lish markets, commanding the highest price of
any, except perhaps, the West Highlanders. The short horn produces more
beef at the same age than the Hereford, but consumes more food in
proportion.

The Herefords are far less generally spread over England than the
improved short horns. They have seldom been bred for milk, as some
families of the latter have; and it is not very unusual to find
pure-bred cows incapable of supplying milk sufficient to nourish their
calves. They have been imported to this country to some extent, and
several fine herds exist in different sections; the earliest
importations being those of Henry Clay, of Kentucky, in 1817.

The want of care and attention to the udder, soon after calving,
especially if the cow be on luxuriant grass, often injures her milking
properties exceedingly. The practice in the county of Hereford has
generally been to let the calves suckle from four to six months, and
bull calves often run eight months with the cow. But their dairy
qualities are perhaps as good as those of any cattle whose fattening
properties have been so carefully developed; and, though it is probable
that they could be bred for milk with proper care and attention, yet, as
this change would be at the expense of other qualities equally valuable,
it would evidently be wiser to resort to other stock for the dairy.

THE NORTH DEVONS.

[Illustration: A NORTH DEVON STEER.]

This beautiful race of middle horned cattle dates further back than any
well established breed among us. It goes generally under the simple name
of Devon; but the cattle of the southern part of the country, from which
the race derives its name, differ somewhat from those of the northern,
having a larger and coarser frame, and far less tendency to fatten
though their dairy qualities are superior.

The North Devons are remarkable for hardihood, symmetry and beauty, and
are generally bred for work and for beef, rather than for the dairy. The
head is fine and well set on; the horns of medium length, generally
curved; color usually bright blood-red, but sometimes inclining to
yellow; skin thin and orange-yellow; hair of medium length, soft and
silky, making the animals remarkable as handlers; muzzle of the nose
white; eyes full and mild; ears yellowish, or orange-color inside, of
moderate size; neck rather long, with little dewlap; shoulders oblique;
legs small and straight, with feet in proportion; chest of good width;
ribs round and e