POINTS IN MANAGEMENT. 103 



the distinctive characteristics of their stock by means of 

 'in '-breeding, frequently of the very closest. I believe it to 

 be one of the greatest ' powers ' — selection and ' in '- 

 breeding — in the hands of a skilful breeder, especially 

 the ' in '-breeding of the rams. There can be no doubt 

 that defects of constitution, or type, are strengthened and 

 perpetuated by ' in '-breeding, rendering especially neces- 

 sary skilful selection. On the other hand, good points 

 and special type are, undoubtedly, transmitted with 

 greater certainty and fixity when ' in '-breeding is the 

 rule, and an out-cross, not too far removed, the exception. 

 An ' out '-cross is desirable when there is any manifestation 

 of faihng vigour, or other degeneracy, or when any animals 

 of one branch of a family have attained, by reason of 

 favourable combinations of circumstances, higher and 

 better quality than other branches. There can be no 

 question that, in such case, the selection of the breeder 

 should fall on the luost perfect and vigorous ram. 



When failure, or a certain degeneracy, has resulted from 

 ' in '-breeding, I do not hesitate to say that it has been 

 rather the fault or error of the breeder than of the 

 principle. It will be found that, in the majority of such 

 cases, the breeder had directed his attention to certain 

 qualities which he sought to advance, and in so doing 

 lost sight, in some degree, of other qualities which were 

 essential to the perfect animal. The result lias been that 

 one special quahty, engrossing the attention of the breeder, 

 has dominated, causing constitutional weakness. Take 

 the instance of early excessive fatting quahties, which, if 

 carried beyond a certain point, must result in weakening 

 the procreative power (hence so many barren cows and 

 ewes, as well as some unfruitful rams and bulls), and in 

 the diminution of muscle, bone, and general vigour, to 

 a degree prejudicial to a race, and the transmission of 



