CAN SEX BE PRODUCED AT WILL?

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 203, 21 March 1877, Page 2

CAN SEX BE PRODUCED AT WILL?

r J| It has for a long time been a subjeosim of much discussion among scientific men 1 in the medical profession to establish definitely whether in the higher order of animals there could be any rule introduced whereby the production of the sexes could be regulated at will.. The importance of such a discovery may he better understood, and its value more thoroughly appreciated, when application is made, ami trustworthy results obtained in the reproduction of the domestic animals. For example, nearly every breeder desires sometimes that the offspring resulting from the intercourse of certain animals which ho may possess sliail be males, while of others females. Their pecuniary value may be greatly enhanced at limes by such regulation. It appears that science lias at fast, with analytical resource and scrutinising care, unlocked the door to these mysteries, and laid bare the simple means by which these ends may be accomplished. Professor Thnry, of Geneva, has shown how males and females may be produced in accordance with our wishes. He says, “If you wish to produce females, give the male at the first signs of heat ; if yon wish males, give him at the end of the heat.” The truth of this law has been sustained in practice, and Geo. H. Napheys, A. M., M. I).,- of Philadelphia, in one of bis recent works, says on the subject that he has now in his possession the certificate of a Swiss stock-grower, son of the president of the Swiss Agricultural Society, Canton de Vand, umh r date of February, 187 G. which says: —“ln the first place, on twenty-one successive occasions, I desired io have

'heifers. My cows wore of the Hchnrtz breed and inj hull n |inro Durham. i succeeded ill these cases. I laving }tnnyyl l l a pure Durham cow, as it was Aery important for me to have a new hull to supersede the one I. hud bought at gieat expense, without leaving to elm nee the production of a male. Ho J followed accordingly the proscription of .1 ’rofessor T hury, and tlm success lias proved once more the truth of the law. I have obtained from my .Durham bull six more bulls (Schwartz-Durham cross), for Held work, and having chosen cows cl’ the same colour and height, 1 obtained perfect matJies of oxen. My ‘herd amounted to forty cows, oi every ■ago. In short, I have made, in all, ffi) experiments after the new method, and ill every one I succeeded in the production of what I Avas looking for—male and female 1 had not one single failure. All the experiments have been made by myself, without any otic r person’s intervention, ami consequently I do declare that I collider as real and •certainly perfect the method of Professor Tinny.” The same plan lias been tried on the farm of the Emperor of Prance, with, it is ascertained, the most unvarying, ijeicccss, and avo believe it has also been nested, to some extent, by parties in this country. There is a theory among agriculturists to the effect that the Aveatlicr influences and determines the sex, dry and cold, with northerly Avinds, producing among mares, owes, and heifers, more males, Avhilc seasons of an opposite meteorological coiulitoiq more females. The truth of this latter theory is difficult to prove, ami is, besides, based upon the conditions that are beyond the control of human agencies, and therefore of little avail to mankind ; but the former statment is susceptible of demonstration, and is so simple in its operation that the experiment may be easily tried and adjudged by any one. A common-sense view in discussing the subject of procreation suggests that it is not a matter of chance, but is from the very character ot its importance governed and controlled by natural and lixed laAvs, the perfect understanding of Avhich may, or may not, be within rea'ch of human intelligence,— Journal of Agriculture