420 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK in 



crosses to be a matter requiring the greatest caution, and what I should 

 never choose to resort to, if there was one bad property in the proposed 

 cross ; and I am of opinion that the surest and best means of improv- 

 ing a breed, is by constantl} r and completely weeding the original stock 

 and nursery, and securing the opportunity of advantage from particular 

 extra individuals that may happen to be produced in it ; and in every 

 respect availing one's self of all the use it may afford, and carefully 

 preserving the continuance of it as long as possible, or until a yet 

 better comes." 



The judicious breeder will observe, however, that this does not 

 authorise the system of breeding-in-and-in so far as to weaken the 

 original stock, which it undoubtedly will do, if long persevered in ; but 

 it only requires that it should be confined to the most perfect animals 

 of the same breed, although not of the same stock. The advocates of 

 that practice maintain "that best can only procure best; and there- 

 fore, when we cannot procure a better animal than our own, we should 

 breed from that." Repeated trials, however, have proved that animals 

 of all kinds so produced that is to saj 7 , bred from a continuation of 

 the same race degenerate in size and vigour, and also perpetuate 

 those defects, some of which are found in every breed ; therefore, after 

 a couple of descents from the same family, it is alwa} r s advisable to 

 cross the mares with a stallion from another stock. There has been 

 much discussion as to the principles which regulate the breeding of 

 animals, but space does not permit of our going into the various points 

 further than we have already done. We may, however, conclude our 

 remarks in this department, by quoting here the conclusions arrived at 

 by Dr. Hitchman, the author of an able paper on " Breeding and 

 Form of Stock : " 



" 1. That man has been endowed with the means of controlling and 

 modifying the forms of all animals. 



" 2. That such modified forms can be handed down to the progeny ; 

 but, being departures from the primitive or natural type, the form 

 can only be maintained by assiduous attention on the part of the 

 breeder. 



"3. That not only because the qualities of the male can be immedi- 

 ately brought to bear upon larger numbers, but also because of his own 

 special endowments, it is best to seek for improvement of form and 

 quality through him. 



" 4. That qualities both of the form and also of the character 

 become hereditary in proportion to the frequency of the repetition in 

 past generations, but that it is dangerous to breed from any animal 

 with important defects, however high its pedigree. 



" 5. That healthful well-formed animals, without hereditary taint, 

 even if closely related, may be safely permitted to propagate their kind, 

 provided the practice be not continued through many generations. 



" 6. That young animals, for their first impregnation, should be placed 

 to the best of their own kind, in order to avoid the reappearance of 

 stain in any future progeny. 



" 7. That science has not revealed any trustworthy arrangement 



