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AGRICULTURAL.
DANIEL LEE, Id. D., Editor.
BATURDAT SEPTEMBER 17,1859.
CONSANGUINEOUS BREEDING.
We copy from the September number of the
South'm Cultivator a well considered article on
the much debated subject »f in-and-in breeding
of domestic animals. The author of the essay
appears to have read what some of the most
celebrated English breeders have written in ex
position of both their theories and practice for
the improvement of their live stock; yet, with
all duo deference, we must say that while he
has come very near the truth, he has missed it,
when he says “ the practice of in-and-in breed
ing should be branded with unqualified repre
hension, when the progeny are designed for
breeders.” Having given some time to the in
vestigation of hereditary blood in man and other
mammalia, we will venture to point out the errors
of those who are so ready to “ brand with un
qualified reprehension” a purely physiological
matter which they fail to comprehend.
All the hereditary and constitutional mala
dies, all the bodily infirmities, such as impotency,
extreme delicacy, and feebleness of vital force,
in either sex, which are generally ascribed to
consanguineous intercourse, are more philosoph
ically and satisfactorily accounted for by tracing
them to other causes. Animal physiology fur
nishes no sound reason for the assumption that
God created more than a single pair of any exis
ting species of the mammalia. If this Bible
idea corresponds with the fact in the case, as
the writer believes, the offspring of each pair,
keeping within the lino of the species, must ever
carry with it the same hereditary ancestral
blood. Blood which did not originate in a com
mon mother and a common father can at no
point in the lifetime of a species be infused into
the parental organs of a generation or an indi
vidual, except by going most unnaturally out of
the race for the same. Hence it follows,beyond
dispute, that every pure species is of “one blood,"
no matter how long the lino of its progenitors.—
Physiologists and naturalists may differ as to
what shall form the essential characteristics of a
genus, species and variety in the animal king
dom; but they cannot well differ as to the unity of
such as propagate their kind, like producing like,
in endless succession. This view of living Na
ture, founded on specific oneness, is fully sustain
ed by the earliest records of our own race. It is
immaterial in our argument whether wo have
one species, five or ten in the genus homo; for
in each, from the first pair, there must bo very
close consanguineous intermarriage, as between
Cain and Seth and their sisters. If there were
several species in the beginning, white, black,
copper-color Ac., and these at once given to each
other in marriage, it is obvious that all unity of
blood in each race would be immediately lost. A
compound and mongrel mixture, debasing all
alike, would inevitably result from such cross
breeding. Without discussing the question of
the unity of the human family, we give full
credence to the recorded longevity of the im
mediate progeny of Adam, and their descen
dants, whose ages ranged from six hundred to
nine hundred and sixty nine years. At no
time since the Flood, when unscientific minds
have been so anxious to escape the fatal witch
craft which is supposed to follow the intermar
riage of first cousins, have mankind reached an
average of one half the years of the Antedilu
vians. We are far from intimating that a de
parture from closo family marriages has tended
to shorten human life. Both extremes are to bo
avoided, and are injurious mainly by diverting
public attention from the true causes of congen
ital diseases and deformities. These may be ei
ther diminished, or aggravated during the life
of each individual before he or she becomes a
parent. Hence both improvement and deterio
ration are not myths, but solid and enduring
matters of fact. Sound parental blood never
produces unsound blood in the veins of off
spring, no matter how close the unity of the
blood of both sexes. That which is pure in na
ture, she never makes the source of corruption;
for that would make nature destroy her own
children, and soon cut off all living beings on the
face of the earth.
Live stock that has been overfed and kept
close for several generations, lose that strength
of muscle, sinew, bone and nerve, that vigor of
digestion and procreation which characterize an
imals taking full exercise, and never pampered.
Wild cattle breed in the closest possible affini
ties, and yet never become barren or otherwise
injured thereby, as will be abundantly shown
when we shall treat of stock-growing in detail.
