‘APRIL 26, 1912] 
But that day has passed. Organization 
among scientific workers has increased at a 
tremendous pace during the past few years, 
largely through the energy of the officers of 
the organizations of special branches of sci- 
ence. The growth from two thousand to al- 
most six thousand in the membership of the 
American Chemical Society within the past 
four years is only typical of the relative ac- 
tivity in other societies. 
With such an increase in organization mem- 
bership it has now become a physical impossi- 
bility to longer realize the old ideals of the 
American Association for the Advancement of 
Science, and so we hear more and more of 
withdrawal movements. The example of the 
zoologists, naturalists and anatomists, during 
the last convocation week is going to be more 
and more followed by other societies. 
Does this mean the dismemberment of the 
American Association for the Advancement of 
Science, the giving up of the opportunity to 
come in touch with fellow workers in allied 
sciences, the loss of a national association of 
organized science? Truly this would be a 
calamity. 
Can such a calamity be avoided? 
In the hope of at least provoking discussion, 
the following suggestions are submitted, in 
full realization of their imperfections, but 
nevertheless, as based upon an honest effort 
to look the situation squarely in the face. 
First. Let the American Association for 
the Advancement of Science lend all of its 
aid and sympathy to the development of the 
affiliated societies. 
Second. Let the American Association for 
the Advancement of Science give up its pres- 
ent annual meetings and instead hold trien- 
nial or quadrennial meetings. 
Third. Let the affiliated societies in turn 
give up their regular meetings at the time of 
the American Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science meetings and lend all of their 
influence towards making these meetings 
great national gatherings of scientists. 
Fourth. Let the migratory meetings of the 
affiliated societies serve the purpose of arous- 
ing local public interest in scientific work. 
SCIENCE 
659 
Fifth. Let the meetings of the American 
Association for the Advancement of Science 
be held in the national capital, at a time when 
Congress is not in session and hotel accom- 
modations consequently ample. 
If such a policy could be agreed upon by all, 
the American Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science could well afford to give up 
its charge of an initiation fee from all who are 
members of affiliated societies. Further, in 
view of the decreased administrative expense 
and largely increased membership the present 
annual dues might possibly be still further 
reduced. 
Such truly national gatherings of scientific 
workers would be inspiring to all of us, and 
would make a national impress, as the best 
conditions would there prevail for the formu- 
lation of scientific policies of nation-wide im- 
‘portance. 
To carry out the above plan no very great 
practical difficulties would have to be over- 
come. The changes are not radical, but evo- 
lutionary in character. It is hoped that the 
suggestions may be of some service. 
Cuas. H. Herty 
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA 
SCIENTIFIC BOOKS 
Bacteria in Relation to Plant Diseases. By 
Erwin F. Suiru, in charge of laboratory of 
plant pathology, Bureau of Plant Industry, 
U. S. Department of Agriculture. Volume 
II., History, General Considerations, Vas- 
cular Diseases, Washington, D. C. Pub- 
lished by the Carnegie Institution of Wash- 
ington. 1911. Pp. viii+ 368. Quarto. 
Publication No. 27, Vol. two. 
Somewhat more than six years ago the 
writer of this notice had the pleasure of pub- 
lishing a note (Science, Nov. 24, 1905) in re- 
gard to the first volume of this work, and 
there expressed the hope that the publication 
of the second volume would “not be long de- 
layed.” But good and sufficient reasons for 
the delay are given in the introduction to this 
volume, where we are told that it is “based in 
great part on data obtained as the result of a 
