MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 189 



from close inter-breeding are difficult to detect, for they accumulate 

 slowly and differ much in degree with different species, and while 

 using the term evil effects, it should be noted that the advantages 

 of close inter-breeding in maintaining character is indisputable, 

 and often outweighs the evil of a slight loss of constitutional vigor. 



On this question, the well-known and accomplished livestock 

 breeder, Mr. N. H. Gentry; of North Carolina, says : "Neither 

 in-breeding nor the reverse will be a success unless matings are 

 made with animals suited to each other; that is, having no weak- 

 ness and as much food in common as possible. This is the key 

 to success in all breeding operations, and success will come in no 

 other way. In my opinion in-breeding as a rule is very good or very 

 bad. If you intensify the blood of animals that are good, you do 

 good, but if they are bad, you go wrong as fast or faster than you 

 go right in the other case. 



"If it is true that in-breeding intensifies weakness of consti- 

 tution, lack of vigor or too great fineness of bone, is it not as rea- 

 sonable and as certain that you can intensify strength of constitu- 

 , tion, heavy bone or vigor, if you have those traits well developed in 

 the blood of the animals you are breeding with? Not only that, 

 but I believe, as do most well-posted breeders, that the in-bred 

 animal, if a good one, by inheritance from ancestors of the same 

 quality, will, as a rule, prove the more prepotent breeder, that is, he 

 will show improvement to a greater degree when used on outside 

 families. 



"I believe there is little or nothing to fear from kinship of 

 animals mated, if they are suited to each other. I have watched 

 results of in-breeding in my herd for years, and until I can dis- 

 cover some evil effects from it and I have not yet I shall con- 

 tinue to practice it. I think many mistakes have been made by 

 studying pedigrees, that is comparing pedigrees with each other 

 rather than studying the animals. Better by far to match the 

 animals, better to spend time studying them than to match pedi- 

 grees by the fireside, not knowing much of the fitness of the ani- 

 mals to be mated. 



" There is no doubt that in-breeding can intensify a weakness, 

 if in common, very rapidly. But, as I have already said, I have 

 learned to fear bad results little in in-breeding whenI have the 

 good in common to a strong degree and a minimum of bad in 

 common." 



IN-BREEDING AND "CLIMATIC OUTCROSSING." 



A great deal has been said against in-breeding. Is it justified ? 

 It is doubtful if any one factor has tended so much to the improve- 

 ment of our flocks and herds as in-breeding, although people look 

 so aghast at the thought. Our greatest improvers were inveterate 

 in-breeders. If we have studied Darwin aright, we deduct from 



