INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 263 



sition — every rood of ground is made subservient to grazing 

 or tillage — the form of every animal is studied, and if sus- 

 ceptible of improvement, with a view to additional profit, is 

 persevered in till accomplished. Perfection, therefore, in 

 tillage and stock can only become very general where com- 

 petition is excessive at all points, in order to secure individ- 

 ual competency, and the support of an overgrown population. 

 Thus we have only to refer to countries sparsely settled, and 

 the means of support consequently ample and attainable with 

 little effort, to find indifferent agriculture, as well as indiffer- 

 ent animals, and therefore little knowledge possessed, or at- 

 tention paid, to correct principles of breeding. Our own 

 widely-extended country unfortunately affords incontroverti- 

 ble evidence of the truth of this position ; hence it is appre- 

 hended that we shall not practically avail ourselves of all the 

 light which has been afforded on breeding, to a very general 

 extent, for many years to come, because stern necessity is 

 not at our backs, as in overgrown Europe, to require it. This 

 is the fact at present, and it is feared the cause stated will 

 long operate to retard the progress of general improvement 

 in stock, commensurate with its importance. 



England is indebted to Bakewell and EUman for extraor- 

 dinary reformations in her breeds of sheep ; but it is hazard- 

 ing little to say that she numbers hundreds among her breed- 

 ers at the present day quite as enlightened as their illustri- 

 ous predecessors. Bakewell and Ellman acted as pioneers 

 in a new and unexplored enterprise, and are worthy of the 

 renown they have so justly acquired ; but their efforts were 

 bent to improve the form and hasten its maturity, while the 

 American Bakewells and Ellmans have a twofold and far 

 more important object to accomplish — improvement of form 

 and fleece. Both are within the reach of American enter- 

 prise and skill, and in process of time will be attained. 



As hitherto remarked, the carcase engrosses almost ex- 

 clusively the attention of British breeders, mutton being the 

 great object, and the fleece therefore takes secondary rank, 

 while in the United States it is the reverse. The subject of 

 breeding consequently will be divided, and that which will 

 claim attention first, is the consideration of the English breeds 

 of which the writer has no personal experience in their culti- 

 vation, and therefore is necessarily compelled to rely on such 

 authorities as his best judgment approves. The following 

 sound observations of Mr. Spooner will open the discussion : 



