of  which  all  the  component  parts  must  properly ­
  balance  each  other,  and  that  both  in
quantity  and  quality  all  the  various  stocks
held  must  be  on  a  near  approach  to  equality.
We  have  further  endeavoured  to  show,  unless  a
contemplated  new  purchase  proves  on  investigation ­
  to  blend  satisfactorily  with  the  stocks
already  held,  it  is  dangerous  to  combine  it
with  them  in  the  same  Investment  Scheme.
Here  we  will  describe  the  fundamental
principles  which  should  guide  investors  in
the  construction  of  Investment  Schemes.  In
pursuance  of  this  idea,  we  will  first  assume
that  the  investor  starts  without  any  stocks
in  hand.  Then,  when  we  have  exhaustively
treated  of  the  construction  of  an  Investment
Scheme,  we  will  in  the  succeeding  chapter
deal  separately  with  the  treatment  of
stocks  in  hand,  and  show  how  an  existing
Investment  List  should  be  placed  on  a  sound
foundation.
First  of  all  the  investor  should  make  up
his  mind  what  results  he  desires  to  obtain.
Almost  any  reasonable  result  is  procurable,
provided  that  the  means  most  likely  to
produce  the  desired  end  are  employed.  To
illustrate  clearly  what  we  mean  we  will  outline
and  discuss  a  few  of  the  typical  and  most
frequently  recurring  objects  of  investment.