MAXIMS FOB BREEDERS. 89 



It may be questionable, however, if the results sought might not 

 be as certainly and more securely gained by using less closely re- 

 lated animals. Mr. Edwin Hammond, a noted breeder of Ameri- 

 can Merinos, who has done much to develop this breed, seldom 

 used rams with which to make his crosses that were not of his 

 own flock. His famous ram 'Sweepstakes, came from a closely 

 in-and-in bred family ; but because the most skillful breeders have 

 succeeded in producing conspicuously favorable effects, it must 

 not be concluded that other less capable breeders or farmers who 

 know but little of the science of breeding, can hope to achieve any 

 satisfactory measure of success. Besides, it should be considered 

 that we only hear of the successes of these breeders. Their fail- 

 ures are at once put out of the way, and no record is made of 

 them ; in fact a portion of their skill, and not an inconsiderable 

 portion either, consists hi instantly recognizing their failures, and 

 in summarily disposing of them. 



In summing up these few general remarks upon breeding, the 

 following may be accepted as maxims for guidance to those as yet 

 not familiar with the principles of the art. Breed for some well un- 

 derstood object. Learn and know the character of every ewe and 

 ram in the flock. Remember that the male gives his impress upon 

 the progeny most strongly. Purity of blood in the male is an 

 absolute necessity. It is cheaper to pay a fair price for good rams 

 to a capable breeder, who makes the production of breeding ani- 

 mals his business, than to attempt to raise one's own breeding 

 stock. Animals that are not pure-bred, when coupled, tend toward 

 reversion to the inferior stock rather than to progression towards 

 the superior. Animals, as sheep, that are easily impressed favora- 

 bly, as easily retrograde ; the rule works both ways. To feed well, is 

 the co-efficient of, to breed well ; without good feeding good breed- 

 ing is of no avail. Breeding lays the foundation, feeding builds on 

 that. The first cross is the most effective, the next is but half as 

 effective, and so on until, as in the increasing fraction y a , 3 / 4 , 7 /s, 

 "/is, 31 /32, 63 /64, etc., etc., unity is approached by diminishing 

 quantities, and is thus never reached ; so the higher we breed the 

 less advance is made in proportion. That a type so fixed that the 

 breeders care in selection can ever be relaxed will never be reached. 



NATIVE BREEDS OF SHEEP. 



THE MEXICAN SHEEP. Since the first discovery of America 

 by Europeans, more than four centuries ago, there have been nu- 

 merous importations of sheep into both South and North America. 

 The first of these importations consisted doubtless of the common 



