IMPROVEMENT or BREEDS. 113 
find it more convenient and cheaper to make an infusion of the 
improved blood into his stock, choosing such as is best fitted 
for his purpose. A bull or a ram of one of the best breeds 
will soon, if judiciously managed, make a great change for the 
better in his stock. 
Another important fact must be bornein mind. ‘“ Improved 
breeds owe their present degree of perfection, whatever it may 
be, only to the skill which has been exercised in their selection, 
‘breeding, and management for a number of generations and a 
long series of years, This attention, we learn from the extract 
above, must be continued if we wish to retain the valuable 
qualities that it has placed within our reach; and careful atten- 
tion to the selection, the wants, the comfort, and the health of 
one’s stock is thus shown to be not only the dictate of economy 
for the time being, but a matter of importance in the future, 
from the influence it exerts on the progeny as well as on the 
parent. Improvements may be bred out as fast or faster than 
it can be bred in. Until the average of care which our farm 
stock now receives becomes much greater, it may be inexpedi- 
ent to advise the maintenance of a herd or flock of pure im- 
proved blood for ordinary farm purposes; but, by beginning 
with grades—employing the services of an improved male to 
engraft upon “native” stock—and by degrees acquiring the 
habit of paying closer attention to their necessities and com- 
forts, not only will our cattle and sheep be gradually and fun- 
damentally bettered, but the farmer will be preparing to avail 
himself of breeds already rendered capable of giving, with 
proper attention, the greatest product for a specified amount of 
food; and animals bred to this point will then come into his 
hands to be improved, not to be deteriorated.”* 
* Countey Gentleman. 
