80 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



destroy ? That is one point. The next is, the first connection 

 of domestic animals with one another. I would introduce the 

 higher principles of morals on the farm. With the view of 

 maintaining the race, do you not restrain the sexual appetites of 

 the young for fear of the mischief which follows ? and yet, on 

 your farms, you do not scruple to copulate animals which are 

 too young to be productive in any way. The bulls are used at 

 an age when they should not be allowed to copulate, and so it is 

 with other animals. Now, the question is, at what age should 

 copulation be allowed? Then another thing. The result of 

 castration, as it is carried on, leaves a few males in the commu- 

 nity to be the progenitors of the whole stock. What is the 

 consequence ? Why, you introduce the system of harems on 

 your farms, and then every male is made to be nothing but a 

 breeding-machine, and by that you vitiate his nature ; and the 

 consequence of that, I am told, from the few questions I have 

 been able to put to practical raisers of stock, is already felt in 

 many instances. I believe that it is a great misfortune that 

 there are some few stallions which have such a reputation that 

 no man wants a colt from any other animal but them. You 

 would probably get better stock if this idea of the great supe- 

 riority of a few individuals was not so prevalent. These are 

 points to_ be considered : To what extent you can reduce your 

 productive males without endangering the stock ; and to what 

 extent you can carry out the system of oriental polygamy on 

 the farm without deteriorating the race. 



Then there is one other point to which I would like to call 

 your attention. That is, the effect of the first contact between 

 the sexes. To a breeding female, the character of the first male 

 she receives is a matter of great consequence. The whole suc- 

 cession of her progeny is determined by the first connection she 

 has with a male ; and a female which has been badly connected 

 will never produce as fine a breed as one which was well mated 

 at the first start ; so that the ideas of the English aristocracy 

 ought to prevail here in order to produce the best results. 



But I have already occupied too much of your time. I wished 

 only to point out the topics that I should like to hear discussed 

 at full length, so that the merits of the case should be decided 

 by you. I can only make suggestions from a physiological point 

 of view, as to questions which have presented themselves to me, 



