The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-01-01

it would be the only possible outcome
of breeding. Some persons claim that
it is the stronger law. If that were OF
necessity true, and always true. then
the effort to secure uniformly would be
vain.
Which of these laws is the stronger?
That depends on the purity of the
breeding. The first law is strong in
proportion to the purity of the breed
ing and to the vigor of the animal.
The second law is strong in proper
ton to the want of purity in the breed
ing and the lack of stamina in the
animals, hence the relative strength
of these laws will depend upon condi-
tions. but fortunately the conditions
are in a very marked degree subject
to the control of the breeder, hence IL
is possible for him so to control trans
mission through selection in breeding
accompanied by proper management
that he will be able to so restrict I'M
desirable variations in the Hook tnat
rigorous selection will in great meas
ure neutralize the harm that would
otherwise result from their presence.
The existence of the law OF Varla-
ton is not an unmiXed evil. IL Is
only when variation appears In an eX-
treme form that it does serious narm.
SLIGHT variations that are downward
are harmful, but all variations are
NOT downward. Some variations are
inward. and when they are, selectlon
NAV turn them to good account. IL Is
nrohablv fortunate for the entire In
dustry of animal breeding that trans
mission is not always IN exact "a'n
ematical proportions, SO TO spedh,
even when the parents are So puio.1
and strongly bred as to insure Cneii
prepotency. If it were SO, theh 'he
nrogeny could never be Detter Ihah
the parents nor could Improvement NC
carried to a higher level. 1t some
times happens that the progeny are
on Improvement on either parent, anu
when they are, by taking due advan-
taoe of their appearance in the mock
ar herd the level of attainment III
breeding may reach higher plane.
But the fact remains, that in many
pure-bred flocks, the level OF attain
ment does not go beyond medlocr1ty'
and mediocrity that is very ordinary
at that This is all that the breeder
has to show at the end of a lifetime
spent in breeding pure-breds. The av-
erage of the entire Individual develop
ment, is the accompaniment OF
great lack of uniformity in the physical
development. The flock is not pos
sessed of one type, but OF many types,
and this may happen in HOOK Wnere
the natural conditions of environment
are good, the feeding sufficiently lib
eral and the care all that it ought to
be. What is the explanation? Why,
the breeder has either mistaken his
calling or he has not been an apt stu
dent in the school of observation with
reference to matters pertaining to
breeding, or a patient investigator
with reference to the principles that
govern successful breeding.
If the flock is to possess uniformity,
the owner must understand perfectly
correct type 1t does not follow OF
necessity that it must be the exact
type chosen by another breeder OF
the same breed, but it must be the
type that is excellent in itself and
that will not do violence to the stand
ard of the breed. The breeder who
cannot fix an ideal which he wants
so that it becomes an ever present Wis
ion rising up before him at his call,
Will never be able to properly select
males for his flock. He will be much
prone to be carried away by excellence
that is of another type from that
which he has been leaning toward i'll
his breeding operations. Such an ami
NAL brought into a flock if strongly
prepotent, will in the meantime unset
tie type. If the next ram chosen is
somewhat different in type and also
potent, type will be again disturbed,
and variation will be the outcome. In
this way lack of uniformity may be