144 FINE WOOL SHEEP ILUSBANDRY. 
same distinctive mark. If it disappears for a genera. 
tion or two, it often crops out again in full vigor. 
The defects of one parent should be met by peculiar 
excellence of the other parent in the same point. If 
the dam ‘is “high on legs,” she should be bred toa 
ram with short legs; if thin-fleeced, to an uncom- 
monly thick-fleeced ram, and so on.* This, however, is 
to be understood within certain limitations. These 
counteractions are to be sought within the circle of 
proper excellence and proper uniformity in other par- 
ticulars. The distinguishing features aimed at in the 
flock are neither to be sacrificed nor constantly changed 
or disturbed for the purpose of producing a sudden 
amendment in a single point. 
There is a practical fact of the utmost importance 
in the selection of breeding rams. All do not trans- 
mit their qualities in an equal degree to their off- 
spring. The power to “mark offspring,” as it is 
termed, according to my observation, depends most 
on two properties. The first and by far the most in- 
fiuential of these is blood. By blood I mean nothing 
mysterious or unexplainable. I simply mean that 
* T have already alluded (under head of crossing) to a German the- 
ory in opposition to ‘violent crossing,’ even to get rid of defects. 
So far as size is concerned, I have no doubt of its accuracy, but after 
thirty years’ observation I have yet to learn that a ram can be to oper- 
fect in the characteristics desired, to be coupled with the most imper- 
fectewe. Nay, I would goa step further in the direction of violent 
crossing, by coupling animals of opposite extremes in many points. For 
example: I would (other things being equal) breed dry-wooled French 
or coarse-wooled sheep to my yolkiest fleeced ram, even though that 
ram was too yolky fleeced to be used with ewes which already had 
enough yolk. If this is correct breeding, it follows that a defect is 
sometimes counteracted by a defect, or by an opposite excellence car- 
ried so far as to become a defect. 
