MAh'Tsc _VA ir Kfxns OF PLAyrs 441 



tu the results which are obtainable in the hands of a 

 master. ' 



From the standpoint of economies, jjlant- and 

 animal -Ijreeding is of the highest importance, since 

 it adds, in a superlative degrt-e, to the permanent 

 wealth and increased material happiness of a nation. 

 The work of our successful plant- and animal- breeders 

 cannot be too highly estimated, and it is a pity that 

 it so seldom results in much pecuniary gain to them- 

 selves. Government Avork in this line has been totally 

 incommensurate with the importance of the subject. 

 The United States Government, however, has made a 

 beginning by estalilishing a laboratory for plant- 

 breeding. - 



The whole doctrine of plant-breeding is intimately 

 connected with the question of the origin of species. 

 Darwin, seeking an explanation of this question, took 

 his cue from the experience of plant- and animal- 

 breeders, and conceived that species may originate 



1 Even in unskilled hands good results may often be obtained. For the 

 remarkable a<!hievements of Canadian school -children, see an article by 

 George lies, "Teaching Farmers' Children on the Ground," in the World's 

 Wi.rl; for May, 1903. 



-On the general subject of plant -breeding, see articles in the Year -Book 

 of the- United States Department of Agriculture for 1S09. by Webber and 

 Bes'iey; for 1901, b}' Hay^ (also those already referred to). Also the 

 bibliography in Bailey's "Plant Breeding.' also articles in Serihiitr s for July, 

 1904, by Harwood; in the Cn.smopolitan for July. 1904, by Gardner; in 

 Country Life in Amerira for July, 190.3, by Bailey; in the WorlrJ's Work for 

 ]ri02 (Vol. n, p. 1209), by Bailey, and in the Sim^tft Magazine for December, 

 1901, February and April, 1902, by Wickson. 



