626 



NATURE 



[February 3, 19 16 



tained, both as regards the quality of the text 

 and excellence of the illustrations. Prof. 

 Florence Sabin gives a summary of her researches 

 into the development of the great systemic veins 

 of the abdomen, the result being to modify very 

 considerably our present conception of the nature 

 and origin of the inferior vena cava. She found 

 that the posterior cardinal veins disappear with 

 the Wolffian bodies during foetal life, and take 

 no part in the formation of either the inferior 

 vena cava or azygos veins. We note that Miss 

 Sabin has attained her ends by reverting to a 

 method which had fallen into disuse — that of in- 

 jecting the embryonic blood vessels. Dr. J. 

 Duesberg contributes a paper on "Recherches 

 cytologiques sur la fecondation des Ascidiens et 

 leur ddveloppment," his conclusions being in sup- 

 port of those experimental embryologists who 

 believe that the bases of the organs of an embryo 

 are localised at certain definite points in the 

 cytoplasm of the developing ovum. The final 

 paper in vol. iii. is by Dr. P. G. Shipley and Dr. 

 G. B. Wislocki, and describes the development 

 and structure of the poison glands of Bujo agua. 

 The secretion of these glands contains a sub- 

 stance identical with that secreted by the supra- 

 renal bodies. At the same time, this paper shows 

 the advantage of combining the labours of an 

 expert chemist with those of an expert anatomist. 



A. K. 



SCIENCE AND COLONIAL AGRICULTURE. 



AN article in a recent number of the Agricul- 

 tural News (Barbados) discusses the prob- 

 able effects of the war upon the organisation of 

 science from the Imperial point of view in relation 

 to industry generally and in particular to Colonial 

 agriculture. This subject has been dealt with so 

 exhaustively on all sides during the last twelve 

 months that it would seem impossible to advance 

 any new ideas about it, but the writer of the article 

 selects two fundamental causes as responsible for 

 the state of affairs prevailing until recently. He 

 believes that the British character includes a keen 

 appreciation of mechanical invention without any 

 appreciation of the scientific research underlying 

 it. The second reason is that science as a pro- 

 fession is considered by the older universities and 

 public schools as lacking in the essentials of refine- 

 ment, and that this social stigma deters able 

 men of good position from entering it. But this 

 deduction is surely incorrect; the true explanation 

 lies in the fact that the prizes that science can 

 offer are so meagre com.pared with those held out 

 by other professions. The social question is 

 merely a secondary effect. This aspect of the 

 matter was referred to by Sir William Tilden, 

 speaking as a representative of the Royal and 

 Chemical Societies at a deputation to the Govern- 

 ment a short time ago. 



While in the case of manufacturing Industries 

 individual enterprise in recognising- the true value 

 of scientific work, can, and actually has, achieved 

 much, practically nothing can be done in relation 

 to agriculture without organisation. No single 

 NO. 2414, VOL. 96] 



farmer can afford to employ an expert to advise 

 him on the scientific cultivation of his land, nor 

 can any single scientific worker, however able, 

 cope with more than a few of the varied problems 

 that practical agriculture constantly presents. 

 For this reason agricultural science is, in most 

 countries, much more highly organised than any 

 other of the applied branches. We do not think 

 there are serious grounds for the fear ex- 

 pressed by the Agricultural News that in the 

 general move to help the manufacturer British 

 and Colonial agricultural science may be neglected. 

 The Imperial Government seems to be alive to the 

 importance of encouraging agriculture in all its 

 branches within the Empire, and while some 

 alteration of methods may be necessary, it is 

 unlikely that any permanent reduction of scientific 

 work will occur. 



It is interesting to learn that in the West Indies 

 there is the same lack of intelligent contact be- 

 tween the actual producer and the scientific 

 worker that is still too obvious at home. There 

 is also a need of more frequent intercourse between 

 the agricultural experts, which is hindered by the 

 natural difficulties of communication among the 

 islands, and now almost impossible owing to the 

 war. An optimistic view is taken of the future ; 

 it is hoped that the brighter outlook for science 

 will attract more men of the best type, and that 

 in the renaissance of science throughout the 

 Empire agriculture will play its part. 



THE PROPOSED CLOSING OF MUSEUMS. 

 A S we write, there are rumours that the 

 -^^ Government is reconsidering the question 

 of the closing of museums, at all events as regards 

 the Natural History Museum, but, whatever be 

 the ultimate decision, the whole affair has been 

 a moral victory for museums, especially for those 

 illustrative of science. We might have gone on 

 for years without suspecting this warm appre- 

 ciation on the part of the public ; but the mere 

 threat of a temporary closing has aroused a 

 hurricane of protest, remarkable alike for the 

 variety and vigour of its expression and for the 

 number of interests and classes represented. One 

 of the advantages of a non-party Government 

 seems to be that it elicits the real opinion of the 

 nation, and surely it is long since a Government 

 proposal has been rejected with so near an 

 approach to unanimity. Its supporters in the 

 Press have included Mr. Evelyn Cecil, whose 

 unhappily chosen parallels of football, fox- 

 hunting, and racing only make more clear the 

 essential educational value of museums ; and Mr. 

 Harold Cox, who quotes Madame de Maintenon 

 to the effect that we all advocate retrenchment 

 except when it affects ourselves. This is true, 

 but when everybody cries out, it is because the 

 interest attacked has become almost a necessity of 

 life. 



The necessity and the value in their diverse 

 aspects have been emphasised in the Times and 

 other periodicals by Lords Morley, Bryce, Gren- 

 fell, Sudeley, and Sydenham, by Sir Richard 



