92 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XVIII. No. 440. 



and 1878-83, with the minima about the years 

 3825-30, 1860 and 1893-5. A continuation of 

 the curves, based on the assumption that the 

 apparent law already recognized holds good, 

 indicates that the year 1913 will be at about 

 the middle of the next wet epoch. The sun- 

 spot curve shows a close correspondence with 

 the rainfall curves. There appears to be a 

 long-period solar change of thirty-five years, 

 the minimum of sunspots corresponding 

 roughly with the maximum of rainfall. Dr. 

 Lockyer concludes that ' since this long-period 

 rainfall cycle synchronizes so well with the 

 solar changes, the latter may render valuable 

 assistance in determining the epochs of these 

 dry and wet cycles.' E. DeC. "Ward. 



Harvard University. 



OPENING OF THE LAKE LABORATORY OF 

 THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. 

 On the afternoon of July 2, the new Lake 

 Laboratory building of the Ohio State Uni- 

 versity, located on Cedar Point, Sandusky, 

 Ohio, was formally opened. Several scien- 

 tists from the various institutions of the 

 State were present at the exercises, while many 

 of those unable to be present responded with 

 letters of congratulations and well-wishes. 

 The director, Professor Herbert Osborn, 

 opened the session by reading extracts from 

 these letters, after which the first speaker of 

 the day. Professor 0. J. Herrick, of Denison 

 University was introduced. Professor Her- 

 rick spoke on the Summer Laboratory as an 

 instrument of scientific research. He took 

 the stand that such institutions fulfil their 

 functions not merely by giving investigators 

 facilities and materials for research, but par- 

 ticularly in the culture of the investigators 

 themselves. Exchange of ideas and conse- 

 quent broadening of view is an important 

 point in the consideration of the value of 

 summer laboratories. The speaker expressed 

 a hope that the several scientific institutions 

 of the state would cooperate with the State 

 University in making the laboratory an in- 

 stitution of the highest usefulness and gave 

 assurance that such would be the policy of the 

 colleges and universities of Ohio. 



Hon. J. T. ilack, of Sandusky, a member 

 of the Board of Trustees and representing 

 that body, outlined the policy of the imiversity 

 with respect to the laboratory and emphasized 

 the fact that it is a laboratory for the use of 

 the scientific men of the state, regardless of 

 their aifiliations. 



Captain Alexis Cope, secretary of the uni- 

 versity, gave a detailed history of the labo- 

 ratory as shown by the archives of the uni- 

 versity. The idea of such an institution 

 originated with the late Dr. Kellicott, in 1894. 

 During the succeeding year, appropriations 

 were made for an addition to the State Fish 

 Commission building in Sandusky, the whole 

 of which could be used during the summers aa 

 a lake laboratory. In 1899 the present director, 

 Professor Osborn, made a request to the board 

 for a more commodious building and recom- 

 mended that it be erected on Cedar Point 

 which is a tongue of sand twelve miles long 

 and a few hundred feet wide at most. This 

 was favorably received and the present build- 

 ing is the outcome. 



Professor Denny, dean of the College of 

 Arts of the University followed this speaker 

 with the theme ' Comradeship in Science.' 

 Men of science should associate with one an- 

 other, as by so doing they become inspired to 

 greater efi^orts and disappointments are be- 

 littled as they see how others meet and over- 

 come difficulties. The dean said that the 

 laboratory was a part of the university and 

 that full credit would be given toward degrees 

 for work done. 



The director. Professor Osborn, concluded 

 the program by thanking the friends of the 

 institution and those that have acted as its 

 promoters. The professor gave briefly a his- 

 tory of summer laboratories, tracing their 

 origin to Penekese and Agassiz. He said 

 that a new life is put in biological work by 

 the founding of such institutions in that live 

 material and natural environment is had in 

 easy access. The director reiterated the de- 

 sire expressed by another speaker that the 

 laboratory would become, as its expressed pur- 

 pose is, an open meeting ground for all bio- 

 logical workers of Ohio and adjacent states. 



