AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



593 



TABLE XII. THE TEN STRONGEST DEPARTMENTS 1W EACH SCIENCE TOGETHEB WITH THEIB GAIN OB LOSS 



IN A PERIOD OF ABOUT FOUR TEARS 



in scientific work, ability in teaching and ad- 

 ministration being given a subordinate place. 

 A university may conceivably have a depart- 

 ment consisting of men of moderate scientific 

 standing, but of personal distinction and su- 

 perior teaching ability. Some universities 

 even have collegiate professors who are not 

 supposed to permit research work to distract 

 them from teaching and the personal oversight 

 of students. The writer believes that such 

 men belong to the past rather than to the 

 present generation. Under existing condi- 

 tions scientific men of ability and character 

 will be investigators, and there is a high cor- 

 relation between these traits and teaching 

 skill. However, this is one of the numerous 

 questions awaiting scientific solution. 



Another factor not taken into account by 

 39 



the figures is the age of the men. As a matter 

 of fact, this should not be considered in the 

 present strength of an institution or depart- 

 ment, for if a man of forty and a man of sixty 

 have about the same position, they may be 

 regarded as of about equal value for the pres- 

 ent. There are drawbacks and advantages of 

 both youth and age which nearly balance each 

 other or regarding which we have at present 

 no exact information. The writer would pre- 

 fer the merits and faults of the younger men. 

 However this may be, the departments or in- 

 stitutions having the younger men are in a 

 better position as to the future. 



In some cases the strength of the depart- 

 ments should be considered in relation to 

 other factors. Thus, to take an example, the 

 Bussey Institution, the Arnold Arboretum and 



