LIVE STOCK. 153 



properties which the animal ought to posses:*. The 

 form must likewise be such, as to contain the greatest 

 possible proportion of the finer, compared to the coars- 

 er and less valuable parts of the animal. 



The art of improved breeding consists, in making a 

 careful selection of males and females, for the purpose 

 of producing a stock, with fewer defects, and with great- 

 er perfections than their parents ; in which their mutu- 

 al properties shall be combined, and their mutual 

 faults corrected. It was upon this principle ot selec- 

 tion, that Bakewell of England, has rendered himself 

 famous by his breed of cattle and sheep. His principal 

 aim was to gain the best, whether sheep or cow, which 

 would weigh the most in the most valuable joints ; and 

 at the same time that he gained the shape which was of 

 the greatest value in the smallest compass, he found by 

 experience that he gained a breed much hardier and 

 easier fed than others. In his breed of cattle, his max- 

 im was, the smaller the bones the truer will be the make 

 of the beast ; the quicker it will fatten, and the weight 

 will have a larger proportion of valuable meat. If there 

 was deficiency in any point, he would cross his animal 

 with one that was amply supplied in that part ; and if 

 any point of his animal was too heavy, by an opposite 

 cross he would reduce the superfluity. By such man- 

 agement, diligently pursued, he, at length, gave to his 

 stock the shape and qualities he desired. So far as 

 we breed domestic animals in this country, we must ex- 

 tend our views beyond beef and mutton — and wiLh the 

 former combine milk^ buiter and cheese^ and a fitness for 

 labor^ and together with mutton^ aim at the greatest, 

 quantity of the most useful wool. 



It is best to begin with a considerable variety of ani- 

 mals ; that the farmer, by observing the profit he gets 

 from each kind, may afterwards vary, as he finds to be 

 best. Where farms contain a large proportion of high 

 and dry pasture grounds, the greater quantity of sheep 

 should be kept. Where low meadow abounds, the kind 

 of stock should be increased, which will do best on 

 coarse water-grasses ; which is neat-cattle that are young 

 and growing. But if a farm yield a plenty of good 

 sweet grass, it is more suitable for a dairy farm. But 

 let a farm be what it will, it should never be over stocked. 

 The number of cattle should not be greater than the re.. 

 14* 



