36 THE BREEDING PROBLEM. 



really understood by many and only to be learned by experience and 

 close observation — namely, that the transmission of certain qualities, 

 good or bad, for which a given family is noted, does not always proceed 

 in direct proportion to the quantum or arithmetical proportion of the 

 blood of such family represented in the animal em])loyed. 



Thus, the trotting quality of the Messenger and Bellfounder families 

 is not in many cases transmitted by sires with six separate lines of the 

 blood of either of these sires with a force equal to that displayed 

 by Rhode Island, a remote descendant of a daughter of Messenger, 

 and embracing but this single and remote line of his blood and no 

 known trottmg quality aside from that thus derived. 



In like manner, the tendency of the Duroc blood toward infirmity 

 in the matter of spavins, curbs and ringbones is often transmitted in 

 a sino-le line or smaller number of the same with OTeat force and viru- 

 lence, while other families and animals showing a larger quantum of 

 that blood are apparently free from all taint or infirmity. 



This latter featui'e is contrary to the general rule, which is ordinarily 

 safely followed, namely, that the good or bad qualities of a family 

 vrill transmit in direct and arithmetical proportion (to a great extent) 

 to the quantum of such blood possessed by the animal employed, and 

 that such tendencies are reinforced and invigorated by successive 

 reunions of separate lines of such blood after the same has been 

 departed from for a period. By this method, the best and most distin- 

 guished results have been attained in the breeding of trotters. 



CEOSS-BREEDING. 



It must be also kept in mind, that all trotting blood is not alike, 

 and that the blood of different trotting families is not so far homoge- 

 neous that they may be employed to reinforce each other. They are as 

 likely to counteract as to aid in securing trotting excellence. Hence it 

 is, that we sometimes find a horse so bred as to embrace the blood of 

 every distinguished trotting family known among breeders, and his 

 failure as a trotter or breeder is not less complete than is the list of 

 trotting crosses embraced in his pedigree. 



A pedigree may embrace very little and yet be borne by a good 

 horso, and it may embrace the blood of every eminent trotter or noted 

 family in the land, yet but adorn an animal of no value whatever as 

 a performer or breeder. 



Nothing is so common as a pedigree parading crosses of all the 

 noted trotting families, which the owner exhibits with entire confi- 



