. American bee journal. Bee culture; Bees. AMERICAN BEE 495. In-Breeliii£ In Plants anl Animals. Written for the American Be^- Journal BY HON. EUGENE SECOK. On page 220 I find a friendly criticism by Mr. O. P. Miller, of an essay pre- pared by me for the last annual meeting of our State Horticultural Society. After carefully reading his letter, I am convinced that about the only differ- ence between us is the meaning of the term " ; The proof he cites of wild birds and wild animals mating only with their own kind, I do not attempt to overthrow, but I do not call
. American bee journal. Bee culture; Bees. AMERICAN BEE 495. In-Breeliii£ In Plants anl Animals. Written for the American Be^- Journal BY HON. EUGENE SECOK. On page 220 I find a friendly criticism by Mr. O. P. Miller, of an essay pre- pared by me for the last annual meeting of our State Horticultural Society. After carefully reading his letter, I am convinced that about the only differ- ence between us is the meaning of the term " ; The proof he cites of wild birds and wild animals mating only with their own kind, I do not attempt to overthrow, but I do not call that in-breeding, unless he attempts to show that birds from the same nest, that is, brothers and sisters, or near relatives, habitually mate for propagating the species, which I do not believe. The same position is taken regarding all wild animals. I do not believe that near relatives mate, as a rule. I have no positive proof of this, but reason from analogy, which my own observation leads me to endorse, and cite further on, authorities to corroborate ray view. In a breed so well established and so widely known as the Hereford cattle, it is not necessary to breed within the lines of close consanguinity in order to keep the race pure. Relationship further removed than cousins I had not thought would be re- garded as coming within the meaning of the term. I am a breeder of Short-Horns, and have had a little experience in the prac- tice of in-breeding, which was not favor- able. I have also observed the practice in my neighbors, with common cattle, with like results. I have seen forced in- breeding for 10 or 15 years in an isola- ted poultry-yard, resulting in deteriora- ted stock. In the human family I have known several cases where cousins married to the evident disadvantage of the offspring. I do not base my objections to in- breeding alone on the Mosaic law for- bidding marriages between near relatives. I believe, however, the prohibition there inculcated is founded on soun
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectbees, bookyear1861
