The Osceola times., 1885-12-05
UNDERGRADUATES,
why Young breeders Should Go Through
Regular Course Of Research,

Regular Course OF Research.
1t is well that the young breeder, or
me stiil younger man who has not yet
entered upon the pleasures and anxietles
OF Stock-breeding, but whose intention
Is to make that pursuit the business of
bis life, should lay out for himself
course of instruction, by means of visits
TO established breeders, and intelligent
inspection of their studs. herds or ilocks,
as the case may be, according to the
line selected by the beginner, or would.
be beginner. Such course has beer
already recommended to the rising gen.
GRAFTON of stock breeders, and the sd.
wee, which may be here repeated, to
make the best examples the principal
study, has been offered.
The object of this recurrence to the
subject is to extend the suggestion by
adding the remark that the best exam.
piles for study are found in those ami.
mails, or collections, or groups of ami.
mails, which make the best impress upon
the inferior stock of the country. Take
cattle, by way of illustration. One herd
may consist wholly of splendid looking
animals, kept in high condition. and
mostly tit for exhibition. Another herd.
not so bloomy in condition, may still
possess the highest merit in the rough.
and want only a system of higher and,
perhaps, less healthy keeping. to enable
any one of its average animals to bear
comparison with an average specimen
Of the other herd. The real superiority
of either herd over the other, consists
not in appearance only, but in heredi-
tary power for good, when influence is
put to the test by breeding and by
grading up. The best herd for the
country is that which can, in the short.
est time, that is TO say, in the smallest
number OF crosses, produce cross bred
or grade animals of the most useful sort.
The study, therefore, beginning with
the herds, hocks, etc, of highest repu.
tation, should be extended 10 the under.
currents of breeding, TO discover the
comparative degrees of influence, which
various breeds, and various strains OF
blood in each breed, have upon the stock
of the country in general. Constitutional
strength. fecundity, and some other not
externally evident properties, claim con.
sideration, rs well AS those properties of
which the butcher. the grazier or the
dairyman takes first notice.
For fair inquiry, the character OF
the foundations stock, the climate. land.
management, and a great many other
circumstances, must be taken into ac-
count; but these are mere details Of eau
ton, thrown out as hints, SO that the
student may avoid the error Of making
hasty conclusions from sight only, with
out full investigation. Among raw be-
ginners, who can not possibly possess
more than superficial knowledge (what-
ever they may acquire in the course Of
wears to GOMEZ. we have found some of
the most positive and most pugnacious
partisans of a breed or group while older
men, whose convictions have the strength
of deep setting upon foundations labori-
ously dug and laid by the men them.
selves, are often much more guarded in
their advocacy of whatsoever breed or
group they may have finally adopted;
because they have looked upon more
than one side of each question, and they
we'll know, and can afford to allow all
that may be said against their choice.
and in favor of all that they have delib-
erately rejected. They have summed up
the evidence and can defend their judg-
ment upon it.
If unprejudiced inspection of the best
stocks be undertaken in connection with
equally unbiased examination Of the
ramifying influence. of those stocks, n
mass of valuable knowledge will be
gained by the observant beginner, r,whose
mind, moreover, by the process, un-
dergoes wholesome discipline and be-
comes literally enlarged. - Ndtio"a'
Lire Stock Journal.