88 PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 



longer for a scantier repast grow more slowly, develop 

 their capabilities in regard to size not only more slowly, 

 but, perhaps, not fully at all — they become more. active 

 in temperament and habit, thinner and flatter in mus- 

 cle. Their young cannot so soon shift for themselves 

 and require more milk, and the dams yield it. Each 

 generation in its turn becomes more completely and 

 fully adapted to the circumstances amid which they 

 are reared, and if bred indiscriminately with any thing 

 and every thing else, we by and by have the common 

 mixed cattle of New England, miscalled natives ; or 

 if kept more distinct, we have something approaching 

 the Devon, the Ayrshire, or the Jersey breeds. 



A due consideration of the natural efiect of climate 

 and food is a point worthy the special attention of the 

 stock-husbandman. If the breeds employed be well 

 adapted to the situation, and the capacity of the soil 

 is such as to feed them folly, profit may be safely 

 calculated upon. Animals are to be looked upon as 

 machines for converting herbage into money. Now it 

 costs a certain amount to keep up the motive power of 

 any machine, and also to make good the wear and tear 

 incident to its working ; and in the case of animals it is 

 only so much as is digested and assimilated, in addi- 

 tion to the amount thus required, which is converted into 

 meat, milk or wool ; so that the greater the proportion 