Animals of feeble health, or of diseased consti
tutions, are not adapted to breeding purposes.—
Soundness in all respects is of the highest im
portance ; and this depends mainly on having
pure air to breathe, pure water to drink, and a
plenty of wholesome food to eat, with all pro
per shelter and exercise. Excessively artificial
feeding and breeding, cause the evils usually at
tributed to in-and-in propagation. The children
of the rich aristocracy of Europe, born of luxu
rious parents, and reared like hot house plants
under the influence of much unnatural excite
ment and forcing, rarely display in after life, ei
ther strength of body or intellectual powers
equal to their advantages. The habits, customs,
and education of parents and offspring affect
their character, blood and constitutions infinite
ly more than the accident of consanguinity in
ancestors. Nothing is more common than for
the popular mind to ascribe obvious effects, es
epcially when they take the shape of weakness in
vital force, impotency, or disease, to wrong
causes. For unknown centuries, the bare touch
of a king was deemed all sufficient to cure many
serious maladies; and women have been put to
death for the crime of being witclies in our own ■
111 mWTMMMM YXS&D ID IXEESXMI*
country. No one has ever proved it possible
for in-and-in breeding to change a particle of
blood in either parent which is to circulate in
the system of their young.
The wild cattle in Chillingham Park have been
constantly breeding in the closest consanguinity
for six or seven hundred years, without the
slightest taint of constitutional deterioration. —
All wild animals propagate more or less in a sim
ilar manner, as do human savages ; and nature
does not disown their offspring. These facts
being incontrovertible, we must look to external
influences operating on the growth and vital
principle in animals and plants, for the causes
which change them either for the better or for
the worse. In transmitting life from one genera
tion to another, nothing appears to be gained,
nothing is lost; and therefore it is that like be
gets like, instead of a being that is altogether
unlike its parents.
The useful science of preventing deformity
and disease in man and his domesticated animals,
is what we aim to commend to our numerous
agricultural readers. To improve all, we have
only to study and obey the laws of health and
of life as they exist in individuals, in families,
and in species. The tendency of both ancient
and modern civilization has not been to lengthen,
but to shorten human existence, and stimulate
every sense into a keener sensibility. This ex
cess of artificial excitement is at war with the
highest interests of mankind, and may yet ex
terminate all of woman born by causing the num
ber of deaths to exceed the number of births in
a decade or century.
Why is it that so many of the first families in
Virginia and other States, have declined, dete
riorated and finally run out ? We remember to
have seen the bovine aristocracy first imported
by Mr. Clay, of Kentucky, the Patroon of Al
bany, and others, whoso superior blood has been
lost by cross-breeding, and bad management. —
We shall hereafter enquire into the principles
involved in breeding in the line, breeding up
ward, and breeding downward, which last is the
too common practice in this country; to avoid the
imaginary evils of in-and-in procreation. To
our view of animal life, nothing is more unnec
essary and unwise than to dilute, and ultimate*
jy destroy good blood, by mixing it wholly with
that which is bad. How to work the badness
out of blood, and never impair the quality of
any that is at all improved, are points of great
practical importance alike in man and brute. In
the profound science of progress and vital
change, every point of departure, whether as
cending or descending, should bo the subject of
careful analysis.
——
INFORMATION WANTED.
Can any of our agricultural friends inform us
when the Fair of the Southern Central Agricul
tural Society takes place. Wo know of a young
fentleman who would like to attend provided he
new when it took place. It has been customa
ry to advertise such things, but if it has been
advertised we have never seen it in Hart coun
ty. Does the Society know that by keeping
such information from the people, they lose hun
dreds of dollars? We still insist that Hart coun
ty is in Georgia, and Hart county ought to send
a delegate to said Fair, and every man and wo
man who is able ought to go. The Fair, we
think, takes place some time in October or No
vember. We have tried to get an exchange
with some of our Southern Agricultural period
icals, but as yet have failed.
Hartwell (Ga .) Messenger, Sept. 7.
