144: FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



same distinctive mark. If it disappears for a genera- 

 tion or two, it often crops out again in full vigor. 



The defects of one parent should be met by peculiar 

 excellence of the other parent in the same point. If 

 the dam is " high on legs," she should be bred to a 

 ram with short legs ; if thin-fleeced, to an uncom- 

 monly thick-fleeced ram, and so on.* This, however, is 

 to be understood within certain limitations. These 

 counteractions are to be sought within the circle of 

 proper excellence and proper uniformity in other par- 

 ticulars. The distinguishing features aimed at in the 

 flock are neither to be sacrificed nor constantly changed 

 or disturbed for the purpose of producing a sudden 

 amendment in a single point. 



There is a practical fact of the utmost importance 

 in the selection of breeding rams. All do not trans- 

 mit their qualities in an equal degree to their off- 

 spring. The power to " mark offspring," as it is 

 termed, according to my observation, depends most 

 on two properties. The first and by far the most in- 

 fluential of these is blood. By blood I mean nothing 

 mysterious or unexplainable. I simply mean that 



* I have already alluded (under head of crossing) to a German the- 

 ory in opposition to "violent crossing," even to get rid of defects. 

 So far as size is concerned, I have no doubt of its accuracy, but after 

 thirty years' observation I have yet to learn that a ram can be to oper- 

 fect in the characteristics desired, to be coupled with the most imper- 

 fect ewe. Nay, I would go a step further in the direction of violent 

 crossing, by coupling animals of opposite extremes in many points. For 

 example : I would (other things being equal) breed dry-wooled French 

 or coarse-wooled sheep to my yolkiest fleeced ram, even though that 

 ram was too yolky fleeced to be used with ewes which already had 

 enough yolk. If this is correct breeding, it follows that a defect is 

 sometimes counteracted by a defect, or by an opposite excellence car- 

 ried so far as to become a defect. 



