DEFINITION OF BREEDS. 237 



the north-eastern counties, this mean of improvement is in 

 active progress. The only cases in which injury may 

 possibly result from this species of crossing is where a 

 breed of established characters, and suited to the circum- 

 stances of the country, as the West Highland, already 

 exists. In this case crossing may destroy the particular 

 character for which the native breed is valued, without 

 substituting another suited to the circumstances of the 

 country where they are reared. But in the great majority 

 of cases, comprehending innumerable animals of doubtful 

 breeding or defective form, there does not appear to be any 

 reason to apprehend that the mixture of the blood of a 

 better race will not produce beneficial results. There is 

 not the slightest reason, therefore, why the Society should 

 oppose itself in any way to a species of improvement which 

 has produced important effects, and which the interests of 

 farmers are already leading them to adopt all over the 

 country. 



' The great means of effecting this improvement of the 

 defective stock of the country is the extension of the pure 

 Shorthorns ; and this affords a further reason for the Society 

 to devote especial attention to the introduction and diffu- 

 sion of this breed in the Lowlands of Scotland.' 



The Committee point out that it is of importance to 

 encourage the breeding of animals having a disposition to 

 feed at an early age, and they, therefore, recommend that 

 no premiums should be given for any ox exceeding the age 

 of four years. The only exception which they make is in 

 the case of the West Highlander, and, for a time, the Polled 

 breeds of Galloway and the Northern Counties. The 

 Committee further point out that the regulation, which had 

 existed at all shows except that of Kelso, of excluding the 

 stock of England from competition, had come to be attended 

 with positive injury. In consequence of this restriction 

 many distinguished breeders of Shorthorns in Northumber- 

 land and North Durham, who were prepared to bring 

 forward stock, were prevented from exhibiting, both at 

 Stirling and Aberdeen. They, therefore, propose to rescind 



