BULLS--General Mansfield 41, Matchless 61.
COWS--Bridget 51, Long Horn Fancy 214, Minerva 2d 241, Rosa 309,
Venus 340.
GRISWOLD, STANLEY, Torringford, Conn., 20 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Monitor 70, Watch 2d 140, Weehawken 141.
COWS--Agnes 4, Belle 38, Blossom 48, Dot 79, Dot 2d 80, Fancy
104, Hetty 2d 150, Ida 155, Jenny 165, Jessie 171, May
1st 227, May 2d 228, Nellie 259, Pink 290, Rose 316,
Topsy 333, Victoria 2d 343.
HEALY, WALDO M., Dudley, Mass., 4 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Turk 133.
COWS--Fie 115, Julia 178, Juliet 179.
HENDERSON, W. W., Bridgeton, St. Louis County, Mo., 1 Pedigree.
COWS--Lily 207.
HOLCOMB, B. L., Devon Dale, near Newcastle, Del., 1 Pedigree.
BULLS--General Taylor 43.
HOTCHKISS, HENRY, Smithville, Chenango County, N. Y., 1 Pedigree.
BULLS--Baltimore 3.
HURLBUT, S. & L., Winchester, Conn., 44 Pedigrees.
BULLS--John 50, McClellan 64, Ned 74, Nelson 75, Sam 2d 109,
Young Exeter 148, Young Tecumseh 151.
COWS--Beck 2d 15, Bessie 40, Daisy 76, Darling 77, Ella 86, Fancy
2d 107, Fancy 5th 108, Flora 2d 126, Fruitful 130, Gipsy
137, Gipsy 2d 136, Grace 141, Hattie 143, Hattie 2d 144,
Jane 162, Kate 183, Lib 200, Lizzie 210, Lophorn 215,
Lottie 216, Lovely 217, Lulu 221, Maud 238, May 226, May
Queen 2d 231, Minnie 252, Nannie 258, Nettie 268, Pansy
276, Pink 291, Rose 315, Spot 324, Strawberry 327, Susan
329, Tilly 330, Topsy 1st 335, Topsy 2d 336.
HURST, WILLIAM, Albany, N. Y., 1 Pedigree.
BULLS--Empire 2d 34.
HYDE, E. H., Stafford, Conn., 52 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Abe Lincoln 2, Ben Butler 10, Connewango 25, Kossuth 53,
Kossuth 2d 54, Kossuth 3d 55, Megunticook 65, Nero 79,
Owasco 84, Prince John 3d 91, Roscius 104, Stafford 114,
Stafford 2d 115, Young Comet 141, Ypsilanti 152.
COWS--Beauty 25, Beauty 2d 26, Beauty 3d 27, Beauty 4th 28,
Beauty 6th 29, Belle 39, Chance 57, Chance 2d 58, Eva 90,
Fairy 4th 99, Fairy 5th 100, Fairy 9th 101, Fancy 105,
Gem 134, Gem 2d 135, Jane 161, Kate 181, Lady Dodge 192,
Lady Jane 195, Lizzie 212, Lulu 222, Majestic 224,
Majestic 2d 225, Minnehaha 3d 242, Minnie 251, Moss Rose
255, Myrtle 256, Nellie 260, Nelly Bly 264, Nelly Bly
265, Nelly Bly 4th 267, Pansy 277, Princess Royal 2d 297,
Red Lady 302, Red Rose 305, Venus 341, Young Fancy 349.
JOHNSON, JOHN J, North Pitcher, Chenango County, N. Y.,
4 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Frank Baker 38.
COWS--Jenny 166, Lida 201, Lily 3d 209.
KNOWLTON, H. W., Freeport, Ills., 3 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Baltimore 2d 5, Baltimore 3d 6.
COWS--Polly 293.
LAMBARD, ALLEN, Augusta, Maine, 17 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Franklin 37, Kennebec 51, Kentucky 52, Penobscot 86, Rob
Roy 102, Roderick Dhu 103, Somerset 113, Waldo 139.
COWS--Baltimore 3d 11, Baltimore 4th 12, Helena 3d 146, Helena
4th 147, Jessie 172, Nelly 162, Nelly 2d 163, Rebe 300,
Rebe 2d 301.
