632 Live Stock Method* of improving ofStru&ures of, 



) l.ccnmade, as well as a vaft number of additional experiments. In the pre- 

 fcnt ftate of our knowledge on the fubjc-ct, it is perhaps only poflible to afford a 

 few hints and directions that may be ufcful in guiding the attention of the farmer, 



It has been well remarked, that whenever it is meant to attempt any confide- 

 rable improvement in the nature cf the live Hock of a farm, care fhould be pre- 

 vioufly taken that there is a fuffkicnt degree of flielter, made and warmth, as 

 well as a high degree of fertility of the land, and a fuitable ftate of drainage, as it 

 is only by the richnefs and abundance of food that fuch changes can be effected in 

 the mod advantageous way, or the flock be brought to any high degree of per 

 fection.* 



In the bufmefs of improving different kinds of live flock two different fyflcms 

 have been chiefly purfued. The firft, or that which has prevailed for the greateft 

 length of time, is by means of crofting the various breeds, fo as to fupply the faults 

 or defects of the one by the merits or perfections of the other, the latter, or that 

 which has been more recently introduced and brought to the attention of the far- 

 mer, is by uniting the perfections of the fame kind, by continuing to breed from 

 the beft and moft perfect animals in the lame line, family, or blood. 



On this involved but interefting fubject various ufeful obfervations, drawn from 

 the ftructure and phyfiology of the animals, have been lately offered to the breeder 

 and grazier by Mr. Cline.-t 



* Middleton s Report of Middlefe.x. 



V It lias, he fays, been generally fuppoffd that the breed of animals is improved by the largeft males, 

 This opinion has done confiderable mi (chief and would have done more injury, if it had not been 

 counteracted by the defire of felefting animals of the heft forms and proportions, which are rarely 

 to be met with in thofe of the largeft fize. Experience has proved that eroding has only fucceeded 

 in- an eminent degree in thofe iiiftances in which the females were larger than in the ufual propor 

 tions of females to males, and that it has generally failed when the males were difproportionaliy 

 large. The external form of domeftic animals has been much ftudied, and the proportions are well 

 afcertained. But the external form is an indication only of internal ftrudure. The principles of 

 improving it muft therefore be founded on a knowledge of the ftiufture and ufe of the internal parts. 

 The lungs are of the firft importance. It is on their fize and foundnefs that the flrength and health 

 of an animal principally depends. The power of converting food into nourifhment is in proportion 

 to their fize. An animal with large lungs is capable of converting a given quantity of food into more 

 jiourifhment than one with fmaller lungs ; and therefore has a greater aptitude to fatten. 



The Chest. The external indications of the Cze of the lungs are the form and fize of the cheft ; 



