722 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



these units can be obtained. The methods of the breeder of the 

 future now become clear. In the first case, he will have to 

 become familiar with all possible cultural varieties of the plant 

 he is concerned with. From these he will have to choose a 

 variety here, another there, showing the features he desires to 

 build together into one ideal type. Once these characteristics 

 have been decided on, it only remains to make the necessary 

 crosses and ultimately isolate the type. The whole matter 

 appears simple, and, as far as one can foresee, the main 

 difficulty will be to secure new types in which all of the many 

 features are satisfactory. This is particularly the case with the 

 crops of the farm, where a slight failure in any one respect 

 means, from the agriculturist's standpoint, complete failure. 

 Still, given sufficient workers, the overcoming of such diffi- 

 culties is merely a matter of time, and it rests with those 

 who desire to see their crops improved to provide those 

 who are willing to acquire the technical knowledge necessary 

 for such work with sufficient opportunities to carry it on. 

 Fortunately the signs are not wanting that this will soon be 

 the case ; and in countries where the cultivation of crops is still 

 a matter of national importance, experimental stations devoted 

 to this purpose are being founded. 



