Miscellaneous. 367 



from the depths is too extensive even for the imagination to grasp, except 

 through a full knowledge of what practical field work has already accom- 

 plished. 



The fundamental principles of plant breeding are simple and may be 

 stated in a few words ; the practical application of these principles de- 

 mands the highest and most refined efforts of which the mind of man is 

 capable, and no line of mental effort promises more for the elevation, ad- 

 vancement, prosperity and happiness of the whole human race. 



Every plant, animal and planet occupies its place in the order of 

 nature by the action of two forces, the inherent constitutional life force 

 with all its accjuired habits, the sum of which is heredity; and the numer- 

 ous complicated external forces, or environment. To guide the inter- 

 action of these two forces, both of which are only different expressions of 

 the one eternal force, is, and must be, the sole object of the breeder, 

 ^A hether of plants or animals. 



When we look about us on the plants inhabiting the earth with our- 

 selves and watch any species day by day we are unable to see any change 

 in some of them. During a lifetime and in some cases perhaps including 

 the full breadth of human history, no remarkable change seems to have 

 occurred. And yet there is not today one plant species which has not 

 undergone great and to a certain extent constant change. 



The life forces of the plant in endeavoring to harmonize and adapt 

 the action of its acquired tendencies to its surroundings may. through 

 many generations, slowly adapt itself to the necessities of existence, yet 

 these same accrued forces may also produce sudden, and to one not ac- 

 quainted with its past history, most surprising and unaccountable changes 

 of character. The very existence of the higher orders of plants which 

 now inhabit the earth has been secured to them only by their power of 

 adaptation to crossings, for through the variations produced by the com- 

 bination of numerous tendencies, individuals are produced which are bet- 

 ter endowed to meet the prevailing conditions of life. Thus to nature's 

 persistence in crossing we owe all that earth now produces in man, ani- 

 m.als or plants, and this magnnificently stupendous fact may also be safely 

 carried into the domains of chemistry as well, for what is common air 

 and water but nature's earlier efforts in that line, and our nourishing 

 foods but the result of myriad complex chemical affinities of late date. 



Natural and artificial crossing and hybridizing are among the prin- 

 cipal remote causes of nearly all otherwise perplexing or unaccountable 

 sports and strange modifications, and also of many of the now well estab- 

 lished species. Variations without immediate antecedent crossings occur 

 always and everywhere from a combination of past crossings and environ- 

 ments, for potential adaptations often exist thro.ngh generation^, without 



