36 ON BREEDING AND REARING ANIMALS. 



for their peculiar propensities to fatten, have a 

 large proportion of flesh, and but little bone ; 

 so, on the contrary, animals bred from meagre 

 fernales, living in a harsh climate, and with a 

 scanty supply of food, by crossing with males 

 of the largest size, produced by superior food, 

 and in a climate more congenial, have a large 

 proportion of bone, and but little flesh, and pos- 

 sess withal a more delicate and precarious state 

 of health. Any land whatever, that will furnish 

 food enough to maintain two animals in a state for 

 breeding, and with a climate and lodging requi- 

 site to sustain health and vigour, w r ill be found 

 equal to the fattening an animal that had been 

 naturalised to it by breeding in and in for several 

 generations. Every farm may be considered as 

 having its peculiar advantages and disadvantages, 

 compared with others, and a profit can only 

 arise from a skilful observance and management 

 of these. 



There does not exist a more mistaken notion, 

 than that the stock of one farm may be kept equal 

 to every other, by crossing and changing the ani- 

 mals and seeds only. It has been well observed, 

 that " Nature provides every creature with a 

 " shelter from the storm." If a male and female 

 of any species of animal or plant be bred under 

 circumstances of a congenial climate, and a libe- 



