268 CATTLE-BREEDING. 



method of assimilation and modification to be 

 leading to that high ideal. It is not in a herd 

 in which all bulls and cows alike are already 

 reduced to a nearly complete family type that 

 we look for great breeding. Here good breed- 

 ing may be done year in and year out; a well- 

 fixed type may be produced and reproduced; 

 but we want growth not mere reproduction. 

 We have had occasion already to notice that 

 the conditions of this life demand a struggle 

 toward progress even from stagnation, for other- 

 wise decay will in a short time ensue. Wher- 

 ever this very close resemblance is secured, too, 

 it is almost always due to one of two causes : 

 first, the overwhelming influence of a master 

 mind a rare, rare thing and second, to close 

 in-and-in or line breeding. In the first case the 

 mind that built is pretty sure to be wise enough 

 and able enough to maintain the partly per- 

 fected work and carry it on to an ever-increas- 

 ing better point; and as we are not likely, any 

 of us, to belong to this class we need not worry 

 ourselves about it. As for myself I shall always 

 be glad to learn of my fellow breeders without 

 essaying to criticise or instruct them. In *the 

 second, if the theory of gradual decay resultant 

 upon in-and-in and close line breeding be true 

 there is more danger than advantage in begin- 

 ning by a choice of a lot of animals, however 

 closely of a common type, even of high excel- 

 lence, if they are nearly related. 



