us of perpetuating, a
valuable breed of animals may in the course of time be
established. By this system many varieties of sheep have been so
far improved as to become almost new breeds; as for instance the
New Oxford Downs which have frequently gained prizes at the
great Agricultural Meetings as being the best long wooled sheep.

To cross, however, merely for crossing sake--to do so without
that care and vigilance which we have deemed so essential--is a
practice which cannot be too much condemned. It is in fact a
national evil and a sin against society, that is, if carried
beyond the first cross, or if the cross-bred animals are used
for breeding. A useful breed of animals may thus be lost, and a
generation of mongrels established in their place, a result
which has followed in numerous instances amongst every breed of
animals.

The principal use of crossing, however, is to raise animals for
the butcher. In this respect it has not (with sheep) been
adopted to the extent which it might to advantage. The male
being generally an animal of a superior breed and of a vigorous
nature, almost invariably stamps his external form, size and
muscular development on the offspring, which thus bear a strong
resemblance to him, whilst their internal nature derived from
the dam, well adapts them to the locality, as well as to the
treatment to which their dams have been accustomed.

With regard to cattle, the system cannot be so advantageously
pursued (except for the purpose of improving the size and
qualities of the calf, where veal is the object) in as much as
every required qualification for breeding purposes can be
obtained by using animals of the pure breeds. But with sheep,
where the peculiarities of the soil as regards the goodness of
feed, and exposure to the severities of the weather, often
prevent the introduction of an improved breed, the value of
using a new and superior ram is often very considerable, and the
weight of mutton is materially increased, without its quality
being impaired, while earlier maturity is at the same time
obtained. It involves, however, more systematic attention than
farmers usually like to bestow, for it is necessary to employ a
different ram for each purpose; that is, a native ram for a
portion of the ewes to keep up the purity of the breed, and a