LINSLEY, R., West Meriden, Conn., 5 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Comet 22, Hiawatha 47, Prince John 90.
COWS--Fairy 97, Minnehaha 243.
LOCKWOOD, GEORGE B., Victory, Cayuga County, N. Y., 18 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Czar 31, Dan 32, Logan 58, Mars 60, Mayboy 63, Neptune
77, Uncas 135.
COWS--Aunt Chloe 9, Cassy 56, Clara 63, Effie 85, Emma 89, Maud
237, Mina 240, Patsy 278, Pocahontas 2d 292, Ruby 318,
Topsy 334.
LOGAN, S. S., Washington, Conn., 14 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Charter Oak 19, Clement 21, Crittenden 27, Nelson 76,
Young Albert 146, Young Herod 149, Young Roscius 150.
COWS--Beauty 30, Beauty 2d 31, Hattie 142, Kate 184, Kate 2d
185, Victoria 3d 345, Victoria 4th 346.
MERRICK, A. N., Brimfield, Mass., 2 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Sigel 111.
COWS--Fairy 3d 98.
MERRICK, D. B., Wilbraham, Mass., 5 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Red Jacket 100.
COWS--Beauty 32, Beauty 1st 33, Beauty 2d 34, Beauty 3d 35.
MUNSON, JOSEPH M., Watertown, Conn., 6 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Jerry 49, Orphan Boy 83.
COWS--Adelaide 3, Curl 3d 70, Kate 182, Rose 314.
NORTH, A. W., East Maine, Broome County, N. Y., 1 Pedigree.
BULLS--Messenger 68.
ROOT, SILAS, Westfield, Mass., 2 Pedigrees.
COWS--Pet 4th 285, Pet 5th 286.
SESSIONS, HORACE MILLS, South Wilbraham, Mass., 12 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Abe 1, Commodore 24, Major 59, Meriden 66, Reubens 2d
105.
COWS--May Beauty 229, Minneola 244, Minnie 1st 245, Minnie 2d
246, Minnie 3d 247, Minnie 4th 248, Wynona 348.
STEINMETZ, DANIEL, Sheaneck, Lancaster County, Pa., 13 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Lion 57, Musician 72, Norfolk 81, Prince of Wales 93,
William Tell 142.
COWS--Curly 69, Fairy 95, Flora 125, Flotilla 129, Phlox 288,
Pretty 294, Queen Victoria 299, Tracy 337.
TILLOTSON, HEZEKIAH, Farmington, Conn., 6 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Comet 23.
COWS--Arabella 8, Aurora 10, Beauty 8th 36, Rosette 317, Ruby
319.
TOMS, SAMUEL, Red House Farm, Elyria, Ohio, 7 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Chipaway 20, Prince of Wales 94, Prince Albert 89.
COWS--Ida 2d 156, Ida 4th 157, Lady Gapper 2d 194, Victoria 3d
344.
VAN RENSSELAER, R. H., Morris, Otsego County, N. Y.,
21 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Taurus 120, Thunderer 121, Tiger 123, Tinsel 124, Tippo
125, Tom Thumb 126, Tornado 127, Trinket 128, Trump 130,
Turk 131, Tuscarora 134.
COWS--Fanny 112, Fanny 2d 113, Flame 116, Funny 131, Ladybird
2d 191, Lady Slipper 196, Lalla Rookh 197, Lantern 198,
Lucy 219, Lucy 2d 220.
WENTWORTH, JOHN, Chicago, Ills., 13 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Putnam 96, Sir Charles 112, Summit Prince 117, Sumter
118, Turk 132.
COWS--Fantine 114, Gazelle 132, Jennie 164, Minnie 249, Miss
Gay 253, Model 254, Rosa 310.
WILLIAMS, LEVI, Ithaca, Tompkins County, N. Y., 7 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Forest City 36.
COWS--Broad Horned Beauty 2d 52, Broad Horned Beauty 3d 53,
Dover 81, Dover 2d 82, Excelsior 2d 91, Excelsior 3d
92.
WILSON, R. H., Cambridge, Ohio, 2 Pedigrees.
BULLS--Consul 26.
