65 



which his attention has been particularly directed. I have the plea- 

 sure therefore of letting him speak for himself, suggesting only such 

 observations as I may deem proper to be submitted. The great prin- 

 ciples of breeding to an experienced and philosophic mind, are al- 

 most as well determined as the great principles of mechanics, chem- 

 istry, or any other branch of natural philosophy. The first and most 

 undoubted of all principles is, that like produces like ; and farther, 

 that good qualities and bad qualities are transmissible ; and as where 

 two animals come together of peculiar merits, the good qualities are 

 likely to be transmitted, so also where prominent defects or faults 

 exist, these faults or defects are likely to descend and to become 

 aggravated. This applies especially to breeding within the lines of 

 consanguinity among all animals, the human not less than the brute 

 races. It is therefore the great aim of the accomplished breeder, 

 to make such a selection that the desirable qualities shall predomi- 

 nate on both sides ; and especially that animals having similar defects 

 or bad properties, should not be suffered to mingle to the aggravation 

 of these evils. 



A distinguished statesman of Kentucky, as I learn from a private 

 source, has given it as his opinion, that the milking properties of cows 

 is much rather matter of accident than of breed ; and that we must 

 despair of being able to continue and transmit this property with any 

 confidence of success. With the highest respect for the agricultural 

 skill and intelligence of that gentleman, I cannot accede to this opin- 

 ion ; and it is directly contradicted by experiments made with the 

 improved stocks in England and confirmed by several years' success. I 

 know that it has become almost proverbial, that you cannot rely with 

 certainty upon a good calf, because you breed from a good cow. But 

 it is to be considered that few careful trials are made ; that the charac- 

 ter of the sire from which we attempt to breed, if any thing, more impor- 

 tant than that of the dam, is generally matter of indifference ; and we 

 are unreasonable enough to expect a good calf, when we send our 

 cows to any miserable runt that happens to be in our neighborhood ; 

 that any substantial improvement of this nature, is seldom to be ex- 

 pected from a single cross, especially from animals, which are not 

 themselves high bred, but merely if the expression be allowed, acci- 

 dental individuals ; and that such improvement can only be expected 

 by continued trials, and careful and successive experiments. 



