10 
Brccdinrj of Fann-Sloclt. 
planation was nordod when I saAV the parents. The boar was 
cxccedino^ly well made, and very fine in qiialitv, with a most 
careful pedigree, whilst tlie sows were large, coarse, and ugly, 
but excellent breeders and good milkers, thus producing large 
farrows and pushing them rapidly on towards maturity. 
An interesting communication appears in the Journal of this 
Society (Vol. siv., p. 214), iiom M. Malingrc-Nouel, bearing 
upon this suliject. He introduced into France some of our 
choicest English rams for the improvement of the native breeds of 
sheep, but the lambs obtained were in no way improved by their 
use. By long-continued breeding in and in the French ewes had 
hereditary tendencies far more powerful than those of the English 
rams, which rendered the influence of the latter quite inoperative. 
As soon, howevei', as some ewes were obtained by crossing dif- 
ferent native breeds, the hereditary power became reduced to a 
very low degree, and the lambs subsequently produced by the 
English rams partook so closely of the character of the sires that 
they were considered by good English judges to have been pure- 
bred sheep from England. 
For the economical production of beef the l)est stock will be 
obtained from good useful dairv cows by the use of bulls of 
thoroughly good pedigree. Indeed, I may observe that a bull 
can scarcely be too well bred or too good for such a purpose, 
provided that the natural vigour of the system be not sacrificed. 
The quality and influence of a bull determines the value of a 
large number of bullocks, and it becomes a matter of consider- 
able importance to the breeder thus to impart to these a superior 
feeding character. When this influence is fully appreciated we 
shall not find bulls valued as so much beef, but rather as the 
communicators of certain feeding qualities which will render 
their numerous offspring either profitable or unprofitable to the 
grazier. In the case of sheep, a good supplv of milk materially 
affects the value of the lambs ; and too much care cannot be taken 
to preserve and encourage this excellent disposition. Combined 
with this the ewes should also possess hardy constitutions, and 
thus be capable of rearing healthy and thriving lambs. The ram 
should regulate the increase of quality, which must be discreetly 
governed by the local peculiarities of climate. The parentage of 
the ram should be investigated with equal if not greater care than 
his symmetry and general quality. 
There is no variation from these rules even in the breeding of 
pigs. Here let the boar be distinguished by good quality and 
careful breeding, and the sow able to rear a numerous progeny to 
a high degree of perfection. Thus will a class of stock b(^ pro- 
duced eminently adapted for the economical production of meat. 
