Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-08-19
THE FARM AND HOME.
THE FOLLY OF CROSS BREED
ING POINTED OUT.
wisdom Learned by Experimentation
AIanuring-Care OF Ewes-Small Model
Farms aud Profits Derived From Them
Farm Notes, Home Hats.


ways by nearly every agricultural
writer or thinker, that one would
think that every man in the United
States was as fully impressed with it
as with the folly OF gambling or bet
ting ON another mans game, II is q
folly that is practiced continually,
saws the Kansas City Live Stock In
dicator When we think the lesson
has been taught so fully that the
dullest scholar cOmprehends IT, some
one rises and asks question which
hand the first principles, and seems
as guileless and innocent of all prac-
teal knowledge on this question
as newborn babe. The occasion Of
our referring to the matter again is a
lengthy article in Texas agricul-
tural paper by writer who evidently
thinks that he is Il progressive farmer
and has patent way of transform
ing the Texas cows in a generation
or two into first class dairy cattle.
His proposition is to cross the Jersey
COW with the Holstein bull. and then
cross the progeny on the Texas cat
tie. He tells US: you will find
often a halt-breed Holstein-Texan
that is five or six gallon cow.
have a grade Jersey COW that has
given me five gallons Of milk per
day and could be increased 10 six.
Her milk at best registers 50 per
cent. OF cream, and then adds:
Now, suppose we cross on Jer-
sey COW with her small size, quick
active, temperament. and richness OF
milk, but small quantity, say two
and one-half or three gallons a day,
with a HolsteIn bull Of fine milk
family. These being both full-blooG
animals, their progeny would be inn
pressed lin a variable degree, OF
course) with the characteristics %
both parents, larger and better
mixers than Jerseys, smaller and
richer mixers than HOlsteius, and
better all-Purpose COW than either,
and bull calf from such cross.
while being a grade. OF either side
only half-breeds. but, being thorough
bred in both parents, would make
the best breeding bull for the farmer
or stockman that could be- found.
Being impressed BY both sire ami
dam he must be able TO impart the
good qualities Of both parents to his
progeny.
This, it will be observed. IS purely
theoretical. II is very fine theory,
and we have often heard just this re-.
suit predicted by farmers and even
breeders IL is like u good many
other plausible theories uttered by
inexperienced and uninformoJ men.
and utterly breaks down in practice.
II violates every principle of correct
breeding. The cross breeding Of two
thoroughbreds as widely different as
the Holstein and the Jersey, and the
crossing Of the produce on cattle rs
widely different from either as tho
Texan, does not pcrpctuate the good
qualities OF either, but gives the
Texan blood, which Is as thorough
bred in its way almost as any OF
them, full range. The result will be
cattle that have neither the hardi-
ness of Texan, the milking qualities
OF the Holstein, or the richness of
the milk Of the Jerseys, but will be
OF as many colors and
qualities as Joseph's new
coat. Thousands OF farmers have
tried similar experiments, and the
universal testimony is that they have
all been miserable failures. We sup
pose, however, that every man must
go through this once and hide the
result BY disposal OF the entire stock
on his farm, and then take up some
other theory without carefully invcs-
tigating and learning what has been
the practical working out OF the
theory where 1t has been tried. II
is too late in the day for men to deal
with such complicated laws as those
which govern the transmission OF
qualities in the animals to begin OK
perimenting at the foundation. Near
ly every man is an impractical theo-
rist until he learns wisdom by exper-
fence. The first requisite to success
is to find out what has been the ex-
perience of other mon. and thus as
certain the principles which govern
the practice, and then in the light of
all the information obtainable. follow
as far as possible in view Of his con
ditions, what has been found the
most practical by the best men.