THE BREEDING OF MEN 



Another complication that cannot be over- 

 looked is furnished by the fact that the less desir- 

 able members of the population are observed to 

 be far more prolific than are the superior mem- 

 bers. 



This obviously runs counter to Mr. Burbank's 

 method in the development of improved races of 

 plants ; for it goes without saying that he chooses 

 the best individuals in his plant colonies for cross- 

 ing when he is endeavoring to improve a given 

 race. Yet here again there are qualifying ele- 

 ments. It may be contended, with good reason, 

 that the American race is a highly developed 

 stock, so that there are elements of good in even 

 its worst examples. One can never be sure, then, 

 that the progeny even of individuals of undesir- 

 able traits may not show reversion to the better 

 strains of their ancestors. 



We must recall that every individual has a 

 vast coterie of ancestors who in the aggregate 

 represent a great variety of traits. You can prob- 

 ably recall your four grandparents, for example, 

 and a moment's reflection will convince you that 

 they differed as to their inherent qualities. And 

 each of them tended to transmit his or her quali- 

 ties to you, their common descendant. 



Still more complicated would seem your heri- 

 tage if you could know your eight great-grand- 

 parents. And when you reflect that the genera- 

 tion back of them numbered sixteen individuals 

 and their parents thirty-two, the case becomes 

 still more complex. 



[251] 