The above hints about advertising agricultural
Fairs arc needed at this time. We send tho Field
and Fireside including all back numbers, to our
contemporary; and by turning to number 7,
July 9, it will be seen that the Fair at Atlanta
commences October 24, and that Dr. James
Camack, of Athens, is Secretary of the Society.
%
FS?" The first Annual Fair of the Agricultural
and Horticultural Society for West Alabama,
will be held in the town of Demopolis, Marengo
county, on Tuesday, November Ist, 1859, and
continue four days.
D. F. Prout, Esq., corresponding Secretary of
the Society, makes a strong appeal to the plan
ters and other citizens of West Alabama, to
bring forward their fine stock, and specimens of
their skill in agricultural, horticultural, and me
chanical industry, to compete for the twenty-five
hundred dollars offered in premiums. Fair
grounds have been purchased, and suitable build
ings erected to accommodate the public. Indeed,
it is rare that a new association starts under so
favorable auspices.
It gives us pleasure to say in this connection,
that the State Agricultural Societies of Maryland,
Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, and Tennessee, promise to hold very
spirited and attractive exhibitions this fall.—
Southern Agriculture is beginning to command
a share of the consideration which it deserves.
OLD FIELD WINTER PASTURES.
Carlonville, Ala.. )
Aug. 31, 1859. J
Dr. Lee — Dear Sir: In the Southern Field
and Fireside of the 25tli of June, there is an ar
ticle on Burnet. Can you inform me where I
can obtain a bushel of seed, and at what price?
I wish to know at what time it should be sowed.
If “ our turned out old fields ” can be made to
produce eatable forage for mules and cows du
ring the winter and spring months, then is their
value materially enhanced.
Very respectfully,
Bexj. Reynolds.
It is doubtful whether a bushel of Burnet seed
can be found in the United States, but it may
be imported, and we are trying to procure it
from London.
Old fields can be made to yield winter forage
for mules, cows, and sheep, by seeding them to
winter perennial grasses.
i— i»i
A legal bushel of wheat weighs sixty pounds;
beans sixty-three pounds; peas sixty-four; corn
fifty-six; rye forty-six; barley forty-seven; oats
thirty-eight; potatoes sixty ; salt eighty; timo-
I thy seed fifty-six ; clover seed sixty pounds.
THE TBTCAa FEVER AMONG THE CATTLE IN
THE SOUTH-WEST.
Fort Scott, K. T., Aug. 12, 1859.
To the Editors of the Missouri Democrat:
This part of Kansas is improving very rapidly,
and filling up with industrious and enterprising
settlers. The corn and other crops promise
finely; but the great drawback we have, is
what we call the Spanish Fever, among our cat
tle, caused by driving the Texas cattle through
here. There have been about fifteen thousand
head driven up the military road, from Fort Gib
son, by the way of Fort Scott, on to Kansas City
and Fort Leavenworth, during the past spring
and summer. The last drove came through about
the 2d of June. This disease follows wherever
these cattle go, and is seen nowhere else. It
has ruined hundreds of men here. Some poor
men have lost quite half their teams, and all
they have for the support of their families.—
Many are left without any means to cultivate
their lands. We can’t keep as much as a milch
cow on this road.
This disease made its appearance among our
cattle this year about the 10th of July. One of
the first symptoms is a dull look out of their eyos.
They all hold their heads down, refuse to eat,
draw their breath quick and hard, and, as the
fever increases, lie down frequently and stagger
as they walk. Wien they walk, they appear
to lose the use of tkeir hind parts. They usually
live from three to ax days, some as long as eight
days. On post-mortem examination, we find
the manifolds of thr stomach perfectly hard and
dry, without any appearance of moisture about
theiYi. We have tried most every remedy with
out much benefit.
There is somethijg peculiarly strange about
this so-called contagious malady. Liko yellow
fever in our own species, its contagiousness is
open to doubt; yet the attending circumstances
appear to favor very strongly the correctness of
the popular belief ii Kansas on the subject.
n > 1
THE SUGAR MAPLE IN GEORGIA.
