26 ON BREEDING AND REARING ANIMALS. 



tially only, as they are descriptive of the effect of 

 injudicious selection, and of artificial feeding, and 

 do not prove the cause of defection, to be in the 

 general principle, of breeding in and in. 



It appears, that Bakewell well knew how far 

 he could lead nature ; and so far from his results 

 proving the insufficiency, of breeding in and in 

 to produce perfection, it completely establishes 

 the fact, that such an object cannot be obtained, 

 with equal facility, by any other means. 



It ^must be admitted, that more valuable 

 animals in themselves, never were produced, 

 than those bred by Bakewell ; but the old 

 maxim no doubt is good, ** You may purchase 

 " gold too dear." However, as before observed, 

 Bakewell had an object in view, and to ob- 

 tain this, every advantage of artificial climate, 

 food, and lodging, were resorted to, regardless 

 of expense; and so long as he could furnish 

 exuberance in food, climate, and lodging, he 

 found an exuberance in the flesh and size of his 

 animals returned ; but when his means of 

 increase were exhausted, nature made a stand — 

 she never went ^^ farther than she intended.** 

 I once heard of a farmer, who, ambitious to 

 excel, purchased a bull from Bakewell, or some 

 such fancy breeder, and after having kept him 

 for some time, the beast lost flesh, and became 



