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CHAPTER III. 

 BREEDING AND REARING. 



The scientific method of stock-breeding, although 

 well-known to many eminent breeders all over the 

 country, is not so well understood amongst the 

 generality of agriculturists as it should be ; nor do 

 they take sufficient interest in the subject to trace 

 back the line of descent of particular sires which they 

 from time to time purchase into their herds, flocks, 

 and studs. At auction sales of pedigreed stock the 

 highest -priced animals are not necessarily the best, 

 as evidenced by the fluctuations and reversals that 

 occur in the awards at agricultural shows. No doubt 

 different judges base their judgment on different 

 characteristics of stock, which, to a certain extent, 

 is answerable for the inconsistencies that periodically 

 occur, but, at the same time, it cannot be denied 

 that many high-priced sires are bought into herds, 

 flocks, and studs for w^hich they are absolutely un- 

 suited. 



The breeding and rearing of horses is a special 

 branch of their management on which a whole 

 volume might be written, but considerations of space 



