II BIOLOGY AXD THE STATE 97 



the scale already sketched, because it is only by the 

 existence of numerous posts, and of a series of such 

 posts — some of greater and some of less value, the 

 latter more numerous than the former — that anything 

 like a professional career for scientific workers can be 

 constructed. It is especially necessary to constitute 

 what I have termed " assistantships," that is, junior 

 posts in which younger men assist and are trained by 

 more experienced men. Even in the few institutions 

 which do already exist additional provision of this 

 kind is what is wanted more than anything else, so 

 that there may be a progressive career open to the 

 young student, and a sufiicient field of trained investi- 

 gators from which to select in filling up the vacancies 

 in more valuable positions. 



I am well aware that it will be said that 

 the scheme which I have proposed to you is 

 gigantic and almost alarming in respect of the 

 amount of money which it demands. One hundred 

 and sixty thousand pounds a year for biology 

 alone must seem, not to my hearers, but to those 

 who regard biology as an amusing speculation — 

 that is to say, who know little or nothing about 

 it — an extravagant suggestion. Unfortunately 

 it is also true that such persons are very numerous 

 — in fact, constitute an overwhelming majority 

 of the community ; but they are becoming less 

 numerous every day. The time will come, it 

 seems possible, when there will be more than one 

 member of the Government who will understand 

 and appreciate the value of scientific research. 



H 



