. .. IS 25. Heifer 26. Ditto 27. Ditto 28. Ditto Heifer Yearlings, TheQueen .. .. 24 Anstey 18 Visct. Falmouth . . . . 84 The Queen . . . . 20 Bulk. 29. Duke of Chester 30. Bull 31. Bull Calf 32. Ditto 38. Ditto . . ' ■ . . 34. Ditto .. 35. Ditto Visct. Falmouth. Risdou Milton Wan-en Smith Halse, P. . . Pcarce 84 20 10 S 20i 10 Ghampson Sale, 1870. The final sale took place in 1870, particulars of which appeafin Supplenient of the Devon Eferd Book. The sale was held on September 13, 1870. Mr. Henry Ellis, auctioiieer.. THE HEED BOOK ; SHOWS : AND SALES. 375 Description. Famous 1965 Cheny2567 Bringgood 1817 Lily 2826 Primrose 2258 Playful 2938.. Spincly 3046 Jenny Linrt 2770 . . Flower 2708 . . Pink 2931 .. Dainty 2609 Brown 2541 . . Graceful 2730 Fancy 2687 Boxer 2530 . . Handsome 2738 Tulip 3082 Snowdrop 3042 Lovely 2843 Peace and Plenty 2905 . . Heifers and Heifer Calves from Chainpson 1035 Excelsior Quartly 1197 Frank Quartly 1107 Harry Quartly 1118 Cows and heifers. Purcliaser. Walter Farthing W. Smith .. W. Perry . . B. B. Wani-n W. Short . . W. Short . . G. Turner . . Mr. Julyan John Tapp Mr. Henry J. Tapp . . Bobert Smith John Tapp Mr. Julyan Mr. Jutaum J. Tapp G. Turner . . .T. Tapp . . G. Turner . . E. B. Warren Price. Guineas. .. 23 .. 31 ,. 17i 35 . 25 2U .: 2ol 30' . 20 . 25i . 18i . 36 20 . 25 . 20 . 21 18 . 20 IB . 40 . 30 to 7 Btllh. W. Perry . . Mr. Bobert'S Walter Farthing. . Viscount. Portman Viscount Portman Hi 10' 15i 15 TJie late Mr. Henry Quartly's Sale, West Molland, 1840. A sale of this herd took place in September, 1840, and from the Devon and Exeter Daily Gazette the follovring report is gleaned : — " Important and unprecedented sale of North Devon stock at Holland. — The celebrated unrivalled stock of cattle, the property of the late Mr. Henry Quartly, and the renown of' his bullocks had spread over every part of England and Wales, were sold by auction without the least reserve on the 17th inst., and realised prices never known in this or any other adjoining county, except those of his brother, Mr. Francis Quartly, and whose sale of cattle took place about four years since. This superior stock has for the last 15 years been under the sole care and management of the late Mr. Quartly's eldest son, Mr. James Quartly, who continues the occupa- tion of the farm. The great perfection to which he has brought the cattle and other stock during that period reflects no small credit upon this young yeoman, who by 376 DEVON CATTLE. fair and open competition has secured about 20 of the most pure and superior bred animals of this noted herd, from which there can be no doubt that in a very few years, by his acute and discriminating judgment, aided by his skill and management, he will raise a stock equal, if not superior, to that splendid lot now disposed of. This memorable sale was very largely and most respect- ably attended, many persons being present from the upper counties, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Warwick, Berk- shire, Hampshire, &c., &c., and among them was the steward of the Earl of Leicester and two of his lordship's tenants, who purchased 19 of the bullocks. Some of them also are gone into Warwick and Berkshire. There were likewise some spirited customers from Cornwall, as well