48 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. LII. No. 1333 



hours, and making it obligatory for the 

 teacher to be on hand and to decline other 

 engagements, which might otherwise be given 

 precedence. 



Such an arrangement adds zest to the work, 

 in that it creates the atmosphere of mutual 

 understanding and interest so much prized in 

 the graduate school, and clarifies the teacher's 

 own thinking as he explains the details to the 

 students. It may afford, moreover, some little 

 positive assistance, for there may well he parts 

 of the routine experimental work or calcula- 

 tions that students can become skilful enough 

 to perform with entire satisfaction. Several 

 years ago, for example, I had on hand a piece 

 of work in which an important part of the 

 procedure was the repeated performance of very 

 accurate weighings. I trained four students, 

 at various times, in the theory of the balance 

 and the practise of precise weighing, and while 

 I prepared specimens, the students weighed 

 them with as much skill and care as I myself 

 could have done it. By no means the least 

 benefit of this plan is its effect upon the stu- 

 dent. No better training in perseverance and 

 accuracy, no greater incentive to advanced 

 study, no clearer insight into the real spirit of 

 research, could be afforded the young learner 

 than by this means. The realization that he is 

 actually contributing to the sum of human 

 knowledge is, to his developing nature, ex- 

 hiliarating in the extreme. And best of all, 

 no greater opportunity could be offered the 

 teacher for that personal touch and influence 

 which is the sacred privilege of the teacher's 

 profession. 



The research worker should make his work 

 known. It is a most helpful thing to crystal- 

 lize one's ideas from time to time in the form 

 of connected statement, or better still, to keep 

 a continuous written account of his procedure, 

 his difficulties, and his results. To this end, 

 he will find it of advantage to identify him- 

 seK, by correspondence at least, with some not 

 too distant university seminar, and contribute 

 to its programs at suitable intervals in the 

 form of research reports; to participate ac- 

 tively in the work of scientific organizations 

 such as the Academy of Science, the A m erican 

 Physical Society, etc. ; and to prepare his com- 



munications in suitable form for printing, at 

 least in a:bstract. Another helpful feature is 

 found in having a local scientific club, similar 

 to the Baconian Club of this university or the 

 Kelvin Society of Coe College, where people 

 of somewhat kindred interest may get together 

 and exchange experiences and catch something 

 of one another's vision. In these ways the re- 

 search worker gains the benefit of friendly en- 

 couragement and equally friendly criticism, 

 and often has cause to appreciate the maxim 

 that " two heads are better than one." 



Above all, let us realize that we are never 

 too old to learn, and that the most dangerous 

 thing a teacher or a scientific man can do is to 

 cease studying. Let the college scientist read 

 books on new phases of his subject as they 

 come out, even if he does not follow every tech- 

 nical detail, and even if he is obliged to borrow 

 them from some university library for the pur- 

 pose. Let him keep a classified card index of 

 all the periodical literature availaible on his 

 subject, noting especially articles that may 

 suggest lines of investigation of particular 

 interest to himself. Let him think beyond the 

 daily topics of the classroom, let him mingle 

 with practical men and get the 'bearing of his 

 science on the affairs of the world. And what 

 is most important, let him keep in touch with 

 others of his calling, through visits and cor- 

 respondence, so that in every possible way he 

 may be open to the inspiration which comes 

 with the pursuit of truth. For it is in these 

 ways that the man who contributes to the wel- 

 fare of mankind through scientific research 

 lays his heavy foundations. 



LeEoy D. Weld 



CoE College, 

 Cedae EApros, Iowa, 



WAXY MAIZE FROM UPPER BURMA 



A VARIETY of maize introduced from Shang- 

 hai, China, in 1908, was found to have seeds 

 with a new type of endosperm. In the seeds 

 of this variety the texture of the starchy 

 tissue is unlike that of any variety previously 

 known. This new type of endosperm has 

 been called waxy. Although distinct from 

 other types, waxy endosperm is by no means 



