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as one of the earliest English breeds. Even in Vancouver's Report of the Farming of Devonshire (1808) they are mentioned "as an important breed of animals, active at work, and their aptitude to fatten unrivalled." Their natural locality is around North and South Molton; but they diverge from this neighbourhood in every direction, more especially to the eastward, where we find the Wiveliscombe and West Somerset classes of Devons; they then merge into other breeds, or are changed by climate and circumstance. The true type of the "old Devon" is peculiar to North Devon. Here they have long revelled in their bracing yet humid air, where nature clothes them in early autumn with dark curly coats, well adapted to their native home at the foot of the Exmoor mountain range.

They were amongst the earliest breeds to be removed from the home of their fathers; but they did not enjoy themselves on distant soils in equal ratio with other breeds, especially when destined to consume artificial food for the purposes of a corn farm; yet, as converters of vegetable into animal food-breed against breed-they were found to return as much per acre, or for weight of food consumed, as any other breed.

The Devon steer is described even from early times as being much sought after by the graziers and dealers from the Midland and South Midland counties. Vancouver states (1808) that the Devons were then declining in their general standard of excellence and numbers. He traces it to "the great demand which has been made for these cattle from other parts of England, where the purchasers (Mr. Coke and others) spare neither pains nor price to obtain those of the highest proof and beauty. Great merit is due to the late Mr. Francis Quartly, of Molland, who perceived that the best animals were being drawn from their native soil, and systematically purchased the choicest cows he could procure. Mr. T. D. Acland, in his 'Report of the Farming of West Somerset,' makes honourable mention of Mr. Quartly's patriotic and successful exertions.

It is to Captain J. T. Davy that Devon breeders are indebted for the Devon Herd-book.' He published his first volume in 1851, the second in December, 1854, and the third in 1858. It is admitted that these volumes contain a faithful report of the pedigrees of the greater number, if not all, of the best Devons. The fact that these Herd-books have been republished in the United States is strong corroborative evidence of their value.

The Devons were not well represented either by numbers or general quality; yet there was a sufficiency of good animals in each class to represent the true type of the Devon cattle.

CLASS 1. Bulls above 3 years old.-There were only 2 entries,

the "silver cup" being awarded to Mr. Thomas Webber for a bull bred by himself. This bull was deservedly admired, but the lack of competition in the class was unfortunate, more especially as a great display is usually made in it.

CLASS 2. Bulls under 3 years old: 4 entries.-These were useful animals, but not very brilliant as specimen beasts.

CLASS 3. Bulls under 2 years.-In this class were 9 entries, which were collectively of average quality and cast. A few of them may appear again at future gatherings, especially the first-class prize bull, exhibited by Mr. Merson, North Molton. This young bull instantly showed that he came from North Devon, and that he was "highly connected." No. 7, although good to touch, was scarcely pleasing to the eye, and in this particular failed to do justice to his ancestor of Yeovil celebrity.

CLASS 4. In-Calf Cows: 7 entries.-The Devon cow was not so well represented as in former years, and, as regards those exhibited, there was less uniformity in their character. The prize cow was an excellent representative of the Devon dairy cow, but not as a bull breeder. The second-prize cow was just the

reverse.

CLASS 5. Heifers under 3 years old: 4 entries.-Three of these had less of the true type of the Devon than we had been accustomed to see at former meetings. The second-prize heifer, the property of Mr. James Davy, North Molton, was the only animal representing the family characteristics of the North Devon breed. She at once displayed the high descent of her ancestors-the Flitton herd.

CLASS 6. Pairs of Heifers not exceeding 2 years old: 3 entries. -Mr. Buller's prize heifers were very beautiful, and will be seen another day at future exhibitions. They do credit to the Downes Nursery. Mr. Merson's were good, but wanted the finishing elegance so peculiar to the North Devon.

In making a selection from the classes to represent the true type of the Devon cattle, we should select Mr. Merson's yearling bull, Mr. Davy's second-prize cow, Mr. Davy's second-prize heifer, and the pair of yearling heifers exhibited by Mr. Buller. These animals were of the sort to produce "male animals” in future years.

SHORT-HORNS.-The modern progress of this remarkable breed of animals is generally well known, but it is much to be regretted that we have no really authentic account of their origin. We have only a tradition pointing to their introduction from the Dutch provinces about the close of the seventeenth century into Holderness in Yorkshire. The short-horn combines in an eminent degree the qualities which have generally been considered

desirable in good and profitable animals. They have realized for their breeders enormous sums of money, and both at home and abroad they are increasingly in request. In their early career they were designated as large and coarse animals, with a productiveness at "the pail" that would now excite incredulity. Such has been the result of good management, together with a knowledge of nature's dictates, that these animals have been completely remodelled in "shape, quality, and popularity." Among the earliest of them were the old Teeswater, said to have been the foundation of the late Mr. Charles Collings's celebrated herd. Mr. Collings, as a breeder, manifested a superiority of skill which, in a brief period, secured him an ample fortune.

It is to be regretted that this celebrated breeder, in common with the late Mr. Bakewell, of equal celebrity, left us no record of his views and plans in the art of breeding or rather improving domestic animals. In either case we have primâ facie evidence that the object was to reduce a rugged and large frame down to symmetrical proportions. It is now the more difficult task of our modern breeder to maintain these elements, and yet keep up the vigour and requisite constitution of a more "artificial animal."

