CATTLE. 129 



with the Polled Galloway, a breed with deep massive 

 bodies and short legs, and well calculated to bring 

 the tall Teeswaters nearer the ground, and add 

 weight, firmness, and hardiness. " He was much 

 favoured by circumstances in promoting his object, 

 which was to take one cross, and then breed back to 

 the Short Horn — the only course, by-the-way, in 

 which crossing can be successfully adopted. To 

 breed from the produce of a cross directly among 

 themselves, will lead to the results which have indu- 

 ced many persons, without due consideration, to be- 

 lieve conclusive against crossing; but to take one 

 cross, and then return and adhere to one breed, will, 

 in the course of a few generations, be found to stamp 

 a variety with sufficient certainty."* 



The principle of crossing here laid down we con- 

 sider of very great consequence, as it is the only 

 one by which a good quality can be introduced and 

 made permanent in the variety. It is the only one by 

 which the excellence, be it form, maturity, or milk- 

 ing, can be rendered habitual in the breed, and be- 

 come, instead of an accidental quality, a part of the 

 constitution, and typical of the race. Attention here 

 can perpetuate any desirable quality to the greatest 

 extent ; and the experiments of Mr. CuUey, Mr. 

 Berry, and others in England, have demonstrated 

 the soundness of the theory. Early maturity and 

 aptitude to fatten were the grand objects of the early 

 breeders of the Short Horns ; and on these points 

 they succeeded to a degree of perfection which left 

 nothing to be desired. Early maturity is the dis- 

 tinguishing characteristic of the Short Horns ; and 

 their capacity to continue growing, and, at the same 

 time, attaining an unexampled ripeness of condition 

 at an early age, has excited the wonder and obtained 

 the approbation of all not blinded by unworthy prej- 

 udices. To illustrate this property of early maturi- 



* Mr. Berry, British Cattle. 



II.— L 



