THE EARTH'S BOUNTY, 



have resulted from close inbreeding. Mr. 

 Bates' rule in cattle breeding was, ' Always 

 put the best animals together regardless of 

 any affinity in blood.' One of the most valu- 

 able practical advantages of careful inter- 

 breeding is in the imparting of the quality of 

 prepotency to males. The thoroughbred stal- 

 lion, bull or cock-bird is bred to many females 

 of his kind, and thus greatly influences the 

 quality of numerous offspring on the farm or 

 in the neighborhood where he is kept. A male 

 which has inherited the concentrated virtues of 

 a long line of interbred ancestors will stamp 

 those qualities most certainly upon his off- 

 spring. 



" Cross breeding as a farm practice may be 

 defined as breeding together animals of dif- 

 ferent breeds or families. 



" Cross breeding is of vast importance in im- 

 proving the wool, muscles, meat, milk, eggs, or 

 other marketable product of common or native 

 stock. The common animals generally have 

 good constitution and good health, but are 



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