634 Live Stock Hfcthods of I mprovin g /*// hat ncce/fitry hi* 



advantages in preventing the animals frcm becoming fmall, tender, and liable to 

 difeafe, in confequence of their being too near akin. This notion has however been 

 fhovvn to have little or no foundation in truth, by the great fuccefs which has at- 

 tended the contrary method, in the practice of one of the moil intelligent and ex 

 pert breeders that this or perhaps any other country has produced ;* as his bcfl 

 flock has been raifed by the ncarefl affinities, not only without either diiminifhing 

 in fize, becoming lefs hardy, or being more fubjecr. to difeafe; but on the con 

 trary with a continued amelioration and improvement.-]- And a ftill more 

 conclufive proof is, perhaps, afforded in fuch breeds of cattle as have remained for 

 many centuries in the Hate of nature, in particular fituations, \vithout any mix 

 ture of others ; as in fuch cafes, though from their unreftrained condition, they 

 muft, without doubt, have bred in all the different poiTible degrees of affinity, 

 they have been found to continue without any diminution either in their 

 fize, hardinefs or health, and without undergoing any injurious alteration 

 in their form, or change in their colour, or other peculiarities. + But 

 in oppofition to thcfe ftrong proofs, it is ftill contended by others, though 

 confeffedly without any very great experience, that in this method &quot;young 

 ftock dccreafe rapidly in lize on the fame pafture,&quot; without any &quot; other ill or 

 good effect: taking place in confequence of ir. It is likewife further obfcrvcd, 

 in contradiction of the fame opinion, that in proportion as an animal decreafes in 

 fize, it may be reafonably fuppofed to decreafe in vigour and activity, but that, 

 how far this may render it capable of feeding or living on lefs food is not afcer- 

 tained. There is no doubt, however, it is faid, but that very beautiful animals 

 may be produced by breeding in and in, as &quot; the young animal comes into the 

 world onafmall fcale; but by keeping it fat from the firft moment of its exigence 

 it is made to attain a greater fize than nature intended, and its weight will in con- 



The Bones. The ftrength of an animal does not depend on the fize of the bones, but on that of 

 the mufcles. Many animals with large bones are weak, their mufcles being fmall. .Animals that 

 were imperfectly nourifhed during growth, have their bones difproportionably large. If fuch defici- 

 ncy of nourishment originated from a conltitutional defied, which is the moll frequent caufe, they 

 remain weak during life ; large bones therefore generally indicate an imperfection in the organs of 

 nutrition, 



* Mr, Bakewell. f Culley on Live Stock. % Ibid, 



S Knight in Commuaicatjons to the Board, vol. II, 



