138 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



It is true that the progeny of superior animals, or plants, 

 may, and usually do, rise above their inferior conditions ; 

 but it is only a matter of time when they will find the level 

 of these conditions. Like the impetuous mountain stream, 

 which continues to flow for a space after it has found its 

 level, from the impetus acquired under other conditions, it 

 tends to come to rest on the first level, and remains obedient 

 to the law of that level. Then the level must be changed, 

 or the stream must be urged on by a never-ceasing supply 

 of water containing the energy of the mountain, if work is 

 to be done. We have generally practiced the latter and 

 more expensive method in uplifting our domestic animals. 

 We are importing no fine-wooled sheep and few swine and 

 chickens, simply because the level of the conditions are 

 above those in which these varieties of animals were origi- 

 nated. It appears to me that we have the foundation stock, 

 and all we have to do is to uplift the conditions and accel- 

 erate improvement by rigid selection, and form specialized 

 permanent habits for specialized work, always using good 

 judgment, so as not to carry the law of improvement beyond 

 its most useful sphere of action. The fact should always be 

 kept clearly in mind, that specialized qualities are secured 

 somewhat at the expense of other qualities ; and that it is 

 quite possible to develop the udder to such an extent that 

 it will detract to a serious degree from the organs which 

 are necessary to existence and vigorous health. This has 

 been the case with some of the noted strains of milkers, 

 which had the milking habit so firmly fixed that it dominated 

 the one of self-preservation ; so that, when nutriment and 

 comfort were insufficient, the animal kept on giving milk at 

 the expense of its necessary reserved vital force, thus 

 reversing the operations of the law, which are first, self- 

 preservation ; second, offspring ; and third, surplus. All 

 law should be used lawfully. 



The law that governs water, the vehicle which transports 

 the energy of the soil into and through the plant and animal, 

 and the harmonious operation of this law in conjunction 

 with the law of nutriment, should receive our careful atten- 

 tion. As water is the substance which carries all food for 

 plants and animals into and out of circulation, it becomes 



