i6 



The quality and nature of the grease may also suffer 

 variations frequently disadvantageous to the wool-growers. 



The appearance of Kemp on animals whose race 

 appeared to have been long free from it, the curl, and the 

 cottony nature of the wool, might in many cases be considered 

 as changes in the production resulting from the employment 

 of the " Consanguinity" method ; to the same cause may 

 also be attributed the production of wool known as " without 

 character," which may be very fine, but, as it possesses no 

 other qualities, it is not desirable to encourage its growth. 



Although " Selection" at the worst offers no danger, 

 the slow way in which it acts, and the necessity for great 

 practice and skill in its use, are reasons for having recourse to 

 crossing as a means of improvement both prompt and easy. 

 Crossing certainly acts quickly, but is it accompanied by 

 much safety ? This question is open to discussion. 

 CROSSING. 



By this method the breeder mixes two distinct races 

 to form mongrels possessed of intermediary qualities, which 

 he desires to work. The idea of crossing is frequently the 

 formation of an intermediate breed between the two which 

 have been allied together. It is easy to form the desire ol 

 creating a new race, but to attain this end is a very different 

 thing. Crossing is done to various extents ; it may even have 

 for its object the absorption of a race of ordinary by one of 

 finer animals at the end of a certain number of generations. 

 Let us examine its various modes of application. 



In the first case, when it is desirable to produce a 

 certain species of unmixed breed, the breeder knows, either 

 from having seen it, or from having made an inexpensive ex- 

 periment, that the animals he will obtain will be those he 

 requires. Suppose a case of wool-producing animals, and 

 that the sheep and the ram brought together are both of 

 equally pure races ; the product ought certainly to be a 

 medium between the two. This is what happens .... 

 but only in appearance, and in the opinion of the superficial 

 observer; for on a close examination of each mongrel, it will 

 soon be found that they have not that homogenousness 

 which at first would be thought to exist. Some are more 

 like the father than the mother ; others offer more analogy 

 with the character of the mother than of the father the 

 remainder possess peculiarities intermediary between those 

 of both parents. 



It may be asked why should these differences exist; 

 it is because the reproductors had not equal powers of inherit- 

 ance. Were it otherwise, and supposing that at this first 

 trial the breeder had obtained the results he desired, it must 

 not be concluded that a new attempt, made under analogous 

 conditions, or with the same elements, would be equally suc- 

 cessful ; for inheritance the property of race and of family 



