92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



breeds." And since then the world-renowned English racer has 

 been produced mainly by crosses from the best types of Arabs 

 and Barbs. From the Byerly Turk desccnded'King Ilerod, wliich 

 got four hundred and ninety-seven winners at the various race- 

 courses, computed to have gained to their owners <£201,505. 

 Eclipse from the Darlcy Arabian, got three hu)idred and thirty- 

 four winners, which brought their owners Xl60,000. The basis 

 of excellence was laid by infusing the blood of the Turk, Barb 

 and Arab, yet by a careful selection of animals showing superior 

 qualities, the progeny has so far improved that the native Arab 

 is now considered no match for the English racer, but is allowed 

 a discount of thirty-six pounds when contending with the latter 

 in the Goodwood races. As showing a similar improvement over 

 native breeds, it may be mentioned that no '" cocktail " (seven- 

 eighths or fifteen-sixteenths racing blood) has been known to win 

 a race of 2|- miles in competition on eqnal terms with the 

 thoroughbred. 



The Shorthorns equally date their origin from the buUcalf 

 Hubback, purchased by Colling from a poor neighbor. And so 

 well have the qualities of eaily maturity and power of accumu- 

 lating fat been perpetuated and improved, that no grade Durham, 

 however excellent his personal points, is of the same value for 

 begetting the same qualities in his progeny. And yet this ex- 

 cellence has been obtained in the case of the racer in about 

 two hundred years, and in that of the Durham in one hundred. 



But the fundamental principle that like produces like, is not 

 an inviolable rule ; were it so every breed would retain the same 

 qualities throughout all time and no improvement could be 

 effected. Variations always take place, sometimes from unknown 

 causes, sometimes from causes under our control ; and in our 

 ability to solicit, to foster and to perpetuate such variations, lie 

 all our powers of improving a breed. As these variations may 

 be tlie cause of deterioration as well as of improvement in 

 breeds, an intimate acquaintance with them and their results 

 is absolutely essential, not only to beget new excellence, but to 

 maintain and perpetuate the old. I will recount a few of the 

 known causes of variations. 



Ist. Feeding-. — Under a more abundant diet the intestinal 

 canal of the domesticated cat and swine becomes more lengthy 

 and capacious than those of their wild progenitors. Hogs 



