92 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



This does not mean that he should be a slave to 

 other men's caprices; there are fashions that are 

 foolish and that sooner or later will work the un- 

 doing of their followers. One is wise to steer clear 

 of them as far as he is able. Or a man may have 

 within him the creative instinct that will enable him 

 to evolve a new and better ideal, and to breed a new 

 and more desirable type. There is need in America 

 of much more independence than exists now in this 

 matter. The last thing has not been learned in sheep 

 breeding, nor in all cases the most profitable type 

 evolved. In England there is a constant evolution 

 going on and breeds do not remain stationary very 

 long. Their work is done in various ways, usually 

 by selection and careful matings, sometimes by judi- 

 cious and skillful introduction of new blood. This 

 is more easily accomplished there than here owing 

 to the lack of prejudice against such practice and 

 the different rules of their flock books. The safe 

 plan here is to work within recognized breeds. 



Here is an illustration. It throws much light 

 upon the creation of breeds in the good Old World. 

 The writer met a breeder of, let us say, Dartmoor 

 sheep. (In fact it was another breed.) This man 

 was exhibiting at the Eoyal show, and pressed the 

 writer to visit his pens and inspect the sheep. There 

 was among them an especially good ram and the 

 following conversation took place: Writer, "He is 

 a splendid animal. I should think he would get first 

 in his place." 



"Indeed, I hope he will, and championship too, 