Cone, Butts County, Ga., [
2d Sept., 1859. j
Du. D. Lee — Dev Sir: In the Smthern Field
and Fireside, August 20th, page 102, second col
umn, in an article '*The cultivation of fruits and
trees at the Soutl," you say “if the Patent
Office would pay le->s attention to sorgum, tea
seeds, and morus, Sc., aud distribute the seeds,
with directions to gnw them of sugar maple,”
and other maples you have therein mentioned,
greater good would be effected. I will state to
you that the sugar maple is a native of Georgia.
I have seen it growing in Clark county, near
Athens, when I was at school there, and it is
not (infrequently seen all through middle Gepr
gia. Its growth is confined mostly to, or near
water courses. I hive many trees on my plan
tation here on the Ocmulgee River. I am not
mistaken about it, foi when a boy I used to cut
into the trees, and bore into them, and drink the
sap which was sweet—that was in Putnam coun
ty, Ga. There is ancther, and different maple,
a native of Georgia, vhich we call the white ma
ple-, it has no sacchaiine juice; it is the wood
shoe pegs are usually made of. It is more
ornamental than the sugar maple; the bark is
whiter, and the wood softer. I have sawed both
kinds of these maples into lumber, the sugar
maple for furniture and gunstocks.
I was pleased with your article above referred
to, but have taken the liberty of informing you
of these facts, as my opportunities of becoming
familiar with the forest trees of middle Georgia
have been more extensive, probably, than that
of any one not a native of this State. These
maples put up hundreds of young scions every
year from the seeds. Many of them die in the
heat of summer, but many live. I should say
the seed, with proper care, would come up as
certain as wheat or corn. There are hundreds
growing along the banks of the river here, where
the ground is too near the water for cultivation.
Excuse the liberty I have taken in writing
to you, a stranger, but as you are an editor
and a professor, I look upon you more as be
longing to the public, than as a private gentle
man. Besides, science and knowledge are not
exclusive; they are the true democracy, because
all who can raise themselves upon their plat
forms, arc acknowledged as equals. In science,
exists the true equality, the true fraternity, which
politicians have sought for in vain.
I am proud of the Field and Fireside as a
Southern and Georgia paper. I do not think it has
a superior North or South, if even any equals.
Respectfully, yours, kc. B. F. W.
P. S. I wish to procure the Italian chestnut,
either seeds, or trees.
Tho above interesting letter in reference to
that exceedingly valuable tree, the Sugar-Maple,
was not intended for publication, but as there
is abundant room in the South for extensive su
gar orchards, which yield so many millions of
pounds of sugar at the North, at a trifling cost,
we desire to call attention to the subject. Maple
syrup is the best in the world, while groves of
this tree are exceedingly beautiful. *
—■ —i»»
DISTEMPER IN SHEEP.
Richardsonville, S. C.
Mr. Editor :— Dear Sir : Having turned my
attention in some degree to the raising of Sheep
I am anxious Ito know some remedy that will
cure the rot or distemper which they have very
badly. I have changed them frequently to dif
ferent pastures, but all to no purpose. Having
examined your paper thoroughly, I can find
nothing to that effect. A receipt through your
columns will be thankfully received.
Yours, respectfully,
E. P. Coleman.
By the term “ distemper” is meant we suppose
a disease characterized by running at the nose,
shaking the head andknuffing. Ifso, the animal
has the larva of a species of gad-fly in the olfacto
ry and perhaps frontal sinuses, of its head. The
annoyance is often serious, and sometimes fatal.
Like the bots in horses, and grubs in the backs
of cattle—all of which are insects of one family
—no sure preventive or cure is known. At
no distant day we will discuss the subject at
length, and cite the most reliable authorities who
have treated on the same.
To Destroy Rats. —A cotemporary says that
a lady in that city, whose house became so in
fested with these troublesome varmints, gives
the simple remedy of dissolving coperas in wa
ter, (make it strong,) and sprinkle in the most
prominent places, will make them leave at a two
forty rate, and no mistake. She tried it success
fully and has not l»een troubled with rats or mice
since. It is simple, and will not cost much to
try it.
