138 THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF 



CHAPTER VIII 



STOCKING A HOLDING 



From what has been said already the reader 

 will have realised the value of stock on a 

 Small Holding. So far, however, no reference 

 has been made to the particular varieties 

 which it is desirable to secure. There is no 

 country in the world in which purity of breed 

 is regarded with such high favour as Great 

 Britain. In times past the man who intended 

 to buy a cow went into the market and made 

 his own selection from among the ordinary 

 stock of the district in which he lived; he 

 paid no regard to breed, but a great 

 deal to the form, age, quality of the coat and 

 skin of the cow, and the formation of her udder, 

 as well as to her temperament and general 

 character. Purity of breed was the last 

 consideration — if, indeed, it were ever con- 

 sidered at all. Owing, however, to the im- 

 provement which has taken place in the 



