Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-18
English and American Bred Stock-Cli.
. mate and Feed.
lFrom ths American stock Journall

FROM the American stock Journal
It seems the New York State Society has de-
cided to sdmit imported cattle to open compe.
ttion for the general premiums offered for the
best American bred cattle in the same classes,
or in three or four leading improved breeds 50
well known over the older settled portions of
the country. And, judging from the gratula-
tory tone Of paragraph in allunon to the fact,
in the Country Gentleman, who asks, "Does i'm
ported blood degenerate on this side Of the At
| lantic, !" it seems to be taken for granted that
| the confidence exhibited by this proceeding,
| rests upon facts which tend to show that i'm
ported animals, if that is what's meant, do not
deteriorate. When, however, the facts are cor
rectly Investigated, 1t will be found that i'm
ported cattle do, and generally must degene-
rate, from the inevitable influences Of climate
| and it's cognats influences.
There has Of late, it is believed, been large
falling of in the numbers of imported cattle,
which must be in the favor of American red
animals, in reducing the numbers of their COM
petitors. Then the larger imported blood"
has been acclimated in home-bred animals the
more complete the snbOrdination of it to our
peculiar climatic conditions; the more natural
the mutual adaptation Of animals and climatic
influences; the greater the immunity of the
animal from transition and new and trying
climatic ordeals; and the greater his chances
| of success in competing with rivals of later and
| direct importation. Hence it will not only be
Il
of advantages Of condition, if home bred beasts
beat imported ones in 30 called even oompeti-
ton, but with really better conditions in several
particulars upon which success largely depends
And the native animal ought to beat, not only
from the above causes, but as an evidence of
| supporting home policy and preferring native
| skill,
Nor can imagine any sound reason why i'm
ported animals from over the sea, should be al
lowed to compete at all. Scattering our forces
too much is no real proof of either wisdom or
| strength; ner is it consistent with the example
of the best English breeders. 'Good workmen
never quarrel with their TOOLS" and if British
enterprise has succeeded so well in working up
| its best specimens of breeding from mere Ordi-
nary resources at their own doors, as is known
TO be the fact, why may not Americans conquer
IN equal success from their greatly enlarged
and superior resources and opportunities. I
repeat, "goed workmen never quarrel with
| their tools, nor necessarily require to fly off
at tangent and import the production of
others skill. If we have not skill enough, i'm
porting will not augment what we have. elf
'there is no royal lead to learning" so there
| is none to skill in breeding. 1t comes of natu-
! raj capacity cultivated by experience; but i'm
portation alias appropriating, is opposed equal
ly to the genius Of original invention and the
in thorough breeding. In comparison with
home breeding, Imported blood" is therefore
OF minor consequence, from almost any point of
view.
1t is currently and I believe correctly report
ed, that Samuel Thorne, of Dutchess Co., has
hired out two Of his American-bred bulls to
English Shsrt Horn breeders. Several years
ago predicted that, IN otherwise equal condi-
tions, while English animals, imported into
this country must-as IL is we'll known they
do-in most instances, deteriorste, American
animals must from superiority, or at any rate,
we'll defined distinctions Of climate in England
favoring the production of greater weight and
dimensions, attain greater size, and exhibit
very clearly evidences Of improvement due to
the better conditions which such exported ami
mails are there put into. Not, probably, as to
| salubrity Of climate, exemption from disease,
or general healthfulness; for these advantages
are no greater-I think even less-in the
British Islands than here on this continent.
But the larger proportion Of water in cured or
90 called dry" fodder, the greater suceulency
OF their roots and grasses, arising from their
larger proportion of water as a component of
them; and the much larger quantity of water
vspor IN the atmosphere Of those Islands each
ana altogether tend to produce greater bulk
| and sucoulency equally in forage crops and
roots, and In the animals, whose total growth
is a merely transformed organic aggregation
OF such vegetable growth. Like cause like
consequence, as an axiom pointing to q natu-
raj law, is also pretty clearly illustrated in the
dry meat Of our relatively dry climate, in com
psrison with the juicy beef, etc., 50 much
aboundlng and so much esteemed on the tables
OF English epicures; and the absence Of which
is 90 foelingly-doubtiess in q double sense
lamented sy Englishmsn sojourners amongst
rs. A moist climate, succulent feed, and juicy
meat, comprise atripartite arrangement Of con-
ditions and effects which must ever continue to
produce characteristic results in the live stock
Of that country
Mr.. Thorne's bulls both 20 II believe) to
Glouoestershire, which is q good grass county,
the rich and fertile valley of the Severn ex-
tending through the middle of it; and at the
risk Of failure, here predict satisfactory re-
suit from this expectation if no accident inter-
fere. And 1 may further sdd that English
breeders may and probably will import other
breeding animals besides bulls, with the high
est probability Of satisfactory improvement
from such change and investment. At the
same time wish to be understood, as not as
crbing all the beneficial re ults from the use of
American animals in EAgland to any specific
or peculiar quality due to the blood or breeding
OF American stock; but to impute the improve
ment which confidently anticipate, chiefly and
distinctly to the moister feed and climate of
tAe Island Nation, as being more conducive to
increased juciness in the meat, and generally
TO grestsr bulk and weight in the animal when
brought TO the shambles there, and to the
difference above noted in food and air, il must
be confessed much Of the zaellotcness 90 often
claimed, and admitted as characteristic in
the handling" qualities Of English cattle, is
closely related to, and TO large extent clearly
due. While skill In breeding is great desid-
erstum, it il but just to assign to other agen-
cies their due share Of credit in the production
Of excellent qualities and results TAxwoRrH.