TRUE RELATION OF SCIENCE TO INDUSTRIES 297 



different parts of the world, in Darwin's work, to which 

 I have already referred. 



These examples show what good results can be accom- 

 plished by paying strict attention to the laws which 

 science has already discovered, and what progress we 

 may expect from further investigations in the same 

 line. There seems to be no more promising field for 

 developing the relation of science to agriculture than 

 in the one at which we have just taken a glance. 

 A long series of carefully conducted scientific experi- 

 ments will still be needed before we are able to de- 

 termine what sheep will give the best wool in our cli- 

 mate, what cows the best milk, and what hogs the best 

 pork. 



In fact there is not a single domesticated animal 

 which, by careful attention to variation and careful 

 crossing and selection, may not have its nature better 

 adapted to our climate, and thus become more profita- 

 ble to the farmer. It is a good work and worthy of 

 diligent prosecution. 



BOTANY. 



The science of botany is justly regarded as having 

 a very intimate relation to agriculture. I have already 

 indicated in a previous part of this paper how a 

 botanist may be of great use in an experimental station 

 in the examination of seeds. In the seeds of varieties, 

 for example, nearly allied to each other, the seed may 

 be so nearly alike that a skilled botanist will be required 

 to detect the difference. 



Taking advantage of this similarity, the unprinci- 

 pled seller may mix the seed of a comparatively worth- 

 less variety with one which is highly esteemed and sell 

 the mixture for the best seed. Just as often a dis- 



