PROPOSED EXPLORATIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS 275 



tions, etc. So clearly has this need been seen that hardly an evolu- 

 tionary writer of prominence has not appealed for such work. I re- 

 member that Professor Davenport in his course on evolution at Har- 

 vard made a strong plea for experimental work. 



It is gratifying to see some start now being made in this direction. 

 Professor Ewart, of the University of Edinburgh, in Pennycuik 

 farm is carrying on experiments in heredity with birds and mam- 

 mals. The results on telegony are the most valuable ever produced, 

 and have practically settled, for most biologists, that former moot 

 question. De Vries, in Holland, is experimenting upon large series 

 of plants in extensive gardens with reference to heredity and varia- 

 tion. His classic work, the Mutations Theori is founded upon the 

 results of these experiments. 



Why Such Study Has Hardly Begun. 



There is not lacking ability, interest, or desire to do work of this 

 kind, but it is the lack of facilities which prevents effort. Such ex- 

 periments are beyond the means of the unassisted worker for the 

 following reasons : 



(a) Expense. A barn, greenhouse, or a large and adequately 

 protected garden is required. The collection of the material desired 

 would sometimes require the expense of traveling. 



(&) Time. Every day-year-around attention is impossible for 

 most college teachers, who are generally absent for lectures, meet- 

 ings and vacations, from time to time, and who can not afford to em- 

 ploy a reliable and skilled assistant to carry on the routine work in 

 their absence. 



(c) Permanence. Such experiments often need to be continued 

 through many years. This is very difficult in a university where 

 such work would probably be done by the energy of but one man 

 who might at any time be called to another position. 



{d) The agricultural experiment stations are limited to economic 

 prohleins. 



Advantages of an Experiment Station. 



It is, therefore, easy to see why such work has not been carried 

 on in the past, except to a very small extent, and why we may ex- 

 pect to see valuable results from such an institution. A further con- 

 sideration, however, is that effort in such vivarium must be vastly 

 more productive than equal effort by individual investigators, be- 

 cause : 



