112 PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 



accomplish, and has duly studied the principles on 

 which it can be carried out, and is determined to be- 

 stow for the space of half a life-time his constant and 

 unremitting attention to the discovery and removal of 

 defects.'^ 



The term crossing is sometimes used in a much more 

 restricted sense, as in the remark of Mr. Boswell in his 

 essay quoted on page 69 where he says, ''When I praise 

 the advantage of crossing I would have it clearly under- 

 stood that it is only to bring together animals not nearly 

 related but always of the same breed.^' It is evident 

 that snch crossing as this is wholly unobjectionable ; 

 no one but an avowed and ultra advocate of close 

 breeding couM possiblj^ find any fault with it. 



There is yet another style of crossing which when 

 practicable, may, it is believed, be made a means to the 

 highest degree of improvement attainable, and especial- 

 ly in the breeding of horses. The word " breed '' is oft- 

 en used with varying signification. In order to be 

 understood, let me premise that I use it here simply to 

 designate a class of animals possessing a good degree 

 of uniformity growing out of the fact of a common 

 origin and of their having been reared under similar 

 conditions. The method proposed is to unite animals 

 possessing similarity of desirable characteristics, loith 

 difference of breed ; that is to say, difference of breed 

 in the sense just specified. From unions based upon 



