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Bounty is given our Society under certain conditions, one of 

 which is, that we shall award premiums only to thorough-bred 

 bulls. 



Now, how is a Committee to judge correctly of the breed, 

 unless pedigrees are given ? 



The majority of our cattle are, at the present time, either 

 grades or the so-called native breed. Grades are the best stock 

 that most farmers can afford to keep, and in many cases they 

 answer as good purposes as the thorough-bred ; but if a farmer 

 wishes to improve his stock, he must be careful to breed from 

 a good, full-blooded bull, for only in that way can he hope to 

 make real progress. 



In the notes of the late Thomas Bates, who had sixty-five 

 years' experience as a breeder of cattle, published in the 

 London Farmer's Magazine, we find the following, which, we 

 think, will be of interest to every farmer : — 



" The breeders of Aberdeenshire Cattle have felt the benefit 

 of a cross with what too often were very ordinary Short-Horns. 

 If they try it with the best breed of Short-Horns, they will find 

 the result very superior to their past trials. And if they 

 begin with the originals of the Aberdeenshire Cattle, the better 

 the Short-Horn bulls are, so much greater will be the benefit of 

 the cross. This is more absolutely necessary in crossing breeds 

 than even when breeding from pure stock, for if there is any 

 coarseness on either side, the stock is sure to inherit that 

 coarseness ; but when free from coarseness there is no fear of 

 crossing different varieties ; hut always let the male animal be 

 the one to improve on the female, that is, let the male be of a 

 superior tribe." 



This extract is well worthy of close study, for here is the 

 concentrated experience of many years. We are told that 

 breeders have made the mistake of using too ordinary thorough- 

 bred bulls, that in crossing, if there is any coarseness on eitlier 

 side, the progeny will inherit it ; but aljove all, he says, let the 

 male be of a superior tribe to the female. 



If this is true in crossing one breed on another, it would lie 

 equally true in crossing thorough-bred bulls on common cows. 



