Before touching on my special subject the Cattle 

 Show, of which I shall speak later on permit me to place 

 before you a few remarks on the fundamental principles of 

 Zootechny relative to the breeding and perfecting of animals 

 in general, more particularly of sheep. These principles 

 have ever been my guide when treating animals, and it is 

 upon them that my opinions are partly based. I have no 

 pretension of putting before you anything which is not already 

 known to Australian cattle-breeders. I wish only to record 

 here certain well-known rules which have been proved by 

 practice to be correct, and I shall endeavour to do so as 

 briefly as possible. Science has not yet been able to 

 elucidate all the mysteries surrounding creation, and to 

 go fully into the question it would be necessary to pen 

 volumes, which would probably be of little use in resolving 

 problems of great importance to humanity and interesting to 

 the breeder from a lower point of view. 



There are different methods of increasing and improving 

 stock, of which the three following are the chief : 



1. Selection. This plan consists in selecting, from one and 



the same race, animals of both sexes possessing in the 

 highest degree the distinctive characteristics of that race, 

 as well as the qualities and fitness which are sought to 

 be perpetuated and improved ; these animals are brought 

 together, and the productions of these alliances are kept 

 for future breeding purposes alone. 



The method of multiplying by coupling animals of 

 the same family is also known as the system of " Consan- 

 guinity " (i., 2. " Breeding in and in.") 



2. Crossing. When the breeder wishes to carry out this 



method he couples animals of the breed he desires to 

 improve with others of a different descent possessing the 

 sought-for qualities. Recourse is usually had to the 

 male as the improving medium, on account of the large 

 number of females he can render procreant. 



3. Acclimation. It is the importation of a stock of male and 



female animals new to the country. 



Let us notice what are the effects resulting from the 

 use of these different modes of production. 



SELECTION. 



Improvement by selection is based on the principle 

 that certain beauties and peculiar fitness exist in a breed 

 (even when gifted with great powers) which, by judicious 

 crossing, can be perpetuated in the offspring of animals 

 which have been in-and-in bred. The causes which give 

 rise to these variations are numerous, and in many cases we 

 are in ignorance of their action ; amongst others are climate, 

 soil, nourishment, the exercise of all and of certain portions 

 of the body, special organs, &c. 



