Regulating the Sex of the Offspring of Animals. 253 
" At the same time the cost is so small, as I have here shown, 
that few tenants would object to fitting up barns in the manner 
described, if the landlord granted permission and at the same 
time allowed some of the materials. 
i " Joseph Blundell, Land Agent, &c. 
" Burshdon, Nov. 26th, 1863." 
3. — On Regulating the Sex of the Offspring of Animals* 
If there be any device for regulating the sex of the offspring of 
our flocks and herds, every breeder is interested in knowing it ; 
even if a hint can be given which only improves his chance, 
without costing much trouble, it still is a boon. 
It would seem from the following testimonial that Professor 
•Thury of Geneva had got some insight into one of the factors 
which enter into this complicated and mysterious problem : — 
"I, G. Cornaz, manager of the property of my deceased 
father, M. A. Cornaz, late President of the Agricultural Society 
of Roman Switzerland at Montet, Canton de Vaud, hereby 
certify that I received from M. Thury, Feb. 18, 1861, a paper 
containing confidential instructions for the purpose of making a 
practical experiment to ascertain the law which regulates the 
sex of the offspring of animals. 
" I have applied these directions to my herd of cows, and 
have obtained at once, without any tentative trial, the desired 
results. 
" In the first instance, in 22 successive cases, I endeavoured 
to obtain heifer-calves. My cows were Swiss, and my bull a 
pure Durham. Heifer calves were, therefore, in request — bull 
calves only fit for the butcher ; in every instance I obtained the 
desired result. 
" Later, when I had bought a pure-bred Durham cow, I was 
anxious to breed a bull to take the place of the one which I had 
bought at a large price. Again I acted according to Professor 
Thury's directions, which are ready of application, and again I 
was successful. 
" Besides my Durham bull, I designedly bred 6 half-bred 
oxen for the plough from cows selected for their colour and size. 
My herd comprised 40 cows of all ages. 
" On the whole I have tried the new directions twenty-nine 
times, and in each case obtained the desired result, male or 
female ; I have had no instance of failure. I personally watched 
* For the materials on which this and the following papers are based the editor 
is indebted to the ' Journal d'Agriculture Pratique.' 
