120 
DOME8TIC ANIMALS. 
that they be well bred, and excellent of their kind. To the dairy far- 
mer, the most important points are, the quantity of milk yielded, its 
quality, its value for the production of butter, or of cheese, a freedom in 
the cows from vicious habits and ill temper, their character as good and 
healthy breeders, the ease with which, when useless as milkers, they 
become fattened for the market, and the nature and quantity of food 
requisite for this purpose. To the grazier, the quickness of becoming 
fat, and at as little expense as possible, the fineness of the grain of the 
meat, or of the muscular fibers, the mode of laying on the fat, the small- 
ness of bone, soundness of constitution, and congeniality with the soil 
and the climate, are the chief points which he takes into consideration. 
If he is wise, he will never stint keep, nor transfer his stock from a good 
to an indifferent soil; and this is true also with respect to the dairy-farmer. 
Contour, or beauty of form, is desirable ; indeed, it is more or less 
connected with what may be termed utility of form, that is, a prepon- 
derance of those parts in the beast which are most delicate for the table, 
and bear the highest price, over the parts of inferior quality, or offal. 
This is connected with smallness of bone, but not a preternatural small- 
ness, and with a tendency to depositions of fat, which, however, should 
not be carried to an extreme, otherwise the quantity of flesh is dispropor- 
tionate, and its fiber is dry and insipid ; nor is the weight of the beast pro- 
portionate to its admeasurement. Previously to the time of Mr. Bake- 
well,* the cattle in general were large, long-bodied, big-boned, flat-sided, 
slow to fatten, great consumers of food, and often black, or foul-fleshed, 
or, as it is called in Yorkshire, “ lyery.” This truly patriotic breeder, 
acting upon true principles, energetically set to work upon the improve- 
ment of cattle, and in defiance of opposition and a thousand difficulties, 
lived to see the success of his long-continued efforts. Experience and a 
close and acute observation had taught him that “ like produces like 
in other words, that the qualities of the parents, such as beauty, or 
utility of form, disposition to fatness, goodness of flesh, abundance of 
milk, and even temper, were inherited by their offspring; and that by 
careful selections on the side both of the sire and dam, a breed might 
be ultimately established to which the title blood could be distinctly 
applied. This, of course supposes a primary selection, then a selection 
of such of the offspring as exhibited the properties which constituted 
their perfection, in the highest degree; and again of the offspring of 
these, and so on progressively.! At first Mr. Bakewell was necessitated 
to breed in and in, but as his stock increased, he was enabled to inter- 
pose more or less remote removes between the members of the same 
family; and ultimately he established the Dishley, or New Leicester 
long-horns, a breed remarkable for smallness of bone, roundness of 
form, aptitude to fatten upon a moderate allowance, and fineness of flesh. 
* Born at Dishley, in Leicestershire, 1725. His father and grandfather resided on 
V. ' estate before him. 
■(• ... Bates’ rule was, “ Breed in and in froma oau stooic, and you commit ruin and 
devastaiiu.. hut if a good stock be selected, you may breed in and in as much as you 
please;" and m- followed this practice for fifty years, and yet had one of the finest 
herds ever known. 