COWS--Maggie 223.
HISTORY OF THE DEVONS.
_Ancient Races._
IN preparing the following article, we have consulted the principal
Agricultural Reports and Journals of this country, and Youatt, and
Martin, and Low's histories of British Cattle; we are also indebted to
many of our importers and breeders, who have furnished statements in
regard to their respective herds. That the Devons are an ancient race of
cattle, there can be no doubt. There is no race in England that can
claim such undisputed antiquity. They bear all the characteristic marks
of resemblance of the ancient races of the south of England and Wales;
even the color, red, is traced in the Devon, Sussex and Hereford.
The distinction between a "breed" and "race," Goodale defines as
follows: "By breeds are understood such varieties as were originally
produced by a cross or mixture, and subsequently established by
selecting for breeding purposes only the best specimens, and rejecting
all others. In process of time deviations become less frequent, and
greater uniformity is secured, and this is in proportion to the time
which elapses and the skill employed in selecting. Races are varieties
moulded to their peculiar type by _natural_ causes, with no interference
of man, and no intermixture of other varieties; that have continued
substantially the same, for a period beyond which the memory and
knowledge of man does not reach. Such are the North Devon Cattle."
There seems to have been three distinct races of these ancient cattle:
the Long Horns, the Middle Horns, and Hornless, or Polled Cattle. The
Middle Horns represented the cattle of the region of Devonshire. These
races of cattle were bred by the Ancient Celtic inhabitants, and
constituted their chief subsistence. Youatt says: "the native
inhabitants were proud of their country, and prouder of their cattle,
their choicest possession." When their country was invaded by their
enemies, they fled to the mountains for safety and protection, and took
with them their cattle upon which to subsist, and thus were preserved
both themselves and their cattle, so that the races of cattle in these
districts have been the same from time immemorial. In a few instances
the wild forest cattle have been kept distinct, in a wild state, to this
day; as in the parks of Chillingham and Chartley; and are said to be
similar to those that existed in the tenth century; and also bear a
strong resemblance to the present domestic breeds of that region. The
cattle in these parks are white, with red ears.
_Color._
Black or white were the principal colors, though where these were found
the memory of the red prevails. "It seems the people had a superstitious
reverence attached to it, (in Scotland and Wales), in the tradition of
the country; the milk of the red cow was considered a remedy for every
disease, and a preservative from every evil." The breeders of the
improved Devons adhere scrupulously to the deep red color of the hair,
and reject individuals that have a tendency to produce white. And it
seems that in this way, if no other, the color of the Devons has been
established and perpetuated. The deep red color of the pure bred Devon
is implanted so strongly, that there is no race in which an admixture of
foreign blood is so easily traced; nor is there a race that has remained
so free from foreign intermixture. Their color is generally stamped on
the progeny, in a cross with any other breed.
_English Improved Devons._
The improvement of these ancient races of cattle, which has resulted in
the present perfected breed, was commenced about one hundred and fifty
years ago. John Tanner Davy, of Rose Ash, England, the Editor of the
English Devon Herd Book, inherited the herd of his father, who had
carefully bred the Devons for fifty years. Mr. Francis Quartly, whose
engraving adorns the first volume of Davy's Devon Herd Book, endeavored
by a long course of selection, and by an intimate knowledge of the
principles of breeding, to combine the various elements in the different
herds, so as to attain the great object of the Devon breeder, the
lessening of the parts of the animal frame least useful to man, as the
bone and offal, and at the same time the increase of such other parts,
as fat and flesh, that furnish food, and to do this at the earliest
possible age, and with the least consumption of food. That Mr. Quartly
succeeded in fully establishing these characteristics of the breed, we
need no better evidence than that nine-tenths of the pedigrees of the
present herds in Davy's Herd Book, go directly back to the old Quartly
stock; twenty-seven out of twenty-nine of the prize bulls mentioned in
that work are descendants from the bull Forester, (46): and twenty-nine
out of thirty-four prize cows mentioned there, descended from the cow
Curly, (92). Hundred Guinea (56), another noted ancestor of the Quartly
tribe, stands in the pedigrees of this breed, as Hubback among the short
horns. Among others who have done much to improve their herds, and bring
the breed to its present state of perfection, may be mentioned, the Earl
of Leicester, James Davy, Mr. Richard Merson, James and John Quartly who
also inherited the herds of their fathers, and continued their well
begun improvement. Mr. George Turner, of Barton, whose herd was made up
from the other breeders, Mr. Samuel Farthing, of Somerset, Mr. John
Halse, of Moland, Mr. Wm. Hole, of Somerset, Mr. T. B. Morle, of
Cummington, Mr. George Shapland, of Oakford, and Mr. John Ayre Thomas,
of Rose Ash, Devon, with many others have caught the spirit of
improvement, and continued to progress towards perfection.
