Breeding Far.m Stock. 109 



may be one of perfect synunetry, and every organ, so far as 

 we can see, complete and strong, j^et there is, under the 

 fair exterior, a weakness or want of stamina, a very rotten- 

 ness that needs only some exciting cause to set its destruc- 

 tive agency into fatal activity. And, mifortunately, it is 

 a law of n;itiire, tliat weakness is more certain of transmis- 

 sion to the young than strengtli, and l)ad qualities more 

 easily produced than good ones. 



As the prices of thorough-bred animals, of any race or breed, 

 advances and a speculative tendency sets in, breeders are sub- 

 jected to a strong temptation to seek to develop fancy 

 points and to neglect real utility and usefulness. The ani- 

 mals Jire not allowed to give milk because it is desired to 

 keep them in show condition. 



The natural tendencv is to'ra^'ds deterioration. If anv 

 function is not cultivated l*y l^iecding and training, it will 

 be very sure to grow less in power and activity. The cow 

 that is not milked loses the capacity to give milk, and trans- 

 mits a tendency to the same incapacity to her offspring. I 

 do not intend to reflect upon any particular breed of cattle 

 or otlier animals, for tlie same thing exists among all. The 

 Jersey breeder, who goes for a particular color of hair, 

 liorns, tongue or switch, hurts his stock every time. The 

 Ayrshire breeder, wlio endeavors to imitate the lordly form 

 of tlie Shorthorn, impairs the value of his Ayrshire cow ; 

 and the Shorthorn breeder, who, in breeding stock for Is^ew 

 England, neglects to perpetuate Mud improve the dairy 

 <[ualities for which tliiit lireed was once so celebrated, is 

 doing an incalculable injury to the dairy interest. I have 

 had, in my own experience as a breeder of sheep, some very 



