PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 281 



five years of age ; and hence should be held in reserve for 

 purposes of breeding until this age and peculiar condition of 

 fitness have been acquired. 



At this period of maturity we may bring them into use "with 

 great assurance of realizing our highest hopes and most reason- 

 able expectations in the gift of purity, beauty of type, precision 

 of color, excellence of quality, and that high future promise to 

 their progeny, so gratifying to every tasteful breeder of stock, 

 and every seeker for the highest certainty of success and 

 improvement. 



The physical system and constitution of very young males is 

 undeveloped ; and in their use we constantly breed weakness, 

 and are sure of reducing the standard of strength and vitality 

 of our herds. 



We should never be shy of keeping a good bull because no 

 immediate income is derivable from him. He is surely the 

 foundation, the corner-stone and source of all improvement in 

 our neat stock, and no one animal pays so well ultimately for 

 keeping, or occupies a station on the farm so important or 

 responsible. 



No stock-bull should be allowed to serve more than fifty cows 

 during a season. 



With due regard to care in the management and feeding of 

 stock, and by close attention to the principles of breeding, it 

 will not be many years before the farmers of this country may 

 secure breeds of cattle which will well compare, in points of 

 purity and excellence of quality, with those of Jersey or 

 Ayrshire ; and in some respects must prove superior. 



The same care is requisite in selection of stock to fulfil the 

 intention of butter or beef; and each herd requires to be fed 

 with a view to secure the particular specialty desired. 



All farmers may not wish to raise and keep blood stock ; but 

 there can be no doubt that the dairy, either for the product of 

 milk or butter, is by far the most profitable department for the 

 farmers in the eastern part of Massachusetts to pursue, and 

 therefore, deserving their especial consideration. 



That we have already achieved great improvement in farm 

 stock, no doubt can be expressed when the facts set forth in the 

 statistics are examined. 



36 



