32 THE STOCK owner's ADVISEE. 



served by four ram lambs, about six months old. In the second 

 section were the weaker ewes, under four or above five years old. 

 They were served by two strong rams more than three years old. 

 The third section consisted of ewes belonging to the shepherds, 

 \vhicli are in general stronger and better fed than those of the 

 master, because their owners are not always particular in pre- 

 venting them from trespassing on the cultivated lands that are 

 not inclosed. These ewes were served by the same rams as sec- 

 tion two: 



Males. Females. 



The first section gave 15 25 



The second section gave 26 14 



The third section gave 10 12 



In the first section were two twin births — four females. In 

 the second and third there were also two — three males and one 

 female. 



These experiments were considered almost conclusive; but it 

 will be observed that the results are not more remarkable for the 

 range of variations presented in the relative numbers of each sex 

 than were obtained in my experience in different years with ani- 

 mals under the same management. 



After weighing the whole evidence I come to the conclusion 

 that where the male is better developed and older than the 

 female we may expect an excess of males, and where the female 

 is better developed an excess of females. If the female germ 

 has the greater vitality, is more richly endowed with protoplasm, 

 then the ovum will develop after the female form. How shall 

 we apply these theories in lireeding animals? If we make the 

 environment of the female unfavorable and that of the male 

 favorable, we may do her and the offspring harm, and vice versa. 

 We have but one resource left, and that is, as far as we can, to 

 control the time of impregnation. The weight of testimony col- 

 lected from experiments on this point goes to show that an early 

 impregnation favors the development of females, and a late im- 

 pregnation the development of males. Starting from this idea 



