240 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



not show until the second generation. Then the disappoint- 

 ment of the owner is emphasized, and the time lost in his 

 failure is greater. 



Keeping Pure Breeds. — ^All stock breeders should keep 

 pure-bred animals. Each breed has been produced because 

 the animals are the best for some particular purpose. The 

 breeder should determine what his purpose is and then choose 

 the proper pure breed for that purpose. The animals of that 

 breed are sure to be more satisfactory than any cross breeds 

 or grades. Pure-bred animals have fixed characteristics 

 and may be expected to come true to type. The superior 

 qualities of the parents will be found in the offspring. The 

 profit derived from pure-bred animals is usually much greater 

 than from natives or from grades. 



REVIEW. 



1. What is meant by special purpose animals? Give examples. 



2. How have these been developed ? 



3. What is meant by a breed ? Which is always the best one ? 



4. What is heredity ? What is variation ? 



5. What benefits arise from the law of variation ? 



6. What is meant by reversion ? 



7. What are mutations or sports ? What use is made of them in 

 forming new breeds ? 



8. Define grades and natives. 



9. What is a pedigree ? 



10. Why should farmers not cross the pure breeds of farm animals ? 



11. Give reasons for breeders keeping pure-bred animals instead 

 of native stock, or scrubs. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

 HORSES. 



There were horses in America at the time of the dis- 

 covery by Columbus. All horses that are now found here 

 are imported or are offspring of imported stock. Some horses 

 were brought by Columbus on his second voyage, others were 

 brought by Cortez, by DeSoto, and by French, Dutch, and 

 English settlers. The wild ponies of the. Southwest, called 



