EDITORIAL. 305 



a desire for advanced study which will not be satisfied except b\ 

 realization. By personal touch with students and experts from 

 widely different regions it is hoped that each student will get a 

 broader and clearer vision of the possibilities in agricultural study 

 and research. Returning to the institutions from which they come 

 it is expected that the}' will exert a broader influence in raising the 

 standards and expectations of agricultural education and research 

 throughout the Ignited States." 



The central feature of the 1914 session was a course in genetics, 

 comprising fort}' lectures and twelve seminars, which was planned 

 to give a systematic presentation of the present status and outlook 

 of this subject, with special reference to its agricultural relations. 

 This was in response to a somewhat general demand that more com- 

 prehensive instruction in at least one subject should be given at the 

 Graduate School. For this purpose the number of lecturers was 

 kept doAvn to four and there was a definite prearrangement regarding 

 the field each lecturer was to cover. The subject chosen was pre- 

 sumably interesting to all students of agi-icultural science and there- 

 fore the hours were so arranged that all members of the School could 

 attend. The course proved very successful and will encourage the 

 development of more definite instruction at future sessions. 



This course was opened by Dr. J. A. Harris of the Station for Ex- 

 perimental Evolution of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, 

 who presented the statistical groundwork for research work, includ- 

 ing methods of calculation and illustrations of the practical appli- 

 cations of statistical formulas in genetic studies. Prof. M. F. Guyer, 

 of the University of AVisconsin, discussed the physical basis of he- 

 redity, including the development of the ])ody and the germ plasm; 

 the chromosomes as related to heredity in the light of Mendelism; 

 sex in relation to heredity : and the ultimate nature of the germ plasm. 

 An account of some pedigree culture investigations and their results 

 as bearing upon heredity and development in plants and as related 

 to Mendel's law was presented by Prof. E. M. East, of Harvard 

 University. Blending inheritance and its interpretation was dis- 

 cussed, as was also the possible application of the present knowledge 

 of heredity to breeding problems and practice. In conclusion. Prof. 

 A. D. Darbishire, of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, pre- 

 sented results of an attempt to estimate the value of the Mendelian 

 method as an instrument for the improvement of the animals and 

 plants which are serviceable to mankind, discussing the method as 

 applied to practical breeding, and giving illustrations of its applica- 

 tion to the improvement of wool and milk. He also developed the 

 philosophical relations of the Mendelian theory in its broader aspects 

 as affecting our conceptions of hereditj* and of life in general. This 

 was done in a very original and interesting way and drew the atten- 



