CLIMATIC INFLUENCES. 119 



type is again fixed securely; and so this process goes on 

 until a satisfactory fixity of type and a general close ad- 

 herence to it of the individuals, have again been secured. 

 And then it will be yet advisable to go back to the nearest 

 fixed type, for the reinforcement of the stock. 



It is seen how much time it must take to transfer any 

 breed with satisfactory success to a wholly different and 

 distant climate. It is this difficulty which leads the breed- 

 ers of Australia, South Africa, South America, and other dis- 

 tant localities, to continue to reinforce their flocks with new 

 blood from our herds, and to force our own breeders to re- 

 turn to the original flocks from which their herds have 

 sprung, for the reinforcement of their constitution and spe- 

 cially desired excellencies for which at first the flock was 

 chosen. 



It will thus be the wise course of breeders seeking the 

 improvement of their flocks to find some intermediate source 

 for the new blood to be infused; and to seek this in some in- 

 termediate locality if possible. It will not be wise to go back 

 at any time. This is only starting again from the same 

 beginning point, whereas the gain made should be the new 

 point for a new improvement. Thus the American shepherd, 

 in the reinforcement of his flock, will go to the near-by 

 breeder, who has made a special success of fixing a good 

 type of excellence on his stock, and there procure the new 

 blood for the improvement of his, not yet fully improved and 

 well developed flock. And thus it is that the professional 

 breeder must be the go-between for the shepherd and the 

 original source of the type of sheep kept by the shepherd. 

 It is in vain for the mere shepherd to maintain the excel- 

 lence of any flock without occasionally and at short inter- 

 vals going back to the father flock, for the reinforcement 

 and improvement of his sheep, until in full time the process 

 of full acclimatation has been completed and the desired 

 type secured. 



Ataong other conditions by which the reproductive pro- 

 cess is effected, for good or ill, are those depending on the 

 feeding of the flock, and the age of the animals. And the 

 sheep being as has been already said one of the most eas- 

 ily impressable of our domestic races, it may be readily 

 conceived that these conditions must have a large influence 



