96 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



imnecessaiy to state here that the conditiou of the female 

 during pregnancy has a powerful influence upon ofispring. 

 The great stress is laid upon this point in books and reports 

 on breeding ; still its efiects.are far, very far from being over- 

 rated. The pregnant female should have a plenty of the best 

 nutrition, abundance of pure air, proper exercise, without 

 excess or deficiency. There is found a surprising difference 

 in the adaptation of female organization for begetting and nurs- 

 i ng its young. If the number of those among domestic animals 

 deemed by an expert just fitted for such purposes were sorted 

 out, the proportion, we apprehend, would be exceedingly 

 small. AVhile special care should be taken to select a female 

 having a predominance of those qualities desired in the young, 

 equal pains should be taken to see that she have a good devel- 

 opment of those organs requisite for nursing her offspring. 

 The health and constitution of the animal depend greatly 

 upon having a good start at the commencement of life, and 

 this is effected by having the right kind and sufficient quantity 

 of nutriment more than anything else. If perfect female 

 models could be selected for breeding, they would correspond, 

 we believe, precisely with that standard whereupon nature 

 has planted the true law of propagation. 



There are two or three considerations connected with the 

 female, 'that have a powerful hereditary influence. First, the 

 female should not be too young or too old ; in either case 

 the offspring suffers in point of vitality and strength. Sec- 

 ond, there should not be too great dissimilarity in the size 

 and relative proportions of the body, between the female and 

 male. If so, the offspring may suffer with an irregular or 

 unsound organization, and if the male is much the largest, the 

 life of the female may be endangered in the delivery. Third, 

 the female should have relatively a large abdomen and chest. 

 Large lungs and strong digestive organs are indispensable to 

 afford proper nutrition to the foetus. An even temperament 

 is also necessary where the disposition is quiet and docile, and 

 the instincts decidedly maternal. 



A topic intimately connected with this part of the subject is 

 the question often raised. Which has most influence upon the 

 off'spring, the male or the female ? and can distinct lines be 

 drawn in the organization, showing the hereditary influence 



