The times., 1899-04-24
NEW DISCOVERIHSs
BY PROF. BELL
Turns From Telephones and
Kites to Sheep.
Many Experiments Made at His
Nova Scotia Farm.
The Number of the YOung Can BE
Increased and the Natural Color
of the Wool Is Black.

Alexander Graham Bell is pursuing new
scientific discoveries. From telephones
and kites he has turned his. attention to
sheep. In fact, mis- interest was first awak-
ened in the possibilities of sheep breeding
nearly ten years ago, and his experiments
with them have continued during that
space of time. In speaking to Times re-
porter on the subject yesterday, he said
the experimnts he has been interested in
were all made at his summer home in
Nova Scotia, where he has an extensive
farm. Beside other valuable stock, there
were on the place a number of choice
breeds of sheep. He noticed, he said, there
were a few who, beside having two nam
mae had one or more very small ones
without any functional use, which ap-
peared more as growths on the bag. He
further observed, he said, that these ewes
were those which gave birth to twins,
neither large, and one always below the
normal. Prof. Bell said he purchased from
the farmers in the neighborhoo1 all sheep
possessed OF these rudimentary mammae,
and began his experiments Immediately.
By selection in breeding and careful at
tention he succeeded in raising several
tary mammae were greatly developed.
These ewes now had four mammae of
about equal size from only two of which,
however milk could be obtained The
ewes of these had so far felt the influence
of the breeding that in them were found
four mammae, all of which gave mi k.
Each eve gave birth to twins, both under
the normal weight and size. AS rams OF
the same stock were born, the average size
of the young increased until the normal
was attained.
To reach this result number of years
were taken, but Prof. Bell was not satisfied
that he had gone as far as he could. The
experiments were continued with the
greatest exactness and with a considerable
labor, until he had succeeded, he said, in
producing breed of ewes having not only
four, but six mammae, each tot normal
size and each performing its proper func-
tional use. These, too, said Prof. Bell,
gave birth to twins, and the farmers in
the neighborhood who had formerly laugh
ed at what they considered my impractical
theory, now attempted to make the same
experiment, as in breeding for the mar
ket it is naturally more desirable to OBJ
tain two sheep at a birth than one. But, -
he added, lit is a work of ten years, and
very exacting work at that, and it will be
fully as long as that before another flock
OF sheep such as mine can be raised"
Prof. Bell said he had succeeded without
doubt in bringing sheep nearer theiI
natural state and condition than had ever
been done before. So far as he knew. and
he had studied the question thoroughly, hi.
were the first experiments in this direc-
tion. e
"One of the most remarkable things. ant
one deserving attention." said the profes.
''arp the other ,rht h..
taken place in the animal since the in.
crease in the number of mammae. / hav,
noticed and have been greatly interested
IN the TACT that the wool of the sheep Sc
bred is becoming darker. 1t is undoubt
edly true that the white wool peculiar t,
sheep now is not the natural or origina
color but is one resulting from successiv,
| generations and centuries of culture b,
| man. Just as | am now changing tn,
present condition or structure of sheep b.
selection, so, when they were all covered
| with dark wool man was able TO obtain
| flock almost white by selecting thos,
| iightest in color and breeding only from
them. Bring an animal nearer the orig
inal structure before domesticated by man
and the original characteristics will re
! turn IL is because man has desired al
animal different from the state in whicl
1t was found that these changes have oc
! CURED 1t was starting from this know
/ fact that | took my theory.
Il believed that originally the sheep wa
small animal, giving birth TO a little
| instead of single one, and / have sue
ceeded beyond my hopes In proving m,
! supposition correct. When sheep becam
4 an article of food and their wool valuabl
for clothing, the larger the animal tn
better. BY breeding only from the larges
in the flock and wedding out the small
ones the size of a single animal was in
creased TO what 1t is today. The resul
was, of course, natural. The young a
! birth were larger and only one was thel
born in place of the litter as previously
AT this stage in my experiments have g
far Tetraced these steps that my ewes d
not give birth to single lambs. They ar
| all twins. | believe ] can increase tn
number of mammae indefinitely and wit
them the number of young"
Prof. Bell is about ready TO publish tn
results of his observations on THE Super
numary Mammae of Sheep" All of tn
data gathered during the ten years he ha
| been interested in the subject is ready an
the book will be issued in a short time
This data consists of records of every brit
in his flock, the weight of every animal an
the sex. This work has been done TO
| ten years by careful men who watch ever
change in the sheep closely, and the nfor
nation he has collected, he believes, /
absolutely correct
Prof Bell is very much interested in tn
results OF his work and their scientifi
value, and intends to continue his researc
until he has gone as far as he can. II
considers it entirely probable that tn
primitive sheep, without any of the re
fning influences of civilization, will be tn