162 MODES OF RESEARCH IN GENETICS 



"Forasmuch as the generation and breed of 

 good strong horses within this realm extendeth 

 not only to a great help and defence of the same, 

 but also is a great commodity and profit to the 

 inhabitants thereof, which is now much decayed 

 and diminished by reason that, in forests, chases, 

 moors and waste grounds within this realm, little 

 stoned horses and nags of small stature and of 

 little value be not only suffered to pasture there- 

 upon, but also to cover mares feeding there, where- 

 of cometh in manner no profit or commodity." 



In order to prevent the multiplication of poor 

 specimens section 2 of this law provided that no 

 uncastrated stallion two years or more old which 

 was under 15 "handfulls" high should be allowed 

 to graze on common or waste land in certain 

 counties. Further, it was provided in section 6 

 that all forests, chases, commons, etc., were to be 

 "driven" at a stated time in the year (just pre- 

 ceding Michaelmas day) and all horses, mares, and 

 colts which were not of good quality, or did not 

 promise to become or to produce serviceable ani- 

 mals, were to be killed. 



The fact is that the practice of the art of animal 

 breeding, so far from languishing, for want of in- 

 struction from the science of genetics is actually 

 immeasurably in advance of that science. The 

 geneticist who is disposed to think otherwise should 

 visit a great horse, or cattle, or even poultry show, 

 and then permit himself to consider candidly the 



