88 ESSAY ON THE STALLION. 



parent. This fact is well known ; and indeed it 

 can hardly be expected otherwise than that the 

 sex which bears so much the stronger impress of 

 character, should impart the more visible resem- 

 blance to the offspring. 



3d. It is an ascertained law of Nature, that pecu- 

 liarities of climate, food, occupation and most 

 other circumstances affecting the well being of 

 an animal, produce in its constitution a change 

 such as is necessary for the welfare of the species ; 

 and that this proceeds throughout many genera- 

 tions, until the animal becomes completely 

 adapted to the circumstances of its existence. 

 [The same thing occurs in the vegetable kingdom.] 



This last consideration, of the gradually altered 

 state of an animal through successive generations, 

 is a strong instance of the effect of condition ; and 

 it is by a regard to this invariable law of Nature, 

 of self-adaptation to circumstances, that the culti- 

 vation or improvement of any breed is to be 

 effected. " Hence the most acid and worthless 

 grape is, by skillful culture, rendered sweet and 

 luscious, flowers without attraction are gradually 

 nurtured into beauty and fragrance ; the cat may 

 be made to present all the rich colors of the tor- 

 toise-shell, and the pigeon may be 'bred to a 

 feather.' " 



Let us now endeavor to deduce a useful, practical 

 conclusion from the foregoing arguments. If our 

 doctrine be correct, the horse breeder will depend 

 upon the condition of the stallion, in order to the 

 producing of valuable stock from him, as well as 

 upon his other qualities of pedigree, speed, action, 

 bottom, wind, temper, spirit, form, style, size, 

 color, etc. 



The next practical question is how this condi- 

 tion is to be attained, and how the animal is to be 



