SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



131 



In this way, some skillful farmers secure a degree of excel- 

 lence in our native stock, much beyond the average, and by pur- 

 suing the same plan during a long series of years, what are 

 usually termed the neio breeds, have been obtained. These are 

 new, in the sense of possessing such combination of desirable 

 points or qualities, as render them superior to, and distinct 

 from, the common, mixed, and mongrel breeds. It is also claimed 

 for them, that their j)oints of excellence have been, by a long 

 process of careful discrimination in breeding, qo fixed or heredi- 

 tary, that their progeny are sure to be stamped with like excel- 

 lencies; whereas, such as are crossed at random for a series of 

 generations, like most of our natives, do not possess any points 

 %o fixed, that their progeny may not be almost as likely to re- 

 semble one of its ancestors as another ; and so, however good 

 any individual animal of any such mixed origin may be, it is not 

 reliable as a breeder, to produce its like. 



As a general rule, it is undoubtedly true, that "like begets 

 like," but the trouble in practice is, that we cannot always per- 

 ceive the "like" which is to be begotten. It is not only vain to 

 expect healthy and perfect offspring from diseased and defect- 

 ive parents, but it is a well established fact, that diseases and 

 defects may slumber through one or two generations, only to 

 reappear stronger thai^ before, in the third or fourth, and it is 

 also true, that defects are more surely and easily propagated 

 than virtues. Hence, in order to propagate with confidence, it 

 is needful to know, not only tfiat the parent is possessed of 

 traits and points which it is desirable to perpetuate, but that its 

 ancestors, as far back as may be, also had them, and were free 

 from hereditary disease or defect. 



Desirable qualities are sometimes antagonistic in character, 

 and so it is impracticable to combine all in any one breed. 

 The aim of the stock grower is to produce an animal which 

 will yield the greatest pecuniary return in proportion to the 

 cost, and he will direct his efforts accordingly. If oxen are 

 destined for the shambles only, he seeks for early maturity, 

 quiet and indolent disposition, capability to convert a given 

 amount of food into the greatest amount of flesh and fat, and 

 to have this developed on the most saleable parts of the animal 

 after being slaughtered, and so small bone, small head and short 



