INTRODUCTORY. ^1 



The improvement of the domestic animals of a coun- 

 try so as greatly to enhance their individual and aggre- 

 gate value, and to render the rearing of them more 

 profitable to all concerned, is surely one of the achieve- 

 ments of advanced civilization and enlightenment, and 

 is as much a triumph of science and skill as the con- 

 struction of a railroad, a steamship, an electric tele- 

 graph, or any work of architecture. If any doubt this, 

 let them ponder the history of those breeds of animals- 

 which have made England the stock nursery of the 

 world, the perfection of which enables her to export 

 thousands of animals at prices almost fabulously beyond 

 their value for any purpose but to propagate their kind ; 

 let them note the patient industry, the genius and ap- 

 plication which have been put forth to bring them to 

 the condition they have attained, and their doubts must 

 cease. 



Eobert Bakewell of Dishley, was one of the first of 



these improvers. Let us stop for a moment's glance 



at him. Born in 1'725, on the farm where his father 



and grandfather had been tenants, he began at the age 



of thirty to carry out the plans for the improvement of 



domestic animals upon which he had resolved as the 



result of long and patient study and reflection. He 



was a man of genius, energy and perseverance. With 



sagacity to conceive and fortitude to perfect his designs, 

 2* 



