Possibilities. 5 



and our animals by the application of science and 

 business principles to the practical work of improving 

 existing breeds and varieties and of forming, new ones. 

 And all who will investigate will agree that if such an 

 achievement could be reached millions of expenditure 

 if needed would be justified. Improvement made by 

 breeding our crops and animals differs from improve- 

 ments through education. It is not applied directly to 

 the improvement of the individual man or woman. It 

 is more nearly a cold business proposition, but indi- 

 rectly it increases the means with which people can 

 press civilization forward. If by spending one hundred 

 thousand dollars in breeding plants and animals the 

 nation can create annually millions of dollars more of 

 wealth in corn and cattle, the added revenues would 

 support many schools of agriculture. If by expending 

 a hundred thousand dollars intelligently employed in 

 studying the mere science of breeding animals and 

 plants many millions annually of added value could 

 be produced by those who breed animals and plants, 

 money could thus be provided with which to educate 

 all classes. If improvements in plants and animals 

 can be made as cheaply as known facts show, there 

 is hardly a form of expenditure from: which the 

 nation or State can secure such large proportionate 

 returns as from well-directed efforts in plant and 

 animal breeding. 



A few simple results from extensive research in 

 mechanics and electricity gave impulse to genius which 

 resulted in the development of modern steam and elec- 

 trical transportation. The goal in view in variety 

 and breed improvement may not be so large as that 

 represented by improved forms of transportation, but 

 it approaches sufficiently near that any possible cost 

 of needed research is in comparison a mere bagatelle. 

 In mechanics the nation found in rights granted under 

 patent laws a way of assuring remuneration for in- 

 ventors of mechanical devices. Breeding is not more 



