28 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



the hide. They failed also in the essential 

 requisite of taking on their flesh evenly and 

 firmly over the whole frame, which frequently 

 gave them an unlevel appearance. There was, 

 moreover, a general want of compactness in 

 their conformation." 



The Bakewell Experiments. Robert Bake- 

 well of Dishley, a Leicestershire farmer, worked 

 out about this period a system of stock-breed- 

 ing that was destined to play henceforth a 

 prominent part, not only in the development 

 of the Short-horn but in the evolution of nearly 

 all our other improved breeds as well. What- 

 ever may have been the practice of the ancients 

 in respect to the coupling of animals closely 

 related it remained for Bakewell to demon- 

 strate to the stock-breeders of the last century 

 that in the concentration of the blood of 

 animals possessing desired characteristics a 

 method was provided whereby results could be 

 quickly and definitely attained. This idea was 

 diametrically opposed to the principles and 

 practice governing the operations of BakewelPs 

 contemporaries. Incestuous breeding of ani- 

 mals was held in abhorrence, and when Bake- 

 well began breeding long-wooled sheep, Lan- 

 cashire Long-horned cattle and cart horses from 

 close affinities his neighbors gave him credit for 

 being somewhat daft. He was a man of con- 

 siderable means at the beginning of his experi- 



