The key is man's power of
accumulative selection: nature gives successive variations; man adds them
up in certain directions useful to him. In this sense he may be said to
have made for himself useful breeds.
The great power of this principle of selection is not hypothetical. It is
certain that several of our eminent breeders have, even within a single
lifetime, modified to a large extent their breeds of cattle and sheep. In
order fully to realise what they have done it is almost necessary to read
several of the many treatises devoted to this subject, and to inspect the
animals. Breeders habitually speak of an animal's organisation as
something plastic, which they can model almost as they please. If I had
space I could quote numerous passages to this effect from highly competent
authorities. Youatt, who was probably better acquainted with the works of
agriculturalists than almost any other individual, and who was himself a
very good judge of animals, speaks of the principle of selection as "that
which enables the agriculturist, not only to modify the character of his
flock, but to change it altogether. It is the magician's wand, by means of
which he may summon into life whatever form and mould he pleases." Lord
Somerville, speaking of what breeders have done for sheep, says: "It would
seem as if they had chalked out upon a wall a form perfect in itself, and
then had given it existence.
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