436 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. L. No. 1297 



elimination of sources of infection of crop 

 plants. 



The writer appreciates the danger of gen- 

 eralizing upon such a subject. However the 

 two conditions, the one a prompt utilization 

 of all vegetable material and the other an 

 almost entire absence of leaf spot diseases, 

 are both so noticeable that the coincidence and 

 suggested explanation seem worthy of note. 

 Atherton Lee 



BuKEAD OF Plant Industry 



A METHOD OF IMBEDDING IN PARAFFINE 



The following method of imbedding tissues 

 in paraffine preparatory to sectioning has 

 proven so satisfactory in routine work in our 

 laboratory that this brief note of description 

 is offered. 



The imbedding is done in paraffine buttons 

 formed on the surface of cold water. Melted 

 paraffine is allowed to flow from a pipette 

 down the side of a glass dish with sloping 

 wall, such as a finger bowl, nearly full of 

 water. On reaching the surface, the paraffine 

 hardens below, forming a button still liquid 

 above and anchored securely at one edge to 

 the glass. The tissue is now p''aced in the 

 fluid paraffine and oriented. More paraffine 

 may then be added to thicken the button if 

 necessary. A label is attached by its end 

 with a small drop of paraffine. The button is 

 then disengaged from the class by a dissecting 

 needle and carried on the point of the latter 

 below the surface. It is at once transformed 

 to a glass of water inverted over a basin, 

 where it remains until solid. 



Large thick buttons may be obtained in this 

 way without the use of glycerin, paper boats 

 or frames. The rapidity with which imbed- 

 ding may be done by this method is perhaps 

 its chief recommendation. 



Leo H. Schatz 



Eeed College 



QUOTATIONS 



SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH IN 

 ENGLAND 



The fourth annual report of the Committee 

 of the Privy Council for Scientific and In- 



dustrial Research has just been issued; it 

 covers the period from August 1, 1918, to 

 July 31, 1919. Earl Curzon, of Kedleston, 

 the Lord President, records that during the 

 past year the work of the Department of Sci- 

 entific and Industrial Research has steadily 

 grown in usefulness and in amoimt. The 

 passage from war to peace, he says, reveals 

 more and more clearly as it proceeds the 

 need for the sympathetic encouragement and 

 organization of research in every sphere of 

 national life. Encouraging progress is re- 

 corded in several directions. Thus a marked 

 change is observed to be taking place in the 

 attitude of industry towards scientific re- 

 search; both masters and men are beginning 

 to recognize its vital importance. Something 

 also has been done to increase the number of 

 trained research workers, the demand for 

 whose services rose rapidly not only in in- 

 dustries, but also in the universities and gov- 

 ernment departments. The report of the Ad- 

 visory Council, signed by the administrative 

 chairman, Sir William McCormick, describes 

 in greater detail the various branches of the 

 department's work. The work of the Food 

 Investigation Board grew enormously during 

 the year. The field to be covered is so large 

 and the range of scientific knowledge so wide, 

 that only a complex organization could hope 

 to deal with the problems effectively. The 

 board accordingly set up six committees to 

 deal respectively with fish preservation, engi- 

 neering, meat preservation, fruit and vege- 

 tables, oils and fats, and canned foods; and 

 these committees have in turn appointed 

 seven special committees. The therapeutic 

 uses of oxygen, shown by recent practise to 

 be capable of very great extension, and being 

 actively investigated by the Medical Research 

 Committee in close cooperation with the 

 Oxygen Research Committee of the Depart- 

 ment. The Industrial Fatigue Research 

 Board was established jointly by the Medical 

 Research Committee and the Department, the 

 former being responsible for administration. 

 The demands made upon the Board have far 

 exceeded aU anticipation, while industrial un- 



