Januaey 3, 1902.] 



SCIENCE. 



13 



Where, then, are we to look for an im- 

 provement? Some would find a remedy in 

 the imposition of heavy protective tariffs, 

 but such tariffs in France have not availed 

 to pi-event a similar state of things there, 

 and protection in coloring matters might 

 have a very detrimental effect upon the 

 textile industries of the country. Others 

 expect salvation from the" extension of tech- 

 nical schools, but laudable as is the aim of 

 these institutions, I cannot see how they 

 can effect much until their raw material is 

 of a very different character from what it 

 is at present, and until the public can be 

 completely disabused of the fallacy that a 

 year or two of technical training pumped 

 into an ignorant schoolboy will produce a 

 better works-chemist than a university 

 course of scientific study laid upon the 

 foundation of a good general education. 



The remedy for the present state of af- 

 fairs must of necessity be a slow one, and 

 in my opinion can only be found in a better 

 appreciation of the value of science 

 throughout the length and breadth of the 

 land. Until our government and public 

 men can be brought to realize the impor- 

 tance of fostering the study of science, and 

 of encouraging all scientific industries, until 

 our schools and universities appreciate the 

 importance of a scientific education, until 

 the rewards for public service in science are 

 made equal to those in other branches of 

 public service, so long will science continue 

 to be held in insufficient esteem in our 

 country. It is not so much the education 

 of our chemists which is at fault as the 

 scientific education of the public as a 

 whole. 



Wlien our capitalists more completely 

 realize the importance of calling in the aid 

 of the best scientific skill available, when 

 our universities and technical schools are 

 able to supply a sufficient number of highly 

 educated chemists equal in knowledge, 

 originality and resource to those trained 



in German universities, when our profess- 

 ors and manufacturers are willing to work 

 together in this and other matters, when 

 our patent laws are rendered just to our- 

 selves, we may confidently hope that our 

 natural engineering skill and practical re- 

 source will once more bring us to the front. 



CONCERNING CERTAIN MOSQUITOES. 



During the season of 1901 the writer 

 studied the mosquito problem, as it existsin 

 the State of New Jersey, Avitli a view to 

 determining whether it was possible in any 

 way to reduce or control the number of 

 these pests in the State. It was decided that 

 the first point of importance was to ascer- 

 tain jiist what species was or were the most 

 troublesome, and just where these trouble- 

 some species bred. Collections were made 

 in all parts of the State and local boards 

 of health were enlisted in the service every- 

 where. The result was the accumulation 

 of a large amount of material, covering 

 every county and almost every district in 

 the State. 



Based upon these collections, it was found 

 that the most abundant species was Culex 

 sollicitans, and, after this fact was deter- 

 mined, especial attention was paid to the 

 life history and breeding places of this mos- 

 quito. It has been known that the species , 

 breeds in brackish water; but it has been 

 believed, and is so stated by Dr. Howard 

 in his book on mosquitoes, that it would not 

 breed in water as salty as the sea itself. 

 Collections made along shore soon proved 

 that this general belief was incorrect: so 

 far as noted the contrary is true, for larvas 

 were found in great abundance in pools and 

 ponds in which the water was fully twenty- 

 five per cent, more salty than ordinary sea 

 water. The collections in the marshes along 

 the coast demonstrated that some percent- 

 age of salt was absolutely necessary for the 

 development of the larvte. In no case were 



