CROSSING. Ill 



establishing a new breed, the size of the male must give 

 way to other more important considerations ; although 

 it will still be desirable to use a large female of the 

 breed which we seek to improve. Thus the South 

 Downs have vastly improved the larger Hampshires, 

 and the Leicester the huge Lincolns and the Cotswolds. 

 5th. Although the benefits are most evident in the 

 first cross, after which, from pairing the cross-bred 

 animals, the defects of one breed or the other, or the 

 incongruities of both, are perpetually breaking out — 

 yet, unless the characteristics and conformation of the 

 two breeds are altogether averse to each other, nature 

 opposes no barrier to their successful admixture ; so 

 that in the course of time, by the aid of selection and 

 careful weeding, it is practicable to establish a new 

 breed altogether. This, in fact, has been the history 

 of our principal breeds. * * * 



We confess that we cannot entirely admit either of 

 the antagonistic doctrines held by the rival advocates 

 of crossing and pure breeding. The public have reason 

 to be grateful to the exertions of either party ; and still 

 more have they respectively reason to be grateful to 

 each other. * * * * 



Let us conclude by repeating the advice that, when 

 equal advantages can be attained by keeping a pure 

 breed of sheep, such pure breed should unquestionably 

 be preferred ; and that, although crossing for the pur- 

 pose of the butcher may be practiced with impunity, 

 and even with advantage, yet no one should do so for 

 the purpose of establishing a new breed, unless he has 

 clear and well defined views of the object he seeks to 



