732 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
breeding in the district to an ideal in harmony with the surroundings, 
and consistent with the principle that like begets like, therefore mating 
like with like, and not with discordant dissimilar breeds. It would 
be absurd to look for prepotency in true mongrels, which the progeny 
of any such cross may be termed, as they have no power of retaining, 
•fixing, and reproducing the improved qualities which they have 
inherited from their strongly prepotent and highly improved ancestors, 
and on account of which qualities, probably improved through the 
•cross, they are by some selected for breeding. The progeny of a cross 
may be a very good animal for the purpose for which it is produced, 
and may show valuable characteristics of either or both breeds, but it 
has not the power of reproducing its own characteristics or qualities. 
There is at present in these colonies a strong inclination to 
produce crossbred merino sheep for the home export meat trade. 
Under present circumstances this may he a necessary and wise course, 
but we must not forget that the improved English coarse-woolled 
breeds have been for many generations cultivated more for meat pro- 
duction, as mutton and lamb, than for wool, while it cannot be said 
that until quite recently particular attention has been given to the cul- 
tivation specially of meat-producing properties in the Australian merino. 
Therefore, while utilising inferior merino females for the production 
of crossbreds, might not special attention by selection aud treatment 
be given to the cultivation of a meat-producing merino, conserving 
the strong prepotency of the present type, and other special charac- 
teristics, peculiar to and so valuable in the Australian merino as a 
wool producer? The districts in the colonies suitable for the produc- 
tion of such a type might be largely augmented through the cultiva- 
tion of suitable green crops, roots, selected grasses, &c . 9 which would 
have to be done m many cases for the profitable production of cross- 
breds. It is daily becoming more evident that in order to pay our way 
and be self-reliant we must give increased attention to more extended 
and better treatment of our vast rich untilled lands, and direct our 
colonists how with an improved knowledge of the breeding and treat- 
ment of stock they may profitably turn their at present almost valueless 
crops into a more concentrated and portable form, by using them in 
feeding stock for the production of high-class wool, mutton, beef, dairy 
produce, <fcc., suitable for export to the dense populations of the 
Northern Hemisphere, which, if we cannot induce them to come here, 
is evidently our course and the way out of our present difficulties. 
In order to be successful in the markets of the world, we must 
■endeavour to produce marketable goods of the very best quality ; and 
in doing so we have natural advantages superior to most countries, 
particularly in live-stock raising ; but we must concentrate our 
energies on moderate areas of land, thereby giving scope for 
individuality, self-reliance, independent skill and energy, aud thus 
the power of handling more profitably our over-abundant fiocks and 
herds. Weakly constitutioned, injudiciously bred, bad tbrivers are a 
daily drain on the income of their owners, while good doers, vigorous, 
healthy tbrivers are hourly increasing their income ; hence, now that 
live stock may be called a non-liquid asset, unless in condition fit for 
immediate consumption, it is highly unprofitable to possess and propa- 
gate animals that have not the power of assimilating their food so 
as to turn it readily into a superior product. The days of breeding 
