33 



rinck's "Collected Papers" in five large and dignified volumes i). 

 A considerable sum remained over. This was handed to BEIJERI^XK in 

 order to enable him to build a private laboratory aft er his retire- 

 ment. 



At the celebration itself the first volume of the "Collected Papers" 

 was presented to Beijerinxk by Professor van Iterson, who had 

 previously made an eloquent address surveying Beijerinck's 

 scientific work. This address has been reprinted in Appendix G. His 

 old friends Dr. F. G. Waller and Professor Hoogewerff made 

 shorter speeches, in w^hich they testified to their great sympathy and 

 admiration. Professor Kraus, President of the Board of Curators, 

 handed Beijerinck the cross of Commander of the Order of Oranje- 

 Nassau. 



On April 21st, 1921 Beijerinck was relieved from his office to date 

 from September 6th, with thanks for the many and important services 

 rendered to the country, and on May 28th the farewell lecture was 

 given in the lecture hall of the chemistry laboratory. 



Characteristic for Beijerinck's scientific attitude is that he wished 

 to enliven also his academie swan-song by inviting his assistant — the 

 present author — to make demonstrations of various microbial 

 cultures. The title of the lecture, an abstract of which is given in 

 Appendix H was: "De cel; erfelijkheid en variabiliteit bij de mi- 

 croben" 2). A great number of colleagues, students and friends at- 

 tended the lecture. 



Beijerinck's concluding words are especially noteworthy: 



"When a leaf drops from the tree, it happens because a partition- 

 layer of live cell-tissue has been formed between branch and leaf. At 

 the moment of dropping, the partition layer is split in two, by a pres- 

 sure developing which disconnects the bundies of vessels, i.e., the 

 threads of communication between branch and leaf. One half of the 

 partition layer remains on the branch, the other on the leaf. The tree 

 is the Technische Hoogeschool, and the branch the department, the 

 dropping leaf is the parting professor, the pressure causing separation 

 is the law. The twinned partition layer is the remembrance. This will 

 last for some time on either side ; on the branch, in the department, 

 until growth shall obliterate the last traces. This will be for a long time 

 for those who come after us will find our names in the records of the 

 Technische Hoogeschool, and will ask who we were. But the leaf with 

 its share of the partition layer will soon decay, as will the departing 

 professor, who takes his memories with him till the moment when he 

 himself ceases to exist . . . . " 



Beijerinck dutifully stopped in Delft until the examinations were 

 over. He did this chiefly because his two latest assistants had to take 



ï) The sixth and final volume appears simultaneously with this biography. 

 2) "The cell; heredity and variability in microbes". 



M. W. B e ij e r i n c k, His life and his work. 



