REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, 1912. 19 



by Mrs. E. H. Harriman and by Mr. John D. Rockefeller. The experiments 

 of the department proper with plants and animals are thus supplemented very 

 advantageously by the extensive information already acquired by the Eu- 

 genics Record Office in respect to human heredity. 



Very interesting chemical studies have been carried on by Dr. Gortner, a 

 member of the staff, in respect to the chemical nature of pigments which de- 

 termine color characteristics, especially of the plumage in birds, of the wool 

 in sheep, and of the skin in men. 



Dr. Shull has continued his fertile studies into the heredity of plants, 

 including further investigations into the connection between heredity and 

 environment in the case of corn. These further studies confirm his earlier 

 conclusions and show also that the hereditary traits of different strains are 

 maintained irrespective of environmental influences. 



The Director calls attention to the need of his department for additional 

 buildings and equipments. A recommendation with respect to this need will 

 be found in a subsequent part of this report. 



According to the report of Prof. Henry W. Farnam, Chairman, the work 



of this department has now reached such a stage of advancement that the 



r, . . r time of its completion depends mainly on the amount of 



Department or . ^ ^ . "^ 



Economics leisure the collaborators may obtain in the near future for 

 and Sociology, consecutive attention to their several contributions to the 

 "Economic History of the United States." By aid of the special appropri- 

 ation for payment of salaries (made by the Board of Trustees a year ago), 

 it is now practicable for some of the collaborators to devote part of their 

 time and attention consecutively to this work, and two or three of them will 

 doubtless be able to give at least half-time under this plan during the ensuing 

 year. The present status of the investigations of the several divisions of the 

 department is set forth in detail by the Chairman in his report. 



The attention of the Trustees is especially invited to a paragraph in Pro- 

 fessor Farnam's report calling attention to the desirability of a more perma- 

 nent organization of this department before its present program of research 

 is completed. He recommends an organization similar to that of other 

 departments of the Institution, which would involve the appointment of a 

 salaried director and a permanent staff". The experience of the Institution 

 leaves no doubt as to the wisdom of this recommendation on the score of 

 continuity and efficiency for this as well as for other departments of the 

 Institution. Further reference to this subject will be made in the budget 

 section of this report. 



The list of twenty-four publications which have emanated from the Geo- 

 physical Laboratory during the past year, and which are briefly reviewed by 

 the Director in his annual report, furnishes the best index 

 Geophysical Labo- q£ ^^^ activity of this establishment. Two specially note- 

 worthy publications of the Laboratory have been issued 



