CHAPTER XVII 



SYSTEMS OF BREEDING 



Of the various possible systems of breeding some are better 

 adapted to one purpose, others to another ; some again are 

 peculiarly adapted to animals, and others to plants. The practi- 

 cal breeder should first of all have a clear idea of what he is 

 trying to do, and then an accurate knowledge of the various 

 systems that can be employed to achieve his purpose. 



SECTION I PURPOSES IN BREEDING 



The general principle that should decide the system to be 

 chosen and adhered to depends upon the answer to the following 

 question : Is the purpose of the breeding to improve the herd, 

 that is, the home stock of the farmer ; is it to improve the breed 

 or variety as a whole ; or is it to originate new varieties ? 



The answer to this question should determine the system of 

 breeding to be adopted. These purposes are separate and dis- 

 tinct. The first is herd improvement, the acknowledged object 

 of which is to build up the home stock until it approaches in 

 excellence the approved breeds or strains. This is purely com- 

 mercial and purely selfish, in the best sense of the terms, in that 

 the breeder -is not operating for the good of anybody or anything 

 but himself and his own, and is not aiming to outdo anybody 

 else ; his purpose is, rather, to secure for himself the improve- 

 ment that others have originated. It is the cheapest and easiest 

 of all forms of breeding and productive of the most rapid results. 



The second purpose is, on the other hand, chiefly the improve- 

 ment of a recognized breed or variety, an improvement in- 

 tended to endow the race more richly than ever before. This is 

 the very highest style of finished breeding, and calls for the most 

 intelligent and expensive methods, because in this case the 

 breeder is a leader, not a follower and an imitator. 



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