_Qualities._
Mr. Bloomfield, the manager of the late Earl of Leicester's estate, at
Holkam Hall, Norfolk, England, has, by careful attention, greatly
improved the size and quality of the Devons, and increased their milking
properties, so that he obtained a prize for having produced an average
annual yield of 200 pounds of butter per cow, in a dairy of twenty cows,
or equal to four pounds per week the year round; and he offered to milk
forty pure Devons from his own herd against an equal number of cows in
any one herd of any breed found in England, without finding a
competitor. At the Smithfield show of fat cattle, held at the London
market place, in 1858, the gold medal for the best ox or steer of any
breed in the show yard was awarded to a Devon, bred and owned by the
Earl of Leicester. They are highly esteemed in the Smithfield market,
not only for the excellence of the meat, but because its size is more
agreeable on most tables than the huge joints of some other breeds. In
weight they are much excelled, but the opinion of the Devon breeder is,
that more meat can be made from them, with a given amount of food, than
from any other breed. The quality of the Devon beef is unsurpassed, even
rivalling the little black West Highland ox, in the estimation of the
London west-end butcher, whose fastidious customers oblige him to kill
none but beef of the finest quality and flavor. In the New York market
the "red oxen of Connecticut" most generally bring the highest price,
they being Devon Grades. The Devons have the preference of all other
breeds for the yoke, being strong, active, and of great endurance; and
are remarkable for docility and good temper.
The cattle in many sections of New England resemble the Devons in many
respects, and the fact that most of the early settlers were from the
south of England, renders it quite probable that they selected their
cattle from that region. The first account that we have of the
importation of cattle into New England was in the ship Charity, in the
spring of 1623, in the care of Mr Winslow, then agent of the colony of
Plymouth. Their descendants show by their color that they were Devons,
or Devon grades.
_American Improved Devons._
The first importation of improved North Devons into this country was in
1817. Mr. Coke, then Earl of Leicester, presented to Mr. Robert
Patterson, of Baltimore, Md., six heifers and one bull, Taurus (320).
Taurus was bred by Mr. Denny, a tenant of Mr. Coke, then Earl of
Leicester, who paid fifty guineas for him. His dam, in 1820, made
thirteen pounds of butter per week. Three of these heifers Mr. Patterson
gave to his father-in-law, Mr. Richard Caton, the other three he gave to
his father, Mr. William Patterson; they were all bred to Taurus. In
1835, Mr. George Patterson came in possession of the herd of his father,
Mr. William Patterson, and, in 1836, imported the bull Anchises (140),
for a cross, from one of the best dairies in Devonshire; he afterward
imported Eclipse (191); in 1846, Herod (214), and in 1852, Norfolk
(266). By comparing the records the fact is apparent, that the pedigree
of animals dates further back in this country than in England. Thus the
bull Taurus (320), was calved in 1816, and imported in 1817, when a
yearling, by Mr. Robert Patterson, of Md.; Holkham (215), calved 1819;
the cow Fancy (709), calved 1818, and Strawberry 1st (1062), calved
1819. While the oldest record of English pedigrees is the bull Forester
(46), calved in 1827, and Hundred Guineas (56), calved in 1837; the cows
Flower (187), calved in 1820, Countess (77), in 1828, Curly (92), and
Pretty Maid (364), were calved in 1830. Messrs. S. & L. Hurlbut, of
Winchester, Conn., commenced their herd in 1819, from a pair procured of
Mr. Patterson, Holkham (115), and Fancy (709), with additions from the
same source every few years. In 1850 they imported Albert (2), whose
progeny has stood high in the country, and received more premiums than
the progeny of any other bull lately imported. Beauty (523), bred by Mr.
