100 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



perhaps the mo?t striking instance of the prepotency of quali- 

 ties in one individual is that reported by Hirschmann, of the 

 crossing of ^Merino sheep by a native German ram. The ram 

 had l)ut 5,500 fibres of wool ou the square inch, the third or 

 fourth cross with the Merino (^ or ^^ German) had but 8,000, 

 the twcntietli cross G^TtjisYG German) had 27,000, whereas the 

 pure Merino had 40,000 to 48,000. In other words, though 

 there remained but one part of German l)lood in the million, 

 the wool was not half restored to the true Merino typo. 



Violent crossing is thus seen to be beset with numerous pit- 

 falls no less to be dreaded than those of the closest in and in 

 breeding. But as this prepotency is especially ma»-ked in those 

 breeds whose characteristics have been long fixed by a careful 

 selection or an immemorial transmission, it can often be safely 

 availed of for the amelioration of the races. The Durham bull 

 which met his match, as regards force and fixity of type, in the 

 ancient Highland cow, has much more potency of type than the 

 less carefully selected breeds, and above all, than our nonde- 

 script native cows, and will transmit his own qualities to their 

 offspring in greater proportion than he has shared in their pro- 

 creation. The question is merely one of relative fixity of char- 

 acter, and while to the ignorant or unwary it may offjr many 

 pitfalls, to the intelligent and observent breeder it becomes an 

 arm of power. Crossing a highly improved breed with an 

 inferior one, with the view even of obtaining more vigor and 

 stamina is a dangerous practice, but crossing a poor stock with 

 a male of a select breed, with the view of raising the character 

 of the first is a safe and remunerative proceeding. The progeny 

 indeed, if afterwards bred among themselves, rarely maintain 

 the excellences of the first cross, but if steadily put to thorough- 

 bred animals, generation after generation, they will soon come 

 II]) to the standard of that race. 



10/A. Breedin<>; in and in — Close breeding'. — To perpetuate 

 and establish desirable qualities it is usually necessary to breed 

 from close affinities. But one animal may be found possessing 

 the property desired, and by pairing it with anotlier, a certain 

 percentage of the offspring will show the peculiarity to the 

 desired extent. To these the original parent with the coveted 

 possession must be put, and to their progeny, until the charac- 

 ter has become sufficiently fixed. 



