Breeding Males ana jremaies—-Blight in uxun * 
experiments of a French breeder published a 
few years ago, seemed to make it probable, 
that at least in sheep, the sex of the proge¬ 
ny might be controlled, by the predominance 
of vigor in the animals bred from that by 
putting the ewes on low keep, and using vi¬ 
gorous rams of full age, a majority of the off¬ 
spring would be males :—and that by using 
young rams to ewes of full age, the opposite 
result would be produced. At one time, I 
thought, I had confirmed this rule by my own 
experience in breeding cattle. In order to 
multiply the number of high bred cow calves, 
(a result much desired at the time,) I was 
careful to keep the cows in very good condi¬ 
tion through the winter and early spring. 
My experience for four years gave tolerable 
proof that the rule was true, for of thirty-five 
calves produced m that time, 14 were bull 
calves and 21 were cow calves. But my ex¬ 
perience of nine years induces the belief, that 
the theory has been deduced from the fortui¬ 
tous results of particular years. In the hu¬ 
man species, we know that the sexes are born 
in unvarying proportions, though nothing 
would seem to be more accidental than the 
sex of a child. We have no sufficient evi¬ 
dence to determine in what proportions, the 
sexes of cattle are produced, but I have no 
doubt that it is governed by laws as immuta¬ 
ble as the proportions of the human sexes. 
My stock registers will give you the fol¬ 
lowing particulars, and I will observe that the 
cattle are kept on different farms—one a dai¬ 
ry stock of mixed blood—the other of high 
bred Short Horns kept for sale. 
The total number of calves from these two 
herds up to this time amounts to 180—and of 
these 88 were bull calves and 92 were cow 
calves. They came as follows :— 
First four years. 
14 Bull Calves. 
21 Heifers. 
1838, 
11 
a 
12 
ee 
1839, 
11 
ee 
11 
ee 
1840, 
12 
ee 
18 
ee 
1841, 
20 
ee 
17 
ee 
1842, 
20 
ee 
13 
ee 
88 
92 
Among the heifers are classed two free 
martins. The condition of the animals 
through the whole time has been very uni¬ 
form. The dairy stock being included in 
these results I give you the aggregate of the 
high bred cattle separately, viz: bull calves 
22, cow calves 28. 
JJrbana , Ohio , July 7, 1842. j. h. j. 
P. S. I see that you alluded to some com¬ 
mittee who are charged with getting up the 
American Herd Book. Can you state who 
compose the committee, where they are to 
be addressed,—and the pedigrees are to be 
authenticated, and within what period may 
pedigrees yet be sent 1 
The results above we give with much pleasure from 
an intelligent and extensive breeder. We think they 
rather confirm the rule than otherwise, as the Short 
Horns, that probably occupied the attention of their 
owner more fully than the common stock, gave one 
fourth more females than males. But we suggested the 
principle for experiment, and must depend on experi¬ 
ence alone to decide it. 
We are not aware of any committee now collecting 
information as to pedigree of American Cattle, but hope 
to report one duly organized in a few months. 
Blight in Pear and Peach Trees. 
Our friend H. of Northampton, Mass., says :— 
I think I have discovered the cause of can¬ 
ker, blight, or excresence on plum trees, so 
common in New England. My trees are 
more free from it than any in this place, 
which I attribute to their being more tho¬ 
roughly pruned, by which the sun and air 
are more freely admitted. Excessive humi¬ 
dity and absence of free circulation in the top, 
I believe to be the proximate cause of the 
disease. When it appears, it must be imme¬ 
diately taken out with a sharp knife, or if the 
limbs are not too large, they should be cut 
off and burned, to prevent the future de- 
velopement of the insects. I will examine 
this matter more particularly, by the aid of a 
microscope. Can you or any of your read¬ 
ers give the cause of blight in pear and peach 
trees I Some of my trees are full of spotted 
leaves, hard and slightly crisped. All the 
peach trees in this neighborhood have the 
leaves badly crisped, and the leaves are dy¬ 
ing in consequence. The second growth of 
leaves, however, on the new shoots, seem to 
be doing better. 
The above treatment of the plum, is identical with 
that of Mr. David Thomas, of Cayuga. His remarks 
on the Pear tree we subjoin, and shall be obliged to 
any of our correspondents to explain the causes of 
blight in the Peach tree. 
“ The Fire Blight in the Pear tree, which oc¬ 
curs early in summer, the leaves from the extremity ot 
the branches for two or more feet, appearing as if they 
were scorched. We think however, that two distinct 
causes occasionally operate to produce similar effects, 
namely: insects, and a starting of the bark in winter. 
“ The late Professor Peck on examining the branch 
of a Pear tree which had died with fire blight, said the 
damage was caused by an insect (Scolytus pyri ,) and 
that to cut off the limbs a foot or more below the dead 
part, and immediately burn them, would be the pro¬ 
per remedy. We have faithfully followed this advice ; 
and though the fire blight has been several times in the 
Fruit Garden, its ravages have always been arrested at 
once, so that we have not lost a tree from this cause in 
twenty years. We have believed that the new colonies 
went with us when we carried off and destroyed the 
branches.” 
