SPECIALISE IN BREEDING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 429, 10 January 1912, Page 3

SPECIALISE IN BREEDING.

If I were to advise any young man who had decidedion an agricultual life, I would say "Whatever class of stock you take up, make it a 'specialty.' Thoroughly analyse your natural proclivity, and ask yourself in what direction you are likely to be most successful. In this connection, your early training and the capital at your command must be fully considered. But, having once made up your mind, put all your energies forth to become a lt is an age for specialising, and the man who produces the best of anything is never short of a market. If a feeder, breed or buy and feed the very best. If a dairy farmer, start on a good foundation, and do not be satisfied until you have a herd of cows with a high standard in milk records. If a breeder of pedigree stock, do not attempt too much at first; select your breed or breeds, which should be suitable tor the district, study their history and characteristics carefully, and take every available opportunity of visiting the farms where the best specimens of the breed or breeds you have taken up are to be seen. Th ; s should prove of much educational value if intelligently pursued and guide you in your future selection of animals to build up a name as a breeder of first-class stock. When buying foundation stock, start with a few of the right sort rather than with a large number of indifferent animals, and supplement your returns with commercial stock until you have grasped your subject and feel no doubt you have properly gauged your inclinations and talents. Much disappointment and money would be saved if more care and consideration were given to the adaptability of the farm and district for any particular class of stock decided UDon before embarking in it on a large scale. Making a commencement in a somewhat extensive way with unsuitable stock is certain to be followed by unsatisfactory results. This frequently sours and spoils a man's life, whereas if he had proceeded cautiously at the uutset and felt his way gradually, success would probably have attended his efforts.

By adopting the slower and, in my opinion the better system above recommended, it gives the young breeder opportunities of acquainting himself more intimately with the characteristics of the>. particular breed he hadles taken in hand of forming an

and the most reliable sources from whence to obtain suitable sires or females as the necessity arises from an infusion of fresh blood and several other minor points so essential to ultimate success.

The majority of the successful breeders of purebred stock whom it v has been my privilege to visit I find have a very intimate persona) knowledge of their animah, and require no pocket records to give a faithful history of the breeding and lineage of any animal on the farm. These succesful men spend many houis wandering amongst their stock, and become so conversant with their inherent good or bad points that the selections of suitable sires for the correction of those faults and raising the stock to a big standard is rendered much easier than if the knowledge of their live stock was only of a supercfiial character. The breeding of pedigree animals is not to be taken up and thrown down like a toy. The true breeder should possess indomitable patience the finest powers of observation and discrimination, and dogged perseverance, so as not to be easily cast down by tho repeated failure to reach his ideal.