No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 216 



severe hardships through which the individuals must pass, the de- 

 velopment of the qualities which would be most useful to man is 

 quite out of the question. It is only when man by his skill and fore 

 sight is enabled to relieve the struggle for existence, that improve- 

 ment takes place. As the plant or animal finds congenial surround- 

 ings as to food, climate, moisture, etc., it is able to develop, in the 

 hands of the skilled breeders, characteristics which do not affect the 

 vigor of the individual, and which may be turned by man to his own 

 advantage. 



The farmer who devotes considerable of his time to raising stock, 

 like the grain farmer, endeavors to improve the quantity and quality 

 of the stock which he is striving to produce at the least expense. He 

 hears, that for certain purposes, improved breeds are superior to the 

 common stock which has been kept for a long time in his neighbor- 

 hood. He not only hears of these improved breeds and of their 

 wonderful production, but he sees for himself individuals that are far 

 superior to the best of those which he has beeo able to produce. He 

 finally resolves to invest in pure bred stock with a hope that he may 

 be able to produce more, and of a better quality, without increasing 

 materially the cost of production. He invests in pure bred stock, 

 takes the stock to his farm, and gives the so called "registered stock" 

 the same care and treatment that the common stock of the country 

 has received on his farm for generations. The improved stock does 

 better for a few years. The individuals of the next generation, how- 

 ever, resemble their parents very much as to color and general ap- 

 pearance, although they are not quite so good. Each subsequent gen- 

 eration, while still bearing the color markings and many of the char- 

 acteristics of the parents, proves to be less desirable than the genera- 

 tion that preceded it. Eventually the pure bred stock comes to the 

 same level, as to production, as the stock which the farmer had main- 

 tained for years before. The farmer finally becomes convinced that 

 the so called "registered stock" is no better than that which he 

 formerly kept. Although it is descended, without a mixture of 

 foreign blood, from improved parents, may be registered and is 

 known as pure bred stock. Through the lack of sufficient knowledge 

 the farmer has failed to maintain the improvement and to make the 

 best use of his opportunities. If the improved breeds are really 

 better than those that are unimproved they are better for practical 

 purposes and will bring the largest returns when maintained under 

 favorable conditions. Improved animals, like improved plants, can- 

 not maintain their improved characteristics and be required to endure 

 severe struggles for existence. Improved animals when properly 

 cared for are able to turn to good account a larger amount of food, 

 above that which is required for maintenance, than are those whose 



