STOCK. 259 



tain breed may degenerate. Even these, however, can be more 

 easily brought up again than low-bred animals; for blood will 

 tell. Meanwhile the great principle remains the same. In 

 proportion as an animal is full bred, or full blooded, is it prob- 

 able that he will mark his offspring with his own characteristics. 

 A recognition of this principle is of the first importance; and 

 it cannot be too often or too strongly urged upon all who de- 

 sire to breed good stock. 



Let us now return to the owners of the before-mentioned 

 '•'good native cows." What are they to do to perpetuate their 

 good qualities ? How, with such a foundation, is a valuable 

 family of stock to be created, to do credit to the owner's skill 

 and put money in his pocket ? 



The "old fogy," who turns up his nose at "book farmers," 

 and scorns "foreign cattle," and recognizes no principle beyond 

 saving an immediate penny even at the sacrifice of a prospec- 

 tive pound, drives his cow to the cheapest bull — some misera- 

 ble, low-bred, mongrel beast, whose only power, perhaps, is 

 that of impressing upon his get a portion of his own ugliness. 

 " Old fogy " has paid but a quarter of a dollar, it is true ; but 

 he has a calf of but little value. This course is pursued for 

 years, until the old cow dies and her virtues are all lost; while 

 her owner attributes the success of others to mere luck. Is 

 not this sort of breeding common ? Is there not an instance 

 of such a system to be found in every town ? 



How different from the course of the "old fogy " is that pur- 

 sued by the intelligent, enterprising farmer, who knows the 

 value of blood — who has studied the great principles of stock- 

 breeding ! He makes himself acquainted with the merits and 

 history of the best bulls within his reach. He knows their 

 breed if thorough bred, and their grade if only partially bred. 

 He selects the bull most likely to impart to his get his own 

 virtues and increase the good qualities of the cow. He pays 

 more than twenty-live cents for the services of such an animal; 

 but he rears a calf whose market value repays the outlay ten- 

 fold, while he has made a direct step upwards in his work of 

 improvement. He feels encouraged to persevere. He watches 

 carefully his herd, and step by step progresses, until his reputa- 

 tion as a breeder and his heavier pocket book attest his success. 



