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general ran. Do not cross rich Jerseys deficient in quantity with 

 another breed hoping to remedy the defect, but find a Jersey strong 

 in quantity for the purpose. Remember in selecting that it is the 

 individual as well as the breed that determines the characters 

 likely to be transmitted, and seek diligently within the breed for. 

 those qualities needed for the purpose in view. 



The Bull. 



The old saying, "The bull is half the herd," is not the whole 

 truth. He is, or else he isn't, according to the strength with which 

 he transmits the qualities he possesses. I sometimes find a scrub 

 bull which is not half the herd because the cows with which he is 

 mated have the stronger inheritance and transmit their qualities 

 with greater intensity than he. On the other hand, as a power for 

 degeneration he is often more than half. In improvement it has 

 been said that the cows should be depended on to maintain the 

 standard of excellence reached, but any raising of that standard 

 must come through the bull. Among grade cows a pure-bred sire 

 ought to exert by far the greater influence over the qualities of the 

 progeny. For these reasons much greater care ought to be 

 bestowed in the selection of the male breeding animal. It would 

 be better in most eases to select the bull less frequently and be 

 more particular about his quality. Tlie practice of buying a calf 

 or a yearling and selling him after a few mouths' service has 

 worked much injury to our breeding interests. By selecting more 

 carefully, and after excellence is proved, keeping as long as possi- 

 ble, one-half the bulls might be dispensed with and the remainder 

 maintain a much higher standard of quality. 



Many bulls are destroyed before their qualities are known. If 

 good, there is no chance to duplicate their good work. If bad, the 

 mischief has already been done. The difference in value between 

 good and poor bulls is much wider than is commonly believed. 

 P!)ven in getting bob or veal calves there may easily be a difference 

 of from 50 cents to S2 per head in what they are worth, amounting 

 to from $20 to $100 in a year's service. If, however, a bull is 

 destined to be the sire of heifers to replenish tlie herd, those from 

 a good bull are worth at maturity from $10 to S25 per head more 

 than those from a scrub. In four years' service this may amount 

 to from $400 to $1,000, even in a grade herd, and easily warrant 

 an outlay of from $200 to $500 for a young sire of superior merit. 

 Very well-bred and promising young bulls may be bought at from 

 $50 to $100 apiece, and it is poor husbandry to pass such chances 

 by to purchase scrub stock. 



An acquaintance told me a short time ago that he was done 



