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NO RULE CAN ENSURE SUCCESS. The late Duke of Beaufort expressed his views on breeding animals several years ago as follows: "There is only one certainty that I have arrived at in breeding animals of any sort, and that is that the whole thing Is a lottery. Of course, you may give yourself a good chance or a bad one; but so many things a:-e beyond the coutrol of man that there can be no certainty That which convinces me of this fact is. that fry three or four years running the same horse and mare, and see what totally different results you arrive at each year. Take a large human family and observe the saine thing. The fact is. the state of health of both parents, especially the female, the weather at the time of birth, and some time after, all have a wonderful effect. "No doubt the food of the dam and the offspring, too. greatlv effect the quality of the latter. In short, there is no rule that I know of by which vou can ensure success. Luck must combine with judgment to produce a satisfactory result. To breed a race horse or fast hunter, one thing I be lleve I have arrived at. whicli is that you must have speed on the dams side never mind for how short a distance, even three or four furlongs and slaying power r.iul qualities on the side of the sire. A slow mare never will breed a race horse or fast hunter never mind how speedy and good the sire may be. Of stallions there are plenty, too many perhaps. What is wanted are better mares, more of them and better bred."
