SKETCH OF MODERN AGRICULTURE 6 1 



as a wedding present when she was married at Hornby. The 

 quick eye of Charles Colling appreciated the excellence of Hub- 

 back's conformation, from the standpoint of the beef producer, 

 and with characteristic decisiveness he lost no time in purchas- 

 ing him. Both Bakewell and the Collings reversed the common 

 practice of the time of continually crossing different breeds and 

 varieties, which was done in the mistaken belief that such fre- 

 quent crossings were necessary to prevent inbreeding and dete- 

 rioration. Such a method only produces mongrels. They bred 

 from within a given race, and did not hesitate to inbreed where 

 they saw that it was desirable to fix a certain type. 



Benjamin Tompkins and the Herefords. About the same 

 time, or a little earlier (1760), Benjamin Tompkins began im- 

 proving the cattle of Herefordshire, and succeeded in establish- 

 ing the magnificent breed of Hereford cattle, the only close 

 rival of the Shorthorns in beef production, though distinctly in- 

 ferior as milkers. About the same time the Duke of Bedford 

 began improving the Devon cattle, though this is perhaps the 

 oldest breed, or the breed whose distinct characteristics can be 

 traced back the farthest of any in England. In spite of their 

 many excellent qualities the Devons do not seem to have shown 

 such adaptability to new conditions in different parts of the New 

 World as have the Shorthorns and the Herefords. The enor- 

 mous sales to the New World, including Australia, of breeding 

 animals of these two popular breeds have been very important 

 factors in English agricultural prosperity during the last century. 

 In their own country, however, and in parts of New England 

 where oxen are used, the Devons have retained their popularity. 



The Thoroughbred. The early half of the eighteenth century 

 was remarkable in the annals of horse breeding for the rapid 

 development of the English Thoroughbred through the impor- 

 tation of Eastern blood. The Darley Arabian, a bay stallion 

 from whom the best individuals are descended, was imported 