as the neighbourhood of Exeter. A cow and a yearling heifer were purchased by one of these at £100 2s., and in all eleven of the bullocks will go into that county. "It was calculated that there were not fewer than 1,000 agriculturists present. " The auctioneer gave proof of his perfect knowledge of his business, and the biddings were spirited. Indeed, to show that there was nothing like lagging in the work we may mention that the sale commenced at half-past one, and the whole 90 bullocks, 17 horses and 900 sheep were sold in less than four hours. The 900 sheep were sold in lots of 20 and less, and were all knocked down in the short space of half-an-hour." From the Flying Post, September 24, 1840. Auctioneer, Mr. Thos. Hussey, Waybrook. Lot. , £ B. i ^ 14 ?3 H J M e ■gg= p- 1 "Ss oiTi i"- 2 F^ £ Henry, 23 February, 4 May, 1840. rried Betty, f John Black arracoinbe. i -SQ -So o ■s -fi t-cc Oi tiO iS p X)'^ n a abci; -C! 5R-2 « p 01 02*5? ^-25^ — to •3_ or^ N O P ^ 388 DEVON CATTLE. lu 1801 a silver tea pot was av\rarded to Mr. Francis Quartly for ploughing 60 acres of land with the double furrow plough in a new district by the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society. The tea pot bears the following inscription: — "Bath and West of England Society. To Francis Quartly, Esq., for ploughing 60 acres of land with the double furrow plough in a new district, 1801." Pebsentation to Me. Feancis Quaetly. In 1850, the public, to mark their indebtedness to Mr. Francis Quartly, presented him with a full length por- trait of himself, standing by the side of the cow Cherry 66. Mr. Acland, who made the presentation, said the artist had in the picture told the story of the man. The peculiar character of that breed of stock was shown in the calf, and the familiar way in which it approaches its owner and licks his hand is the response of the lower orders of creation when treated with kindness by man ; but above all, said Mr. Acland, the picture embodies the manly character, the modesty, and singleness of mind of the plain English yeoman. Further, Mr. Quartly was most highly complimented on his success as a breeder of North Devon cattle. These remarks failed in drawing a speech from this distinguished breeder. He briefly thanked them for their compliment, drank their healths, and expressed the hope that if he had done anything to improve the North Devon breed his efforts would be followed up by other people, and the breed would be still further improved. INDEX. 389 INDEX. Aboriginal British Cattle, 2. Acland, SirT. D., on F. Quartly's Cattle, 50. Ages of Devons, 307. Alteration of Colour in Cattle, 13. American Experience, 308, 314. American Herds, 262. Antiquity of Devons, 16. Australia, Devons in, 279. Bath and West of England Society, 353. Beef, Quality of, 301. Berry, Rev. H., on Devons, 56. Berry, Rev. H., on Native Breeds, 17. Blomfield, Mr. Wm., 67, 82. Body of Beef, 304. Bos Longifrons, 2. Bos Urus, 2. Breeders, Early Historical, 42. Calf rearing. Systems of, in Various Herds, 320. Cattle, Ancient, 2. Champson Herd, 44, 95, 172. Champson Sale, 370. Characteristics of the Breed, 288. Chick, Mr. Thos., on Dorset Herds, 86. ChUde, Wm., of Kinlet HaU, 53. ChilUngham Cattle, 5. Coke, Mr. (Earl of Leicester), 80. Colour of