MUSQUIT GRASS AND GRASS CULTURE.
Roswei.l, Cobb Co., Sept. 3d, 1859.
Dr. Dee— Dear Sir: In response to your re
quest, in the Field and Fireside, of the 27th ult.,
for some Musquit grass seed, I send you a sam
ple of the seed which 1 have under that name,
and which originally came from Texas by mail;
the quantity from wliicli mine originated was less
than what I now enclose. I have it over my
whole farm, in connection with red top and clo
ver ; but so much mixed, that I could not mow
the seed apart. As I wished, in seeding a fresh
piece, to have the Musquit the most'abundant, I
this summer had two or three bushels of seed
gathered by hand, some of which I can spare
you if it proves to be what you want, and in ex
change, I will gladly take some of the orchard
grass seed of which you have written in the
Field and Fireside. I have not hitherto suc
ceeded with the latter, perhaps owing to poor
seed, or unpropitious seasons. Broom-straw
and briars are more congenial to the soil, and
take the lead.
I think highly of the Musquit. It starts ear
ly, makes good hay, matures more nearly with
red clover than Red top or Timothy, and I no
tice that my horses keep on that part of the
pasture on which the Musquit is thickest.
Grass culture has been my hobby up here for
twenty years, and I assure you I have found it
hard work to keep the nag on his legs, for want
of company, but he begins to prick up his ears
lately, and I don’t know but I could get him into a
trot, if a friend were to pass by. I have this
year made (I don’t know how to tell by meas
ure, and I cannot weigh) from twenty to thirty
tons of first quality hay. The last Cotton Plant
er and Soil, gives an old rule, but the two ends
do not tally; taking count by the biggest bulk, I
have at least twenty tons, and pull no more fod
der.
I think the greatest obstacle to success in
grass culture outside of the two lime-stone belts
of our State, is that the soil is not congenial to
its growth, and must therefore be well culti
vated and made rich before the grass seed is
sown ; whereas grass is sot forth as an improver
of the soil, (and that truly) and therefore it is
put to work on the place where that improve
ment is most wanted, and fails. If you think
with me, I hope you will not fail to enforce on all
beginners the necessity of making a small ex
periment on the best land with thorough pre
paration.
The next obstacle is the growth of weeds and
broom-sedge, which must be kept down by mow
ing. This 1 find the surest way to encourage
the grass after it has taken. 1 shall be glad to
hear from you at your convenience, and should
you ever stray into my neighborhood, would be
much gratified by a call. I am, yours truly,
Arch. Smith.
The above letter was evidently not written
for publication, but it contains precisely thoso
plain, practical suggestions which farmers like
to read, and which sensible men ought to be
willing to write for the press. It is wrong in
many of our agricultural friends to withhold all
aid in an honest effort to foster the useful inter
change of thought and experience between tens
of thousands of Southern tillers of the soil.
The seod sent with the above letter is the tme
Musquit, and Mr. Smith has our best tlianks
for the same. We shall be happy to send him
orchard grass seed in exchange for any quantity.
With proper care, we can grow every grass
found in Texas which is of the least value to the
husbandman ; and now is the time for gentle
men to achieve honorable fame by introducing
from the vast natural pastures of Texas and
Kansas the seeds of some of the very best herb
age plants in the world. Y. L. G. Harris, Esq, an
estimable citizen of Athens, has not only given
us samples of the Musquit, Utah, Terrell, and
other grasses grown by him, for use in lectures
before a class in the University, but seeds of
each species for cultivation. The Musquit and
Utah grasses are the best, we think, in his col
lection. lie finds them of much value for cut
ting green, and feeding to his horses and cows.
Dr. Reese, of Athens, has boon quite success
ful in grass culture ; and there are many who
begin to appreciate the value of having cheap
and abundant forage for all kinds of live stock.
This common-senso practice very soon doubles
the value of neat cattle, brood-mares, mules,
hogs, and sheep, while it greatly lessens the cost
of keeping them.
