216 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



On no other known principle than this condition, or a peculiar state of the sys- 

 tem at and before the time of copulation, can be explained the important fact 

 which forms at once a criterion of skill in the scientific breeder, and a stumbling- 

 block to the isfnorant and unreasonable one, who would expect success without 

 giving himself the trouble of investigating the natural laws which govern the 

 subject of his operation : such a person is too apt to argue within himself that 

 because the same parents at different times produce offspring of opposite charac- 

 teristics, there can be no certain rules by which to create determinate qualities 

 in the progeny ; such a one would maintain that, because all the children of one 

 married couple are usually somewhat different in characteristics from each other, 

 there can be no means of predicting, with an approach to certainty, the qualities 

 to be produced in the offspring by a particular sexual intercourse. Now this 

 law of condition accounts for the difference between individuals produced at sev- 

 eral births from the same parents. The case of twins, in the human species, 

 serves to strengthen this argument, inasmuch as the two persons produced at 

 one birth usually bear a close resemblance to each other, in all respects. 



It is known that ideal impressions on the female parent, subsequent to concep- 

 tion, frequently take permanent effect on the offspring. That such causes do not 

 usually give the leading characteristics to the progeny, is evident from these con- 

 siderations : 



1st. The consequences of such impressions on the female, are usually some- 

 what of an unnatural or monstrous order, being different from the traits of 

 either parent, and from the common nature of the variety to which the animals 

 belong. 



2d. It is a settled point with breeders that the progeny is more strongly 

 characterized by the traits of the male, than by those of the female parent. This 

 fact is well knoAvn; and indeed it can hardly be expected otherwise than that 

 the sex which bears so much the stronger impress of character, should impart 

 the more visible resemblance to the offspring. 



3d. It is an ascertained law of Nature, that peculiarities of climate, food, 

 occupation and most other circumstances affecting the well-being of an animal, 

 produce in its constitution a change such as is necessary for the welfare of the 

 species ; and that this proceeds throughout many generations, until the animal 

 becomes completely adapted to the circumstances of its existence. [The same 

 thing occurs in the vegetable kingdom.] 



This last consideration, of the gradually altered state of an animal through 

 successive generations, is a strong instance of the effect of condition ; and it is by 

 a regard to this invariable law of Nature, of self-adaptation to circumstances, that 

 the cultivation or improvement of any breed is to be effected. " Hence the most 

 acid and worthless grape is by skillful culture rendered sweet and luscious ; 

 flowers without attraction are gradually nurtured into beauty and fragrance ; the 

 cat may be made to present all the rich colors of the tortoise-shell, and the pigeon 

 may be ' bred to a feather.' " 



Let us now endeavor to deduce a useful, practical conclusion from the foregoing 

 arguments. If our doctrine be correct, the horse-breeder will depend upon the condi- 

 tion of the stallion, in order to the procuring of valuable stock from him, as well 

 as upon his other qualities of pedigree, speed, action, bottom, wind, temper, spirit, 

 form, style, size, color, &c. 



The next practical question is, how this condition is to be attained, and how 

 the animal is to be kept at the required standard in this respect. The re- 

 quisite condition is only to be attained by training for health and strength in a 

 great measure according to the system of training for races: supplying an 

 abundant nourishment of the best quality, allowing sufficient periods of repose 

 for digestion, and giving regular and strong exercise, the whole with such varia- 

 tions as only experience and close observation, under constant practice, can 

 dictate. 



The aptitude of an animal to benefit by training is often inherited, like other 

 qualities, from its parentage ; and judicious breeding alone can insure a continu- 

 ance of the desirable quality, or create a propensity for it by proper crossing, 

 when it does not exist in the parents. 



The age at which the horse is best adapted to undergo a course of training, is 

 just at the close of his most rapid period of growth, while the system is in its 



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