Cattle, 11, 13. Cornwall, Devons in, 90. Crossing, Devons for, 808. Culley, on Devons, 22. Curly 92, 55, 95. Dairies in Dorset, 84, 312. Dairy Letting, 84, 312. Davy, Col. J. T., and the Herd Book, 349. Davy's Devon Herd Book, 349. Davy Family, 99. Davy's, Mr. W., Herd, 59. Davfkins, Prof. Boyd, on Domes- ticated Cattle, 7, 17. Description of Body of Beef, 304. Description of Devons (A. Young) , 28, 46, 289. Description of Devons (Devon Cattle Breeders' Society), 292. Description of Devons (Col. J. T. Davy), 292. Description of Devons (Mr. George Turner's), 291. Devon Cattle Breeders' Society, 351. Devon Cattle, Early References to, 17. Devon Cattle, Origin of, 1. Devons at London Christmas Market, 303. Devons at Shows, 352. Devons in Australia, 279. Devons in Cornwall, 90. Devons in U.S.A., 93, 262. Devon Type, Origin of, 20. Dorset Dairies, 84, 312. Dorset, Devons in, 84 Dorset Herds, Mr. T. Chick on, 86. Early Historical Breeders, 42. Existing Herds in England, 141. Falmouth, Viscount, 113. Family, the Quartly, 887. Famous Old Herds, 95. Farthing, Walter, of Stowey Court, 108. Feeding Experiments, 299. Feeding, Methods of, 320. Forester 46, 53, 59. Fraser, Robert, on Devon Cattle, 23. 390 INDEX. Garrard, George, on Devon Cattle, 34. Gibbs, Robert, of Oothel- stone, 65, 77. Grazing Devona, 305. Greendale Herd, 200. HolMiam, Devona at, 67, 80, 127. Herds — Alder, 123. Aller, 144. Alleroott, 70, 129. t Barton, 104. Bathealton Court, 145. Bearwood, 136. Berwick, 146. Bickham, 146. Bickley Farm, 147. Bidwell Barton, 150. Bishops Nympton, 129. Blable, 152. Blagdon House, 154. Blagroves Farm, 154. Boode House, 156. Bourton Hall, 133. Bradford Peverell, 87. Bradstone Hall, 157. Brinsworthy, 106. Biyanston, 163. BucWaud, 78. Buckland House, 165. Burch, 166. Caerhays Castle, 253. Castle Hill, 169. Champson, 45, 95, 172. Chevithome, 175 Childe Okeford, 177. OMlfrome, 178. Clampit Fjtrm, 180. Compton Pauucefoot, 89. Gompton Valence, 183. Cophall, 108. Cothelstone, 65, 77. Court Barton, 184. Cowgrove Farm, 187. Crichel, 188. Herds (continued) — Culverhay, 189. Currypool, 126. Cutsey, 78, 132. Dodington Hall, 192. Dunster, 193. Dunster Castle, 71. East Coombe, 194. Escott Farm, 195. Farringdon House, 135. Farrington, 199. Pennington, 197. Flemish Farm(Windaor) 141 Flitton, 60, 99. Golsoncott, 200. Government Farm, Prince- town, 196. Great House, 69. Greendale, 200. Halse, 77, 205. Heanton, 209. Heligan, 91. Hockworthy, 213. Holoombe Court, 214. Holkham, 67, 80, 127. Holnicote, 74. Homsbay, 215. Jews Farm, 130. Kinlet HaU, 53. Knigbtshayes Court, 217. Knowle, 74, 120. Leighland, 73. Leigh Barton, 218. Little Bredy, 219. Longlands, 107. Lower Amble, 220. Lydeard House, 13S. Lytohett, 132. MoUand, 220. Monkleigh, 221. New Bam, 87. INDEX. 391 Herds {contimied) — Old Cleeve, 221. Patshull, 137. Pound, 221. Prixford House, 228. Quantock Lodge, 229. Rhode Farm, 231. Rugland, 231. Sheldons, 231. Stamborough House, 233. St. Audries, 73. Stockley Pomeroy, 117. Stowey Court, 78, 108. Stratton, 235. Sydenham, 238. Tale House, 241. The Lodge, Durston, 242. Thurloxton, 242. Toller Pratrum, 88. Toller Whelme, 86, 138. Townleigh, 244. Trebartha Hall, 90. Tregidgio, 92, 245. Tregothnan, 113. Twitohen, 128. Upoott, 248. Wappenbury, 128. Wareham, 128. Washford, 