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Now there are varieties or families of animals which have been parti¬ 
cularly cultivated in reference to certain qualities; and it is obvious that 
whatever superiority these varieties possess over the general tribe to 
which they belong, is the result of what may be called ilie art of breeding. 
In a knowledge of this important art, many of our farmers, as before 
intimated, are essentially deficient. It is an art which cannot be perfectly 
taught by language; general principles may be laid down, but the djtails 
must be learned by observation and practice. That it is in general very 
imperfectly understood in this country, is shown from the fact that nearly 
all our domestic animals which are held in high estimation are derived 
from abroad. To England, where the art of breeding has been more 
extensively practised than in any other country, we are indebted for moat 
of what is denominated improved stock. This remark has no reference 
to the fact that our original stocks of domestic animals were derived 
chiefly from the British Islands—it alludes to the constant recurrence to 
this source. We send to England and obtain the best specimens of her 
cattle and other animals of various breeds, and after the lapse of a few 
years we do precisely the same thing over again. The stock has degen¬ 
erated, or perhaps, in the popular language, has ‘run out/ That it gave 
satisfaction in the first instance, is shown by the circumstance of the same 
kind being re-ordered. The progeny became inferior to the parents and 
to the breed in general in the old country, simply because the breeders 
knew not how to keep them up to the required standard. 
What the country requires is the prevalence of a knowledge of the 
principles and art of breeding, that will supercede the necessity of these 
constant importations—that will enable us, when a proper number of 
animals of such breeds as we require are obtained, to propagate the stock 
without deterioration. This would also produce various other important 
results. Complaints are frequently heard that animals of the most es¬ 
teemed breeds are held at such high prices as to be beyond the reach of 
common farmers. It is not to be denied that exorbitant prices are some¬ 
times demanded and obtained for those animals. But how is the evil to 
be lemedied ? Certainly not by denying the real merits of such animals, 
but by the dissemination of such information as will enable farmers to 
produce such stock, or that which will even better answer their purposes. 
If, as has been alleged, the breeding of fine stock is a monopoly in the 