THE USE OF QUAILS.
Editors of Field and Fireside-.
Win. Norton, an intelligent observing farmer
boy, who makes his home in the Southern
part of Illinois, has recently been studying the
habits of the quail, or incorrectly “partridge,”
and gives the following testimony to the Cin
cinnati Artisan :
“ He observed a small flock commencing at one
side of the field, taking about five rows, follow
ing them regularly through the field, scratching
and picking about every hill till they came lo
the other side of the field; then taking another
five rows on their return, and thus continuing
till he thought they were certainly pulling up
the corn, lie shot one, and then proceeded to
examine the corn ground. On all the ground
they had been over he found but one stalk of
corn disturbed; that was scratched nearly out
of the ground, but the kernel was still attached
to the stalk. In the crop of the quail he found
one cut worm, twenty-one striped vine bugs,
over one hundred chintz bugs that still retained
their individuality, a mass apparently consisting
of hundreds of chintz bugs, but not one kernel
of corn. The quails have been decreasing in
number in that vicinity for about five years past,
and the chintz bug increasing. It is believed
that these facts stand in the relation of cause and
effect to each other.”
The above is certainly suggestive to the ob
serving farmer; very few seem to be aware of
the great benefit derived from almost every kind
of birds. Crows are sometimes destructive to
corn, but it is very certain they are often useful
in the removal of worms and insects, and per
haps help more than harm us. In some neigh
borhoods the grasshopper is growing to be a
serious enemy. Last year I had most reluctantly
to contribute several acres of clover to their sup
port; this year, thanks to the white crane, black
birds, and some lighter volunteers, (not forget
ting the much slandered fish hawk) “going it”
at them “ while they were youug ” —slayed them
in time to save our fodder, Ac., Ac.
Augusta. A Friend to Birds.
• *•*- .—-
In Caldwell county, Texas, the white Malaga
grafted on the common mustang of that State,
has proved a perfect success. No larger bunches
of grapes more uniformly ripe, than samples of
these Texas grapes, could be produced.
ORCHARD GRASS AND GRAPES.
New Prospect, "Winston Co., Miss. )
Sept. 3d, 1859. f
Dr. D. Lee: — Dear Sir: I inclose twenty
stamps, to get some fine grass seed. In your
notice in the Field and Fireside, you have not
named the grass, but say it is the best for hay
and grazing in the winter of any grass for the
South. Please let me know the name and
whether it is annual, biennial or perennial. As
you were kind enough to answer some of my
queries when you were editor of the Cultivator,
1 make bold enough to trespass again. I have
a small vineyard of Catawba grapes, of two or
three years growth, from which I wish to make
some pure wine for home consumption, and to
treat my friends when they come to see me.—
This grape succeeds very well in my gardens
trained on a flat arbor 6 or 7 feet high and
never rots. The Isabella rots more or less every
year. I have been in Mr. Longworth’s vine
yard and in some others where there are two
branches left to each vine, some 18 inches from
the ground, and these branches are cut off each
alternate year. Now what I wish to learn from
you is, whether in cultivating the grape to make
wine, it is necessary to follow this plan, or if I
cannot succeed by permitting the vine to grow
and pruning the branches as I have heretofore
done in my garden. I notice in my garden that
the grapes do not ripen well together, and I
wish to know if they would ripen more uniform
ly if trained to a trellis or tied to a stake. I
think I understand the process of pressing and
fermenting the must, although I know that much
must be learned by practice.
If you will be kind enough to answer these
questions, you can do so in a private letter or
through the columns of the Field and Fireside,
I wish you much success in your new agricultu
ral paper. Yours, Very respectfully,
Tnos. P. Miller.
The name of the grass which has suc
ceeded best at the South, is called Orchard
Grass in this country, ahd often Cock’s Foot in
England; and botanically Dactylis glomerata. —
The seed will roach you by mail before the Field
and Fireside. The grass is perennial.