The improved short-horns evidently date their first public introduction and popularity from Mr. Day's exhibition in 1801 of the "Durham ox —an animal produced from a first cross with a common cow, by the famous bull "Favourite." Mr. C. Collings's sale of improved short-horned cattle took place on the 11th of October, 1810, with the following results :

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Mr. R. Collings's sale followed, 29th September, 1818. At this remarkable sale

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The Booth blood is now by almost universal consent recognised as the best tribe of short-horns in existence; they trace back to "Suwarrow" (636), bred by Mr. R. Collings, and the two bulls "Pilot" (496) and "Albion" (14), bought at the Collings' sale

by the Messrs. Booth. These turned out extraordinarily good getters, and gave this herd a good start, which has been maintained and carried on by zealous and skilful management, so that at the present time it is very popular.

Nearly three-fourths of the prize animals at the great exhibitions of the kingdom are either entirely of this strain of blood or have crosses of it. So much sought after are the bulls of this herd by breeders in all parts of the kingdom, that some of the more popular animals of the herd are bespoken six deep for hire for the season; a number are let for 200 guineas each, and not a few above that sum.

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Mr. Stratton, of Broadhinton, is the leading breeder of short-horns in the western counties; he appears to have struck out a line or breed of his own. His remarkable herd has been chiefly bred from one cow, "Old Mossrose." This cow was bred from a cow purchased in Warwickshire (evidently a true short-horn). From "Old Mossrose has sprung a considerable herd, no less than forty of which have been prize winners, some of them taking as many as twenty prizes each: some few have been successful at the Royal Society's meetings. Three prizes and two gold medals were awarded to them at the Paris meeting in 1855; and eighteen medals-fourteen silver and four gold-have been awarded to them from the Birmingham and Smithfield Club shows; clearly testifying that they possess good points and a good constitution. Up to September, 1858, Mr. Stratton had won 491 local and other prizes, amounting in round numbers to 32177. 4s., besides seven gold and fourteen silver medals. Mr. Stratton has been a breeder of short-horns about twenty years.

The foreign trade in short-horns is at the present time an important incentive to the breeding of first-class animals as a remunerative department of agriculture. In America, Australia, France, and indeed over the whole continent, a demand has sprung up which there can be no doubt is only in its infancy; for independently of cultivating the pure breed in those countries, its use in crossing the native breeds for their improvement is of vast importance.

I may refer here to the 'Herd-book,' originally started in 1822, and edited by Mr. George Coates of Pontefract, but now conducted by Mr. Strafford, Euston-square, London, as the authentic register of the short-horned breed of cattle from their earliest existence, or at least from the date of the earliest registers kept by the first improvers of the breed.

The number of entries contained in the first five volumes issued in the course of twenty years amounted to 6699.

In 1842 Mr. Henry Strafford succeeded to the editorship, and has conducted the work up to the present time. During the period ending 31st December, 1857, he has published seven additional volumes, which contain the entries of no less than 15,537 bulls, together with cows and their produce during the past fifteen years. In future the 'Herd-book' will be made up at shorter intervals. It is confined to the British Isles. America, Australia, and France have now their own 'Herd-books,' founded on this, the parent one, to which most of the pedigrees refer in their original descent.

The entries of short-horned cattle exceeded those in either of the other classes. The elder short-horns were not, as a whole, well represented, although we observed an old favourite or two amongst them. The yearling classes held their own. The twoyear old heifer class contained some beautiful specimens of animals combining size with quality. We observed five of these walking in line before the judges at one time, and to the eye of a lover of animal nature they were highly attractive. Mr. Stratton's baby "Bee," which was shown as one of a pair in the younger class, must be heard of another day: indeed, as heretofore, that gentleman's general contribution of stock added much to the attractions of the show-yard.

CLASS 7. Bulls above 3 years: 8 entries.-The old bull exhibited by Mr. Logan (bred by Mr. Stratton) was worthy of notice as a well-formed animal, with a large quantity of flesh of good quality. The bull exhibited by Captain Blathwaite was rather wanting in flesh, otherwise we should fancy the silver cup would have gone to Dycham: he was bred by the late Earl Ducie. The bull shown by Mr. Price of Bishton (also bred by Earl Ducie) possessed great substance and merit. No. 31, Mr. Miles's red and white bull, the winner in the young class last year, failed to show himself in his Newton colours.

CLASS 8. Bulls not exceeding 3 years: 8 entries.-Amongst the bulls in this class there was nothing remarkably good. Mr. Stratton's bull "Victory" is well shaped, but not so well up in the "touch as some of his relations. The Hon. Mr. Bouverie's bull “Frantic” is of large size, but scarcely equally proportioned between his hind and fore-quarters.

CLASS 9. Bulls not exceeding 2 years: 7 entries.—In this class were several useful animals, but the real stamp of a yearling short-horn bull was wanting. The prize bull, though tolerably formed, was by no means prepossessing in countenance.

CLASS 10. In-calf Cows: 9 entries.-The two prize cows,

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