The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-09-13

Pedigree is the record or statement
of the ancestors of an animal for sew
eral generations. It does not neces-
sarily imply purity of breeding, but
usually pedigrees are only kept of ami
mails that are purely bred.
The book in which pedigrees are
kept in the interest of any breed and
to which the public have access is
termed a "Stock Book" ''Register" or
Record" as the case may be.
Pure-bred, thoroughbred and full
blood are terms applied almost alto
gether to animals with pedigrees re-
corded and accessible to the public.
These terms are used to indicate ami
mails Of a well-defned breed, without
any admixture of other blood. They
are frequently considered synonymous,
but the term thorough bred in it's strict
Specification is used to designate the
English race horse.
The term cross-bred is applied to the
progeny Of two distinct breeds. The
offspring in this case will generally
closely resemble that breed which has
been pure for the longest period, but
NAV be modified by inherent constitu.
tional NigOr.
Cross breeding is not much resorted
to by breeders, unless in the formation
of new breeds, and for the reasons,
Tai that good specimens of either breed
when pure usually sell for a higher
price than the offspring; [bl that some
times the progeny Of the cross is no
improvement on either Of the pure
breeds, and [cl that the results are less
certain than those obtained Tx;
grades.
The terms grade and higl Ora ie ~
usually applied to animals otl.r tl,n
cross bred, the breeding of which is
not sure. A grade is an animal pos
sesslng any percentage Of pure blood
less than 100. A high graie is an ami
NAL of mixed blood in which tn loOd
of pure breed largely predominant IS.
In breeding grades where impr0v D
ment is sought, it is always essential
to use male possessing a good pedi-
gree, and that is good individually and
prepotent. Where this process is per-
severed in, the offspring soon come to
possess practically all the good quail
ties of the pure breed. This could not
possibly be accomplished in the same
time through the use of grades since
they do not possess dominant q lalit!es,
owing to mixed breeding.
The terms high breeding line breed
ing, close breeding and in-brec ling
may be applied to either pure breeds or
grades, but they are chiefly used only
in reference to the breeding of the for
mer.
High breeding signifies a vigorous
selection of breeding stock with a refer
ence to a definite standard, and within
the limits of a particular family
Line breeding implies the continued
selection of males from particular
family.
Close breeding signifies the mating of
animals which are closely related.
In and in-breeding has a tendency tt
speedily fix certain characters which
may~b be desired. It has been found of
much service in the establishment Of
new breeds, but when long continued
it leads to delicacy Of constitution,
sterility, loss Of size and impaired vigOr
generally.
An outcross properly signifies the
use of a sire of alien blood upon ami
mails that have been highly bred, or
bred in line. It has for its object the
renewal Of constitutional vigor gener-
ally and sometimes the correction OF
some family defect. 1t is step which
requi Tres the use of much judgmentand