» IIOKI ICUI.rUKAl. SOCII'/IN' OF NEW YORK. 



1. The resolution of compound characters and a statistical study of their 



components. 



2. The nature of dominance and its possible limitations. 



3. The detection of differentiation among the gametes of cross-bred or- 



ganisms. 



As to the last two we are still in ignorance how to proceed, but the first 

 is a question we can at once attack by Mendelian methods. 



But apart from the profounder mysteries, the unravelling of the problems 

 of heredity has now become a matter for simple statistical research. Owing to 

 the scale on which they must be pursued, it is likely that for their further 

 elucidation we must perhaps look rather to the practical breeder whose opera- 

 tions are of large extent than to the scientific investigator whose resources 

 are generally of a more limited character. But if in the future some co- 

 operation between these two groups of workers can be secured, we may con- 

 fidently look forward to the time when the laws of heredity, hitherto a hopeless 

 mystery, will, in their outward presentments, at least, be, as the laws of 

 chemistry now are, a matter of every day knowledge. The period of confusion 

 is passing away, and we have at length a basis from which to attack that 

 mystery such as we could scarcely have hoped two years ago would be dis- 

 covered in our time. 



[For a fuller account, in English, of Mendelian facts and problems, the 

 reader is referred to the Report to the Evolution Committee of the Royal 

 Society No. i, by W. Bateson and E. R. Saunders; also to Mendel's Principles 

 of Heredity, by W. Bateson, containing a translation of Mendel's papers, to- 

 gether with a discussion; published by the Cambridge University Press (in 

 America, the Macmillan Company). These papers give references to the chief 

 writings on the subject, especially those of De Vries, Correns, and Tschermak, 

 who almost simultaneously announced the rediscovery and confirmation of 

 Mendel's work. In the latter publication, on p. 71, 4th line from bottom, 

 Ahab should be Ab, ab ; and aBab should be aB, ab. The following corrections 

 should be made in the Report referred to above: p. 24. The offspring of 

 .S". inermis x 5. armata should stand in the column headed "S. ar." p. 105, 2nd 

 line. For "agree precisely, being 3.0:1" read "are 2.7:1." p. 160. Note. For 

 "tails" read "Cupids."] 



The Chair: We feel very greatly indebted to Mr. Bateson for his admirable 

 presentation of these principles underlying fertilization. I am sure he has brought to 

 each one of us here who has had any practical experience in this work the explanation 

 of some difficulties that we have run against, whatever our work may have been. And 1 

 want to commend Mr. Bateson for the admirable presentation of a subject so full of 

 information for us. 



L. H. Bailey: Mr. President, I should like to say one word in regard to this mat- 

 ter of the Mendelian hypothesis. I have tried to follow it myself in this last year or two. 

 I wish to say to you that if you wish to follow this with the greatest degree of accuracy 

 you should get Mr. Bateson's recent book, "Mendel's Principles of Heredity." I 

 don't believe tliat we shall get ready for a long time to formulate laws by means of which 

 we may predict what is coming, because our premises are as yet in a way unknown. But 

 it seems to me that the resuscitation and revival of Mendel's theories are going to open 

 a whole new field to speculation in regard to the principles of heredity. It seems to me 

 that the next few years are going to see a discussion of the principles of heredity in re- 

 gard to plants that is comparable to that which followed Darwin's discovery. It seems 



