650 Live Stock Introduction of new Breeds. 



a capital flock, and with fuch refources it would be. abfurd not to aim at a breed 

 fomewhat decent in quality.&quot;* But improvements of this nature can, in genertl, 

 only be effected by degrees, as the pecuniary circumftances of but few farmers 

 admit of a total change. How much foever they may difapprove of what they 

 have in pofleffion, they can only object to a few of the inferior: this, however, is 

 in their power ; and, by always felccting the bcft for breeding and rearing, im 

 provement will in time be effected. Great improvements in cow-ftock may 

 doubtlefs be made by a proper felection of the belt heifers in carcafe and milk-bag 

 for breeding flock, but more particularly by a judicious choice of the bull. But as 

 prime or firft-ratc ftock is in but few hands, and the owners generally afk higher 

 prices than farmers in general can afford to give, it would be highly advantageous 

 in this intention to have proper male flock provided by the proprietors of lands. )- 

 In this way, the letting of male ftock in the midland diftricts has had much in 

 fluence; and it is probably only by fome encouragement of this nature that the 

 higheft improvement in this moft important department of hufbandry can be at 

 tained. 



It has been alfo remarked, Cf that there is one circumftance relative to the choice 

 or introduction of all new breeds, which muft not be paffed over in filence, becaufe 

 no farmer can neglect it without certain lofs. Every kind of pafture is fitted to raife 

 animals to a particular fize. When beafts of a larger fize are brought in, than the 

 quality of the food is calculated to fupport, thefe animals whether cows, horfes 

 or fheep, or any other kind, will degenerate apace, and never prove ufeful until 

 they comedown to that ftandard or fize adapted to their fituation and fuited to 

 their food. On the other hand, when a fmaller breed than ordinary is brought in, 

 they continue to increafe in bulk, until they come up to the pitch which is fuited to 

 their nourifhment. But there is this remarkable difference betwixt thefe two pro- 

 greflions in refpect of profit, that in the retrograde progrefs, when animals are 

 brought from rich pafture, and a comfortable fuuation, to the reverfe, they are in 

 very inftance worfe than the indigenous breed ; whereas the animals which are 

 brought from worfe to better, continue to improve till they arrive at that perfection 

 which thechange in their fituation is calculated to produce. Thefe caufes may not 

 immediately have their full effect, but in a few years they certainly and evidently 

 will He makes for this reafon, a much fafcr experiment who brings cattle from 



* Correck d Agricultural Report of Stafford(hire. f Ibid. 



