SCIENCE 



I'riday, December 23, 1921. 



The Outlook for Agricultural Research: Dr. R. 

 W. Thatcher 613 



Zoological Besearch as a Career : Professor C. 

 E. McCldng 617 



Geology as a Prof ess-ion : Dk. H. P. Little. . . 619 



The American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science: Professor Burton E. Lrsr- 

 INGSTON 623 



Scientific Events: 



American Bam'hoo Grove open to Investi- 

 gators; Flights of House Flies; Impact on 

 Bridges; The Toronto Meeting 624 



Scientific Notes and News 626 



University and Educational News 628 



Discussion and Correspondence : 



The National Academy of Sciences and the 

 Metric System: Dr. Charles D. Walcott. 

 Stains for the Mycelium of Molds and 

 other Fungi: M. E. Diemer and Eloise 

 Gerrt. Sharks at San Diego: Dr. H. W. 

 NoRRTS. Municipal Observatories: Profes- 

 sor Nevin M. Eenneman 628 



Scientific Books: 



The Order of Nature : Professor R. D. Cak- 

 MICHAEL 631 



Special Articles: 

 More linked Genes in Rabbits: Professor 

 W. E. Castle. The Hydrogen-ion Concen- 

 tration of Cultures of Connective Tissue from 

 Chick Embryos: Dr. M. R. Lewis and Dr. 

 Lloyd D. Eelton. An Electrical Effect of 

 the Aurora: Professor Fernando Sanford. 634 



The American Chemical Society : Dr. Charles 

 L. Parsons 638 



MSS. intended for publication and booka, etc., intended for 

 review should be sent to The Editor of Science, GanisoB-on- 

 Hudaon, N. Y. 



THE OUTLOOK FOR AGRICULTURAL 

 RESEARCH 



At the close of the World War, the out- 

 look for research in the United States, both 

 as to its immediate future and as to its 

 permanent place in our economic structure, 

 was very rosy. The tremendous part which 

 the results of new discoveries played in the 

 conduct of the war and in the sustenance of 

 the nations whose normal productive ener- 

 gies were being diverted to war purposes, had 

 attracted popular attention to and support of 

 research activities. Research men had re- 

 ceived new impetus and enthusiasm from the 

 practical benefits of their work which became 

 suddenly manifest. Organization of research 

 agencies and the general recognition of the 

 possibilities of cooperative organized attack 

 upon the problems which need scientific study 

 seemed to promise much for the immediate 

 future of research work. 



All this seemed to be particularly true of 

 reseai'ch in agriculture. The vital import- 

 ance of the products of agriculture to the 

 national need had been emphasized again by 

 the war-time needs and slogans, l^ations, 

 like ours, which had been going through a 

 period of almost inconceivable industrial de- 

 velopment had come to hold in light esteem 

 the earlier understanding of the importance 

 of a sound and permanent agricultural system, 

 which knowledge had been forced upon the 

 preceding generation of American statesmen 

 by the post-Civil- War exj)eriences. But the 

 vital importance of a steady production of a 

 sufficient supply of agricultural products for 

 the world's needs had been so emphasized by 

 the war, and America's strategic position as 

 a food-producing nation had been so clearly 

 shown, that it seemed that a re-awakening 

 of public interest in the support of anything 

 which would aid in insuring a sound national 

 agricultural policy was inevitable. 



