5°^ 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Aug., 1910. 



Just as in the case of cattle, it lias been as yet found impossible to 

 produce, as a breed, the dual purpose cow combining in the one animal 

 perfection as regards both beef and milk ; and as in the case of sheep, no 

 breed has been developed which combines perfection of both wool and 

 mutton production, so as regards draught horses neither the Clydesdale 

 nor the Shire completely fills the bill as an ideal. The ideal would be the 

 comi>ination of the size, weight and substance of the Shire with the 

 quanty, hardness of bone, and acti\ity of the Clydesdale. The greatest 

 prospect of the production of the ideal lies in the direction of evolving it 

 from one or other of tne present distinct breeds by either mating together 

 pure Shires that have the Shire qualities of size, weight and substance, 

 but that show a tendency to tine quality of hair and bone and lissomeness 

 of movement ; or by the mating together of the more weighty and .solid 

 individuals of pure Clydesdale origin. 



TATTOX IJRAV KING. 

 Champion Shire (I.omlon), 1908. Realized the record price at auction, 3,700 gns., 



in 190C). 



In which of these two ways the end can be attained is for the future 

 to decide. Certain it is, that looked at from either a scientific standpoint 

 or in the light of stern practical experience, it is like following a will-o'- 

 the-wisp to expect to quickly get the combination of good qualities that will 

 breed true by direct crossing. It is true that distinct breeds have been 

 created by the breeding together throughout a long series of generations 

 of the progeny of crosses, but the process has always been of a hit-or- 

 miss character, and has involved long periods of careful control and ruth- 

 less cullings. Even the new light that has been thrown on the subject 

 during recent years by experiments under the Mendelian law seems only to 

 unveil the diflficulties of the problem rather than to reveal the means of 

 its solution. 



Everv experienced breeder knows that for utilitarian purpo.ses the pro- 

 geny of a first cross between two breeds is frequently excellent as an 

 individual, but has no value at all for propagating its own type when 



