Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-02-18
DELAWARE COUNTY FARMERS
INSTITUTE.
Continued from last week.
Heredity.
BY DR.. j. W. Scott.

| ~SNASJ'
By DR.. J. w. Scott.
Mr.. President, ladies and gentlemen.
In addressing you today upon the sub
ject of "Heredity" 1t is not my design
or expectation to convey to you any
knowledge which you do not already pos
ses, but rather that may remind you,
and more distinctly impress upon your
understanding, some of those things
which you already know, but which
many of you apparently dismiss from
your minds, as being unworthy of oc-
cupying such an exalted position, at
the very moment that they could and
should be turned to profitable service.
General observation teaches US that
the principle of heredity is almost, If
not quite, as securely fixed as are any
of the laws which govern and control
the universe, or which in any way exer-
else their influence over the destinIes of
the human race, and circumspecs
study of statistics compiled on the sub.
ject by men who have conducted care
full investigation along these lines gives
additional evidence of the perseverance
of this principle in following its fixed
course.
We cannot mingle with the kindred of
our acquaintances without being aware
! of many resemblances In features and
| expression which exist between them,
and this similarity as you all know is
not confined to physical appearance,
but is just as perceptible in the manner
and disposition, and is also manifested
in the passions and appetites, and 1t is
fact well established that not only tend
ency to disease, but that some diseases
themselves are often transmitted from
parent to his offspring.
Congenitsl deformities, that is, de-
formities which existed since birth, are
often transmitted from parent to child,
but know of no testimony favoring
the belief that those resulting from &C.
cident and violence can be thus trans
mitted, and indeed we're these heredit-
sry, children with artificial legs and
glass eyes would be numerous. But 1t
is the sentiment of great many who
have made special study of this SUBJ
ject that all bodily and organic defects
| which are not the result of accident is
birthday gift from some predecessor.
Predisposition to alcoholism, insanity
and suicide are unquestionably heredi-
tary, and the following taken from the
Medical Press, compiled by Professor
Belman, of the University of Bonn.
gives the strongest evidence of the truth
of the adage, Like begets like" He re-
lates the career of notorious drunk
ard who was born in 1740, and died in
1900. Her descendants numbered S34,
of whom 709 have been traced since
youth. OF these were convicted of
murder, rs of other crimes, 142 were
professional beggars, 64 lived on charity,
and 18l others led disreputable lives.
The family cost the German govern
ment for maintenance and costs in the
courts, aims houses and prisons no less
q sum than Sl,25O,000, In other words,
just a fraction less than $500 each. 1t
would probably be hard to find more
remarkable example than this of the
evil effects of the transmission of hered-
itary defects, but we must not overlook
the fact that the elements Of good he
redity are just as potent as are those of
bad, and if they predominate they will
counteract tendency to disease or crime
which would otherwise occur in the off.
spring.
l will not further intrade upon your
, time by offering arguments, or recitine
, cases to prove the influence of heredity
, on human stature and character, but
will proceed to the lesson which {
knowledge of these things should bring
, to you as agriculturalists and breeders
: This principle of heredity is far reach
. ing, and is ofinterest to you in almos
every transaction pertaining to the bust
!. ness of the farm, being just as strong ii
the lower animals as In the human
. family, and is also evidenced in you
q crops Of grain, vegetables and grass.
: is no longer disputed by the most intel
ligent farmers, and has been abundant
, ly proven by tests made at the expert
\ mental farms of the country, that tn
\ quality of your potato crop depends i
, measure on the quality of the see
> planted. The same is true of your cor
% and small grains, and If your seed
ID we'll selected your hopes of haryet
10 corresponding with the richness of th
10 soil and the seasons weather condition
+ will be surely gratified, and the qualit
ID of the grain will be satisfactory
ly weight and in feeding value.
N Secretary ofAgriculture Wilson in
q statement to reporter of the Chicag
q Tribune few days ago said: "We hsy
n. succeeded in crossing the sea islam
~ cotton with the product of India, an
q. have produced in this country as a resu
or or of the experiment an excellent qualit
al of cotton. Each succeeding crop seen
i'd better than the previous one.n
e. Why should the crossing of these tM
" varieties of cotton produce bett,
at at yielding and hardier. offspring tha
lie either of the parent plantsp
es This is question to which am cor
ag PEELED to give aconjectural answer,
~ l know but little regarding the meri
lor demerits Of either variety under co