-20 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



following always the same principle, the points selected 

 in all the reproducers, both male and female, become per- 

 manent ; and thus the breed is established. This mode 

 of proceeding appears extremely simple ; but what is less 

 so, is the choice of those qualities to be reproduced, in 

 order to arrive at the best result. Many breeders mis- 

 take these, and, in a measure, work contrary to their 

 desired object. 



Before BakewelTs time, the farmers on the rich plains 

 of Leicestershire, in their desire to produce the greatest 

 possible quantity of meat, sought, above all, great size in 

 their sheep. One of the merits of the illustrious farmer 

 of Dishley Grange, was his apprehension of more certain 

 methods for increasing the yield of butcher-meat; and 

 that precocity for fattening on the one hand, and round- 

 ness of form on the other, were of greater importance 

 than excessive development of bone. The new Leicesters 

 are not bigger than those they have replaced ; but the 

 breeder can now send three to market in the same space 

 of time that it formerly took him to prepare one ; and if 

 they are not taller, they are broader, rounder, and have a 

 greater development in those parts which give most flesh. 

 Of bone, they have absolutely no greater amount than is 

 necessary to support them, and almost all their weight is 

 pure meat. 



England was astonished when the results announced 

 by Bakewell were definitively attained. The originator 

 of the new breed, who, like all good Englishmen, looked 

 especially to profit, reaped great advantage from the 

 emulation excited by his discovery. As everybody 

 wished to have Dishley blood, it occurred to Bakewell to 

 let out his rams in place of selling them. The first he 

 let, returned him only 22 francs (18s.) a-head. This was 

 in 1760, when his breed had not reached its perfection ; 



