WHAT PREPOTENCY LS. 17 



The fancier and careful breeder, however, are not working merely for fair to good average 

 results in the transmission of breed or variety characteristics. Their constant endeavor is to 

 bring the average of the stock as near as possible to the best prevailing types, and while work- 

 ing zealously toward this end they are still seeking for new, improved, and advanced types. 



The law of heredity we have discussed deals with the problems of heredity only in a general 

 way. In its general application it seeks to secure uniformity by having an ancestry as solidly" 

 as possible in representation of the qualities sought. As far as is known there is no way 

 of telling beforehand what qualities will appear in any mating or generation, or in what com- 

 binations or proportions. While, as has been said, it is a general fact that good breeding tells 

 plainly in the product of a mating, it is also true that it does not show an equality of results. 

 Some fowls have special power to mark their progeny like themselves, either in general 

 appearance or in one or more important characteristics. This power is not dependent upon 

 quality or stamina. It is found in fowls of all degrees of quality and vigor, but as it is prized 

 only when found in those of some special merit it is apt to be passed without recognition in 

 others. 



A fowl which has this power to "mark" its offspring like itself is said to be prepotent. 

 The combination of quality and prepotency in the same individual, while comparatively rare, 

 occurs often enough to have a very conspicuous influence on the development of our stocks of 

 thoroughbred fowls. A prepotent bird may transmit only its other qualities, (or some of 

 them), to its progeny, or it may transmit its prepotency also, giving a line of stock remarkable 

 for great excellence and the power of transmitting it. 



This prepotency is not the same thing as the cumulative breeding power which is gained by 

 careful breeding, though the two may so unite that it would be practically impossible to dis- 

 tinguish between them. The difference between them is easily seen when a fowl is found that 

 is notubly superior to its ancestors, and marks this superiority on its progeny to a much larger 

 degree than our law of heredity indicates would be the average influence of u parent. It may 

 also be seen in cases where an objectionable feature persists in a stock to a much greater extent 

 than is usual. Though in most cases objectionable features disappear at aUout the rate the law 

 indicates, it happens quite often that when a fowl withrsome specially good qualities and one or 

 more pronounced faults is bred from in the expectation of breeding the good quality into a 

 stock, and the bad quality out of it as quickly as possible, the fowl proves to be prepotent as to 

 the bad quality as well as the good, or, perhaps, prepotent as to the bad quality and not as to 

 the good, and the effort has to be abandoned. The prepotent fowl can be known only through 

 the results obtained by breeding it. Some fowls seem to be prepotent however mated, others 

 are prepotent in some matings and not in others. The reasons for this cannot be explained, but 

 the breeder can ascertain the facts, and frequently can learn them in time to make good prac- 

 tical use of them. It is generally considered the best policy to continue a mating that has 

 given especially good results as long as the fowls in it are fit for breeding. When a fowl of 

 good quality proves an unsatisfactory stock getter in one muting, a breeder generally tries it 

 mated differently the next season, and every season as long as fit for breeding, until he gets 

 nuch results as the quality of the bird leads him to expect it might give if properly mated. In 

 all work of this kind, the greater one's experience in breeding, and the more thorough his 

 knowledge of the stock he is working with, the oftener he is likely to make matings that give 

 satisfaction, though none know better than the breeders of greatest experience and skill how 

 often their most careful matiugs produce stock not up to their expectations. 



Th,e Ways of Heredity. 



There is quite a prevalent opinion among breeders that the female marks' her progeny 

 especially with size, shape, and practical qualities, while the male gives them color, coml>, and 

 superficial characteristics. How this opinion arose, we do not know. That it is erroneous, a 

 little experience in crossing breeds of fowls, or observations on human families of our acquaint- 

 ance, will quickly convince most people. The latter test is easier to make, for anyone can at 

 AII}' time make it mentally. 



