2g 



appreciable degree, yet this is the ideal to which 

 breeders must endeavour to attain. Dams possessing 

 size and substance must be mated with sires of 

 acknowledged quality, and vice versa. The selection 

 of sires is probably more important than the selection 

 of dams, in consequence of the comparatively larger 

 number of their off- spring; therefore, for the im- 

 provement of stock, judicious judgment must be 

 exercised in their selection. Their pedigrees should 

 be closely studied previous to purchasing, and high 

 pedigrees rather than high prices should govern 

 breeders in their choice. Not that high-priced sires 

 are not highly-pedigreed, but because they are not 

 always specially adapted for mating the dams for 

 which they are intended. Where there are weak 

 points in the dams, correspondingly strong points 

 must be looked for in the sires, and vice versa. It 

 is by skilful drafting, selection, and mating that 

 defects are worn out, and style, quality, substance, 

 and good general conformation combined in the same 

 animals. When once a definite type has been fixed, 

 constant attention on the part of breeders is necessary 

 to maintain its high standard of excellence, otherwise 

 a declinature will occur which may manifest itself in 

 several ways. The less new blood there is infused 

 into old-established pedigreed stock the better, so 

 far as preserving a uniform " family likeness " is con- 

 cerned, only consanguinity may be carried too far, 

 and in-and-in-breeding, unless conducted with con- 

 summate skill, may result in deterioration of size 



