Januaet 2, 1920] 



SCIENCE 



ology represent simple situations as compared 

 with the demands of cytology or genetics, but 

 the same need of experimental control is a 

 pressing one in those fields. The behavior of 

 the complex mechanism of the cell is a matter 

 of sight, followed by inference, when we know 

 that invisible factors enter into the perform- 

 ance. How the cell program can ever be 

 brought under experimental control remains 

 to be seen, but we must realize that in the 

 meantime we are seeing actors without under- 

 standing their action. In fact, we are not 

 sure that we see the actors; the visible things 

 may be simply a result of their action. The 

 important thing is to keep in mind the nec- 

 essary limitations of our knowledge, and not 

 mistake inference for demonstration. 



Even more baffling is the problem of ade- 

 quate experimental control in genetics. We 

 define genetics as breeding under rigid con- 

 trol, the inference being that by our methods 

 we know just what is happening. The con- 

 trol is rigid enough in mating individuals, 

 but the numerous events between the mating 

 and the appearance of the progeny are as yet 

 beyond the reach of control. We start a 

 machine and leave it to its own guidance. 

 The results of this performance, spoken of as 

 imder control, are so various, that many kinds 

 of hypothetical factors are introduced as ten- 

 tative explanations. There is no question but 

 that this is the best that can be done at 

 present; but it ought to be realized that as yet 

 no real experimental control of the perform- 

 ance has been devised. The initial control, 

 followed by inferences, has developed a won- 

 derful perspective, but a method of continuous 

 control is yet to come. 



Having considered the conspicuous evolu- 

 tionary tendencies of botanical research and 

 their projection into the future, it remains to 

 consider the possible means of stimulating 

 progress. It will not be accomplished by 

 increasing publication. It is probably our 

 xmanimous judgment that there is too much 

 publication at the present time. Wliat we 

 need is not an increasing number of papers, 

 but a larger percentage of significant papers. 

 This goes back to the selection of problems, 

 assuming that training is sufficient. A leader 



is expected to select his own problems, but we 

 are training an increasing army of investi- 

 gators, and the percentage of leaders is grow- 

 ing noticeably less. There ought to be some 

 method by which botanists shall agree upon 

 the significant problems at any given time, 

 in the various fields of activity, so that such 

 advice might be available. It is certainly 

 needed. 



I realize that our impulse has been to treat 

 a desirable problem as private property, upon 

 which no trespassing is allowed. Of course, 

 common courtesy allows an investigator to 

 work without competition; but the desirable 

 problems are still more numerous than the in- 

 vestigators; and we must use all of our in- 

 vestigative training and energy in doing the 

 most desirable things. There need be no fear 

 of exhausting problems, for every good prob- 

 lem solved is usually the progenitor of a brood 

 of problems. We will never multiply investi- 

 gators as fast as our investigations multiply 

 problems. In the interest of science, there- 

 fore, we should pool our judgment, and in- 

 dicate to those who need it the hopeful 

 directions of progress. 



Not only is there dissipation of time and 

 energy in the random selection of problems, 

 but there is also wastage in investigative 

 ability. Every competent investigator should 

 have the opportunity to investigate. The 

 pressure of duties that too often submerge 

 those trained to investigate is a tremendous 

 brake upon our progress. I am not prepared 

 to suggest a method of meeting this situation, 

 but the scientific fraternity, in some way, 

 should press the point that one who is able 

 to investigate should have both time and 

 opportunity. A university regulation, with 

 which we are all too familiar, which requires 

 approximately the same hours of all of its 

 staff, whether they are investigators or not, 

 should be regarded as medieval. 



In conclusion, speaking not merely for 

 botanical research, but for all scientific re- 

 search, it has now advanced to a stage which 

 promises unusually rapid development. The 

 experience of the recent years has brought 

 science into the foreground as a great na- 

 tional asset. It should be one of the func- 



