298 PRINCIPLES OF STOCK-BREEDING. 



There were not less than three nor more than five 

 male pigs in every litter, or just as near half of each 

 as there could be." l 



Notwithstanding these conclusive cases, experi- 

 ments are now in progress of a similar character, to 

 test the practicability of breeding the sexes at will. 3 



A theory was advanced by Prof. Thury, of the 

 Academy of Geneva, that for a time was quite popu- 

 lar, and is now frequently advocated, although it is 

 readily disproved by direct observation. The first 

 notice of this theory in this country was published in 

 the Country Gentleman, from which we make the fol- 

 lowing quotations : " The sex depends," says M. Thu- 

 ry, " upon the degree of maturity of the egg at the 

 moment of fecundation, that which has not reached a 

 certain degree of maturity producing the female, and, 

 if fecundated when this point of maturity has passed, 

 producing a male." 



The theory, it will be perceived, is based upon the 

 supposition that " the production of male organs arises 

 from the greater maturity and more complete develop- 

 ment of the germ," 9 which is directly in conflict with 

 observations on the lower animals quoted below. 



Some startling results were claimed to have been 

 obtained, in experiments made for the purpose of 

 testing the truth of the theory, but they need verifi- 

 cation before they can be accepted as evidence. 



Although there are but few cases on record in 

 which exact statements are made of the facts bearing 



1 Country Gentleman, June, 1865, p. 364. 



* See Scientific Farmer, 1876, p. 181. 



3 Country Gentleman, January 7, 1864, p. 12. 



