Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-07-07
Climatic Modification.

Our old friend, DR. lIoskins usually very cor
rect, says in the VERMONT wArCHNAS, eve d
not look to see the European breeds Of cattle pre-
servo their pccuarities long after continuous i'm
portaton Of new blood shall cease" DO yol
mean "i inn taton" to America, or Europe, Doc
tori II rue one way as the other In oui
opinion. - ION. C. ~ Hubbard
We meant importation TO America in
fact we can hardly see where there is an
opportunity to suppose we could have meant
anything else. And while we should feel
happy aud privileged to sit at the feet Of our
friend Hubbard as a learner in the science
Of stock breeding, we yet do not understand
why, where or on what possible grounds he
takes exception to the remark which he has
quoted.
We believe nothing is better established
among students Of this branch Of natural
science, than that climate and food have a
powerful modifying influence upon the
bodies Of men and animals sufficient often
under marked divergence, even in a few gen
erations, to give them many Of the character
istics of new and distinct race. Although
men for so short a time, already the Ameri-
can is easily distinguished by his bodily out
lire and peculiarities from men Of any other
nationality. 1t is even held that the white
race is deteriorating physically upon this
continent, and that 1t can never hold its own
in vigor and virility except by the constant
addition Of fresh blood from Europe We
are far from admitting the truth Of this doc
trinei we quote it simply to prove that
marked notifications have taken place, with
out accepting the Interpretation given to
those notifications. While we plainly per
ceiye the charge We do not regard il as be
ing necessarily or probably deterioration.
And here we inteIect a remark, that we
fear Mr.. Hubbard interprets the quotation
he makes as indicating a belief by us that
the improved races of farm stock brought
hither from Europe must lose their valuable
properties in this country. But that is not
our view. We believe change to be inevita-
bic, but that change may, by skilful hands,
be guided in the direction of improvement.
Already we hear that the jersey cattle are
becoming larger and Of smoother outline
under American surroundings. II is re-
ported that in California, in the dairy re-
gion OF the coast range, the Shorthons are
becoming smaller and more active. This
may be so or not; none of the improved
breeds has been among us long enough to be
greatly affected by our climate, even were
they not continually reinforced by the fresh
blood Of new importations. But who can
believe that so completely artificial breed
as the improved Shorthorn, developed under
the moist, cool and equable climate of Brit
ain and under the careful and skilled breeding
and feeding of men like Bates, or Booth, is
going long TO maintain all its pecuiarties
unchanged. under the heat and drouth of our
torid summer, or the violent alterations of
our scasons-still less, while in the hands of
men, as numbers of them are, careless of
those valuable principles, so well understood
10y the founders of the breed, without any
real love for the farm, or for domestic ami
mails and their improvement, or who are
using them merely as the counters of a new
kind of stock gambling" OF the owners
of sbortborns in Amor;co tboro arc cor,.
narative,v fa,y ,ybo lilo our fr;ond rt,b-
bard, without any speculative fever, are con-
scientiously and intelligently striving to per-
petuate and more thoroughly develop their
really desirable qualities for t,,e doirv. mr.
ike some of tbe eou,IIy usef,I hreoiors ~
the hlue.grnss country of Kentucl,v for
beef But tbese two distinct courses of
breeding 10 suit tbe requirements If dirrer
emf sections will asid, from climatic inau.
ence soon modify the sbortbor,s into t,yo
roees onite "a diverse nc tho averaoe short
horn and tbe ITorofor1 now ara Who, Mr.
Hubbard has dovo,oroa bis Vernon, ,o;,,,
Sborthor, and ,he hoof.orou;nr Ko,tuol
ions hoyo vorl,od ort tboir ;de,l ond The
two are hroucht tocether into the ring If
some great national cattle show II ,ye should
chance to meet Mr.. IInbbard upop the same
committee chosen IN annort;or tbe;r ,ner;ts
does he think he would then. seeing these two
tribes along side. perhans Of n then recent
arrival from ENGLAND douL, that o,,r pnro.
pean breed had ceased 10 nreserve all its ma.
cnliorities ? Wehelievo tbat la ,yo,ld ,Ler
unite fall in with ns--even if he docs no,
now. as we think Ire will after fully nnder.
standing our meaning
But there is another point worth consider
ing in this connection. These foreicn i'm.
moved breeds are the result and concomitant
If far hetter overoae FARMING thon "a vot
common o,,orr,s Evor ,ho;r o,.., ho,,,o.
thew ore only Font mn 10 their full norfection
Inv co,onora,i,,o,, lr,;,.d n,,,hor of hroo5
ers. But these superior hreedey, ara spr.
rounded on every side bv n class If farmers
thirty or forty wears in advance Of our aver
age American aericulturist. win not tbi,
difference of circumstance have nowerfu
effect in modifying the new breeds. intensity
ing the effect of climate bv exposing tbeu
more fully TO its action ? Already we bea,
Shorthorn breeders saw thew dread 70 sell 4
bull TO a common farmer because almost in
yariably he will ruin him bv want Of prone,
care and feeding. and in mining him mi,
also the reputation of the stock where he |,
known Mr. U,hhard may, ,orho,s l,no,,