ON BREEDING. 193 



tnem with sufiBcient accuracy to govern our own cnoice, and 

 profit by their example. 



"We approach this subject with diffidence, and do not expect 

 to say anything particularly new or peculiar. There have been 

 volumes — ^in books, pamphlets, and essays — written, and indefi- 

 nite numbers of discussions and controversies on the subject of 

 breeding, at "talks" and conventions. A good deal of sense, 

 and somewhat of nonsense, has been both written and uttered, 

 and all that we can do is to strive to condense, to a practical 

 extent, the wisdom of the one, and avoid the other. 



The- stock breeder, starting with any one or more varieties in 

 breeds of cattle, does so, in all probability, with the intention of 

 keeping his stock in as good quality and condition of blood as 

 he obtained it, at least, if he have no intention or ability to 

 make it better. But he should, if possible, make his stock 

 better than he found it. To effect that result, a few fundamen- 

 tal rules to govern the selection of his cattle, with which to 

 commence his herd, are necessary. Some of them are here 

 enumerated. Among their qualifications they should possess : 



1st. Sound health, and freedom from constitutional, heredi- 

 tary, chronic, or local disease, blemish, or infirmity of any kind. 

 And such sound health, and freedom from any kind of fix^d 

 disease, should appertain to every young animal which is to be 

 retained for breeding purposes thereafter. 



2d. As much perfection of form as may be possible to 

 obtain in the breed, bearing in mind the chief uses for which the 

 animals are intended. 



3d. That they possess the strong and marked characteristics 

 of their breed, in the various points belonging to it. 



4th. That if of a distinct breed, the blood be thoroughly 

 pure, and that purity be substantiated by well-authenticated 

 pedigrees, through as many generations back as can be ascer- 

 tained. 



9 



