50 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. ii. 



in his prime, and usually retains his full 

 vigour until three years of age, after which 

 time he grows indolent, hecomes careless of 

 his office, and is at last usually consigned to 

 the cook ; though sometimes he is kept with 

 his hens for two, and even three, years longer : 

 not only to avoid the apparent cruelty of 

 dividing the fellow from its mates, but also 

 from the loss of gratification which it occasions 

 by depriving the creatures which are depend- 

 ent on us of any portion of their enjoyment. 

 Although fi-ankly admitting the propriety of 

 this delay, in the sense in which it is given, 

 it is yet considered by those breeders who look 

 more to profit than pleasure, as a very in- 

 judicious practice : and in this they are cor- 

 rect ; for, if it be continued * without crossing 

 with other breeds, it will lead to coupling 

 males and females of the same family ; which 

 mode of " breeding in-and-in " — as breeders 

 of all animals term it — has been invariably 

 found so to deteriorate the race, that in a 

 few generations they lose any superiority which 



should be recollected, that in consequence of the alteration 

 in the calendar, it would occur, according to the old style, 

 twelve days later than as now stated in our almanacks. 



