BREEDING 169 
was never truer than in breeding rabbits. 
You will get just exactly what you have to 
start with, unless you have a system of breed- 
ing which makes it possible to advance a step 
at a time at least. 
The usual system of breeding is what is 
known as cross-breeding. By that we mean 
that unrelated animals are bred together each 
generation. This system has just one advan- 
tage and that is that it keeps up the consti- 
tutional vigor and stamina of the offspring to 
a remarkable degree. There certainly is no 
danger of your stock “running out,” under 
this system. 
But it has its disadvantages as well. It 
does not preserve the other qualities in the 
offspring such as type, color, characteristics 
and station. It merely increases constitu- 
tional vigor. It also has the disadvantage of 
making it necessary to get new males each 
mating or season. That is not only expensive 
and troublesome but oftentimes a serious 
problem for the small breeder. It is, at best, 
