294 
Drainage of Land. 
furrows. All useless hedges have been removed, old ditches 
and water-courses filled up, and the arable land has been deeply 
cultivated and v/ell cleaned. 
Under this treatment the improvement in the texture of the 
soil and the character both of white straw and green crops has 
more than realized my expectations. 
I had the satisfaction during the past week of inspecting the 
estate. The outlets from the clay-lands were then discharging at 
the rate of 2700 gallons per acre per diem, and I was informed 
by Mr. Scott, the bailiff, that during the late heavy rains no 
water had stood upon the surface. 
I am induced to hope that the publication of these results 
may tend to remove any local prejudice which may still attach 
to undrained land of as unpromising a character as that of 
Hinxworth, more especially as I am permitted to add, that the 
clay-land farm has been let within a few days on terms securing 
a full return for the capital expended in draining, and the several 
judicious improvements carried out by Mr. Clutterbuck, to which 
I have already alluded. 
52, Parliximcnt Street, Westminster, 
December SOth, 1859. 
XVI.— 0« Cross Breeding. By W. C. Spooner, M. R. C. V. S. 
It cannot be denied that the natural laws by which the preserva- 
tion of animal species is effected are involved in considerable 
mystery, and though the subject is well worthy the attention and 
study of the practical man as well as of the physiologist, expe- 
rience is yet fraught with so much contrariety that attempts to lay 
down any certain guide on it have for the most part been received 
with considerable distrust. No sooner does the inquirer imagine 
that he has discovered some particular principle which obtains 
universally, than he is met by circumstances which apparently 
upset his previous conclusions. The maxim " /z'/ic begets lihe,^' 
for example, is a rule having very extensive sway, yet, as pro- 
pagation is the work of two parents, the respective influence 
of the one or the other is a matter involving considerable diversity 
of opinion, and prevents anything like a certain conclusion being 
arrived at. We cannot do better than consider, on the very 
threshold of our subject, the respective influence of either parent ; 
for on this the merits of pure or cross breeding must principally 
depend. Tlie most probable suj)position is, that propagation is 
done by halves, each parent giving to the offspring the shape of 
