AGRICULTURE. 31 



geon. Thej have met the approbation of the most 

 eminent agriculturists both in America and Great 

 Britain. 



"It has been generally understood that the breed of 

 animals is improved by crossing with the largest males. 

 This opinion has done much mischief, and would have 

 done more if it had not been counteracted by the desire 

 of selecting animals of the best forms and proportions, 

 which are rarely to be met with in those of the largest 

 size. Experience has proved that crossing has only suc- 

 ceeded in an eminent degree in those instances in which 

 the females were larger than in the usual proportion of 

 the females to the males; and that it has generally failed 

 when the males were disproportionally large. 



The external form of domestic animals has been much 

 studied, and the proportions are well ascertained. But 

 the external form is an indication of the internal 

 structure. The principles of improving it must there- 

 fore be found on a knowledge of the internal parts. 



Of these the lungs are of the first importance. It is 

 on their size and soundness that the strength and health 

 of an animal principally depend. The power of con- 

 verting food is in proportion to their size. An animal 

 with large lungs is capable of converting a given quantity/ 

 of food into more nourishment than one with smaller lungs; 

 and therefore has a greater aptitude to fatten, 



''Chest. The size and form of the chest indicate the 

 size of the lungs, of which the form should approach to the 

 figure of a cone having the apex situated between the 

 shoulders, and its base towards tlie loins; a circular form 

 of chest is preferable to one deep and narrow; for 

 though the latter may have greater girth, the former 

 will have greater internal space in proportion. 



"Head, The head should be small, by which the birth 

 is facilitated to the offspring, it also indicates the ani- 

 mal to be of a good breed, and occasions less weight of 

 unprofitable substance to the consumer. 



"Horns are useless to domestic animals, and occasion 

 a great weight of bone in the head. The skull of a ram 

 with horns weighed five times as much as that of one 

 without horns, each being four years old. A mode of 



