Nov., 1910.] ANNUAL REPORTS. 35 



The following diagram clearly illustrates this feature: 



d 4 I father 



? 63 rMher— - 

 * 105 ft Offspring 



Diagrammatic drawing showing the inheritance of wool covering on head: Wool covering of Fi offspring 

 is midway between that of both parents. 



Data gathered from the F t generation tend to indicate that skin folding or 

 wrinkling, which is a conspicuous character of the Merino type of sheep, is 

 dominant over the non-folded or smooth skin of the medium and long-wooled 

 breeds. A Merino crossed upon a non-wrinkled sheep always produced off- 

 spring exhibiting skin folds, although in no case were the wrinkles so heavy 

 or so many as possessed by the Merino parent. 



It is not necessary to elaborate here upon the inheritance of wool color. 

 Our results correspond in every detail to those already worked out in this re- 

 spect. Investigations have proved pretty clearly that the white wool is domi- 

 nant over the black. We shall subsequently be able to show systematic 

 records that will thoroughly establish this fact. 



Wool testing employs exceeding and detailed labor. It is necessary that 

 the component characteristics making up the entire fibre be separated and 

 their action in heredity distinguished before a true idea anent wool inheritance 

 can be formed. The length, crimp, tensile strength and elasticity of each 

 separate wool fibre is obtained in one operation by means of a special machine 

 built for that purpose. The crimp is approximated by getting the length 

 of the fibre in its natural, crimped condition and the taut length and cal- 

 culating in percentage the difference between the two. 



One thousand fibres taken from the fleece of every sheep in, as nearly as 

 can be determined, the same positions on thejDody are tested. Acknowl- 

 edgment of assistance in this respect is due to the report of the wool specialist, 

 eighteenth report of Wyoming Experiment Station. The average diameter 

 and weight of the fibres of every fleece are also obtained. The percentage 

 of yolk in a fleece is determined by the usual wool scouring method reduced 



