346 PERSONAL AND CIVIC HYGIENE 



Observations. 1. It is matter of common observation that individu- 

 als are much like their parents. Children inherit race characteristics, and 

 the young of roses are the same sort of roses, of salmon the same sort of 

 salmon, and of Indians the same sort of Indians. We all agree that a 

 rose does not produce a fern, or a fish a frog. 



2. It is also a matter of common observation that individual peculiari- 

 ties and deficiencies suffice to distinguish one rose, or fish, or person from 

 another. Did you ever know two persons having the same color of eyes, 

 hair, and skin ; the same form of nose and ears, character of thumb prints, 

 etc. ? 



Conclusions. 1. If the above observations are true, where have these 

 peculiarities originated ? Do children or offspring commonly show traits 

 of both parents ? 



2. If so, how must these traits have been transmitted to the embryo ? 

 Must they not have existed in the germ or sex cells ? 



Observations. 1. Could the Arab raise swift horses if he had con- 

 stantly mixed draft horses in the herd ? 



2. Could Mr. Burbank produce fine fruits by mixing various plants 

 indiscriminately ? Note. The fine work of the horticulturist depends 

 on selection and fixing of variations produced by cross fertilization be- 

 tween rather closely allied plants. 



3. What do you imagine might be the characteristics of a fruit re- 

 sulting from the pollen of the plum being allowed to fertilize the ovules of 

 the apricot ? Note. Mr. Burbank has succeeded in producing such a 

 fruit as would result from this process, called the plumcot. Such fruits 

 are not always permanent, however, as they tend to revert (go back) to 

 one or the other type. 



4. What do you imagine might commonly be the result if a weak, 

 sickly plant or animal should be crossed with another which might even 

 be quite healthy ? Note. Culled sheep, feeble, loose-jointed, and other- 

 wise very poor in quality, have been bred, resulting in producing a still 

 worse type of sheep, although it could be clearly seen they were Hamp- 

 shire sheep. 



Conclusions. 1. What is necessary in order to improve races and 

 stocks ? Would it do to select poor parents ? 



2. Why do farmers select the best ears of corn for seed ? What is the 

 real reason ? 



3. How are fast trotters developed by horse breeders ? 



4. A man remarked : "I have drunk whisky every day for thirty -five 

 years, and I don't see but what I have as good a constitution as the aver- 

 age man of my age. I was never drunk in my life. 1 ' His eldest child had 

 perfect health, the second was of a remarkably nervous temperament, 



