114 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



compensate for the introduction of an obvious blemish. It is 

 a matter of great importance to the breeder, that the animals 

 bred pure have what is called good handling properties, viz. : 

 — a spongy, elastic softness, in distinction from the hard, harsh, 

 unyielding nature of the skin, and the texture immediately 

 beneath, which is commonly called the case, in all improved 

 breeds of animals. 



Good handling is always a proof of early maturity, and also 

 that the animal will appropriate its food to the best possible 

 use. Selection with judicious and cautious admixture is the 

 true secret of forming a breed ; the errors to be avoided are, 

 too long continued and obstinate adherence to one breed: and 

 on the other hand, and even more dangerous, violent crosses 

 in which there is similarity between the soil, the pasture, or 

 the points and qualities of the animals that are brought to- 

 gether. The skilful breeder looks carefully over his flock, and 

 he observes that some of his cows — the food and general man- 

 agement being the same — arrive earlier at maturity, fatten 

 more quickly, or produce more milk, (or they may have all 

 these qualities united in more or less perfection) than others ; 

 there is the same attention paid to all, but the profit is abun- 

 dantly more from some than from the majority of their com- 

 panions. He is anxious to account for this ; he compares 

 these cows with some of their companions, and he observes 

 that there is an evident difference of conformation and fineness 

 of line, and a beautiful proportion of every part. He studies 

 this, and he fitxls that there is more or less of this conformation 

 in every animal that materially outstrips their companions. 

 He then looks around with great care and selects the bull 

 which possesses in the greatest possible perfection the confor- 

 mation which he has found from experience to be best adapted 

 for his purpose; for, as has been already stated, the form of the 

 animal best adapted for the shambles, and the form best adapted 

 for the dairy, are considerably different. But there are other 

 things to be attended to in breeding besides the selection of 

 proper animals. It is necessary that they be well fed and well 

 sheltered, in order that their points may be fully developed in the 

 best possible manner. Suitable food and shelter has much to do 

 with the conformation of the animal. Young animals, bred es- 

 pecially for the dairy, should be fed to a considerable extent on 



