214 PRINCIPLES OF FARM PRACTICE 



better ones. If both parents are inferior, the offspring will 

 tend to inherit the inferior qualities of both parents. But 

 if one parent is superior, some of the superior qualities will 

 be inherited by the offspring. A stock breeder one whose 

 business is to produce pure-bred animals will see that 

 both parents are superior, but such a method requires too 

 much capital to be followed by the average farmer. 



The average or general farmer can, however, afford to 

 purchase from a reliable stock breeder a pure-bred sire; or 

 several farmers may jointly purchase one. In this way may 

 be secured one superior parent for the animals produced on 

 the farm. The first generation of offspring will be better 

 than the average of the original herd, and each succeeding 

 generation will continue to be an improvement over the one 

 before. As fast as the improved animals appear they may 

 take the place of the inferior ones, which may be disposed of. 

 In this way any group of farm animals, such as a herd of 

 dairy cattle, swine, or sheep, may be graded up in a few years 

 from inferior to superior animals. 



Planning a cropping system for animal production. The 

 importance of a definite system of farming has been empha- 

 sized many times in one way or another. It is not an easy 

 matter to plan and carry out such a system but it is essential 

 for the greatest success. If we apply all that has already 

 been presented in the discussion of the soil, crops, and feed- 

 ing of animals, we find three things that seem essential in a 

 plan for general farming: first, maintaining the fertility of 

 the soil and improving soil conditions; second, producing as 

 much of the necessary feed for animals as possible; third, 

 providing some profitable cash crop, if soil and climatic 

 conditions and facilities for marketing warrant. The princi- 

 ples which furnish a guide to the first have been presented 



