118 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



A very brief resume of the preceding remarks may be expressed 

 as follows : 



The Law of Similarity teaches us to select animals for breeding 

 which possess the desired forms and qualities in the greatest per- 

 fection and best combination. 



Regard should be had not only to the more obvious characteris- 

 tics, but also to such hereditary traits and tendencies as may be 

 hidden from cursory observation and demand careful and thorough 

 investigation. 



From the hereditary nature of all characteristics, whether good 

 or bad, we learn the importance of having all desirable qualities 

 and properties thoroughly inbred ; or, in other words, so firmly fixed 

 in each generation, that the next is warrantably certain to present 

 nothing worse, — that no ill results follow from breeding back to- 

 wards some inferior ancestor, — that all undesirable traits or points 

 be, so far as possible, hred out. 



So important is this consideration, that in practice, it is decidedly 

 preferable to employ a male of ordinary external appearance, pro- 

 vided his ancestry be all which is desired, rather than a grade or 

 cross-bred animal, although the latter be greatly his superior in 

 personal beauty. 



A knowledge of the Law of Divergence teaches us to avoid, for 

 breeding purposes, such animals as exhibit variations unfavorable 

 to the purpose in view ; and to endeavor to perpetuate every real 

 improvement gained ; also to secure as far as practicable, the con- 

 ditions necessary to induce or to perpetuate any improvement, such 

 as general treatment, food, climate, habit, &c. 



Where the parents do not possess the perfection desired, selec- 

 tions for coupling should be made with critical reference to cor- 

 recting the faults or deficiencies of one by corresponding excellence 

 in the other. 



But to correct defects too much must not be attempted at once. 

 Pairing those very unlike, oftener results in loss than in gain. 

 Mating a horse for speed witli a draft mare, will more likely beget 

 progeny good for neither, than for both. Avoid all extremes, and 

 endeavor by moderate degrees to obtain the object desired. 



Crossing, between different breeds, for the purpose of obtaining 

 animals for the shambles, may be advantageously practiced to con- 

 siderable extent, but not for the production of breeding animals. 

 As a general rule cross-bred males should not be employed for 



