The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-19

Breeding, as here use the term re-
fers 10 reproduction in animal limited
and directed by the will of man. The
law Of reproduction upon which breed
ing is based IS best stated in the phrase
like produces like yet breeding is con-
Quoted on the assumption that this law
can be modified in its operations. 1t is
true that this law Of constancy in ami
NAL life yields as do other laws to higher
ones or to superior influences. But the
law that ''iflle produces like" is never.
exercised in exactness, as the two par
ents are never exactly alike. so the Off
spring must in every instance be a re-
sultant of two more or less opposing
forces. This is the view the skillful
breeder takes Of the subjects with which
ne has TO deal, that each animal is a
bundle Of forces of varying degrees, ca
pable of producing, when combined with
certain other forces, new forms of ami
NAL life that shall be the material ex-
preston of this new series of forces.
What this resultant series shall be de-
ponds upon the relative energy Of the
two series combined These again are
complex. with factors of varying degrees
OF vigor, depending upon the length of
time they have been established. Thus,
taking a ram with certain characters
tics. the probability Of securing those
characteristics in his offspring depends
upon how firmly these characteristics
are established and how strong relative
~ the same features are opposed in the
ewes with which ne procreates. Thus a
ram with a neat foot viii fix this feat
ure upon his offspring from large-footed
ewes under certain conditions only. The
feature must be we'll established through
repeated and continuous Appearances in
his ancestors, or the opposing feature
in the eve mus, be weaker through oc-
casional Interruptions in her ancestral
line. Another condition under which the
characteristic might be transmitted.
would be that Of superior individual
vigOr on the part Of the male. a theory
has been advanced that IN generation
each parent Civ 5 the determining infiu-
enCe 10 different parts of the offspring.
but nothing like a law can be said TO
be established touching the theory.
There Is no constant form or character
in number Of offspring from the same
parents, and even where there are two
or more conceived at once one may re-
semble the female parent in some feat
ure, the head for instance. and the other
the male parent. PrOcreatiOn is yet
MUCH enve.oped i'm darkness. But by
observation and experimenting men have
isarEed much that has been of inestima-
BILE value 10 the world The contrast is
not much greater between the modern
improved sheep and The original wild
species than between that and the dust
of the earth"
Back Of this great Improvement must
have been adequate causes. The problem
that is yet largely unsolved for the
breeder is what these causes are, how
long they operate and how long they
may be used 10 produce certain deslred
ends.
It is known that the fundamental law
Of generation applies not only to family
and specie features but In a lesser de-
gree 10 the individual and even TO ac-
quired features, and upon this largely
depends the possibility OF permanent i'm
provement. II is not known how spe-
cial features are primarily developed, as
Tor instance, a pOlled ram among
merinos, but when such a special feature
"a at once acquired It can be perpetuated
through in-breeding. and TO some extent
through special care In making the in
dividual bearing the desired blood es-
pecially healthy and strong. For the ex-
ternal influence Of feed and care IS sec
Ond in value as a means Of modifying
form and characteristics. In many par
ticulars. however, we cannot separate
care and selection and say what part of
the Improvement belongs 10 one and
what part 10 the other. Certain is it
that great size weight OF fleece and
length Of staple could never have been
attained through selection alone. AT the
same time we know that each one of
these features has been developed indie
pendently Of the others.
A principle that has been employed by
most breeders who have established
flocks Of great excellence is that in
vOlved in in-breeding or close-breeding.
1t Is simply the redOubling Of the de-
sired featU<S. This is the road TO super
iOrfty, but is beset by great dangers and
would better be adopted very cautiously
by the unskilled The approach TO Ii
that all can safely, and I think wisely
make, is to breed within certain type
This is what establishes purity of blood
and gives character to the thoroughbred
This cOnstancy Of type IS the grain of
value that often wins the pound of gold.
Consistency of type may be further estab-
lshed by continuous coupling of the
same animals.
The highest art in breeding requires
the mating OF individuals. the coupling
OF each eve with a ram selected es-
pecially for her, but l think for the aver
age breeder. DESTROYS Of establishing a
uniform flock the better course will be
through the continuous use Of a single
ram as long as the original flock remains
and then the use Of another not far dis
family related.
There is doubtless some truth in the
theory that the foetus has some influence
upon the mother and through the foetus
the sire. I should expect the last Of
several offspring from the same parents
to combine more fully the characteristics
OF both, and to have these features more
firmly fixed in its own character.
Selection, care. and close breeding, :
name as the most potent means of inn
prOvement--H. p. NJ. in the Ohio Farm
er.