20 DR. EMMONS' REPORT. April, 



present stock for breeders. Much has been said on the best mode 

 of breeding cattle, and undoubtedly on this, as on all obscure sub- 

 jects, there has been a mixture of truth and error. 



In a state of nature, there are few changes for the better or worse. 

 The species attains a certain size, has similar marks from age to age, 

 when living under the same circumstances. But changes in size, col- 

 or, &c., do occur even in a wild state, yet more limited than in a 

 state of domestication. How many varieties may spring from a sin- 

 gle stock, it is impossible to tell. The variation is so great in some 

 cases, that the individuals are considered for a time as distinct spe- 

 cies. The practice of breeding in and in, as it is termed, although 

 advocated by eminent men, cannot raise a variety to the highest per- 

 fection of which the species is susceptible. For it is evident, that 

 on the principle on which this is advocated, viz. : " that like will 

 produce its like," if the variety has any defects, they too must find a 

 place in the progeny, as well as its perfections. 



Besides, the practice of breeding in and in, has another more se- 

 rious objection, the stock will not hold its own for many generations, 

 but it will finally depreciate till it has become worUiless. This rests 

 on a law of the animal and vegetable kingdom. Another question has 

 been discussed in relation to mutual influence of parents on their off- 

 spring. Linneus, who was one of the most accurate observers of na- 

 ture, has satisfactorily elucidated this point. According to him, the 

 male imparts the external characters, and the female the internal. 



The breeding of the jack with the mare, produces a mule, — hav- 

 ing the ears, head, skin and tail of the former. The common goat, 

 whose hair is always coarse and useless, crossing with a fine fleeced 

 Angora goat, produces, like the male parent, an offspring, whose coat 

 is also coarse and worthless, but change the order, in the latter case, 

 and the coating is improved. These facts have an important bearing 

 on the improvement of both cattle and sheep. It is hardly necessa- 

 ry to make the application to either of this species of stock ; it is 

 sufficient to say, that we need not expect fine wool from a coarse 

 woolled buck, nor a large quantity of milk from a mother whose 

 milk is deficient in this respect ; and the principle holds true in rela- 

 tion to quality. The character of the most importance in cows, 

 then, is their milk. Tt is true, beef may be made of a cow not re- 



