Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-23
Better Try a Dash of Coed Blood

Every little while some one suggests
whether the best way to improve the
common stock of the country would
not be, after all that has been said
about the various improved breeds,
to enter upon a systematic course of
selection, breeding the best to the best,
and so on. 1t is urged that for this
improvement the materials exist upon
every farm, and that as all could en-
gage in the work and no stragglers be
left in the rear, the improvement
would be rapid and of very marked
character. Undoubtedly very much
might be accomplished in this way, as
the common stock, so-called, already
has very much of good blood, the ben
eft and effect of which would be more
apparent If wise and careful mating
of animals were always secured with
view of bringing out these latent
good qualities
In fact, it is no eXaggeratlon to say
that the chief merit of the so-called
common stock of to-day is due to re-
mote crosses of good blood, and if
these crosses were nearer by and more
numerous, their merits would be
greater. 1t is the frequency, gener-
ally, and the nearness of these crosses
which make certain individuals of the
common stock better than others.
But when it comes to breeding the
best among the common stock to the
best, 1t is a mistake to suppose that
the materials for the great improve,
ment desired can be found upon every
farm and that every farmer can join
in the work. The best are not to be
found on every farm or, indeed, in
every neighborhood.
Some of the so-called common
stock is very inferior, indeed, while
some of il is of passable merit, and
there are no two words in the En-
glish language which express more of
the idea of inequality, in every sense
of the term, than the two words com
mon stock" Grant that the common
stock might be bred up, rs it worth
any mans while who has a desire for
Improvement to seek ii in this tedious,
uncertain way After generations of
men have lived and pursued the work,
some effects of durable quality would
perhaps be secured but it is supposed
that when the common stock is
brought to its best development and
its type and character fixed, the world
will have ANIMALS better in any sense
than the improved breeds existing to-
day9 There is certainly no evidence
to Justify any such opinion.
The common stock owes its best
qualities to these improved breeds,
and if it should itself ever become
established as breed its chief excel
lence will consist of the merits and
character it has inherited from exist
ing races; and as it will have, along
with these, other characteristics less
meritorous, it is fair to presume it
would, at its best fall somewhat be-
low existing standards. Then why
undertake the task of improving its
character in this wayl Why not take
the more expeditions and satisfactory
course of crossing it up by the use of
thoroughbred sires2 They are not on
every farm, but they should be, and
1 in tie competition between large
numbers of breeders the price of &C
ceptable sires of all the breeds is re-
duced to such a point that every
/ farmer can secure whatever he needs
in his business, and if he has any
particular preference as to breeds,
can crafty that and still make but a
moderate outlay. Every cross will
make an improvement, and if all
would but engage in the good work
and leave no stragglers in the rear,
the whole body of common stock
would, in a very few years, be
brought very close to the thorough
bred standard Home Journal.