112 PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 



accomplish, and has duly studied the principles on 

 which it can be carried out, and is determined to be- 

 stow for the space of half a life-time his constant and 

 unremitting attention to the discovery and removal of 

 defects." 



The term crossing is sometimes used in a much more 

 restricted sense, as in the remark of Mr. Boswell in his 

 essay quoted on page 69 where he says, " When I praise 

 the advantage of crossing I would have it clearly under- 

 stood that it is only to bring together animals not nearly 

 reWed but always of the same breed." It is evident 

 that such crossing as this is wholly unobjectionable ; 

 no one but an avowed and ultra advocate of close 

 breeding could possibly find any fault with it. 



There is yet another style of crossing which when 

 practicable, may, it is believed, be made a means to the 

 highest degree of improvement attainable, and especial- 

 ly in the breeding of horses. The word " breed " is oft- 

 en used with varying signification. In order to be 

 understood, let me premise that I use it here simply to 

 designate a class of animals possessing a good degree 

 of uniformity growing out of the fact of a common 

 origin and of their having been reared under similar 

 conditions. The method proposed is to unite animals 

 possessing similarity of desirable characteristics, vnffi 

 diference of breed ; that is to say, difference of breed 

 in the sense just specified. Prom unions based upon 



