SCIENCE. 



FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1884. 



COMMENT AND CRITICISM. 



The historical method is now applied to the 

 solution of so man} T questions of every-day 

 life, formerly studied in the light of philosophy, 

 that the formation of an American historical 

 association really marks the opening of a 

 new era in the histoiy of scientific research. 

 Henceforth historical students, like other sci- 

 entific men, will have an opportunity to make 

 themselves known, without awaiting the tardy 

 recognition of a publisher. It is for the future 

 to show whether the high standard already set 

 up can be maintained ; but, assuredly, there 

 is no reason why the meetings of the associa- 

 tion should not be the chosen place for the 

 best students to make known the results of 

 their labors. 



In 1872 Professor Asa Gray relinquished to 

 younger hands all instruction in botan}^ in 

 Harvard university, in order that he might 

 give his time to the completion of the ' Flora 

 of North America.' Notwithstanding the 

 many serious encroachments which have been 

 made upon his time hy the demands of the 

 herbarium, by the voluminous contributions to 

 the proceedings of the American academy, by 

 his editorial work in connection with the Ameri- 

 can journal of science, by the revision of his 

 text-book, and by his very extensive corre- 

 spondence, he has carried a second volume of 

 his great treatise through the press. It seems 

 proper for us, in connection with the review of 

 this volume in another part of this number, to 

 remind our readers of the forcible and yet 

 pathetic appeal which Professor Gray has 

 more than once made in behalf of an exemp- 

 tion for himself and Mr. Sereno Watson from 

 the time-consuming task of answering notes of 

 inquiry respecting the more common plants of 

 our flora. Thanks to botanical activity at 



No. 86. — 1S84. 



various places throughout the country, begin- 

 ners can have their questions well answered hj 

 local societies, while more advanced students 

 can now easily confer together in regard to the 

 more difficult points. By such sifting as this 

 would bring about, the number of questions 

 which should properly be referred to the her- 

 barium would be surprisingly diminished. It 

 must seem plain to every one of our readers, 

 upon reflection, that it cannot be discourteous, 

 in the officers of our larger collections which 

 are now being utilized in the preparation of 

 works of reference, to quietly ignore those let- 

 ters which ought never to reach them. 



We owe our readers a word of explanation, 

 which we make this week, apropos of the long 

 letter of reclamation on another page. It is 

 the aim of Science to express just and impar- 

 tial criticisms whenever the3 T are called for, and 

 it is our intention to continue the pursuit of 

 this aim. We regret extremety if any one 

 believes that we are animated by any unjust 

 prejudices against American work ; but it is 

 evidently our duty to be, if any thing, more 

 outspoken in regard to American than to for- 

 eign scientific labor. In writing of our own 

 country, we do not wish to let false pride sub- 

 stitute laudation for justice, neither do we wish 

 to praise any thing merely because it is from 

 abroad. It is a heavy accusation which our 

 correspondent makes against us, and we hope 

 our readers will acquit us. Dr. Salmon's as- 

 sertion that American work on Microbia in- 

 cludes some of the best researches on the 

 subject does not coincide with the opinion of 

 competent and uninterested judges. We must 

 therefore still adhere to the judgment we have 

 expressed as to the relative value of American 

 contributions to the knowledge of micro-organ- 

 isms. If Dr. Salmon's own work is recognized 

 hereafter to have the value which he assigns to 

 it, we shall be very happy to acknowledge the 



