7 JUNE 1930, Page 14

Some years ago this market closed. Rabelaisian joints were not

wanted ; and the value of the South Devon monsters went downhill at a lamentable speed. Classes vanished even at shows. What was to be done ? To give up so fine a breed was unthinkable ; and the breeders of late years have been doing very much what Shorthorn breeders did much earlier. They have evolved a "Dairy South Devon," a rather slighter sub-variety, in which the quality of giving rich milk is enhanced as the beef-bearing quality is refined down. At the Torquay Show the classes for Dairy South Devons were strong and contained a number of 1,000-gallon animals. If that is not practical proof of our breeders' skill in adaptation, where shall we find it ?

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