1048 "New York State Breeders' Association 



only of historical value, because results chaxige from time to time 

 so quickly that you haA-e very little u^jon which to go forward 

 with your investigations. If I were to start to tell you of the 

 reversed species, if I should try to tell you something about 

 the maternal influences, or if I should attempt to say something 

 of the availability of your crossing of stock for special purposes, 

 I would indeed be in deep water. However, it occurs to me from 

 what little I know of the processes of your conclusions, and 

 results of them, that this variability, which I know some of you 

 and most of you have discussed, one with another, is indeed the 

 only refuge of a breeder. It occurs to me that if the rule w^as 

 that like begets like continually, with no deterioration, that there 

 was no variability, where would your hope of selection be ? 



It strikes me that if the results of this convention will lead you 

 to some conclusion along some special line, that you will have 

 indeed done something that will make you feel that it was worth 

 while coming to Utica. I trust the result of your labors will 

 be such as to give you renewed confidence, that you may press 

 on towards the goal you have set, and I trust you will feel that 

 Utica was the place from which you made the new start, and 

 I welcome you very sincerely to this city. 



I thank you, gentlemen. 



RESPONSE TO ADDRESS OF WELCOME 

 Calvin J. Huson 



We all recall, when this association met in Utica three years 

 ago, the courtesies which we received at the hands of the city 

 authorities, and that the people generally of this city were so 

 kindly remembered by all of us that we were glad to return 

 to Utica for our annual meeting at the first opportunity. And 

 if we cannot have a successful meeting here this year amid these 

 beautiful surroundings and in this hospitable atmosphere, it 

 would seem that we could not have a successful meeting any- 

 where. It seems to me there never was a time when those of us 

 who are banded together for the promotion of the animal hus- 

 bandry interests of the state should consider so well and intelli- 

 gently the great problems that confront us here as at the present 

 time. And although Mayor Baker disclaims any special knowl- 



