282 BREEDING AND CROSSING. 



INFLUENCE OF SEX. 



This question, in former times, excited much discussion 

 among breeders and physiologists, many contending that the 

 influence of sire and dam were equal upon the progeny, 

 taking general and not particular qualities into view. When 

 thus considered, there is much of truth in this conclusion, 

 although correct observation has very clearly established the 

 fact, that the influence of the male greatly predominates rela- 

 tive to the color, as well as texture of the hair and wool. This 

 opinion is sustained by Mr. Sanford Howard, associate ed- 

 itor of the Cultivator, in an able paper on the subject of 

 breeding, published in that periodical of 1844, On the point 

 in question he speakes thus : 



" It is, however, reasonable to suppose, that in some re- 

 spects this influence of the parents cannot be equal ; and 

 that the theory is well founded that the constitutional quali- 

 ties, nervous temperament, &c., are more likely to resemble 

 the dam, and the external qualities, such as outward form, 

 color, hair, &c., to resemble the sire. Many examples 

 might be cited in support of this theory. Many farmers 

 have noticed how much more likely their animals are to in- 

 herit the diseases of their dams, than their sires. When we 

 consider that the animal is supported during the foetal stage of 

 its existence entirely from the blood of the mother, and that 

 this blood, circulating through every part of the system, would, 

 of course, be afl'ected by the state of the animal's health, this 

 consequence would seem to be perfectly natural. 



" On the other hand, it has been noticed that the outward 

 features of the sire, more frequently than those of the dam, 



any other sheep-breeder of our country, and the great precautions he ob- 

 served not to breed from those between whom there existed too near af- 

 finities of blood, yet the writer has every reason to believe that he en- 

 croached on the breeding in-and-in system to a greater extent than he 

 was sensible of. Mr. G., as appears from his concluding remarks, dep- 

 recated the practice, for no one knew better than himself, theoretically 

 at least, the certain evils attending it. The writer engaged a valuable 

 ram of him previous to his decease, which, soon after getting home, he 

 lost by one of those legitimate diseases (dyers) which follows the system 

 of breeding in question. The loss of tlie valuable animal is certainly a 

 matter of no consequence to the public, but the cause is, however, and 

 which the writer has purposely delayed mentioning, that it might go 

 forth appended to his late friend's remarks in allusion to the ])oint in hand, 

 and have its proper weight in connection with all that has hitlierto been 

 said on the subject. 



