THE FUTURE OF SCIENTIFIC WORK IN CUBA 355 



eveiy line of scientific work represented in the Islaad, to decide on 

 a philosophic, properly systematized and organized program and 

 to earnestly recommend that program for the adoption and support 

 of the government. 



Even now we are on the eve of serious problema for adjustment 

 that will cali forth the broadest maguanimitj'^ and scholarly judg- 

 meut of all concerned. AVe have two undeveloped botanic gardens 

 in Ha vana where there should be but one and this one could be 

 made eqnal to any in the world. But could there be a more costly 

 or useless duplication? In and about Havana we have five or six 

 public museums, any one of which alone is small but all of which 

 contain material of great valué, and all of which put together in 

 one museum, would make an institution in which Cuba might even 

 now take pride. Or, in case such a course were iíiipracticable or 

 impossible of achievement, there should at least be a condition of 

 specialization in which each museum might be given a chance to 

 become great along its own most beloved lines, giving its heartiest 

 support to all the others in their own lines and seuding its students 

 to the others for illustrative material in the other branches. Now 

 we have the impractical spectacle of a number of small museums, 

 each trying to cover the whole field from archeology to entomology, 

 with the utter hopelessness before them of being able to do any of 

 it adequately. The objection might be made that if each of the 

 smaller museums specialized and public support was promised for 

 those specialties that there would be little leffc for the central Na- 

 tional Museum. On the contrary, it seems very probable that the 

 small museums might be accomodated with specialties to the full 

 extent of their capacities and yet leave ampie roora for the organi- 

 zation of a national museum (Museo Poey?) which must surel}' 

 come in the natural evolution of Cuban science, and which might 

 hope to attain a far higher developmeut with certain side lines 

 separated. Havana has abundant room for several museums as at 

 preseot — a Museum of Archeology and Cuban History (a good 

 beginning now in the University), a Museum of Botany (in connec- 

 tion with the Botanic Garden) a Medical Museum (valuable mate- 

 rial now in the Academy and fine hospitals and prívate practices 

 to draw upon), a Museum of Entomology (a most notable nucleus 

 now in the Institute), a Commercial Museum — all these, and still 

 leave broad scope for a National Museum which shall cover the 

 major portion of Zoology, and which will require ampler capacity 



