CONCLUDING REMARKS 



609 



fact that simultaneous attack may be made in such investigations both 

 against the more obvious and the more obscure questions. 



Since work of this kind requires relatively large funds and consecutive 

 attention during many years, it is the kind of research which is eminently 

 suited to the facilities provided by agricultural experiment stations. 

 In the present state of knowledge in genetic enquiry, investigations in 

 heredity to be of value must be planned and directed by carefully trained 

 men such as should make up the research staff of experiment stations. 

 Undoubtedly as the need for this type of research becomes felt more 

 strongly, as it inevitably will when agricultural methods become more 

 intensive, special facilities will be provided such as are particularly 

 adapted to genetic research. We cannot well apply genetic principles 

 to their full value before we have definite genetic knowledge. 



The Service of Genetics. At the present time genetics can without 

 question render an important service to animal breeding, for excellent 



FIG. 238. Laboratory devoted to genetic research at the University of Illinois. 



as may be the art of the skilled practical breeder it remains a regrettable 

 fact that it is neither practised nor known by the great body of practical 

 breeders in this country. The great fundamental conception of genetics 

 that heredity is the primary guiding hand in determining the character- 

 istics of the individual, whether physical or mental, has not become a 

 part of the fund of knowledge of the general public. The firmly grounded 

 belief of the geneticist that the phenomena of heredity have a definite 

 knowable basis are still flouted by the less informed among our practical 

 brethren, not only in speech but also in deed, for nothing is more pitiable 

 than the blind hope manifested among some of them that something 

 good may come out of their hit-or-miss methods of breeding. Superiority 

 does not arise from inferiority in animal breeding; planless breeding 

 operations are not less deplorable than lack of systematic action in any 

 other department of rural activity. 



It is here indeed more than in any other fashion that genetic instruc- 

 tion finds its justification. For as more and more men become familiar 

 with the laws of heredity and by inference and example broaden the 



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