HEREDITY; ITS MEANING AND INFLUENCE 229 



is plastic and more or less susceptible to the influence of 

 artificial conditions which man more or less controls. Food, 

 habits, surroundings, the care of man, all of these affect the 

 development of the dumb beast in a notable manner. It 

 should be the business of the stockman to study these con- 

 ditions and make use of them to the material improvement 

 of his own herd. 



IF YOU INHERIT A GOOD MEMORY, YOU SHOULD KNOW 



1. The meaning of the word heredity. 



2. Under what conditions prepotency is best seen. 



3. Why a knowledge of heredity is important in stock breeding. 



4. What is meant by master breeders. 



5. The value of color markings in breed inheritance. 



6. The relation of conformation and inherited speed. 



7. Some peculiar forms of heredity. 



8. The possible value of mutation. 



9. What conditions influence variation. 



FIND EXAMPLES OF INTERESTING CASES OF HEREDITY 



10. Report on the best examples of heredity extending over at 

 least two generations, in which very similar characters appear. 



11. What is the most prepotent animal in the neighborhood, and 

 why? 



12. Report on any herd showing high ideals of the owner. 



13. Interesting cases of fecundity among brood sows are not diffi- 

 cult to find. Look some up and report upon them. 



14. What is the most interesting and peculiar case of heredity 

 within your knowledge? 



15. Find a case of atavism worth reporting. 