Hurlbut, in 1836, from Fancy (709), and Exchange (197), produced sixteen
pounds of butter per week, in June, 1850. Mr. Coleman, says, in his
European Agriculture, "the most productive cow in butter, which I have
found, was a North Devon, which, for several weeks in succession,
without extra feed, produced twenty-one pounds of butter per week. The
character of the owner places the fact beyond a doubt."
Mr. L. F. Allen, of Black Rock, N. Y., commenced breeding in 1835, from
stock obtained from the Hon. James L. King, of New York, whose father
imported them about the year 1819, from the herd of the Earl of
Leicester; in 1842 he added to his herd from Mr. Patterson's stock. In
1844 the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture imported
four cows and one bull, Bloomfield (372), from the Earl of Leicester.
They were boarded and bred for the Society on the farm of Elias Phiney,
of Lexington, till his death, the object being to present a pair to each
of the County Societies in the State. In 1848, Mr. C. S. Wainwright, of
Rhinebeck, N. Y., commenced importing and breeding his herd; his first
importation was the bull Megunticook (251), and the cows Nonpareil
(924), and Helena (774); Helena gave as high as twenty-two quarts of
milk per day, and made fifteen pounds of butter per week. In 1851 he
imported May Boy (71), whose granddam, Old May Flower, made over
seventeen pounds of butter per week. In 1853, Mr. George Vail, of Troy,
N. Y., imported one bull and two heifers from the herds of Mr. Davy and
the Earl of Leicester. In 1850 and '52, Col. L. G. Morris, of New York,
imported animals from the herds of the Earl of Leicester, the Messrs.
Quartly and John Ayer Thomas. Abijah Catlin, of Conn., imported in 1851,
Rubens (116), and two heifers. Many others have imported animals equally
meritorious, among whom may be mentioned, Ambrose Stevens, of Batavia,
N. Y., E. G. Faile, West Farms, N. Y., R. Linsley, West Meriden, Conn.,
R. W. Sanford, Orwell, Vt., E. P. Beck, Sheldon, N. Y., and R. H. Van
Rensselaer, of Morris, N. Y. Importations have occurred almost annually
up to the present year. These importations, with many others not
mentioned, are sufficient to form the basis of a superior race of Devons
in America, not excelled by those in any other country.
_Devon Herd Book._
The _First Herd Book_ of the Devons was published in 1851, by John
Tanner Davy, of Rose Ash, near Southmolton, Devon, England. The
pedigrees of 132 bulls and 483 cows, in all 615 animals, were recorded;
all bred in England, and contributed by thirty-seven different breeders.
The _second volume_, published in 1854, contained the pedigrees of 221
bulls and 657 cows, 837 animals in all; and was edited by Mr. Davy, in
England, and Sanford Howard, in America, comprising animals bred and
owned in both countries, sixty breeders contributing in England, and
eighteen in America.
The _third volume_ was published in 1859, on both sides of the Atlantic,
by Messrs. Davy and Howard, independent of each other, Mr. Davy's third
volume recorded 204 bulls and 609 cows, in all 810 pedigrees, from
forty-one different herds in England, and eight in America. Mr. Howard's
recorded 258 bulls and 399 cows, in all 657 pedigrees, from eighty-four
different herds, and all from America.
The whole number recorded to the end of Howard's third volume is 2150
animals, comprising 611 bulls, and 1539 cows.
_American Devon Herd Book._
The present work, the first volume of the American Devon Herd Book,
published in March, 1863, under the direction of the Association of
Breeders of Thorough-Bred Neat Stock, was commenced about two years
since. It has progressed amid many discouraging circumstances, to say
nothing of the jealousy occasioned by the locality of its origin; and
has gradually won upon public confidence till the present time. It has
been the design of the Committee on Devon pedigrees to perfect a Devon
Herd Book that would meet the wants of all American Breeders of Devon
cattle. To accomplish this they have been untiring in their labors,
sparing no pains to thoroughly investigate each pedigree; and have
decided upon each, according to the facts received from the testimony
given. While some have been rejected, others have been deferred till
more light can be given to prove their purity of blood, which may be
done in season for the second volume. How far the Committee have
accomplished their designs the present volume will show for itself. It
is a relief, however, to the Committee to know, that the errors which
may occur, can be corrected in future volumes, or the present volume can
be perfected and republished. It was also designed to make _this_ the
first of a series of volumes, to be published once in four years, or as
often as the wants of the Devon breeders demand; and that would be
worthy of the title of the American Devon Herd Book, and receive the
universal patronage of all the Breeders of Devon Stock in America.
