Theory and Practice in Breeding. 187 



to designate 10 per cent of the $4,000,000,000, worth 

 of plants and animals annually produced. He who 

 doubts the practicability of increasing the product 

 10 per cent or even increasing it I per cent may pro- 

 perly say that the possible cost of extensive Gover- 

 mental and State co-operation represents a visionary 

 sum of money. 



(1) We have many excellent breeds and varieties 

 to serve as foundation stocks, and more may be im- 

 ported. 



(2) In improving a superior breed or variety or 

 in forming one there are found in each species, breed 

 or variety numerous individuals ' which excell in their 

 individuality ; and among these there is an occasional 

 one which proves superior in its projected efficiency 

 when used as parental blood, alone or in blood mix- 

 tures with other parents superior in breeding power. 



(3) By hybridizing, i. e, croosing families, breeds 

 or varieties, or even species, individuals with even 

 greater projected breeding efficiency may be created, 

 and these rare individuals may be used singly in 

 some species of plants, and in other species of plants 

 and in animals they may be used in groups in forming 

 more valuable varieties and breeds. 



(4) Practical methods are being wrought out foi 

 ferreting out from among their fellows the occasion- 

 al pure-bred individual and the still less frequent 

 though sometimes superior hybrid individual which 

 will serve in improving or forming a superior breed 

 or variety. 



("5) Fixing the character of new families or new 

 breeds and new varieties ; gradually improving them ; 

 testing and recording and thus accrediting the ex- 

 cellencies of the best blood in each and multiplying 

 them and securing their general substitution in place 

 of less valuable forms is being better organized into 

 a breeding business, 



(6) Theoretical studies by practical breeders, by 

 the United States Department of Agriculture, by the 



