FARM STOCK AND CULTIVATED CROPS. 347 



the other. The suggestions which we would make, relate to 

 the mode of improving stock. 



What then is the best method of improving the farm stock ? 

 We answer, by improving the farm crops. The thrift of farm 

 stock depends more upon a proper attention to the prepara- 

 tion of proper food, than to any other circumstance. Why 

 is it, that farmers must send to Saxony for sheep, to Berk- 

 shire for swine, to Durham or Yorkshire for cattle, and to 

 some other foreign country for seeds 1 simply because the 

 farm is not attended to, because the soils and crops are neg- 

 lected. There is neither the variety, quantity or quality of 

 products, which are necessary to improve native breeds, or to 

 keep up the thrift and perfection of those which are imported. 

 The consequence is, that the imported and improved animal 

 or plant will flourish for a while, but will gradually deterio- 

 rate, until they both sink below the native stock ; a new im- 

 portation must be made, and, in all such cases an extrava- 

 gent price paid. Is it not a just subject of reproach to New 

 England farmers, that they should thus be made the dupes of 

 speculation, with regard to their farm stock ; while they have 

 a soil, climate and sources of improvement, so favorable 

 for the rearing of stock, that they ought to be r pattern for the 

 rest of the world ? 



It is a law of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, that neg- 

 lect will produce deterioration. This may not be percepti- 

 ble the first generation ; the second will begin to show it ; the 

 third still more. And in the course of ten or twelve genera- 

 tions, the reproductive and vital powers will be either wholly 

 exhausted, or require double feeding, to enable them to per- 

 form their oflices. 



On the other hand, when the animal or the vegetable has 

 thus become deteriorated, proper attention will not reme- 

 dy the evil in a single generation. The progress of improve- 

 ment is slow ; and hence it is, that improved stock, and im- 

 proved seeds, result from a long course of careful culture. It 



