THE NORTON FARMERS’ CLUB. 
433 
she may have proved a useful servant, is to raise up hopes that 
can end only in disappointment. 
Another error, and just as common as the last, is that of cross- 
ing between a sire and dam of opposite descriptions and charac- 
teristics, and without regard to the kind of animal sought to be 
produced. The owner of a mare having determined on breeding, 
is pleased with some horse that takes his fancy, and, without con- 
sidering the consequence of a cross between that animal and the 
favourite horse of his choice, he goes to work, and the result is a 
mongrel nondescript, neither hunter nor carriage horse, hack nor cart 
horse, and he wonders that that parent stock, very probably each 
good of its kind, should have produced offspring so dissimilar to 
both. The parents, therefore, should not only be as perfect as can 
be selected, but should be well assorted in the crossing ; for what- 
ever points of excellence either may possess, we must not expect 
to secure their descent to the offspring if the other parent has a 
counteracting defect, or is dissimilar in kind. 
From these general remarks, I would lay down the following 
rules to be observed in breeding ; and I will endeavour to illus- 
trate and enforce each of them by a few practical observa- 
tions. 1. To breed from none but sound and healthy parents, and 
such as are free from all natural infirmities of structure, temper, or 
disposition. 2. To breed from the most perfect in form and ac- 
tion, and to take especial care that a tendency to the same defect 
does not exist in both parents. 3. To breed animals of a distinct and 
positive character ; and to take care that the male and female are 
so assorted as to ensure a certain description of offspring. 
We will now consider the first of these rules, viz., to breed 
from none but sound and healthy parents. 
In The Veterinarian of 1840 I find a clever writer on this 
subject thus expressing himself : — “ So strongly do I feel on this 
point, and so convinced am I, from my frequent communications 
with gentlemen who usually breed two or more foals yearly, that 
this has been too lightly considered, if not entirely disregarded, 
that I cannot pass over this opportunity of recording the testimony 
of a few cases, as living proofs of the fallacy of breeding from 
imperfections; and as our profession now engages the attention of 
all concerned with agricultural pursuits, and read, as I believe 
this journal is by many who, though not professionals, feel a lively 
interest in the advancement of our science, I do humbly hope that 
the following facts may, in some measure, lead to a correction of 
this popular error.” 
The writer then goes on to detail the case of a foal dropped 
blind ; and adds, that although the mare herself had certainly good 
eyes, the horse was very defective ; and of all the stock he got, 
VOL. XVII. 3 L 
