186 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



breeder can afford to keep the sires at his own expense or hj co-operation, 

 or in partnership, with others. 



Taking it for granted that the reader accepts, as true, the foregoing 

 propositions, we will next inquire into some points that should be borne 

 in mind by every one who hopes to win success as a breeder, whether 

 from the stand-point of profit or with a view to the pleasure of doing a 

 thing well. 



rv. Heredity in Animals. 



We have dwelt with some emphasis upon the importance of breeding 

 from sound, vigorous parents ; for like produces like, and the rule is 

 constant even in the case of phenomenal animals. Extraordinary devel- 

 opment is by no means the result of chance, though it may be the bring- 

 ing out in an extraordinary degree, of qualities that have been dormant, 

 perhaps for generations, for the want of what breeders call nicking. 

 By "nicking" is meant the development of dormant traits through the 

 union of a sire and dam of peculiar qualities, of the most excellent 

 traits perfectly blended together, and conferring vigor of constitution, 

 soundness and fineness of bone, along with great muscular development, 

 good digestion and excellence of the respiratory organs, and of the nerv- 

 ous system, and nerve force. With these, an animal must be good ; and 

 how to have them good is the object of this work. 



Let us now see what goes to make up that quality called heredity, 

 which is caiTied in the breeding of an animal. Charles Darwin has writ- 

 ten voluminously and conclusively on this subject, as have many others. 

 Dr. Miles, late professor of Agriculture in the Michigan State Agricultu- 

 ral College, in a treatise on the laws of development and lieredit}^ in rela- 

 tion to the improvement and breeding of domestic animals, has collected 

 and arranged much valuable matter bearing upon this subject ; and he 

 cites heredity of normal characteristics, atavism, variation, the relative 

 influence of parents, influence of previous impregnations, and various 

 other matters, as being well worth the study of the breeder. The 

 position we have assumed is, therefore, founded upon correct and long- 

 continued observation kiy the most eminent minds of this and other ages ; 

 for more than a glimmering of the laws of heredity was had even by the 

 ancients. In classic times there were families of athletes among the 

 Greeks ; and the extract already given from Xenophon shows that he no 

 less understood what a horse should be, than he did how to conduct the 

 memorable retreat of the ten thousand, and to fight successful battles. 

 Later researches by Gaiton have shown that the best wrestlers and oars- 

 men belong to a small number of families in which strength and skill 

 have become hereditary. The most successful of our trotting horses are 



