<|B THE BOSTON TERRIER 



must be noticed before this chapter is closed, and 

 that is Predetermining the Sex. Most breeders, 

 of course, are anxious to have male pups pre- 

 dominate in a litter, and it is a demonstrated 

 fact that ordinary mating produces from four to 

 ten per cent more males than females. For a 

 number of years I had always believed it was 

 impossible to breed so as to attain more than 

 the excess of males above noted, but several 

 years ago I accepted an invitation from Mr. 

 Burnett, of Deerfoot Farm, of Southboro (the 

 owner of Kate or Gyp, the mother of the breed), 

 to spend the day. He was, as will be recalled, 

 one of the earliest and most enthusiastic breed- 

 ers of the Boston, and is now a scientific breeder 

 of choice dairy stock. We had been discussing 

 a number of problems in regard to raising stock, 

 when he exclaimed: "Mr. Axtell, I believe I 

 have discovered the problem of sex breeding. If 

 I want heifer calves, I breed the cow as soon 

 as she comes in season. If a bull calf is wanted, 

 the cow is served just before going out of sea- 

 son." And said he, "In nineteen experiments I 

 have only been unsuccessful once, and I think 

 you might try the same plan with your Bostons." 

 I have since done so, and although not nearly 

 the same measure of success has attended my 

 experiments as his, yet by breeding bitches at 

 the close of the heat rather than at its com- 



