1910.] Water Supply and Small Holdings. 



289 



desired direction which can be attained by selection within 

 pure breeds lies within very narrow limits, which in most 

 cases have already been reached. There is another important 

 economic principle in stockbreeding which, so far, has no 

 Mendelian explanation. It is well known that continued in- 

 breeding leads to loss of vigour, a fact which, perhaps, 

 accounts for the superiority of the cross-bred for fattening pur- 

 poses. Darwin's dictum that " Nature abhors perpetual self- 

 fertilisation" is of no higher scientific value than the mediaeval 

 ''Nature abhors a vacuum" is an explanation of the rise of 

 water in a pump. That all the offspring of incestuous unions 

 are not degenerate is proved by Cossar E wart's experiments 

 on goats ; cereals maintain their fertility in spite of the fact 

 that they are perpetually self-fertilised. The discovery of the 

 physical laws behind these facts is imperative, if further 

 progress in the science of heredity is to be hoped for ; that in 

 its present condition the science is not in a position to give 

 much help to the breeder of farm animals is sufficiently evi- 

 dent from what has been said. New facts, however, may 

 profoundly modify current views, and lead to discoveries of 

 more economic value. What is wanted is the opportunity and 

 the means to carry out experiments on a large scale, such as 

 would be afforded by the foundation of an institute (on the 

 model of that recently established at Merton through the 

 liberality of the late Mr. John Innes) provided with a staff of 

 experts, both practical and scientific, and liberally endowed 

 with the funds which such expensive investigations necessi- 

 tate. 



WATER SUPPLY IN RELATION TO SMALL 

 HOLDINGS. 



Chas. H. J. Clayton, A.M.I.M.E. 



A brief consideration of the subject of water supply as 

 applied to small holdings will make it apparent that much 

 of the practical success of the Small Holdings Act is likely 

 to depend upon the manner in which this important subject is 

 treated. 



Permanent Ponds. — Districts which would under ordinary 



