NATURE-STUDY AND SCIENCE NOTES 



Burbank^S Work. Teachers everywhere will doubtless be interested in 

 Professor De Vries's verdict in regard to Luther Burbank's work, as set forth 

 in a highly interesting and non-technical article in the March Century 

 Magazine. The author points out that much of Burbank's work is a repeti- 

 tion of things already satisfactorily accomplished in Europe. He deplores 

 Burbank's lack of theoretical knowledge, and takes occasion to point out that 

 the biological training of the future must include not merely the theoretical 

 side but also the practical side. The scientist engaged upon the problem of 

 heredity is able to make much better progress when he is acquainted with 

 the methods of practical breeders. Perhaps the most interesting point 

 developed in De Vries's discussion is that the hundreds of sports which Bur- 

 bank has on his place are not, so far as the known facts show, true mutants, 

 and for this reason De Vries learned practically nothing that would assist him 

 in his investigations into the underlying causes of mutation. It has been 

 stated in numerous magazine articles that Burbank could produce a mutant 

 at will. De Vries points out that the production of new, really new, pro- 

 gressive or retrogressive characters is true mutation, and that these have been 

 exceedingly rare in Burbank's work. Striking new combinations in crosses, 

 bud-sports, and the evolution of some scarcely visible mark into one of com- 

 mercial value Burbank regards as important as the characters referred to 

 above. This shows a lack of the scientific differentiation so necessary in 

 work which is to be of any permanent theoretical value. The Carnegie 

 Institution is now endeavoring to supply this lack by detailing one of its 

 experts to establish a theoretical basis for Burbank's work, especially by 

 instituting a s'atistical inquiry into the history of all his most interesting hybrid 

 races. By this means it may be possible to develop out of Burbank's rich 

 experience something that will be of illuminating scientific value. 



C. A. M. 



Boys' Gardens. An organization has been formed in Hamilton, Ohio, 

 to be known as the **Boys Agricultural Club." Hamilton is a city of about 

 25,000, and is distinctly a factory town. The object of the proposed 

 organization is to cultivate vaqant lots during the summer, thus providing 

 useful occupation for many otherwise idle boys. 



Cultivation of Rubber in Ceylon. Five years ago there were only 

 2500 acres devoted to rubber in Ceylon, and today there are 104,000 acres. 

 The Hevea brasiliensis, which produces the well-known Para rubber, is 



