192 Elementary Principles of Agriculture 



we recognize in the breeds are the result of continued 

 selections. 



267. Origin of Breeds. Man long ago recognized 

 differences in the ability of individual animals to con- 

 vert their food into milk, wool, feathers, eggs, etc. 

 Therefore we select animals, not so much for their 

 ability to endure hardships, but for their power to pro- 

 duce something in response to care. Continued selection 

 has produced breeds of animals having certain charac- 

 ters strongly developed. They are called "special-pur- 

 pose breeds." 



