512 Close Breeding. [Xovember, 



from Canada, in 1818, -whose stock at this time, bred in a direct line 

 from the original pair without the addition of any strain of new 

 blood, is not in the least degenerated. But notwithstanding these 

 isolated cases of the seeming safety of close breeding, we must give 

 our testimony strongly against it. We can not but feel that close 

 breeding, among human creatures or animals, is generally attended 

 with bad effects. It is true, cousins may sometimes marry with 

 safety to their offspring, but it is very common that bad results are 

 known to follow. We have seen nor read of no great man or 

 woman the offspring of cousins. And we believe that the children 

 of cousins are generally inferior to their parents. The same phys- 

 ioloo-ical laws are in action in both human and animal creatures. It 

 is a law we believe of human physiology that similarity of tempera- 

 ment is unfavorable to the offspring, while dissimilarity of tempera- 

 ment is favorable. Now it is a general rule that similarity of temp- 

 erament obtains in families. This will be especially the case if 

 families should breed in-and-in for several generations. Even in 

 this view of the subject it is best often to seek favorable crosses, in 

 breeding animals. 



It is well known that the barn-yard fowls on many farms are very 

 unserviceable. It is known, too, that this is not for the want of good 

 fair, shelter, etc. It is known also that in many instances these 

 fowls have been bred-in for many years without a single fowl from 

 any other flock being added. The inference is very plausible that 

 close breeding has affected them unfavorably. 



We know a woman whose hecs have for several years been very 

 serviceable. She is the wife of an intelligent and successful farmer, 

 and she laughs at the mania for foreign fowls. She thinks she can 

 show as large eggs and as many from a hen — as much profit with as 

 little expenditure — as any body. Her plan has been for many years to 

 breed from her best hens, to set only the largest eggs. If she sees 

 a fowl in any neighbor's yard that is very fine, she buys it or swaps 

 for it ; if she sees a very large egg elsewhere, she secures it if pos- 

 sible ; thus constantly bringing new strains of promising blood. — 

 Her fowls are large, healthy and thrifty. Being well cared for 

 every way, they are very productive and serviceable. 



We believe this is the best plan to secure useful fowls. The 

 same general principles will apply to raising all kinds of stock. — 

 Valley Farmer. 



