

196 SELECTION. Chap. XX. 



' 



M 



ternal shape and proportions are concerned, the end has been 

 nearly gained. 



Not only should onr animals be examined with the greatest 

 care whilst alive, but, as Anderson remarks, 9 their carcases should 

 be scrutinised, "so as to breed from the descendants of such 

 only as, in the language of the butcher, cut up well." The 

 " grain of the meat " in cattle, and its being well marbled with 

 fat, 10 and the greater or less accumulation of fat in the abdomen 

 of our sheep, have been attended to with success. So with 

 poultry, a writer, 11 speaking of Cochin-China fowls, which are 

 said to differ much in the quality of their flesh, says, " the best 

 " mode is to purchase two young brother-cocks, kill, dress, and 

 " serve up one ; if he be indifferent, similarly dispose of the 

 " other, and try again ; if, however, he be fine and well-flavoured, 

 " his brother will not be amiss for breeding purposes for the 



" table." 



The great principle of the division of labour has been brought 

 to bear on selection. In certain districts 12 " the breeding of 

 " bulls fs confined to a very limited number of persons, who by 

 " devoting their whole attention to this department, are able 

 " from year to year to furnish a class of bulls which are steadily 

 " improving the general breed of the district." The rearing 

 and letting of choice rams has long been, as is well known, a 

 chief source of profit to several eminent breeders. In parts of 

 Germany this principle is carried with merino sheep to an 

 extreme point. 13 " So important is the proper selection of 

 " breeding animals considered, that the best flock-masters do 

 " not trust to their own judgment, or to that of their shepherds, 

 " but employ persons called ' sheep-classifiers,' who make it their 

 " special business to attend to this part of the management of 

 " several flocks, and thus to preserve, or if possible to improve 

 " the best qualities of both parents in the lambs." In Saxony, f 

 " when the lambs are weaned, each in his turn is placed upon 

 " a table that his wool and form may be minutely observed. 



* 



9 ' Eecreations in Agriculture,' vol. Agricult. Soc.,' quoted in ' Gard. Chro- 



ii. p. 409. nicle,' 1814, p. 29. 



10 Youatt on Cattle, pp. 191, 227. ™ Simmonds, quoted in ' Gaul 



11 Ferguson, « Prize Poultry,' 1851, Chronicle,' 1855, p. 637. And for the 

 p. 208. " . second quotation, see Youatt on Sheep, 



5 



Wilson, in . ' Transact. Highland p. 171. 



*r. 



