Live Stock. 95 



defect, however small it may be at first, will increase in every 

 succeeding generation, arid at last predominate in such a 

 degree, as to render the breed of little value ( II? )> Breed- 

 ing in-and-in, therefore, would only tend to increase, and 

 to perpetuate that defect, which might be eradicated, by a 

 judicious selection, from a different family, in the same race. 



2. The breeding from different families, of the same race, 

 is therefore a preferable system. When these have been for 

 some time established in different situations, and have had 

 some slight shades of difference impressed upon them, by 

 the influence of different climates, soils, and treatment, it is 

 found advantageous, to interchange the males, for the pur- 

 pose of strengthening the excellencies, and remedying the 

 defects of each family. On this principle, the celebrated 

 Culley continued, for many years, to hire his rams from 

 Bakewell, at the very time, that other breeders were paying 

 him a liberal price for the use of his own ; and the very 

 same practice is followed by the most skilful breeders at 

 present ( II8 ). 



3. Any attempt at improvement, by crossing two distinct 

 breeds or races, one of which possesses the properties which 

 it is wished to obtain, or is free from the defects which it is 

 desirable to remove, requires a degree of judgment and per- 

 severance, to render such a plan successful, as is very rarely 

 to be met with. Indeed, though such crosses may, by great 

 attention, answer at first, it is in general, however, found, 

 that great singularities attend such mixtures ; and, in breed- 

 ing bulls, though some of them may apparently answer, yet 

 their breed is not to be trusted. The first cross between a 

 good short-horned bull, and a good Kyloe cow, will make 

 a good grazing animal ; but by proceeding farther, disap- 

 pointment will ensue, if a regular stock be wanted. If such 

 a cross is to be persevered in, the male should always be of 

 the same breed with the first ( 1I9 ). 



Crossing with larger males, from another country, is some- 

 times attempted, with a view of enlarging the size of stock. 

 But such attempts should be made with the greatest caution ; 

 for by a mistaken practice, extensively pursued, irreparable 

 mischief may be effected. Where a particular race of ani- 

 mals has continued for centuries, it may be presumed, that 

 their constitution is adapted to the soil and climate. Any 

 attempt, therefore, to increase the size of a native race of 

 animals, without improving their food, by which their size 

 is regulated, is a fruitless effort to counteract the laws of 

 nature. In proportion to their increase of size by crossing, 



