58 



As to the usual live-stock — working oxen, milch cows, young 

 cattle, sheep and swine — they are to be considered as compre- 

 hended in the Management of a Farm, additionally to the pro- 

 visions under the heads No. Ill and No. VIII, rciating to the 

 Dairy and Ploughing Matches ; and to the following article. 



X. FOR IMPROVING OUR NATIVE BREED OF NEAT 

 CATTLE. 



The first most celebrated breeder of live stock, in England, 

 was the late Robert BakewelJ ; to whom, Mr. Arthur Young 

 says, that country is indebted for just principles of breeding. And 

 a later eminent breeder says, that " before Mr. Bakewell's days, 

 we had no criterion but size ; nothing would please but ele- 

 phants and giants." And " he declares that Bakewell enabled 

 those who followed his ideas to produce two pounds of mutton, 

 where only one was produced before." The following were 

 the points to which Bakewell specially attended : " fine forms, 

 small bones, and a true disposition to make ready fat : which 

 indeed is inseparable from small bones, or rather fine bones and 

 fine forms, or true symmetry of the parts." 



But BakewelPs prime object, in improving cattle and sheep, 

 was to render his animals most profitable in beef and mutton. 

 And he succeeded in obtaining forms indicating strength of con- 

 stitution — a disposition to fatten., and at an early age — weightiness 

 in the most valuable parts — with lightness of offals. 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 ani- 

 mal was too heavy, by an opposite cross he would reduce the su- 

 perfluity. By such management, diligently pursued, he at 

 length gave to his stock the shape and qualities he desired. 



So far as we breed domestic animals in this county — and the 

 observation will apply to our whole state, and generally to all 

 New-England, we must extend our views beyond beef and mut- 

 ton ; and with the former combine milk., butter and cheese., and 

 a fitness for labour ; and together with mutton aim at the great- 

 est quantity of the most useful wool. 



If Bakewell could alter the shape of his cattle, and lay flesh 

 and fat on the most valuable joints— as was the fact — can it be 

 doubted that, by similar attention, the quantity and quality of 