250. Werrington Park, 253. West Clyst, 258. West MoUand, 49, 95. Whiterow, 258. Whitstoue Head, 259. Withycombe, 260. Wralton, 261. Hancock Messrs., of Halse, 77. Herd Book, 349. Herds in Foreign Countries and the Colonies, 262. Her Majesty the Queen's Herd, 141 HolkhamSheepShearing,Devons at, 353. Hundred Guinea 56, 96. Importation of Cattle, 18. Kidner, Mr. Samuel, on Somer- setshire Herds, 75. Lawrence John,on Devon Cattle, 35. Leicester, Earl of, 80. Longevity of Devons, 307. Longhomed Curly,, 65. Low, Professor, on Domesti- cated Cattle, 3. Low, Professor, on Devons, 7. Marshall,Wm., on Devon Cattle, 24. Management, Systems of : — Mr. Stephen Bailey, 342. Mr. E. Biokle, 326. Mr. C. Birmingham, 331. Mr. W. Bond, 345. Mr. J. Bucknell, 340. Mr. E. Case, 341. Mr. John Chick, 336. Mr. T. Chick, 321. Mr. J. P. Chissell, 337. Mr. N. Cook, 332. Mr. H. Farthing, 336. Mr. H. Gorges Moysey, 346. Messrs. G. D. and H. C. Hancock, 341. Mr. Jas. Haynes, 336. Mr. J. House, 341. Mr. S. Kidner, 325. Mr. J. C. Kidner, 337. Mr. W. Kidner, 338. Mr. W. Lean, 343. Mr. A. S. Lovelace, 333. Mr. C. Meuhinick, 344. Mrs. Merson, 338. Mr. P. J. Merson, 347. Mr. E. Mucklow, 345. Mr. W. Oatway, 342. Mr. E. Palmer, 345. Mr. S. A. Passmore, 346. 392 INDEX. Management, Systems of {con- tinued) — Mr. W. S. Perry, 326. Mr. P. E. Pope, 329. Mr. Chas. Pratt, 347. Mr. J. Quartly Tapp, 335. Mr. John Risdon, 323. Mr. T. H. Risdon, 324. Mr. G. Risdon, 339. Mr. A. 0. Skinner, 320. Mr. W. Stevens, 335. Mr. R. J. Stranger, 329. Mr. W. H. Tremaine, 334. Mr. A. Watt, 329. Mr. J.C.Williams,M.P.,322. Measurements of Devons, 306. Metropolitan Cattle Market, 303. Milking Properties, 309, 314. Moore, Rev. Thomas, on Devon Cattle, 40. Newbery,Mr.S.P.,on I)evons,121 Origin of the Devon Breed, 1. Owen, Sir Robert, on British Fossil Mammals, 10. Parkinson, Richard, on Devon Cattle, 39. Parsons, James White, and the Indian Cross, 62. Perry, Mr. Wm., 123, 305. Percentage of Carcase to Live Weight, 302. Polwhele, Rev. Richard, on Devon Cattle, 31. Presentation to Mr. Francis Quartly. 388. Prices for Devons, 368. Prices of Devon Beef, 304. Prize 108, 53. Prizes won by Devons, 352. Quartly, Francis, 42. Quartly, Francis, Sir T. D. Acland on, 50. Quartly, Henry, 58. Quartly, James, 96. Quartly. John, 95, 172. Queensland Experience, 309. Red Cattle inlreland in 1580, 21 Risdon, Mr. John, on Somerset- shire Herds, 68. Rodd, Francis Hearle, 91. Royal Agricultural Society's Shows, Devons at, 358. Salers Bread, 12. Sales of Devons, 368. Shows, Devons at, 352. SUlifant 120, 58, 96. Size of Devons, 298. Smithfield Club Shows, Devons at, 352, 354. Somersetshire Herds, Mr. S. Kidner on, 75. Somersetshire Herds, Mr. John Risdon on, 68. SomervUle, Lord, on Devon Cattle, 26. Storer, Rev. John, on Wild White Cattle, 6, 8. Stevens, Mr. J. C. Moore, on the Breed, 296. System of Dairy Letting, 84, 312. Systems of Management, 320. Temptress 1672, 101. Treby, Paul Treby, on Devon Cattle, 23. Tremayne, Mr. John, on Devons in Cornwall, 91. Turner, George, of Barton, 104. United States, Devons in, 93, 262, 314. Vancouver, Chas., on Devon Cattle, 38. Weights of Devons, 300. Young, Arthur, on Devon Cattle, 26. Young, Arthur, Visit to P, Quartly, 4S. Young's, Arthur, Description of Dovons, 40, 289.