104 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



pioneers in experiment station work in Europe. He was prominently 

 identified witli the development of the experiment station system in 

 Belgium from its beginning-, being called to CTeml)loux in 1872 to 

 organize and take charge of the first station. He developed the sys- 

 tem of analytical laboratories, of which there are now seven, and for 

 many years was director-general of experiment stations. The Gem- 

 bioux Station became the capstone of the Belgian system, being devoted 

 to research work and determining the methods to be employed and 

 other matters of polic}' relating to the analytical laboratories. 



Professor Petermann was born in Dresden July 14, 1845, and gradu- 

 ated at the University of Gottingen. After serving as assistant in the 

 Weende (Gottingen) and Pommritz experiment stations, he spent two 

 years at the Nancy (France) Station as chemist. In 1872 he became 

 director of the Gembloux Station, at present known as the Royal 

 Institute of Chemistry and Bacteriology, and in the latter position was 

 also professor in the Royal Agricultural Institute. Avith which the sta- 

 tion is connected. 



Professor Petermann's investigations covered a very wide range, liut 

 dealt more particularly with the chemistry of plant production. To a 

 large extent they involved studies of the methods of investigation. 

 He made mnnerous contril)utions on the methods of agricultural 

 analysis, his method for available phosphoric acid l)eing familiar to 

 all agricultural chemists. He was one of the first to conduct system- 

 atic soil investigations with a view to preparing popular "" agronomic" 

 charts, showing the character of the soil, its needs, and its adaptal)ility 

 to different crops. He was a leading spirit and authority on all mat- 

 ters relating to agricultural investigation in Belgium, and the success 

 of the State laboratories was due in large measure to his influence. 

 Most of the directors of these laboratories were trained under him at 

 Gembloux. 



Professor Petermann was a constant contributor to the scientific 

 serials and published several books and pamphlets. He contri])uted 

 an article to this journal, published in volume five, on the Belgian 

 system of experiment stations. His most important published work 

 is his Researches on Chemistry and Physiology as Applied to Agri- 

 culture {ReeJurehes de chimie et de jdii/slologle applujuecs a Pagru'id- 

 ture). This appeared in three volumes, and is largely a record of his 

 agricultural investigations. 



The death at Woburn, Mass., on October 1, 1902, of Mr. J. R. Dodge, 

 for many years Statistician of this Department, removes one who, dur- 

 ing a long life of unremitting activity, devoted his best energies to the 

 services of agriculture and to building up the Department. 



When the Department of Agriculture was but a division of the Pat- 

 ent Office, Mr. Dodge was already engaged in its service, l)ut Jt was 



