34 HISTORY OF THE SHORT-HORNS. 



was a good animal physiologist. He cut up and dissected various 

 carcasses of his sheep and cattle, examined their flesh, bones and 

 sinews, put them in pickle, and afterwards hung them up in his lab- 

 oratory for further observation. He was a profound master of his 

 business, and perhaps the originator of a new system of breeding by 

 which, in his own hands, his success was triumphantly acknowledged 

 over any other stock breeder of his time. It is probable that to his 

 efforts and example England at this day owes her unrivaled breed of 

 long-wooled sheep. His selection of the breed of cattle on which to 

 exercise his skill was not so happy. Although of an ancient race, 

 they were not generally popular with the farmers in and beyond the 

 counties immediately surrounding Leicestershire ; yet he raised them 

 to a capacity for acquiring flesh never before equaled. Although 

 now existing, and of excellent quality in limited herds perhaps 

 quite equal to those which Bakewell improved the Long-horns have 

 not attained wide popularity as a race. 



Bakewell also bred the common cart or dray horse of England 

 into enormous size and symmetry, which they hold to the present 

 time ; and all by one persistent course of breeding, good food, and 

 watchful care. His system with all these animals was, first to select, 

 wherever he could find them, and of the best blood, those as near a 

 proper form for the purposes he needed as was possible, and then by 

 breeding them to their own family blood alone, only going out of it 

 for other selections when he could find a better, which was seldom, 

 until he brought them to the points of excellence in form and quality 

 that he wanted. This was "in-and-in breeding;" and although not 

 concurred in by the common sentiment of humanity, so far as its own 

 race is concerned, Bakewell and others who have since followed his 

 example most closely, have decided, indeed proved, that under proper 

 selections of the animals so paired together, the practice has resulted 

 in the highest success. Such was Bakewell's practice. He may be 

 said to have introduced the modern system of improved stock breed- 

 ing whatever may have been known to the ancients, and since lost 

 and as such improver, his name will go down to posterity with grati- 

 tude and honor. 



The young Ceilings were sagacious men, Charles the more active 

 and enterprising, although Robert was equally sound in judgment as 

 a breeder ; and they were admirably fitted to work in unison so far 

 as their views in breeding were concerned. Forecasting, as well as 

 thoughtful in laying their plans for future action, they had heard of 

 Bakewell and his improvements for he had been at work thirty 



