SECRETARY'S REPORT. 115 



according as the purposes vary to which it is applied. The heavy 

 dray horse is far from having the arrangement necessary for the 

 purposes of the turf, while the thorough-bred is as ill adapted for 

 the dray. Animals are therefore to be selected for the individual 

 purposes for which they are intended, with the modifications of form 

 proper for the diflfei'ent uses to which they are to be applied ; but 

 for whatever purpose they may be intended, there are some points 

 which are common to all, in the adjustment of the individual parts. 

 If the bones want their due proportions, or are imperfectlj^ placed — 

 if the muscles or tendons want their proper levers — if the flexions 

 of the joints be inteiTupted by the defectiveness of their mechan- 

 ism, the animal must either be defective in motion or strength ; the 

 bones have irregular pressure, and if they do not break, become 

 diseased ; if the muscles or tendons do not become sprained or 

 ruptured, they are defective in their action ; if friction or inflamma- 

 tion does not take place in the joints, the motions are awkward and 

 grotesque. As in every other machine, the beauty of the animate, 

 whether in motion or at rest, depends upon the arrangement of the 

 individual parts." 



Breeding in the Line. — The preferable style of breeding for the 

 great majority of farmers to adopt, is neither to cross, nor to breed 

 from close affinities, (except in rare instances and for some specific 

 and clearly understood purpose,.) but to breed in the line, that is, 

 select the breed or race best adapted to fulfill the requirements 

 demanded, whether it be for the dairy, for labor or for beef in cat- 

 tle, or for such combination of these as can be had without too 

 great sacrifice of the principal requisite ; whether for fine wool as a 

 primary object and for meat as a secondary one, or for mutton as 

 a primary and wool for a secondary object, and then procure a pure 

 bred male of the kind determined on, and breed him to the females 

 of the herd or of the flock ; and if these be not such as are calcu- 

 lated to develop his qualities, endeavor by purchase or exchange 

 to procure such as will. Let the progeny of these be bred to an- 

 other piLre bred male of the same breed, but as distantly related to 

 the first as may be. Let this plan be steadily pursued, and although 

 we cannot without the intervention of well bred females obtain 

 stock purely of kind desired, yet in several generations, if proper 

 care be given in the selection of males, that each one be such as to 

 retain and improve upon the points gained by his predecessor, the 

 stock for most practical purposes will be as good as if thorough- 

 bred. Were this plan generally adopted, and a system of letting 



