STOCK. 113 



accident. One cau easily see the influence of food by noticing 

 the diff'erence between two herds of the same breed, the one 

 kept by a generous, the other by a niggardly, feeder. High 

 feeding, Prof. L. says, tends directly to variation and im- 

 provement. 



Climate and soil have a marked influence on a race of cattle, 

 which will be evident in its effects long after a removal to a 

 dissimilar location. For this reason, we should be care- 

 ful to select only such animals as are adapted to the climate 

 and soil of our own farms. On this subject, the " Northern 

 Farmer" writes, "It is highly necessary to take into con- 

 sideration the class of animals that will suit the farm, it being 

 much better to get them of a size rather under than over the 

 capabilities of the soil, as in that case improvement will begin 

 at once ; whereas, if the opposite has been the case, the stock 

 must recede. 



" A man possessed of large capital can easily place on his 

 land animals of immense bone and substance, and of the most 

 approved breeds, but he cannot so easily alter the character of 

 his soil and make it fit to carry such cattle ; that must be a 

 work of time, however great ma}' be expenditure with the 

 view of improvement ; and consequent!}^ it becomes good, 

 sound policy to keep both stock an'd soil progressing in the 

 same ratio." 



In selectins: a breed of cattle, we should choose that which 

 has been bred in a country as similar as possible to our own in 

 climate, soil and its natural features. 



Use and disuse of parts. — Cows in a wild state yield very 

 little milk, and if our cows are not milked regularly and com- 

 pletely, the quantity of milk will decrease, or may cease 

 altogether, whereas by the constant and proper use of the 

 udder the flow of milk is continued. Cows that are worked, 

 as often happens on the Continent of Europe, acquire in time 

 stouter limbs and a heavier appearance than if kept for simple 

 milch purposes.. Swiss cattle are remarkably coarse and 

 heavy-limbed for their size, in consequence of their almost 

 daily efforts in climbing the steep mountain-sides. 



Atavism, reversion or breeding back, is a subject of great 

 importance, and a proper understanding of it indispensable 

 for the breeder. Darwin mentions many curious cases of 



15* 



