SELECTION OF BREEDING ANIMALS. 287 



For the least flaw in his pedigree will be at 

 once communicated to all the produce of the 

 herd. Like the circles formed by a pebble 

 dropped into water, the evil goes on ever broad- 

 ening. We must apply the pedigree rule, then, 

 not in a broad and general way, seeking only 

 good animals sprung from others equally good, 

 but we must study all the requirements of 

 such artificial standards as our various herd 

 books, and let no flaw, judged by their stand- 

 ards, creep into our bull's breeding. Not only 

 so, but we must inquire not merely of such 

 standards but also if public opinion has nar- 

 rowed their lines and confines to the narrowest 

 limits. Even foolish fancies, where they are 

 widespread, while we despise them, must not 

 infrequently be recognized, and if not con- 

 formed to, at least regarded in so far as to 

 avoid anything directly under their ban. This 

 must be done, because in business we must 

 keep in the front of the market or we will have 

 a hard time. The principles we sacrifice, if we 

 are called on to sacrifice ^ny, are in no sense 

 principles of honest dealing either in act or 

 thought, but only in reality theories, which, 

 however sound, must at times yield to the stern 

 logic of events which is so eminently practical. 

 As to age, a vigorous young bull is more apt 

 to give good results than an old and well-tried 

 bull, because his purchase, though involving 



