National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-01-14
Farm. Garden and Kitchen.
Crossing Of breeds Of AninadIs.

We see it suggested in some of
our exchanges, that mixture of
the Berkshire and White Chester
hog would make a capital cross. A
disposition seems to be general -
Whenever farmer produces fine
animal, whether of swine, poultry,
sheep. or neat cattle, to try the eff
fects of a cross. The stock IS adj
mitted to Je good, but like the man
who was well, took physic and died,
the owner is not satisfied, but wants |
better, and the consequence is, he
gets worse. We believe the pr0Dia-
nent idea with many, is this 'mprore-
ment of distinct breeds by CLOSING,
but in our opinion it is all wrong,
and the effect will he TO establish a
race of lnongrels of uncertain type
and unreliable progeny.
The work of originating and es-
tabliahing new types or forms in do
nestle animals, is one requiring
about half century of time, and "A
peculiar talent and judgment, not
possessed by one man III thousand.
Bakewell, Gilman, Webb, and Bates
of England, and to go ctill further
back. the Messrs. Ceilings, attained
great success in this line--but it was
the business Of their Hres. They had
enthusiasm, an accurate eye and
skill, and rare Judgment, which,
combined with large experience, en-
abled them to bring out the results
they did. With them the breeding
Of live stock was reduced to a Sci
euce, but one which they could OF
impart. 1t was an effort of genius
and not education. They spent
whole days Watching their stock, in
order to secure certain points.
A farmer undertaking the bust
ness of crossing distinct breeds, can
never tell where he is going to land.
lie can readily unsetile; but TO
bring out Il desired result and es-
tabish it, is not so easy. The laws
vi nature may ToI be called arbi-
trary, but they are not always un.
derstOod. We have heard Of Il ease
where Il farmer who had two AMI
mails, male and female, each pos.
sessiug IA very important point III
their contguration, which he had
long wanted to secure. He consid
cred he was certain of getting it 10y
breeding them together, but the
progeny proved remarkably deficient
in this very particular. This result
may probably he explained, that
nature always aims at evCnneSS
regularity, and to have no one oIgag
i'll excess or above an average. /
such isproduccd by unskilul efforts
in breeding, such excess becomes Il
deiorniily, worthless appeAdag >
This is commonly shown i'll some
stock occasionally 10 he seen at
fairs, and of which we have met
with seine specimens tins very sea
son. "A heavy hind quarter is q
valuable point for the butcher. II
was SO attractive to farmers, that
cows with an unus ually heavy hind
quarter brought an extra price. In
stead OF dropping perpcndicularly
from the root of the tail. it at last
by care in breeding only for this
hnpIn tn describe A half circle and
bulge out and the result now Oc
caaionally seen is an auimul with q
heavy hind quarter of halfmool
sage, but deficient on the rib, loin
aud e,cryWh here else, and one that
will never get fat. a more worth
less animal than these specimens
and having less development, can
rarely he found. They will no,
grow, they never tatten, feed never
tells, but they make a fine show to
the uninitia,ed, who find out tina,
tbs unnatural development is only
ho'd muscle, ard that of the rough
est kind. We hold id to he almost
impossible to combine in one III,
essential points of different and
distinct breeds Of animals. If a
sheen could be gotten up with Cots
w6'd nud siou,h Down anC Meru,
HoDl on It's cnlcass, and having the
o',ier properties of all these thrc,
breeds, il would he well adapted f.,
Bananas museum or a travelling
menaeerir, but not Tor any farmer
having an eye To pratt.
Devons. Short Horns, Jerseys
Alrashircs, no less than the differ
cut breeds of poultry, sheep ant
swine, all have their distinct char
acttristics, and it is well for iarme
10 select such as may suit his par
lcular business or location, withou
tuirIiuu OH the uurnriuin iilinr.. N