1906.] DISCUSSION. 181 



a little alien blood gives stamina and generally increases the 

 size, and does not prevent grading the stock up to a thorough- 

 bred standard, provided it is chosen in the right way. 



A Member. Could you, with your experience and your 

 ability in choosing Southdown ewes, if you picked them out and 

 bred them with your Southdown bucks, couldn't you get as 

 good results as to go out on the range and use the same num- 

 ber of range animals? 



Prof. Shaw. Well, I think there would not be much dif- 

 ference, but it would depend upon the range of choice that I 

 had. I think it could be done. Of course, it could be done 

 more quickly. If you took the other course, you would have 

 to breed through three or four generations. 



A Member. But you are going to spend six or eight years 

 in getting your high-grade stock that way where it might have 

 been attained by the first course, are you not? 



Prof. Shaw. I do not say I would rather do that. I say 

 it can be done that wav. 



A ]\Iember. How long will it take you to get that ninety- 

 nine and two-thirds per cent, animal, how many years after you 

 start? 



Prof. Shaw. Five. There it is on the blackboard. 



Q. Do you get those five generations in five years? 



Prof. Shaw. I beg your pardon, but it would take at 

 least ten years, 



Q. Then why couldn't you start with a few good, well- 

 bred animals and get more money in ten years by breeding than 

 you are able to get by that plan? Is it not possible? I am 

 asking practical questions, and not trying to bring up any side- 

 light discussions. 



Prof. Shaw. There may be some farmers present who 

 have some two-thirds Jersey cows, we will say, today. There 

 may be others present who .have scrubs. Now the man who 

 has the two-thirds Jersey, if he wants to improve his stock, he 

 has got that much further on than the other man, and he will 



