102 BOAED OF AGRICULTUEE. 



of breeding, il^also furnishes a key by which every question, 

 new or old, may be solved. 



When the truth of this law is generally admitted, and its 

 principles practically applied, language will fail in expressing 

 the brilliancy or importance of its results. Guided by these 

 principles, the science of breeding will be clothed with new 

 interest, will be pursued in a more intelligent manner, and 

 with a greater certainty of securing the desired objects. Un- 

 der such auspices, may we not expect that the improvement 

 of domestic animals will be more rapid, sure and permanent 

 than it has ever hitherto been ? 



The Chaieman. I am happy to say that we have a larger 

 number of gentlemen here competent to discuss this question 

 than could be collected, perhaps, in any meeting in New Eng- 

 land, and we hope and expect that these gentlemen will not 

 let their modesty govern them in this matter, but that they 

 will take hold of this subject and give us their views in full, 

 as far as possible. The question is now open for discussion, 

 free to any one. I do not wish to call upon any individual 

 personally, although I can do so if it becomes necessary. We 

 hope to have a free-and-easy meeting. We want to have 

 every man in this meeting feel at home, and understand that 

 he is free to speak his mind. 



Prof. Agassiz. I would like to say a few words upon this 

 subject. I hardly dare to enter upon the discussion of the 

 subject which as been so ably presented by Dr. Allen, and 

 holding somewhat different views from those which he has 

 expressed, I feel that perhaps this is not the proper place to 

 present them ; but as your president has said he hoped every- 

 one would feel at liberty to express his opinions, perhaps I 

 may be allowed to say a few words. But there is something 

 beyond that. We have come here not only to exchange our 

 opinions ; we have come here to see if we can increase our real 

 knowledge. We all agree upon those matters which are no 

 longer matters of opinion, but which stand in the estimation 

 of all as established truth, so far as we can reach ; where we 

 disagree, it is because we do not know enough to have really 

 formed opinions. As soon as it is recognized that our disa- 

 greement arises from ignorance, and is not based on knowl- 



