164 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



quiring "barn-feeding" for many months, our best interests 

 would, it would seem, dictate in terms too plainly to be mis- 

 understood, that the profit and success of dairy stock must 

 necessarily depend upon this prime requisite of "breed." 



Fortunately at the present time the defects of an ill-bred 

 ancestry have in a large measure been remedied, and all that 

 seems necessar}^ is to select from the improved races of both 

 sexes and by careful and intelligent discrimination in crossing 

 raise up a stock distinguished for dairy purposes. We say of 

 both sexes, for it must always be kept in mind and is a rule 

 never to be deviated from that to improve and establish any 

 permanent quality only those are to be used as breeders which 

 are distinguished for possessing in an eminent degree the re- 

 quired quality. And this is true of not one of the sexes, but 

 of both. How often have we seen breeders raising stock from 

 their best cows with the strongest expectation of success, 

 doomed to disappointment notwithstanding all their care and 

 expense as well as loss of time by simply neglecting to make 

 a right selection of the sire of the offspring. If the female 

 possesses the requisite qualities, never run the risk of any 

 chances with other than thoroughbred bulls of similar quali- 

 ties, — " it will not pay." 



It should also be a rule never to allow the female to accom- 

 plish her first conception with an ill-bred male. It may not 

 be democratic, but it is true, nevertheless, that in this case at 

 least only royal strains of blood can produce royal offspring, 

 which shall not only exhibit but transmit their royal qualities. 



It is a curious fact that the first conception frequently in- 

 fluences those which follow it, and the subsequent offspring 

 may exhibit qualities similar to the male which begot the first. 

 A writer upon the subject of "Human Generation" remarks, 

 "That the human female, when twice married, bears children 

 occasionally to the second husband which resemble the first 

 both in bodily structure and mental powers." The manner in 

 which this influence is exerted is unfathomable, but it is indis- 

 putable. Seeing, then, that if in the human species "the 

 bodily structure and mental powers " may be thus singularly 

 transmitted, why may not the same be true of the lower ani- 

 mals? It undoubtedly is so. Very many farmers, however, 

 (who we suppose are ignorant of this fact) , will allow their 



