EDITORIAL. 607 



The response from the teachers, investigators, and others concerned 

 was quite general, althoiiiili the time was short. Some thirty papers 

 were received from the hmd-grant institutions, other colleges, normal 

 schools, etc.. in the United States, which give domestic science courses. 



These papers treated of such subjects as descriptive accounts of 

 courses in home economics at the University of AVisconsin. University 

 of Minnesota. Teachers College, and University of Illinois; the 

 respiration calorimeter of this Office and the work undertaken with 

 it; the respiration calorimeter used in cooperative experiments at the 

 Institute of Animal Nutrition, Pennsylvania State College; the 

 American Home Economics Association and its work; a brief ac- 

 count of the nutrition work of this Office ; and a summary of nutri- 

 tion literature Avhich has "appeared in the United States since the 

 previous congress. 



In presenting the American work to the conference, Doctor Lang- 

 worthy briefly outlined its scope, the agencies engaged in it. and dis- 

 cussed certain features of the findings and the general result of the 

 movement. Prof. Paul de Vuyst, inspector of agriculture in Bel- 

 gium, also spoke of the character and extent of this movement in the 

 United States and paid attention particularly to the work in nutrition 

 in the agricultural colleges and this Department. 



Such successful conferences serve to bring out the common interest 

 in investigation, irrespective of the locality where it is ]nade, and 

 demonstrate the large human element involved in a si)ecial line of 

 research and its application, which has become world-wide. The bet- 

 ter understanding of the work and methods employed in different 

 countries, and the zeal and inspiration gathered from personal con- 

 tact with the leading workers are an important product of such 

 meetings. 



The death of Prof. William Henry Brewer, which occurred at his 

 home in New Haven, Conn., November 2, removes an interesting- 

 figure, Avhose name is associated with the history of the earliest imder- 

 takings in agricultural instruction. 



Professor Brewer Avas a native of New York State, where he was 

 born September 14, 1828. After attending the Ithaca Academy for 

 three winters he entered Yale Universit}''. A scientific department 

 had recently been established there, with John P. Norton as professor 

 of agriculture and Benjamin Silliman, jr., as professor of chemistr}'- 

 as applied to the arts; and an agricultural chemical laboratory' was 

 opened Avith the college year in 1847. This new department formed 

 the beginning of the Sheffield Scientific School. Professor Brewer 

 entered the institution in 1848, intending to spend the winter '' learn- 

 ing to analyze soils and manures," but was induced by Professor 

 Norton to remain for tAvo years, taking the regular course then being 

 established. 



G3100°— No. 7—10 2 



