34:6 PRINCIPLES OF STOCK-BREEDING. 



hanced by mere speculators, who knew little and cared 

 less for the true principles of breeding, and the im- 

 provement of animals for their useful qualities. 



That the real interests of those who are engaged 

 in the legitimate business of breeding have been in- 

 jured by the speculative buyers of favorite families, 

 no one familiar with the history of our improved 

 breeds will deny. 



Even breeders of ability, who might gain an envi- 

 able reputation, and a satisfactory pecuniary reward, 

 by devoting their energies to the development of the 

 best qualities of their favorite breed, have encouraged 

 the prevailing mania for speculation by making pur- 

 chases of animals that could not possibly be of use in 

 the improvement of their herds, and putting them up 

 at auction with the best of their own breeding to make 

 an attractive sale. 



Notwithstanding the extravagant prices that have 

 been paid, under the stimulus of excitement, for ani- 

 mals that were of but little value for any practical 

 purpose, persons who have a full knowledge of the 

 interests involved in the legitimate business of breed- 

 ing choice stock would hardly be willing to set a limit 

 to the prices that may be consistently paid or refused 

 for animals of extraordinary merit, that are especially 

 adapted to the wants of a carefully-bred flock or herd. 



The late Edwin Hammond remarked to the writer, 

 after refusing what appeared to be an extravagant 

 price for his ram Gold Drop, that he could not afford 

 to sell his best ram at any price, unless he should de- 

 cide to give up the business of sheep-breeding, and 

 sell his entire flock. 