The unequal ripening of grapes is a serious
defect, which we fear it will be difficult wholly
to preveut. Vinegrowers and our horticultural
associate will, we trust, give the subject due at
tention.
lit
IN AND-IN-BREEDING.
Editors Southern Cultivator. —A new spirit
seems to havo taken some of the farmers and
stock breeders of the South, within the past
year, by surprise, and not a few havo carried
this vexed question almost beyond a doubt, and
they baldly assert that in-and-in breeding, and
no other, will do for stock breeders in future,
either in this country or any other.
After the valuable dissertation on ‘‘Hereditary
Blood in Man and other Mammalia,” which has
appeared in the columns of the Cultivator, many
seem to consider the matter of in-and-in breeding
as permanently fixed, and that they have at
last found the great desideratum so long wan
ting to complete success in stock breeding. Dr.
Lee took the mutter up with a skillful hand, and
none will say that he did not handle his subject
in a masterly manner. He left no stone un
turned which would help to throw light upon
the subject.
But here a question arises among the mass of
stock breeders, will in-and-in breeding always
ensure success, and give the desired end at all
times, and under all circumstances? or will the
majority of the cases result beneficially ? Let
us seel It took many years of close
study and constant care to establish
the foundation of the present Devon Stock.
They were formerly of small size and very in
ferior milkers —many unsuccessful attemps were
made to improve them. The in-and-in breeders
dare not leave the Devon stock for improvement,
and those who were most venturesome lacked
the knowledge of the requisite qualities wanted
to maice the Devon a finer animal. We undoub
tedly owe the present improvement to Mr. Bloom
field, the manager of Lord Leicester’s estate at
Holkliam. He made a great improvement in the
size and milking qualities of this valuable breed,
without materially improving the beauty and
form of the animal. He really deserves the
great credit and honor which lie has received.
But how did ho accomplish this result? JHe
took a finely formed, good sized, deep colored
Durham bull and ingrafted him with some large
and superior heifers (of tho Devon breed) that
their after progeny might partake of the bull
which first served them a caBO by no mean uncom
mon with cattle, pne very perceivable in horses,
and some extent among sheep and swine, and not
an uncommon occurrence with the human family.
I will not stop here to note this subject, butiftlie
reader will refer to one of the back numbers of
the Cultivator, he will find an article to the ef
fect, from myself. But let me get back again to
my subject. Mr. Bloomfield, then, with the
after progeny of these Devon heifers which had
been served, he bred them to large and finely
formed Devons which were little or no relation
to each other. By this means he produced the
finely formed Devons of the present day; and for
us to keep this stock at its proper standard, it
is necessary for stock breeders to breed in-and
in, but how close the relationship may exist and
not deterioate the herd is a question which re
mains to be proved, and only experience will do
that.
As with cattle, so with sheep. Let us take
the Bakewell or Leicester, a breed of sheep
which have been kept in a certain state of per
fection for nearly a century. They were origi
nally the produce of a full-sized Rornny-Marsh
ewe and a Cheviot—tho first a coarse, ungainly
animal of slow growth and of very little real
value ; the other a finely formed but very small
animal quick to grow, and having medium qual
ity wool, from four to seven inches long. By
breeding the progeny of these sheep to some
of the finest sheep then found in England, Mr.
Bakewell has produced the far-famed and justly
celebrated animals so well known throughout
England and this country at tho present day. It
is true that lie must have practiced the in-and-in
system—the parent upon the progeny—for sev
eral successive generations, which had a ten
dency to impress effectually the desired charac
teristics of the race, and it is certain that even Mr.
Bakewell carried the refining system to such
an extent as to partially destroy the procreative
powers. And he was subsequently obliged to
introduce new animals to re-invigorate and con
tinue his flock, showing by his own experiments
that by carrying the in-and-in system too far it
would ultimately destroy the improvements he
had already made m his flock.
But with this is there not another considera
tion ? Did not his nice discrimination of the
character and qualities of sheep, his choice se
lections, his pampered feeding and judicious
management, all have their bearing upon bring
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