1G4 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



without very good and sufficient reasons. Success lies 

 always in improving that which is already at hand ; and I 

 know of no l)etter way than to unite the success of the plain 

 farmer, with his plain-lired cattle, to those of the more 

 skilled breeder of well-bred animals. 



To the man who knows ho^\' to use them, the pure breeds 

 are of inestimable value. To the man who is constantly 

 improving his animals, success comes quickly and he finds 

 that he is not only possessor of grades and t)f valualjle fami- 

 lies, but also of many varieties of cattle, sheep, swine, etc. 

 To this improver of domestic animals the pure bred is a 

 necessity if he w^ould accomplish his purpose quickly and 

 cheaply. The pure bred to the man who has plenty of 

 money and little experience is a snare. To the man who has 

 little money and little experience, a variety of animals is 

 better than pure l)loods while he is learning. 



Since all breeds and varieties have been formed by steady 

 and slow advancement, so valuable qualities in any breed, 

 variety, family or mongrel animals must ])e secured by the 

 same slow, painstaking process. The plebeian animals can 

 easily be raised in a few generations to the dignity of vari- 

 eties, and some of the best specimens will form as good 

 foundation stock for new l^reeds as formed the beginning of 

 the breeds which we already have. 



The United States needs a far greater numl)er of breeds, 

 the farmer needs an infinite number of varieties, in fact, 

 every farmer should have a variety of cattle all his own, 

 suited to his pastures, his feed bin, his skill, his climate and 

 the purposes to which he desires to put them, \^"riting and 

 publishing a pedigree does not make a l)reed or variety; 

 tiiey can be formed by selecting the best, not only for the 

 foundation stock l)ut by making constant selections ; that is, 

 l)y regularly weeding out all animals exce})t the superior 

 ones. These in turn are improved by improving their food 

 and surroundings, and by l)etter and more intelligent care 

 and use. They are not formed quickly, but are the product 

 of Ion": and intelliirent efibrt. There are no secrets and there 

 are no miracles, and I am surprised that there are not, after 

 so many years of breeding pure-bred animals, more varieties, 

 breeds and sulj-breeds, each adapted to its particular locality 



