172 



The effect of the imagination is not a little remarkable in cows. 

 An ox, with white spots, has been known to leap a fence and harass a 

 cow, in an adjoining pasture, when she was in heat. Now although 

 this cow was submitted to a bull of the best breed, yet her calf was 

 spotted, like the ox. This fact shows how much care is requisite in 

 breeding, and how the imagination, in even such animals, affects 

 progeny. 



When this carefulness of selection from sire to son, has continued 

 through several generations, animals will be produced of great per- 

 fection of form, and possessing such qualities, in a high degree, as 

 have been sought by the breeder. And the males will possess them 

 in a higher degree than the females can. They will become a part 

 of his constitution ; and he will communicate them to his offspring. 

 The high bred cow's excellences will preponderate over the half 

 bred bull, for her excellences are hereditary, and an essential part 

 of her. The best beast for a farmer, is that which suits his farm 

 the best. The dairy man will look to the richness and quantity of 

 the milk. The grazier, to the quantity of the meat and facility of 

 fattening, and to the jjarts on which fat accumulates ; and he 

 looks especially to the hardihood of the animals, and their adapta- 

 tion, in constitution, to the climate and soil. 



Now, the farmer should understand perfectly the character and 

 qualities of his own stock. And, by examining into their minor 

 deficiencies he may remedy them all, by looking to the breeding. 

 And when he has an animal showing some material defect, he will 

 not suffer that animal to have progeny. Nor will he long confine 

 him,self to his own stock, unless it is very superior. The breeding 

 " in and in," has many advantages, to a certain extent. We pro- 

 duced the Bakewell and the Collings breed of sheep. It has now 

 become a rule, with many agriculturists, to effect some change 

 in their stock every second or third year. And this is done by in- 

 troducing a new male. And this male should be of the same sort, 

 but possessing no relationship, or very distant, to the stock to 

 which he is introduced. He should have all their good points, and 

 if possible, some improvement on the race he sprung from ; and above 

 all, a hardy constitution. 



•A breeder should never forget that good keeping is essential. 

 All stock must be bred with attention, and be well fed. For the 



