Breeding In and In. 245 
But I wish to rescue it from mistaken and groundless 
objections, and to establish it as a most valuable house- 
hold material ; as well as for general purposes required 
ina woollen manufactory. 
Breeding 1N AND IN. 
Mr. Dupont believes (as do others) that he can, for 
any length of time, continue the race, in size and pu- 
rity, by breeding in and in. As my experience, on the 
scale with which I have been acquainted, both in my 
own attempts to preserve the blood and breed of sheep, 
and other domestic animals, as well as in the practice 
I have observed in other farmers, has been otherwise ; 
I requested him to continue crossing and bringing up 
the blood in that way—as a branch—in combination 
with his plan of breeding from the same family. But 
he seems to prefer the latter exclusively ; though he is 
now, from necessity, obliged to cross. I never enforce 
for the sake of mere argument and persistence, any 
opinion of mine. Iam free to grant, that if selections 
of breeders of the same race, are made from several 
extensive flocks; and the better if locality be distant (as 
was done in collecting, ameliorating and continuing the 
Rambouillet flock) much more certainty would exist. 
Perhaps permanency in blood and qualities, as well as 
size, would be ensured. The next best step, where the 
flock is small and fixed to a spot, would be to kill off, 
or sell to butchers, as I have often done, all inferior 
sheep and lambs, (and a good mutton sheep is on this 
account preferable) and keep none but the most promis- 
ing for breeders. Probably selecting ina very large flock 
