ON BREEDING AND REARING ANIMALS. 35 



propensities, or greater and more perfect health 

 and vigour, the object must be obtained by se- 

 lecting and pairing those males and females 

 which possess in the greatest degree the requisite 

 qualities, whether crossing be resorted to, or 

 breeding in and in. 



When left to nature it is always determined 

 one way ; those which are rendered the weakest, 

 from whatever cause, are driven off) or down, by 

 the strongest and most vigorous : and as all have 

 to contend with the same climate, lodging, and 

 food, those possessing the best habits must al- 

 ways prevail, and consequently the breed must 

 be kept up to its greatest perfection. And that 

 an adherence to those principles which are the 

 most congenial to the laws of nature is the most 

 profitable, is clearly established by practical de- 

 monstration. 



It is well known, that there. are many farms, 

 and many large districts that never do fatten 

 their stock, and indeed are considered and 

 found inadequate to it ; and what other cause 

 can be assigned for this, but that the stock are 

 bred by continual crossing with males reared 

 under advantages of superior lodging, food, and 

 climate, to what such farms and districts natu- 

 rally produce ? As Sir John Sinclair observes, ) 

 animals bred from the same family, and selected S 



D 2. 



