RESUME. 125 



also to secure as far as practicable, tlie conditions neces- 

 sary to induce or to perpetuate any improvement, such 

 as general treatment, food, climate, habit, &c. 



AVhere the parents do not possess the perfection 

 desired, selections for coupling should be made with 

 critical reference to correcting the faults or deficiencies 

 of one by corresponding excellence in the other. 



But to correct defects too much must not be at- 

 tempted at once. Pairing those very unlike, oftener 

 results in loss than in gain. Mating a horse for speed 

 with a draft mare, will more likely beget progeny good 

 for neither, than for both. Avoid all extremes, and 

 endeavor by moderate degrees to obtain the object 

 desired. 



Crossing, between different breeds, for the purpose 

 of obtaining animals for the shambles, may be advan- 

 tageously practiced to considerable extent, but not for 

 the production of breeding animals. As a general rule 

 cross-bred males should not be employed for propa- 

 gation, and cross-bred females should be served by 

 thorough-bred males. 



In ordinary practice, breeding from near relationships 

 is to be scrupulously avoided; for certain purposes, un- 

 der certain conditions and circumstances, and in the 

 hands of a skillful breeder, it may be practiced with 

 advantage, but not otherwise. 



