y6 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



been set up, defended, and apparently proven true, but ultimately 

 have been torn down, to be replaced by others as unstable. No 

 definite rules can be laid down to the breeders of dairy cattle. 

 Much data has been collected from fields sufficiently broad that 

 point out to us the paths we should follow. They are guides 

 that may bring the results desired, but there is no certainty. 

 When two animals are mated there is no definite way of telling 

 what the resultant ofT-spring will be like or of telling what its 

 future performance in the dairy world will be. Even offspring 

 from the same parents differ markedly sometimes. We are 

 only able to estimate with a reasonable degree of surety some- 

 where near what class that animal will belong to from the type 

 of its ancestors and the work they have done. 



Today we are in an age of specialization ; and it is an age of 

 specialization with the dairy cow as well. 



Formerly before she became known as a dairy cow her sole 

 work was to maintain herself and young. We have taken away 

 from her some of the characteristics she possessed and have 

 added others to her embodiment until now she is what man has 

 made her. We must carry her on to do that specialized work 

 which we demand of her in the dairy and at the same time to 

 perpetuate the breed. 



Like does not produce like; it is the variations in nature 

 which allow us to improve our dairy cattle and it is the varia- 

 tions also which may prove to be our stumbling block. Without 

 variations no improvement could be made. Careful selection 

 must always be maintained to make improvement. It is the 

 results of the variations in the wrong direction and carelessness 

 in selection to which we owe most of our unprofitable cows, 

 commonly termed boarders. I believe there is not an owner of 

 dairy cows but that secretly believes in selection and the use of 

 better blood, but some of them will not admit it openly and many 

 of those who do believe in it too often fail to practice what they 

 believe. 



The various breeds were evolved originally by taking the 

 blood common to the district in which they originated and select- 

 ing the superior animals for breeding purposes. As time went 

 on the selections were made more rigid until the animals com- 

 menced to take on type, form, and functions for which since 



