THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



dred-twenty-fourth part of the original pure- 

 bred ancestor. 



" However desirable it would seem to be 

 able to determine what qualities the father and 

 mother each transmit to their offspring, the 

 conditions of breeding are so complex and in- 

 tricate that it is very difficult to establish proof 

 of any theory as to this subject. 



" We are safe in asserting that the parent 

 which has the greatest prepotency and an an- 

 cestry bred for the longest time, in a certain 

 line, will most strongly affect the progeny. 



" We may sometimes overcome the trans- 

 mission of a defect or blemish of one parent 

 by coupling with such animal a mate possess- 

 ing very prepotent excellency in the point 

 where the other is deficient. 



" It seems to be not so much a question of 

 sex as of individuality. We may hence learn 

 what individual parents can do, and by care- 

 ful use of that knowledge, and with close re- 

 gard for accompanying conditions, bring 

 about desirable or avoid undesirable results. 



328 



