BREEDING AND REARING 55 



important, but avoid the "coddling" system, so 

 much indulged by foolish breeders, as nothing is 

 more destructive to the constitution than the 

 adoption of this unnatural plan. 



Production of the Different Varieties, or Selection 

 for Specific Purposes. 



Probably this section of the work should con- 

 stitute its strongest feature, but it is the writer's 

 intention to dismiss it with a few brief remarks, 

 because every breeder holds and probably always 

 will hold his own ideas as to the rationale of 

 mating. 



A great deal of nonsense has been written, and 

 all that is required is the application of sound 

 judgment, leaving the issue to take care of itself. 



Self-colours should always be mated with Self- 

 colours, and never, for. instance, Black with Brown, 

 or Red with a Cream, or a Striped Tabby with a 

 Spotted one. It is by the perpetuation of ex- 

 cellences that the ideal will be attained. 



When one attempts to cross two distinctive 

 varieties for the production of a third, breeding 

 then becomes purely speculative irrational in 

 principle, and unsatisfactory in its ultimate results. 



A small head, or one that is snipy must be 

 corrected, by selecting a sire particularly massive 

 in this respect, and the same remarks are equally 



