50 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



in size in proportion to the quantity and quality ; and this size, 

 under the same circumstances, will run through generations, 

 unless interrupted by artificial means ; and so if the food is 

 more difficult to obtain, and the pastures are short, the pliancy 

 of the animal organization is such that it naturally becomes 

 adapted to it, and the animal is of smaller size ; and hence Mr. 

 Cline observes, that " the general mistake in crossing has arisen 

 from an attempt to increase the size of a native race of animals, 

 being a fruitless effort to counteract the laws of nature." Mr. 

 Cline also says in his treatise " On the Form of Animals : " 

 " Experience has proved that crossing has only succeeded in an 

 eminent degree in those instances in which the females were 

 larger than the usual proportion of females to males ; and that 

 it has generally failed when the male* were disproportionally 

 large. When the male is much larger than the female, the 

 offspring is generally of an imperfect form ; if the female be 

 proportionally larger than the male, the offspring is generally of 

 an improved form. For instance, if a well formed, large ram 

 be put to ewes proportionally smaller, the lambs Avill not be so 

 well shaped as their parents ; but if a small ram be put to larger 

 ewes, the lambs will be of an improved form." " The improve- 

 ment depends on the principle, that the power of the female to 

 supply her offspring with nourishment is in proportion to her 

 size and to the power of nourishing herself from the excellence 

 of her constitution ; as larger animals cat more, the larger 

 female may afford most nourishment to her young." 



This would, perhaps, by some be regarded as another princi- 

 ple of breeding, that when improvement in form is desired, the 

 size of the female selected should be proportionally larger than 

 the male ; though Lord Spencer, a successful breeder, strongly 

 contested it, and Mr. Dickson, an excellent judge of stock, 

 advised the attempt to build up a new breed by selecting some 

 Zetland cows, a very diminutive breed of Scotch cattle, of good 

 symmetry, points and handling, and a high bred West Highland 

 bull to put to them. " The produce would probably be," says 

 he, " a neat, handsome little animal, of a medium size between 

 the two breeds. The shaggy hide, long horns, symmetry and 

 fine points of the West Highlanders would be imparted to this 

 cross, which would not only be a good feeder and very hardy, 

 but the beef of superior quality. The great point would, of 



