SECRETARY'S REPORT. 59 



cessary, we would only say that if we had breeds in this country 

 adapted for specific purposes, we would not go abroad for them. 

 But we must do this so long as the present style of chaos exists 

 here. 



He then spoke of the rule he had adopted in breeding 

 Ayrshires. He had first fixed the type of animal which he 

 desired to obtain, and having done this, he had selected a male 

 of the proper standard, and had not gone beyond his own herd 

 for succeeding males. He did not mean to say that his type was 

 better than that of any other breeder, but it was what he himself 

 wanted, and he could perpetuate it, and he thought bring it to 

 perfection, by the system which he had adopted. 



Mr. Wetherell joined in the discussion, and advocated very 

 strongly the use of pure blood. 



Professor Johnson sustained the principle of in-and-in breeding, 

 especially when valuable qualities were thus ,to be perpetuated ; 

 and as the first practical application of the rule that " like pro- 

 duces like." He gave a very interesting account of the stallions in 

 Germany, where experiments in breeding were carefully made. 



Sheep Husbandry occupied the time in the afternoon. 

 Dr. Loring commenced the discussion by referring to the extra- 

 ordinary stimulus which had been given to wool-raising in this 

 country, and to the fact that, when properly pursued, it had 

 always been profitable. He spoke of the various ineffectual 

 attempts which had been made to introduce what are called 

 coarse-woolled or mutton sheep, upon the soils of New England. 

 The cold of winter, the heat of summer, the uneven, hilly, and 

 rugged surface of our short herbage, all militate against heavy, 

 fat-producing sheep. 



It is very difficult to keep these breeds, such as Leicester, 

 Cotswolds, and Oxford Downs, up to their standard. They have 

 a constant tendency to deteriorate, which nothing but the most 

 expensive feeding will prevent. In a few instances, where a 

 small farm is convenient to tiie market, and a flock of fifteen or 

 twenty sheep is all that the farmer can manage or his farm 

 support, it is possible that a few coarse-wooled ewes may be 

 kept with reference to the lambs which they will produce. And 

 yet when we consider the capacity of such for consuming food, 

 and the small amount of wool which they produce, it will be 



