108 State Boako ok Agricvlturk, &c. 



Thus, if in breeding cattle, both sii'e and dtun for niauv 

 ijrenerations are selected from fainiliet^ marked for a laro-e 

 yield and good quality of butter, the certainty of ol)taining 

 good stock for the butter dairy will increase with eacli gen- 

 eration, until, at last, the variations from that cliaracter will 

 be rare, and a family of butter cows will be established. 

 Tlie males of such a family will impress tlie same character 

 upon other herds with which they are crossed. Itisbyvii-- 

 tue of this peculiarity of the law of variation that thorough- 

 ])red Imlls cause such a uniform change in the characteris- 

 tics of the common cattle with wliich they are crosse(h 

 Their qualities, whatever they may l>e, if tliey are really 

 thorousrh-bred, have become intensilied by lono; breedino:, 

 mitil they possess the power to perpetuate them with great 

 certainty and uniformity. 



I may as well o;ive a few moments' consideration, at this 

 time, to a question which I foresee will arise. It is this : 

 ISliall we, in l)reeding common farm stock, use thorough- 

 bred males ? My answer would be : if such males are from 

 families that are really thorough-] >red in the line of utility 

 and usefulness, then, most emphatically, yes. If, on tlie 

 other hand, they have been bred for fancy points, if the 

 constitution and stamina have been impaired ])y close breed- 

 ing and pampering, then, a thousand times., no ! 



I am very certain that close breeding cannot l)e followed 

 for any length (^f time without a marked effect on the con- 

 stitution. The development of the animal may be full and 

 complete, with an appearance, under favorable conditions, 

 of rugged strength, but there are likely to be an inherent sen- 

 sitiveness and a delicacy which are objectionable. The form 



