The Forward Movement in Plant-Breeding 297 



Eventually, of course, we shall be able to formulate 

 somewhat definite statements as to how to proceed to 

 secure desired results, and then the literature of plant- 

 breeding can be intelligently rewritten. However, there 

 is no hope that plant-breeding can ever proceed with such 

 exactness as to enable us to produce forthwith the things 

 that we desire, in the way in which the mechanician devises 

 new machines, notwithstanding all the suggestions of 

 persons who write with much self-assurance. For all 

 that we can now see, plant-breeding will always be an 

 experimental process. It is this very experimental 

 uncertainty of the work that gives it much of its charm to 

 inquisitive and sensitive minds. 



The plant-breeder should aim toward definite ideals. 

 Now, plant-breeding is worthy of the name only as it sets 

 definite ideals and is able to attain them. Merely to 

 produce new things is of no merit ; that was done long 

 before man was evolved. A child can " produce" a new 

 variety, but it may learn nothing and contribute nothing 

 in producing it. In many "new" things that are pro- 

 duced there may be dispute as to whether they are new, 

 and as to whether they are distinct enough to be named 

 and therefore to be ranked as varieties at all. This is not 

 science, nor even breeding : it is playing and guessing. 

 What does the world care whether John Jones produces 

 " Jones' Giant Beardless Wheat" ? But it does care if he 

 produces wheat having a half of one per cent more protein. 

 We must give up the production of mere "varieties" ; we 

 must breed for certain definite attributes that will make 

 the new generation of plants more efficient for certain 

 purposes : this is the new out-look in plant-breeding. 



