638 Live Stock Breeding ofProper lies to le regarded in Shape. 



As the principal object of the breeding farmer muft conftantly be that of obtain 

 ing fuch animals as will afford him the largcll profit ; it may be ncceffary to 

 afcertain the nature and form of animal that may be molt advantageous in thia 

 view, or which pays the beft for the confumption of its food ; as by this means it 

 will befcen what points are the moft deferable or ufeful in a breed or variety, and 

 what circum fiances ought to be attended to, fo as to juftify its introduction in pre 

 ference to another. 



The properties that would feem more particularly to deferve the attention ot 

 the farmer, in his different views and fchemes of improving the breeds of live ftock 

 may be confidered under the different heads tf/bape,fize, difpofition, hardinefs, quick 



food ; and by degrees, undergo great changes in confutation ; but thefe changes can be effected only 

 by degrees, and may often require a great number of fucceffive generations for their accomplifhment. 

 It may be proper to improve the form of a native race, but at the fame time it may be very injudi 

 cious touttempt to enlarge their fize. The fize of animals is commonly adapted to the foil which they 

 inhabit. Where pioduce is nutritive and abundant, the animals are large, having grown proportion 

 ally to the quantity of food which, for generations, they have been accuftomed to obtain. Where the 

 produce is fcanty, the animals are very final), being proportioned to the quantity of food 

 they were able to procure. Of thefe contrails, the flieep of Lincolnfliire and of Wales are examples. 

 The iheep of Lincolnfliire would starve on the mountains of Wales. 



&quot; Crofiing the breed ofanimsls, may be attended with bad effects in various ways: and that even, 

 when adopted in the beginning on a good principle; for inftance, fuppofe fome larger ewes than 

 thofe of the native breed, were taken to the mountains of Wales, and put to the rams of that coun 

 try ; if thefe foreign ewes were fed in proportion to their fize, their lambs would be of an improved 

 form, and larger in fize than the native animals ; but the males produced by this crofs, though of a 

 good form, would be difproportionate in fize to the native ewes ; and therefore, if permitted to mix 

 with them, would be productive of a ftarveling, ill formed progeny. Thus a crofs which, at firft, 

 was an improvement, would by giving occafion to a contrary crofs, ultimately prejudice the breed. 

 The general miftake in croffiog has arifen from an attempt to incrca fe the fize of a native race of ani 

 mals; being a fruitlefs attempt to counteraft the law of nature. The Arabian horfes are in general, 

 the moft perfeft in the world, which probably has arifen from great care in felcftion; and alfo from 

 beingunmixed with any variety of the fame fpecics ; the males therefore Inve never been difpropor- 

 tioned in fize to the females. The native horfes of India are fmall but well proportioned, and good 

 of their kind. With the intention of increafing their fize, the India Company have adopted a plan of 

 fending large ftalliohs to India. If thefe ftallions fhould be extenfively ufed, a difproportioned race 

 muft be the refult, and a valuable breed of horfes may be irretrievably ipoiled. From theory, from 

 practice and from extenfive obfervation, which is more to be depended on- than either, it is reafonable 

 to form this condlufion ; that it is wrong to enlarge a native breed of animals, for in proportion, to 

 .their increafe of fi/e,they become vvorfe in form, lefs hardy, and more liable to diil-afe.&quot; 



