The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-02-01
CHAMPION SWEEPSTAKES.

ShAhA lON phiNOi ohARhos
um width of chest, shoulders and hips,
but is always long in proportion to
width. This temperament prevails in
the long wooded sheep.
The vital temperament may be de-
scribed as one of rotundity, as large
vital organs give depth and breadth
to the chest, round limbs and head,
short, thick extremlties, and the skin
is soft and pink colored on account
of strong circulation of the blood. The
skin also moves easily on the body on
account Of more adipose tissue beneath
it, and the hair or wool is medium in
thickness and length. This tempera-
ment prevails in the Southdown and
Shropshire, which are probably the
best types of the middle woods. An
even commingling of the temperaments
In one animal or human gives what is
called n good constitution, and a good
constitution is necessary TO prepotency.
The knowledge of the foregoing prin-
ciples is the science of breeding and is
expressed in the law like begets like"
For instance, mate two beings together
with the same temperament and the
progeny will be like both parents, but
If two animals of different tempera-
ments are mated the progeny will be
most like the parent with the stronger
constitution. Hence we see the neces-
sity of a purely bred, strong ram for
the improvement of a flock of common
ewes. The better and more perfect he
is the greater and quicker will be the
improvement of the flock, and the sec
ond cross will show the change much
more than the first. But the sire
should not be bred to his daughter eX-
cept in extreme cases and by an eX-
pert, as close breeding weakens the
constitution though it fixes the type.
A new ram of the same blood should
be used. This is the law by which
breeders have originated the various
types Of sheep. Others have followed
in their footsteps, corrected some of
their errors and kept the improvement
going on. 1t is for US to keep up this
improvement by specific application of
the laws of heredity as manifested in
the various Compartments of the ami
mails we would improve. for whatever
here applies to the sheep applies to
other domestic animals.
The origlnators Of types have crossed,
outbred and inbred till they got an
ideal. They put in a dash more Of
nerve for fineness, or of the motive
power for strength Of frame, or OF the
vital organs. SO that the carcass may
be better supplied with nutrition, as
the case may require. This is the way
all the English breeds of sheep and
other stock have been made what
they are, and this Is the way the newer
breeds like the Shropshire and Suffolk
among sheep are crowding to the front.
They are the latest product of the
breeders art and "fill the eye" of the
connolsseur. The men who produced
them were n law to themselves, they
were philosophers and have benefited
the world far more than all the ancient
| philosophers, since they not only delv.
ed into natures secrets, but turned in
to material benefit for the use of man,
kind. The understanding shepherd is
y philosopher. frequently poet and al
all times one of natures noblemen
Let every shepherd emulate the under
standing shepherd and become q
philosopher in his line.