1904.] Improvement of Stock in Sweden. 



421 



Fedigree certificates may be returned to importers and copies retained on files of 

 the Custom-House. 



Animals otherwise entitled to free entry are not excluded because too young to be 

 physically qualified for breeding when imported. 



At least two generations of ancestors must appear in certificates of pedigree 

 accompanying sheep imported for breeding purposes. 



Wild animals and reptiles are not entitled to free entry when imported for 

 breeding purposes. 



Trotting Registers are not accepted as evidence of pure breed of horses. 



Acceptance may be allowed of pedigree certificates of animals stating volume, 

 and failing to give number of page, but otherwise correct, upon a sworn statement 

 ■on the certificate of pedigree that the book in which the animal is recorded has not 

 be-en, but is to be, printed. 



Transportation under the Immediate-Transportation Act of Animals Imported for 

 Breeding Purposes allowed only when caged, crated, or boxed. 



The word "animal," as used in Paragraph 473, Tariff Act of 1897, is restricted in 

 its application to quadrupeds — such as horses, cattle, sheep, swine, cats, dogs, &c— 

 and would not include fowls. 



In connection with the description given in this Journal 

 (September, 1904, p. 356) of the steps taken by the Northumber- 

 land Agricultural Society to encourage the 



Improvement breeding of stock in that county, the follow- 

 of Stock in & y \ . n , 



Sweden. ln S account or a system adopted m Sweden 



for the improvement of the quality of cattle 

 owned by small farmers may be of interest. 



The Skaraborg system, as it is called, was first tried in 1882 

 by the Agricultural Society of that district, and since that time 

 it has been adopted by all the agricultural societies of Sweden. 

 The plan is to hold annual local shows, at which prizes of 

 varying amounts are awarded for cows and heifers belonging 

 to farmers not holding more than 123 acres of land, and in 

 addition the prize animals, and also apparently animals which 

 are " approved," receive a ticket entitling them to the free 

 service of a prize bull. The tickets are to be handed to the 

 owner of the bull, from whom they are redeemed by the prize 

 jury at sums varying with the quality of the bull. An animal 

 which has once taken a money prize cannot receive another in 

 the same class, but it can be exhibited at each competition in 

 order to receive a fresh covering ticket. 



Medals are awarded for bulls, the exhibition of which is 

 unrestricted, and it is one of the objects of the system to 



