Possibilities. 7 



attention was turned to the breeding of plants, for the 

 purpose of studying the general philosophy of breeding 

 and also to attempt actually to produce valuable varieties 

 of the important field crops. In fact the writer entered 

 upon plant breeding quite as much to acquire a broad 

 grasp of the theory of animal breeding as to learn to 

 breed plants, and actually to improve the value per acre 

 of Minnesota's field crops. In plants it was found 

 possible to deal with large numbers necessary to use 

 in experiments on the theory and methods of 

 breeding. Wheat has served well among plants for 

 studying some of the questions involved in methods 

 of breeding and for getting a general view of the broad 

 orinciples which govern in plant and animal improve- 

 ment. Flax, corn, alfalfa and other crops have each 

 taught lessons, and they promise many more. Some 

 plans, more or less new, for promoting animal breeding 

 have been long in mind, and will here be first set forth 

 in a general way. It is the desire to emphasize the value 

 of meritorious pedigreed blood; the importance of re- 

 search in the science of breeding ; the need of more at- 

 tention to teaching animal and plant breeding ; the nec- 

 essity of using large numbers, both in selecting individ- 

 uals and in testing breeding powers ; the closer co-oper- 

 ative organization of all interested in breed and va- 

 riety improvement; and the expenditure of sums of 

 money more nearly adequate to meet the difficulties 

 and to produce the larger values which are possible in 

 improved plants and animals. None will get more of 

 interest or instruction out of whatever "talking back" 

 may be aroused by these articles, whether from the edi- 

 torial chair or from the fraternity of breeders, than 

 will the writer. 



Below are formulated some general propositions 

 which briefly summarize part of the theories and con- 

 ditions under discussion: 



i. Variation exists in every class, breed or variety 

 of animals or plants, a few being far below the aver- 



