BREEDING, AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SAME. 309 
order tu benefit the agricultural community, sent half of them ta 
Rambouillet, and the other half to Croissy. The climate hap- 
pened to suit tnem, and they were considered superior to the ex. 
isting breeds in France. In the year 1800, Vicror GILBER? 
bought at Croissy a four year old ram and eight ewes. He bred 
from those animals during a period of ten years, occasionally, how- 
ever, “ renewing the stock,” as he termed it, by purchasing annu-« 
ally from two to four sheep. In 1821 he purchased some of the 
Rambouillet stock, and asserts that, “ from a union of the same, 
he obtained great advantages.” Now, the reader will perceive 
that there was an alliance of blood. The two flocks were of the 
same lineal descent, belonged to the same “ family,” and of course 
the systein of breeding was on the in-and-in principle. 
Now, as regards French Merinos obtained from the above 
source, and imported into this country, we have only to refer the 
reader to Tarntor, of Hartford; DreForrest, of New York; 
SanForD, of Vermont; PARKER and Howarp, of Ohio, and 
many others, who are ready and willing, we presume, to testify as 
regards the prosperity of the above breed in this country, the result 
of in-and-in breeding. 8S. W. Jewett, of Vermont, has pur- 
chased, up to the present time, over three hundred bucks and 
ewes, the offspring of the Croissv and Rambouillet breed, and this 
is proof positive of the correctness of our theory. 
Now, as regards the advantages of in-and-in breeding, what are 
they? When Vicror GILBERT purchased the first ram, he car- 
ried but 9 pounds of wool ; he finally realized 24 pounds from the 
tams, and from the ewes 18 pounds, a tangible illustration of the 
advantages. A very fine French Merino, originating from the 
above source, was very recently exhibited at a sheep-shearing in 
Wisconsin ; the animal weighed 325 pounds, and carried 40 pounds 
of wool. Now, the originals, as I have already shown, carried 
but 9 pounds; so that the standard, as regards a particular quality, 
has been raised, and that is what we understand by “ improve- 
ment.” 
Mr. V. BarrorD, of England, has demonstrated the propriety 
of in-and-in breeding. He is a man, however, of superior judg 
ment, and he culls and casts out from his flocks and herds all ani- 
mals showing the least predisposition to any defect. A writer in 
the “ Mark Lane Express” considers Mr. VALENTINE BARFORB 
“ one of the most successful in-and-in breeders of sheep in the king: 
