BREEDING IN THE LINE. 123 



troducing a new bull. This bull should be of the same 

 breed, and pure, coming from a similar pasturage and 

 climate, but possessing no relationship — or, at most, a 

 very distant one — to the stock to which he is intro- 

 duced. He should bring with him every good point 

 which the breeder has labored to produce in his stock, 

 and if possible, some improvement, and especially in the 

 points where the old stock may have been somewhat 

 deficient, and most certainly he should have no manifest 

 defect of form ; and that most essential of all qualifica- 

 tions, a hardy constitution, should not be wanting. 



There is one circumstance, however, which the 

 breeder occasionally forgets, but which is of as much 

 importance to the permanent value of his stock as any 

 careful selection of animals can be — and that is, good 

 keeping. It has been well said that 'all good stock 

 must be both bred with attention and well fed. It is 

 necessary that these two essentials in this species of 

 improvement should always accompany each other ; 

 for without good resources of keeping, it would be vain 

 to attempt supporting a valuable stock.' This is true 

 with regard to the original stock. It is yet more evi- 

 dent when animals are absurdly brought from a better 

 to a poorer soil. The original stock will deteriorate if 

 neglected and half-starved, and the improved breed will 

 lose ground even more rapidly, and to a far greater 

 extent." 



