412 
Mr. Dabney that each year-book will be better 
than its predecessors; but it seems to us that 
there is nothing to apologize for in the present 
work; and as for ‘editorial revision,’ we be- 
lieve the mostly eminent writers of the articles 
it contains know perfectly well what they are 
about, and that revision of any sort would be 
an injury to them and a detriment to the 
volume. It is the proper work of the editor to 
obtain, select and arrange suitable articles for 
the volume, and this Mr. Dabney has done in 
a most admirable manner; but the time has 
come for scientific workers to insist on having 
their manuscripts printed as written, instead of 
being changed and even interlarded with gross 
errors, as is sometimes the case.* 
The frontispiece of the year-book appro- 
priately consists of the portraits of Senator 
Morrill and Hon. Wm. H. Hatch; the fine face of 
Senator Morrill is especially welcome, and will 
not easily be forgotten, even by those who have 
only seen the picture. The first part of the 
book, the report of Secretary Morton, has long 
been before the public, and need not be specially 
discussed now. It is, however, a document 
that should be read by all who take any interest 
in agriculture or agricultural science. The 
observations on the free distribution of seeds, 
and on the affairs of the experiment stations, 
will be endorsed by nearly all those who are 
not connected with the ‘political machine.’ 
Whatever opinion one may hold as to the pro- 
priety of the free distribution of seeds by the 
government, the present system must be con- 
demned as wasteful and unjust. Whatever 
views one may have as to the desirability of 
local control, it cannot be permitted for experi- 
ment station authorities to break the letter or 
the spirit of the law, or waste the funds en- 
trusted to them. The people of the United 
States, after all, are partners in business, and 
cannot wholly escape responsibility for one 
* Some readers will think this too strong a state- 
ment, but we could readily give the facts of the cases 
we have in mind. It may be added that those re- 
sponsible for the errors were scientific experts of ex- 
cellent standing, as learned as any that could be 
obtained, but they did not happen to know every- 
thing. The publications were not those of the De- 
partment of Agriculture. 
SCIENCE. 
[N. 8. Vou. VI. No. 141. 
another’s actions. It is, besides, a serious 
injury to the majority of stations, which are 
admirably applying their funds, that the minor- 
ity should be able to drag the name of the 
experiment stations in the mud. 
The body of the book consists of thirty arti- 
cles bearing on as many problems of agriculture 
and kindred arts, and while probably no living 
person is competent to sit in critical judgment 
on such a varied assortment, it will not be 
questioned that each essay is of great value. 
We think that any educated citizen of this 
country, turning over the pages, cannot fail to 
feel very proud of the volume, as affording evi- 
dence of the highly satisfactory condition of at 
least one of the great departments of the goy- 
ernment. If he is acquainted with the official 
agricultural publications of other countries he 
will have the further satisfaction of knowing 
that the United States is leading, not follow- 
ing, in the matter of educating the agricul- 
tural population, for the year-book is as truly 
an instrument of education as any college or 
university. 
Mr. H. J. Webber’s article on the ‘ Influence 
of Environment in the Origination of Plant 
Varieties’ is very interesting, though he does 
not directly meet the question whether acquired 
characters are transmissible, while apparently 
being of that opinion. Dr. C. W. Stiles’ essay 
on ‘The Country Slaughterhouse as a Factor in 
the Spread of Disease’ is very opportune. Mr. 
Marlatt’s ‘Insect Control in California’ is an 
extremely valuable article and will help to set- 
tle some hot disputes between entomologists 
and horticulturists. ‘The Superior Value of 
Larger Heavy seed,’ by Messrs. G. H. Hicks and 
J.C. Dabney, is not only of much practical value, 
but of considerable theoretical interest. It is 
impossible now to discuss the remaining articles, 
but special attention must be called to ‘An Ideal 
Department of Agriculture and Industries,’ by 
M. E. Tisserand, Councillor of State and Direc- 
tor of Agriculture in France. This is a most 
suggestive and interesting article, and we should 
express our thanks to Mr. Dabney for arrang- 
ing for its publication in the year-book. 
T. D. A. COCKERELL. 
MesitnA, N. M., 
August 10, 1897. 
