1002 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The subject of breeding presents many excellent opportunities for 

 research, but the breeding of plants and animals by experiment sta- 

 tions or by practical breeders is not necessarily of that grade. The 

 study of principles and the broadening of knowledge as to how 

 desired results may be secured is one thing, and the intelligent appli- 

 cation of such knowledge in the improvement of existing varieties is 

 another. It is for the Avorker to determine which line he will under- 

 take. Not all of the breeding Avork is necessarily confined to the 

 research fund — in fact, only such as involves actual research features 

 is appropriate to it. There is a place for the more practical kinds of 

 breeding work, provided it is not merely commercial and contains 

 experimental features. 



In a comparatively few cases does the breeding work of the stations 

 actually deal primarily with underlying principles or methods; in 

 some others it involves the more or less systematic study of phenomena 

 observed in connection with the attempt to secure improvement, but 

 in many cases the primary aim and the one largely influencing the 

 conduct of the work is improvement in some particular by well- 

 known methods, usually depending on the chance of favorable 

 variation. 



There is danger, therefore, that the expectations aroused by the 

 number of undertakings in breeding may not be fully realized in the 

 scientific output. This seems quite likely to be the case unless more 

 scientific features are introduced. This emjDhasizes the necessity of 

 recognizing the proper distinction between various kinds of effort, 

 and applying the proper terminology. The terms " investigation " 

 and " original research '' have been used too loosely in reference to 

 station work, and that practice is likely to bring a reflection on the 

 scientific work in agriculture. These terms are not easily- defined, 

 being largely a matter of feeling and spirit, but they stand for 

 fairlv definite grades of work in the minds of scientific men. 



Of the 63 breeding projects of the experiment stations, only 11 

 relate to the breeding of animals. The small number of the latter 

 is perhaps natural, both from the cost of animal experiments and 

 the number of men who are especially interested in that phase of 

 breeding studies. The subject is more complex because animals are 

 more highly organized than plants and greater time is necessary to 

 secure results. It is believed, however, that more investigation could 

 profitably be undertaken in that line, but investigations of insufficient 

 extent and thoroughness are to be discouraged. 



There are several quite large projects being carried on by the 

 stations, and in addition to these there are a number conducted under 

 other auspices, notably by Davenport, under the Carnegie Institu- 

 tion, and by Castle, at Harvard. The field is a most appropriate one 

 to the agricultural experiment stations and to the Adams fund. 



