2l8 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1908. 



neglecte 1 in this country as compared with England and France. 

 It is felt to be of considerable importance to conduct experi- 

 ments likely to give results of practical significance for this 

 phase of the poultry industry. 



While the poultry work of the Station will be concentrated on 

 practical problems which every poultryman wants light upon, 

 the treatment of these problems will be broad and thoroughly 

 scientific. The problems of breeding are exceedingly compli- 

 cated and difficult ones. No narrowly conceived or carelessly 

 executed experiments will ever give any results of any perma- 

 nent practical value in this field. The underlying fundamental 

 laws of heredity must be investigated before the Experiment 

 Station or anyone else can tell the practical breeder how to pro- 

 ceed to get what he wants and be certain of it. The aim of the 

 Station in its breeding work zvill not be in the future, as it has 

 not been in the past, simply to produce an improved strain of 

 hens. It is not a part of its function to enter into the commer- 

 cial poultry business. The function of the Experiment Station 

 is to experiment, and by experimentation to learn, in so far as 

 may be, facts and principles which will help to advance the 

 theory and practice of agriculture. 



