CONCLUDING REMARKS 613 
in production, and secondly by the firm foundation of codrdinated 
principles which it provides asa guide to procedure in breeding operations. 
It is necessary thus toemphasize the importance of heredity as a determin- 
ing factor in production, because of the erroneous ideas which are held 
by the generality regarding the fact of heredity; it is wise to study 
genetics as a guide in breeding practice, because any knowledge which 
is reduced to a basis of known principle or is coérdinated with principle 
is that much clearer of comprehension and more assured of intelligent 
application. But with all this the study of genetics has failed of its 
highest purpose, if it has not encouraged in the mind of the student 
the open attitude toward truth and the healthy skepticism of the true 
scientist. For after all problems of animal breeding are problems which 
should be approached in nothing less than a spirit of scientific research, 
problems of infinite complexity but of intense interest as well. 
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