OCTOBEE 2, 1908] 



SCIENCE 



427 



of glutelin insoluble in neutral solvents. 

 With the exception of the nearly related 

 wheat and rye, the proteins soluble in 

 alcohol from each of the cereals are dis- 

 tinct substances. Although no certain 

 difference has yet been detected between 

 the gliadin of wheat and of rye, their 

 glutelin-s are not alike. 



The leguminous seeds are similar in the 

 general character of their proteins, but 

 marked differences exist between the pro- 

 teins of the various groups. Thus Lu- 

 pinus, Vicia and Phaseolus present marked 

 differences in their proteins, whereas the 

 proteins of the species of each genus are 

 very much alike. The proteins of Lwpiwas 

 luteus and of Lupinus angustifolia differ 

 slightly but in their physical properties are 

 clearly distinguished from any of the 

 other seed proteins. Although similar pro- 

 teins are obtained from the horse bean, 

 lentil, pea and vetch, these are distinctly 

 different from the proteins obtained from 

 other leguminous seeds. These seeds are 

 not alike, however, in the proportion of 

 their several proteins. The chief protein 

 of Phaseolus vulgaris appears to be iden- 

 tical with that of Phaseolus radiatus, but 

 the small amount of other protein was 

 found to be different in properties and 

 composition in each of these seeds. 



The cow pea (Vigna) and soy bean 

 (Glycine) contain distinctly different pro- 

 teins which, however, are similar to but 

 different from those of Vicia. The globu- 

 lins of the seeds of Corylus and Juglans 

 are much alike, but not identical, while 

 those from Juglans regia, nigra and 

 cinerea, so far as they have been compared, 

 show no differences. The proteins of 

 other seeds show marked differences, but 

 the botanical relations of these seeds are 

 not such as to permit of further di.scassion 

 of this subject. 



Although the data for generalizations 

 are as yet few, those that are available 



plainly indicate a close connection between 

 the chemical constitution of the seed pro- 

 teins and the biological relations of the 

 plants producing them. 



That similar differences exist between 

 homologous proteins of different species of 

 animals Ls becoming evident from the facts 

 which are gradually accumulating, and 

 these strongly suggest a chemical basis for 

 the multitude of diverse forms of animal 

 and vegetable life. 



Thomas B. Osboene 



Connecticut Agbicultubal 

 ExpEBiMENT Station 



TEE FINANCIAL fiTATUfi OF THE VNIVER- 

 HITY PROFEmOR IN GERMANY -^ 



ORGANIZATION OF GEEMAN UNTVERSITIES 



All the German universities are gov- 

 ernment institutions. Like the primary 

 schooLs and the gymnasia, the university is 

 part of the educational system of that Ger- 

 man state in which it is located. The pro- 

 fessors are officials of the sovereign, and 

 the ma.jor part of the university revenues 

 are derived from the state treasury. The 

 government of the university is, in the last 

 resort, in the hands of the sovereign's 

 Minister of Education, who in the consti- 

 tutional monarchies is responsible to the 

 Chambers, and in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 

 to the Grand Duke. 



The university is thuis under the control 

 of the state Parliament and, according to 

 the laws enacted by it, under the immediate 

 supervLsion of the Minister of Education. 

 The university budget mast be passed each 

 year by the Chambers; the creation of a 

 new chair can only be by parliamentary 

 approval. The appointment of professors 

 rests with the sovereign or his minister, 

 and the scheme of instruction together with 



' Extracted and abridged from Bulletin number 

 two of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advance- 

 ment of Teaching. See also the issue of Science 

 for July 24. 



