IMPROVEMENT OF BREEDS. 113 



find it more convenient and cheaper to make an infusion of the 

 improved blood into Ins stock, choosing such as is best fitted 

 for his purpose. A bull or a ram of one of the best breeds 

 will soon, if judiciously managed, make a great change for the 

 better in his stock. 



Another important fact must be borne in mind. " Improved 

 breeds owe their present degree of perfection, whatever it may 

 be, only to the skill which has been exercised in their selection, 

 breeding, and management for a number of generations and a 

 long series of years. This attention, we learn from the extract 

 above, must l)e continued if we wish to retain the valuable 

 qualities that it has placed within our reach ; and careful atten- 

 tion to the selection, the wants, the comfort, and the health of 

 one's stock is thus shown to be not only the dictate of economy 

 for the time being, but a matter of importance in the future, 

 from the influence it exerts on the progeny as well as on the 

 parent. Improvements may be bred out as fast or faster than 

 it can be Ired in. Until the average of care which our farm 

 stock now receives becomes much greater, it may be inexpedi- 

 ent to advise the maintenance of a herd or flock of pure im- 

 proved blood for ordinary farm purposes ; but, by beginning 

 with grades employing the services of an improved male to 

 engraft upon "native" stock and by degrees acquiring the 

 habit of paying closer attention to their necessities and com- 

 forts, not only will our cattle and sheep be gradually and fun- 

 damentally bettered, but the farmer will be preparing to avail 

 himself of breeds already rendered capable of giving, with 

 proper attention, the greatest product for a specified amount of 

 food ; and animals bred to this point will then come into his 

 hands to be improved, not to be deteriorated."-" 



* Country Gentleman. 



