68 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In conclusion, Professor Agassiz dwelt upon the influence 

 which soil and climate exercise in developing the animal system. 

 Large frames, great hony structures, grow on limestone- soils, 

 smaller bones on granite formations. He thought this ought to 

 be taken into consideration in selecting animals for any locality. 

 And he was moreover satisfied that a breed of animals could, if 

 confined to any given spot, grow into conformity with that spot. 



Dr. Loring remarked that the views Professor Agassiz had 

 presented, especially with regard to the influence of the first 

 impregnation, had often been confirmed by his own experience. 

 He had urged in a report on Cattle Breeding, published in the 

 State Agricultural Transactions, the selection of a male as near 

 the type of what the breeder wants, as possible, and of a female 

 which had never been impregnated, for the purpose of producing 

 a specified type. He had urged, too, the case of a male some- 

 what connected with the females, which he proposed as the 

 foundation of a race ; because he believed in a certain amount 

 of in-and-in breeding, especially when healthy constitution and 

 good points were thus to be transmitted. And now, more than 

 all, on the principle of surrounding influences, and of the value 

 of the relations which exist among animals as well as among 

 men, would he urge the necessity of establishing a class of 

 animals, a family perhaps, particularly adapted to every locality, 

 and kept distinct for that locality. He deprecated this mixing 

 of Ayrshires, and Jerseys, and Short-horns in the same pastures, 

 and on adjoining farms, as especially injurious to all the breeds, 

 even if they did not intermingle. It is impossible to establish 

 a desired type in the midst of such confusion. That the care 

 in avoiding this tumult in the cattle community which he rec- 

 ommends is advantageous, he illustrated by referring to several 

 localities in New England where, in an isolated manner, strongly 

 marked and valuable families of animals had grown up. 



Professor Agassiz here confirmed these views by reference 

 to the animals which represent, with great distinctness, the 

 cantons of Switzerland. 



Dr. Loring reviewed his remarks, and spoke of the advantage 

 the breeder in America could derive from taking those herds of 

 cattle in Europe, already established for some specific purpose. 

 And lest some one might charge upon him that the views of 

 Professor Agassiz with regard to breeding rendered this unne- 



