606 tENETICS IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE 
been devised for the use of practical breeders. Various aids such as 
different colored sheets for different purposes help to make these systems 
still more convenient. Obviously for the sake of convenience sheets 
should be of the same size so that they may all be filed in the same style 
of binder. The sheets which have been illustrated in this account are 
of size 5 by 8 inches and are very convenient for most purposes. 
Coéperative Breeding——Most farmers who raise livestock cannot 
afford themselves to keep a good bull for breeding purposes for the few 
cows they have, or still less a stallion for the few mares which they may 
need for their farm labor. Since such a large proportion of stock-raisers 
are in this class it becomes a grave question as to how these farmers may 
be provided with the advantages which accrue from the use of pure-bred 
sires. Any plan which has for its purpose the raising of the general 
average excellence of livestock must take account of these farmers, for 
taken all together they own a very large proportion of the livestock in 
the country, and in the future they will own an increasingly larger pro- 
portion of it. One of the best ways of meeting this difficulty is by 
forming coédperative associations among the farmers themselves for the 
purpose of purchasing pure-bred sires. There is no reason why a given 
section of country should find it necessary to have a different breed of 
horses or cattle or swine on every farm, consequently the first step in the 
formation of such a company should be to agree upon the particular 
breed and type of bull or stallion which should be purchased. Thereafter 
under no circumstances should this decision be changed, but the farmers 
should endeavor to grade their herds up to the highest standard of that 
breed. A definite plan such as this would work an enormous improve- 
ment within a few years in the character of the livestock in a given rural 
district. 
In passing it may be mentioned that it has often been found advisable 
and feasible to lend government aid to the improvement of livestock. 
This has been particularly the case in European countries where long 
decades of breeding have reduced types within a given district to a fair 
degree of uniformity, so that the government might follow a simple 
uniform practice in dealing with a given district. The success which 
such a policy may achieve is testified to by the popularity of the Percheron 
and French Coach horses, breeds to which the French government has 
lent considerable official encouragement. These are, however, details to 
be worked out in every section; the important point in every case is to 
follow up thoroughly and consistently for a considerable period of time 
whatever scheme is adopted. 
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