144 THE HORSE 



dividual merits, and mares that are used in the 

 same way must be judged very largely by the 

 same standard. 



But, while this holds true as far as stock that is 

 sold in the market is concerned, it is blood that 

 tells in its production, and the farmer who can 

 afford to buy pure-bred stock on both sides may 

 be sure that it will prove a good investment. 

 Apart from the chance that this gives him to sell 

 some of his stock for breeding purposes, it makes 

 him more certain of the quality and uniformity 

 of all his stock than he can ever be when using 

 mares of unknown breeding. 



In buying pure-bred animals, however, he 

 should never depend too much upon the mere fact 

 that they are pure-bred, but should select them 

 with just as much reference to their points as in- 

 dividuals as if he were buying common stock. 

 Failure to do this will surely result in disappoint- 

 ment — and disappointment, too, of a peculiarly 

 heart-sickening kind; for there are few more de- 

 pressing agricultural sights than an animal hav- 

 ing a long, recorded pedigree and yet failing in 

 the very points that such distinguished lineage 

 should promote. It is true that the progeny of 

 a pure-bred animal that has not the best of points 

 will frequently revert or " take back " to 

 ancestors that had better ones, but to depend 



