LUTHER BURBANK 



we shall be prepared to consider the possibility of 

 measures looking to the betterment of the human 

 breed through conscious direction of a character 

 not very different from that which has resulted 

 in the development of specialized races of horses 

 and cattle and others of man's confreres. 



Incidentally, we may add that it is largely with 

 the thought of aiding in the promulgation of 

 knowledge that must underlie such an advance 

 that the present chapters are included in this 

 book. 



THE PBOVINCE OP EUTHENTCS 



In the meantime, it fortunately chances that the 

 obverse side of the question of breeding a better 

 race can be considered with far less infringement 

 on the prejudices of mankind in general; partly 

 because the questions involved are not at first 

 thought recognized as having eugenic significance. 

 Eeference is made, of course, to the active move- 

 ments of recent years in the way of bettering the 

 environment of the individuals and the communi- 

 ties of our generation. The work that has already 

 been accomplished in this regard is little less than 

 revolutionary. Its effects must be strikingly 

 manifest on the coming generations. 



It is unnecessary here to refer, except in the 

 most general way, to the sanitary reforms in 

 question. Everyone knows something of the en- 

 heartening story of how light is being let into the 

 dark tenement dwellings of our cities; how sani- 

 tary guard is now kept over the food supplies, in- 



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