No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 791 



would state them as follows: (1) Temperament, (2) Function, (3) 

 Form. 



We should breed primarily for temperament. Keep it as clear, 

 unclouded and strong as possible. To that end, we must have a 

 strong judgment of the prepotent power of the sire when we se- 

 lect him; on our wisdom in this particular, depends almost every- 

 thing that follow*. 



Temperament when acting free and unhampered by other oppos- 

 ing tendencies establishes function. Then function establishes form. 



So in seeking to know temperament, whether it is of the kind 

 we want, we reason back from form to function and finally to the 

 bed-rock cause of all, which is temperament. 



Now, I want to say a word or two on the question of constitution. 

 That is one of the most important things for you to think about. 

 The most reasonable theory for determining constitution I have 

 ever seen is the structure of the abdomen. Men will tell you that 

 wide between the lungs, between the fore legs, deep belly, great 

 lung capacity and heart capacity. There is good sound reasoning. 

 Constitution in the dairy cow is not exposure to the cold, it is the 

 ability to endure the exhaustive work of large milk production, to 

 hold up under it. What is the meaning of constitution? The mean- 

 ing of constitution in the race horse is ability to endure to the end 

 of the race. The meaning in the draft horse is the ability to endure 

 the heavy pulling. So that in the old law of logic of life, never 

 compare things that differ. Define constitution in every instance 

 bv the character of the function, and if it does not sustain itself 

 within the function then it is lacking in constitutional vigor. Breed 

 for it. Always breed for it, but do not breed for one kind of con- 

 stitution when you are needing another in the animal by a different 

 function. 



PROFITABLE CATTLE. 



BY Hon. B. O. Cowan. 



Vegetarianism has its earnest advocates who can adduce strong 

 arguments to prove that mankind would live longer and be better 

 if they were less carniverous, yet despite these arguments the world 

 will move on in the even tenor of its way and the great mass of 

 mankind will continue to eat meat to the extent of their ability to 

 procure it. I have no disposition to carry the discussion of this 

 question further than to say that the meat consuming nations of 

 the earth have done most for the civilization and development of the 

 world. Hence it may not have been altogether race and national 

 pride which prompted William M. Thackeray to say, "This is the 

 meat that I would eat were I to do battle with any mortal foe. 

 Fancy a hundred thousand Englishmen after a meal of stalwart 

 beef ribs, encountering a hundred thousand Frenchmen who had 

 partaken of a trifling collation of soup, carrots, onions and Gruyere 

 cheese." While mutton, pork and poultry will continue to be an 

 important part of the meat supply of the world, beef is and ever 



