The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-03-10

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,aas eissets produced upon animals by m entire chang
OF SOIL and climate, is often under estimated. even 5
the most intelligent breeders. That change Of soil an,
climate exerts q powerful influence on he form an,
Snaracteristics Of . breed Of animals, seems to admit o
nstie doubt but the extent and force Of this influence
Is rarely fully appreciated, and the breeder who has 70,
yssts' devoted himself zealously to the improvement Of
eeocH' ana YET nnds that he has made little or no pro-
&rees. Wall do we'll to consider whether in selecting stock
Tor his farm be has been careful to choose such as are
~ nature adapted to its soil and climate. If upop
mountain pastures and in . dry, cold climate he has
been breeding Short Horns, or if upon moist plains q
the tropics he has been laboring to improve the quality
:" ms Merino deeces, 1t is not surprising that he has
met with disappointment and loss. Under such circum.
stances, tho utmost skill in crossing, the most watchfu]
care and l%udicious feeding would hardly prevent = rapid
osesraoc1tion in the quality Of the animals, and it would
De almost impossible to make the breeding profitable.
To enable US more fully to realize tho influence which
sol! and climate exert upon animal life, let US consider
their effect upon SEINE Of the races of wild animals. tor
here We can observe their operation uninHuenced by ar.
ti6eial causes.
Certain animals in q state of nature are found only
in comparatively narrow limits, and so present charsc.
ter'stlcs almost entirely uniform ; others range over q
large portion Of the globe, and among these VIC inva.
risbly find a great diversity of form, habits and general
character; indeed 50 great is this diversity. tSst We
sometimes find it difficult to refer them to the same
specific type. The Lion and to Elephant are found
only within narrow limits, and they present scarcely
any variety of form or character. The common wolf
ranges over the greater part Of the old Continent, and
,s found on the new in every part Of the country, from
behrlngs Straits to the Isthmus Of Panama. In these
immense limits, he presents q great variety of charac.
~teristics. The Bear on the old Continent extends from
the western shores Of Norway along the limits Of the
Arctic regions, and thence eastward to tho great steppea
OF Tartary, wherever woods suited to his habit, exist.
In the new, We End him under almost every variety Of
SnSI md O1iuoa%o <rovn $ho l>~l.->c n A.
the shores Of California aud he exhibits in the different
localities characteristics as diverse as the soil and eli.
mate.
The effects Of temperature may be everywhere oh.
served upon the different races of animals in the pro.
duction Of wool or hair, and it is always produced more
abundantly in cold than in warm countries. In the
warmest regions, the domestic sheep has very little
wool, and this is inclined to be coarse, and ~intermixed
with hair, while in the colder climates he is covered
with a thick, warm fleece. The dog has a coat Of wool
which he loses in the tropical climates, but in higher
ATTITUDES it grows SO as with the hair to form a thick
fur, and in every country their fur is suited to tho ma.
ture of the climate.
1t is true that like will produce like and the meri
no sheep communicates to its offspring the properties
which it has acquired in the course of ages on the noun.
tains OF Spain, OF producing an exceedingly fine, soft
and %unctuous wool but remove them from their bleak
hills to a hot climate, and the soft, thick fleece that
was needed to protect them from the fierce storms Of
lucIV uaV1Vc mOuUtdl06 Will Tapl0lY give place 70 q much
thinner and coarser covering.
If we take the Black Horse of Flanders, with his
massive body, heavy limbs and fat feet, from the moist
rich meadows in which he was raised, and transport him
to the tent Of the Bedouin in the Arabian desert, and
leave him to subsist upon the harsh and scanty heritage
Of those arid plains his abdominal organs no longer
extended by rich food would likewise diminish-and
his feet Aattened by constant exposure under a great
weight to a moist soil, would rapidly contract upon the
dry sands of the desert. In short We should find him
steadily and constantly approaching in form and char.
acter to the native horses Of the country, and the most
skillful breeding would fail to preserve through many
generations the peculiar qualities for which he was in
bis native fields distinguished.
The breeder who, regardless Of these: considerations
selects animals for his farm, to which the soil and eli
mate is entirely u~nadapted, will most certainly have
cause to repent his error. The laws of nature are in.
exorable, and she Furnishes with an unsparing hand all
who infringe them.-(Vt. Stock Jour.