Considering the state of the country, and that the attention and time of
the great mass of the people are engaged in the all-absorbing and
dreadful reality, civil war, and that many of our breeders and importers
of Devon stock are personally engaged in their country's service, and
that all the Southern States of our Union have withdrawn themselves from
all connection with the Northern; considering all this, the breeders of
Thorough-Bred Devon Stock have contributed for the work far beyond our
most sanguine hopes. _Fifteen states_ are represented in this work by
_fifty-three_ different breeders, with the pedigrees of 151 bulls and
350 cows, making in all 501 animals which are recorded in this volume,
and all owned in America.
POINTS OF EXCELLENCE
IN A
=NORTH DEVON BULL.=
Purity of blood indispensable; and traced back satisfactorily to
importations of both sire and dam from known English breeders, or as
found in the lately established Herd Book for North Devons.
Points.
ART. 1.--_Head_, should be rather elevated above the line of the
back, short, broad and dishing between the eyes, with full, firm
frontal bone over them; muzzle fine with nostrils full and open. 4
ART. 2.--_Nose_, of a light delicate orange color. 5
ART. 3.--_Eye_, should be bright, prominent and clear; but gentle
in expression, as indicative of that spirited docility so
necessary to cattle that must bear the yoke; a beautiful orange
colored ring should invariably surround the eye. 4
ART. 4.--_Ear_, thin, rather below medium size; of a rich orange
color within, with a quick ready movement expressive of
attention. 2
ART. 5.--_Horns_, light, tapering and round; gaily as well as
symmetrically placed on the head, with an upward form. 2
ART. 6.--_Neck_, set on fine at the head, gently rising from the
shoulder; full and muscular, an indication of strength and
constitution; the gullet clean and free from dewlap, full at its
junction with the shoulder. 5
ART. 7.--_Chest_, deep and round, carrying its fullness well back
of the elbows, thus affording abundant room for the full and free
action of the heart and lungs, without extreme width forward, or
protuberance of the shoulder points. 12
ART. 8.--_Brisket_, full and oval, setting the arms wide apart at
their junction with the body, indicative of a good feeding
quality. 4
ART. 9.--_Shoulder_, should take a somewhat sloping position,
with its points less projecting, the blade blending with and
forming a fine wither rising to a line with the back. 4
ART. 10.--_Crops_, full and even, forming a true line with the
shoulder and level back. 3
ART. 11.--_Back_, loin, hips; broad, level and wide, the hip
bones prominent but not pointed. 6
ART. 12.--_Rumps_, lying broad apart without slope or drop, full
and well covered. 5
ART. 13.--_Twist_, full and broad in its seam, well down between
the thighs. 3
ART. 14.--_Quarters_, long, and well filled between the hip bones
and the rumps, showing a well turned finish; with a good muscular
development extending to the hocks. 6
ART. 15.--_Flanks_, moderately deep, full and mellow according to
condition. 3
ART. 16.--_Legs_, of moderate length standing square under the
body, with sufficient angle at the gambrel joint to secure
strength and activity, the toes pointing straight to the forward
feet; the bone fine and flat below the hock, sinews large and
clear; the forearm well developed; the bone below the knee quite
small, coming nearer together as they approach the ground; hoofs,
black and broad. 5
ART. 17.--_Tail_, set on round and full, on a level with the
back, without loose, flabby skin underneath; tapering gradually
to the end, which is invariably furnished with a tassel of white
hair. 2
ART. 18.--_Carcass_ or _Barrel_, round, straight on the back and
belly, its posterior ribs extending well back, and springing
nearly horizontal with the back bone. Medium size being
preferable for stock breeding in the Devon. 3