ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
347 
will prove to the breeder whether there is such a family likeness 
among them, and whether it exhibits itself in such qualities as in- 
dicate that, when they grow up, they will be valuable animals. 
There is one failing to which all breeders are liable, but to 
which the breeder of male animals, from the greater interest 
attached to his occupation, is more peculiarly liable, and against 
which he ought most carefully to guard himself ; this is, too great 
a partiality for animals bred by himself. In order to guard against 
this, he ought to occupy himself more in looking for faults than in 
discovering merits in his stock ; he ought to listen to every criticism 
he hears made upon them, even by those whose judgment he does 
not hold in high estimation — not, of course, with the view of being 
satisfied at once that the criticism is correct, but with the view of 
satisfying himself, by accurate and candid examination, whether it 
is so or not ; and he ought frequently to see the stock belonging to 
other breeders, and fairly compare its merits with those of his own. 
I think it most probable that, in the foregoing observations, 
nothing will be found which will give new and useful information 
to practical farmers ; but I have been induced to^ submit them to 
the English Agricultural Society, because I conceive that one of 
the great objects of that Society is the diffusion of knowledge con- 
nected with every branch of farming. The best way in which it 
can be enabled to effect this object, is by those of its members who 
have paid attention to any of the divisions of farming operations 
communicating to the Society the results of their practice and 
experience. It will then be for the Society to circulate, by any 
means in their power, such of these communications as it shall 
appear to them are likely to be useful to those engaged in the 
cultivation of the land. With this view I place this paper at their 
disposal. 
This Journal contains some valuable Essays on Ploughing and 
Draining, by Sir James Graham, Bart., the Hon. R. H. Clive, 
and C. S. Lefevre, Esq.; also on the Relative Values of several 
Varieties of Wheat, by Mr. Morton; and on Gas Water as a 
Manure, by Mr. Painter. 
The simple and popular Essay on the Analyzation of Soils, by 
the Rev. Mr. Rham, will be read with much interest; but they 
belong to the farmer more than to the veterinary surgeon. Mr. 
Dudgeon, on the Progress of Agriculture in Scotland, will afford 
some useful matter. 
