August 0, 1000] 



SCIENCE 



189 



The Chemistry of Scrape Formation: C'liAS. H. 



Hebty, University of North Carolina, Clmpel 



Hill, N. C. 



" Scrape " is the hardened resinous mass which 

 forms gradually on the scarified surface of certain 

 pines during the turpentine season, March to 

 November. Determination of the unsaponifiable 

 matter in various oleo-resins shows that the 

 amount of this material is relatively high in trees 

 which do not form scrape (Pinus heterophylla) 

 and low and variable in scrape-forming trees 

 {Pinus palustris) . The explanation is ofl'ered 

 that the amount of scrape formed is approxi- 

 mately inversely proportional to the per cent, of 

 unsaponifiable matter present, this being a honey- 

 like, non-crystallizable substance which acts as a 

 retardant of crystallization in the oleo-resin after 

 it exudes from the tree. Confirmation of this idea 

 is furnished by analyses of the oleo-resins of 

 Loblolly pine (P. tceda) and old field pine (P. 

 echinata ) . 

 The Great Comet Next Spring: John F. Lanneau, 



Wake Forest College, Wake Forest, N. C. 

 A Study of Varieties: W. N. Hutt, Department 



of Agriculture, Ealeigh, N. C. 



Plants of economic value being subject to do- 

 mestication usually give rise to numerous varie- 

 ties. 



Horticultural plants afford better material for 

 study than agricultural, because the latter are 

 usually treated collectively while the former are 

 necessarily treated as individuals. 



Varieties of a century ago as listed by Wm. 

 Coxe, of Burlington, N. J., in 1818 as compared 

 with modern varieties. 



X^^ Listed NOW. 



Apples 133 2,138 



Pears 65 2,567 



Peaches 38 449 



Plums 18 522 



Of the 133 apples listed by Coxe 43 or 32 per 

 cent, of them are of foreign origin. Now exclusive 

 of recent Russian importation but four are found 

 in present variety lists. Variety lists are be- 

 coming more and more native American. 



Pear varieties are largely foreign, but most use- 

 ful varieties for American conditions are natives, 

 e. jr., Seckel, Keifer. 



Of early varieties of apples as listed by Coxe 

 but nine are found in lists of to-day. Of 2,138 

 varieties of apples in modern lists only 85 are the 

 result of seed planting and selection. All re- 

 mainder are chance seedlings. The life of a 



chance seedling is a good example of the " fortu- 

 itous law of chance." One may survive, millions 

 are lost. Reasons for varieties not " coming true." 

 Reasons for " running out " of varieties. 



The history of the corn is an example of varia- 

 tion. The tomato is in a state of evolution due 

 to high feeding under domestication. 



The impossibility of obtaining ideal varieties is 

 because our ideals advance with our knowledge 

 and many of the characteristics we would want in 

 an ideal variety are incompatible in one individual. 

 Ideals are well illustrated by opposites. We 

 want : apples that will grow farther south, peaches 

 that will grow farther north, pears that will not 

 blight and that have no grit and sand in them, 

 oranges that are not bitter and pithy, quinces 

 that are not wooden, grapes without seeds, ber- 

 ries that are not seedy, and the small boy wants 

 the stomach-acheless green apple. In short, we 

 want the rainbow, but as we advance it ever 

 recedes. 



Social Science: Report on the White House Con- 

 ference on Care of Dependent Children: W. B. 

 Streetee, Superintendent the North Carolina 

 Children's Home Society, Greensboro, N. C. 



Syllahi of Conference Resolutions 



1. Home Care: Children of worthy parents or 

 deserving mothers should, as a rule, be kept with 

 their parents at home. 



2. Preventive Work : Society should endeavor to 

 eradicate causes of dependency like disease and 

 to substitute compensation and insurance for re- 

 lief. 



3. Home Finding: Homeless and neglected chil- 

 dren, if normal, should be cared for in families, 

 when practicable. 



4. Cottage System: Institutions should be on 

 the cottage plan with small units, as far as pos- 

 sible. 



5. Incorporation: Agencies earing for dependent 

 children should be incorporated, on approval of a 

 suitable state board. 



6. State Inspection : The state should inspect 

 the work of all agencies which care for dependent 

 children. 



7. Inspection of Educational Work: Educational 

 work of institutions and agencies earing for de- 

 pendent children should be supervised by state 

 educational authorities. 



8. Facts and Records: Complete histories of de- 

 pendent children and their parents should be re- 

 corded for guidance of child-caring agencies. 



9. Physical Care: Every needy child should re- 



