606 GENETICS IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE 



been devised for the use of practical breeders. Various aids such as 

 different colored sheets for different purposes help to make these systems 

 still more convenient. Obviously for the sake of convenience sheets 

 should be of the same size so that they may all be filed in the same style 

 of binder. The sheets which have been illustrated in this account are 

 of size 5 by 8 inches and are very convenient for most purposes. 



Cooperative Breeding. Most farmers who raise livestock cannot 

 afford themselves to keep a good bull for breeding purposes for the few 

 cows they have, or still less a stallion for the few mares which they may 

 need for their farm labor. Since such a large proportion of stock-raisers 

 are in this class it becomes a grave question as to how these farmers may 

 be provided with the advantages which accrue from the use of pure-bred 

 sires. Any plan which has for its purpose the raising of the general 

 average excellence of livestock must take account of these farmers, for 

 taken all together they own a very large proportion of the livestock in 

 the country, and in the future they will own an increasingly larger pro- 

 portion of it. One of the best ways of meeting this difficulty is by 

 forming cooperative associations among the farmers themselves for the 

 purpose of purchasing pure-bred sires. There is no reason why a given 

 section of country should find it necessary to have a different breed of 

 horses or cattle or swine on every farm, consequently the first step in the 

 formation of such a company should be to agree upon the particular 

 breed and type of bull or stallion which should be purchased. Thereafter 

 under no circumstances should this decision be changed, but the farmers 

 should endeavor to grade their herds up to the highest standard of that 

 breed. A definite plan such as this would work an enormous improve- 

 ment within a few years in the character of the livestock in a given rural 

 district. 



In passing it may be mentioned that it has often been found advisable 

 and feasible to lend government aid to the improvement of livestock. 

 This has been particularly the case in European countries where long 

 decades of breeding have reduced types within a given district to a fair 

 degree of uniformity, so that the government might follow a simple 

 uniform practice in dealing with a given district. The success which 

 such a policy may achieve is testified to by the popularity of the Percheron 

 and French Coach horses, breeds to which the French government has 

 lent considerable official encouragement. These are, however, details to 

 be worked out in every section; the important point in every case is to 

 follow up thoroughly and consistently for a considerable period of time 

 whatever scheme is adopted. 



