AveustT 23, 1918] 
to be accomplished, was rendered absolutely 
necessary by the inroads due to enlistment for 
military service. The first step in this direc- 
tion was taken by the man power census. A 
brief questionnaire was sent to every botanist 
in America, who could be reached, and on this 
card each man was requested to indicate his 
training, degree of availability and willing- 
ness to take up emergency work in plant 
pathology. The replies have been most grati- 
fying in number and tone. Teachers of bot- 
any and investigators in other fields have in 
considerable numbers indicated a willingness 
to lay aside temporarily their own investiga- 
tions, investigations usually of great impor- 
tance to the progress of botanical science, and 
take up work on the control of plant diseases. 
The aim of the extension work of the commit- 
tee is to make available everywhere in America 
information now available anywhere in Amer- 
ica. Pathologists in various states were asked 
to contribute any information they might have, 
published or unpublished, which might be of 
service in other sections. Responses to this 
request also have been prompt and enthusiastic. 
Pathologists all over the country have placed 
in the hands of the committee for general dis- 
tribution information which they have ac- 
quired in their own work and which seemed 
likely to be useful to other workers. They 
have done this frequently without waiting to 
insure credit to themselves by prior publica- 
tion. Instead of safety first they have placed 
service first. 
In research the effort has been to call at- 
tention to those problems which were of most 
pressing importance and to coordinate the 
work of investigators in different regions. 
Much has been accomplished here in so ar- 
ranging work that the efforts of one investiga- 
tor should supplement rather than duplicate 
those of his neighbor. 
The results of these lines of effort can not 
fail to be of great service. Undoubtedly the 
greatest immediate gain will come from the 
extension work, from the distribution of in- 
formation to the plant pathologists of every 
state in the union and the further distribution 
of this information through the county agents 
and the farm demonstrators to the actual pro- 
SCIENCE 
179 
ducers. It is highly probable, however, that 
the greatest ultimate good to plant pathology 
as a science and to the nation will come from 
the temporary enlistment of a large number of 
botanists from other lines. This increase is 
not a gain in numbers merely but a gain in 
different technical training, different methods 
of work, new points of view. So close are the 
interrelations of the natural sciences that 
striking contributions to a science are fre- 
quently made by a newcomer in the field who 
has been well trained in another not too closely 
related field. Thus it is only natural to ex- 
pect that from the present mobilization of 
botanists of all kinds in plant pathology will 
come striking and valuable contributions to 
that science. 
New E. Stevens 
BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
A SURVEY OF HIGH-SCHOOL CHEM 
ISTRY IN PENNSYLVANIA 
For the purpose of establishing a relation- 
ship between high-school and college chemis- 
try, the writer sent the following information 
blank to the 971 high schools of Pennsylvania, 
following the original communication by a 
second request. 
Name of high or preparatory school ............ 
Location .......... By CRG eles 3at8 State ...... 
Name of officer making this report ............ 
Cc Alin tla y LN, 7s sata «Pain dalomataiaselcloflayt S<'a's « 
1. Do you require a three- or four-year course 
for graduation: .......... year. 
2. Do you give a course in general science?...... 
In which year is it taught? .............. 
3. Do you give a course in physics?............ 
In which year is it taught? .............. 
*4, Do you offer a course in general inorganic 
chemistry? ........ In which year is it 
taught? ...... How many weeks? ...... 
How many pupils take the course? ....... 
5. How many lecture periods per week? ........ 
Length of period? ........ 
How many recitation periods per week?.... 
Length of period? 
How many laboratory periods per week?.... 
*If you offer more than one couse, furnish sta- 
tistics for the one considered your college prepara- 
tory course and mention the other under 14. 
