328 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XII. No. 296. 



bration of the corpuscular groups is very 

 different from that of the waves, there is 

 no absorption, and the light passes through 

 unchanged. But at or near synchronism 

 the group is set in vibration and causes the 

 electric displacement to lag behind the vol- 

 tivity. Hence, the group being set in vibra- 

 tion, and being in a magnetic field, it must, 

 as was first pointed out by the writer,* and 

 later by Lorentz, rotate. But this rotation 

 is not a cause of the light rotation, but an 

 effect. 



Eeqinald a. Fessenden. 



TEE WORK OF THE SOCIETY FOB AGRI- 

 CULTURAL EDUCATION.-!- 



During the sixties in the Agricultural 

 College, with which I have long been con- 

 nected, one professor taught classes in ag- 

 riculture, animal physiology, veterinary, 

 breeds of live stock, stock feeding, farm 

 crops, civil engineering, and was superin- 

 tendent of the farm. In recent times this 

 work has been placed in the hands of a 

 dozen or more persons. I need not enum- 

 erate similar instances of the recent divis- 

 ion of labor as exemplified in our universi- 

 ties. This is a day of specialists and the 

 end is not yet. 



The American Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science, which we shall attend 

 here next week, when first organized had 

 no sections, but the members all met to- 

 gether as long as the meetings continued. 

 By degrees, as you all know, they increased 

 till there are now nine sections, each with a 

 full quota of ofiicers, not to mention some 

 sub-sections. 



Eecently, as though this was not enough, 

 there have been formed a considerable num- 

 ber of distinct organizations, the programs 

 of some of which contain much the same 

 range of papers, presented mostly by the 



* Elect. World, May 18, 1895. 



t President's Address at the Twentieth Meeting of 

 the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science. 



same members as those in the parent so- 

 ciety. 



Meetings during this week and next will 

 be held here by fifteen aflSliated societies. 



In December, 1898, nine separate socie- 

 ties met during the same week at this uni- 

 versity, and nearly every paper presented 

 would have been received by some of the 

 sections of the American Association. 



The Fifth Congress of American Physi- 

 cians and Surgeons was held at Washing- 

 ton, D. C, on May 1st, 2d and 3d. Four- 

 teen distinct societies joined in the triennial 

 Congress. 



In much the same way journals occupy- 

 ing special fields of science have multiplied. 



Previous to 1880, a number of American 

 societies were organized for the discussion 

 of agricultural topics and those of a kin- 

 dred nature. For several reasons most of 

 these survived only long enough to hold 

 from one to three meetings. 



In 1880, at Boston, a new plan was tried, 

 viz, that of organizing the Society for the 

 Promotion of Agricultural Science, consist- 

 ing of twenty-one persons. It was the de- 

 termination of its members to strive for 

 papers of genuine worth and make no effort 

 to draw crowded houses or to make a great 

 display in any manner, whatever. The So- 

 ciety after continuing for twenty-one years 

 has demonstrated beyond question that it 

 is entitled to live and has important work 

 to perform. In all, up to this time, there 

 have been only one hundred and ten mem- 

 bers. Those who have continued active, 

 have been too conservative to suit a very 

 few who were impatient for large num- 

 bers and more display. To most of us, it 

 seemed of first importance to become ac- 

 quainted with each other and learn the 

 peculiarities of the members. Some men 

 are restive and never remain active in any 

 society for a very long time. Such may be 

 expected to drop out and others will be 

 elected to fill the places left vacant. Had 



