September 17, 1915] 



SCIENCE 



393 



In a second paper, Dr. Gates considered the 

 modification of characters by crossing. Many 

 writers hold that Mendelian characters always come 

 out of a cross unmodified, although work by Daven- 

 port and by Castle and Phillips indicates that such 

 is not always the case. A crucial instance of the 

 modification of a character by crossing was fur- 

 nished by various hybrids of CEnotliera rubrwalyx 

 and CE. grandiflora. In the F, of such crosses the 

 red character E of the rubricalyx buds usually 

 splits out sharply, but a few plants were inter- 

 mediate in pigmentation, and in F3 these bred 

 true to the intermediate condition. Further, in 

 {rubricalyx X grandiflora) X grandiflora, the 

 depth of pigmentation of JB plants is greatly di- 

 luted, though splitting takes place if the seed pa- 

 rent is heterozygous for H. The segregation is 

 explained by the meiotie separation of the chromo- 

 some pairs. The dilution probably results from an 

 inhibiting effect of the grandiflora chromosomes 

 or perhaps from a modification of the -B chromo- 

 some of (E. ruiricalyx. 



A. D. Shamel, of the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture, spoke on the origin and development of 

 the Washington navel orange, which he believes 

 originated at Bahia, Brazil, nearly one hundred 

 years ago, as a bud sport from a Portuguese va- 

 riety. After a description of orange culture at 

 Bahia and the introduction and dissemination of 

 this variety in the United States, by the U. S. De- 

 partment of Agriculture, Mr. Shamel described the 

 origin of a number of distinct types in southern 

 California, through bud mutation. It is believed 

 that growers have tended to select the least pro- 

 ductive, but most vigorous, of these sports for 

 propagation, and the industry has therefore tended 

 to deteriorate. Careful limb-selection of buds is 

 now being practised, and the yield per acre is be- 

 ing much increased, while the character of the 

 fruit is being improved, on the average. 



E. J. Kraus, of Oregon Agricultural College, 

 discussed self-sterility among orchard fruits. 

 Careful observations have shown that poor produe- 

 tion is often due to self -sterility, and that in gen- 

 eral every variety must be tested, to find whether 

 its own pollen is sufficient or whether it requires 

 cross-pollination. If the latter proves to be the 

 ease, it must be tested with as many varieties as 

 possible, to find under what conditions it succeeds 

 best. The Oregon station has worked out detailed 

 treatment for many of the leading varieties in its 

 region. 



In a second paper, Mr, Kraus took up the ques- 



tion of somatic segregation, as shown in certain 

 varieties of pear. 



The eugenics section met on the afternoon of 

 August 3, in joint session with the American Social 

 Hygiene Association and the Eugenics Research 

 Association, David Starr Jordan presiding. The 

 program, which was entirely furnished by the 

 American Genetic Association, follows: 



Irving Fisher, of Yale University, ' ' Eugenics 

 and Sociology. ' ' Professor Fisher discussed the 

 mores, in their relation to eugenics, expressing a 

 belief that the ideals of eugenics would come in 

 some measure to be a substitute for the mores, as 

 a criterion of morality and true value, when the 

 race became more enlightened. At present, an 

 action, or an institution or custom, is held to be 

 desirable or undesirable, according as it does or 

 does not agree with the folkways, the inherited, al- 

 most instinctive traditions of the race. In the 

 future, people will rather ask, "Is its effect eu- 

 genic?" 



Wilhelmine E. Key, of the State Training School, 

 Polk, Pa., presented in abstract a paper on ' ' Crea- 

 ting a Eugenic Conscience. ' ' She set forth con- 

 clusions based on three years of inquiry concerning 

 eugenic ideals in all social grades. Study of ex- 

 tensive networks shows the operation of a fairly 

 well-defined conscience to cut off degenerative lines 

 and by the principle of segregation to enhance the 

 efficiency of the better lines, in various directions. 

 Even the embryo conscience, as illustrated by 

 amusing instances^ has worked toward this end. 

 The role of eugenic laws should be to hasten the 

 elimination of bad stock, rather than to interfere 

 with the free choice of the average young man and 

 woman. Too great stress on ideal fitness gives ua 

 the ingrowing eugenic conscience. It is here that 

 feminism shows its baneful effect. Here, as else- 

 where, the problem of right conduct is conditioned 

 on right instincts. Just as current thought is be- 

 coming imbued with scientific conceptions, so we 

 may expect that gradually the recognition of such 

 principles as that of segregation in individual pedi- 

 grees, will lead to free conscious selection along a 

 multitude of able lines. This will give predomi- 

 nance to the best-endowed strains, insure mani- 

 fold variety and solve many of the problems of 

 practical eugenics without the necessity of legal 

 enactment, so far as society in general is con- 

 cerned. 



David Starr Jordan, of Stanford University, 

 speaking on "The Long Cost of War," emphasized 

 the reversal of natural selection which takes place 



