ON BREEDING AND REARING ANIMALS. 23 



" ence has now proved, that it cannot be sue- 

 " cessfully persevered in." 



This conclusion, in a general sense, cannot be 

 admitted, but we may, indeed, admit, that there 

 are bounds, beyond which we cannot force na- 

 ture, for having reached the point of perfec- 

 tion, there we must stop ; we cannot proceed 

 farther. 



Sir John should also have stated, what appears 

 to have been the fact, that Bakewell, not only se- 

 lected the finest males and females, but he spared 

 neither pains nor expense, in furnishing and adapt- 

 ing such climate, lodging^ and food, as appeared 

 most conducive to the forwarding his object; 

 and then, it might have been remarked, that the 

 pains and expense thus incurred by Bakewell, 

 to obtain his object, was so great, that the no- 

 velty alone of his produce, could command an 

 adequate return ; and this, perhaps, may be a 

 sufficient reason, why his plans could not be 

 considered as eligible to be generally followed, 

 but it does not furnish just grounds for con- 

 demning the principle, of breeding in and in, 

 altogether. 



After a perfect stock has been obtained* how 

 is it to be continued ? This seems to be the grand 

 question, and it only can be answered on the 

 principles before explained, viz. by duly attend- 



