Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-10

meteorology, together with numerical I'd
bles to facilitate practical Applications
These works could not proftably be I'M
dertaken bS commercial publishing houses
because they could not expect to sen a SUI
ficient number of copies to cover the cost
But at the same time, all of them Will De
eagerly received by men of science anu stu
dents who cannot obtain the information
from any other source.
Heredity of Guinea Pigs.
An Investigation now being conducted by
w e Castle and Alexander Forbes into
the hereditary tendencies of guinea pigs
NAV not appeal to the public except as an
amusing fad but when the methods anu
rhe purpose are explained it will be seen
that this curious undertaking Involves pos
sibilities of very great human interest. bl-
ologists are agreed in the doctrine Oh ne
redity and that ii applies equaily 10 an
animal creation The guinea pig is perhaps
the most susceptible of all living creatures
to impressions and experimental teS's, aiu
whatever happens to that nttle ahlihal
under certain conditions is almost certain
to happen to men. women anu ciitlui =, GU
under similar circumstances. Hence tle III
vestigators are conducting series Oh e.
periments upon guinea pigs TO oeHiohsudIe
the influence of heredity. They nave az
ready published several reports OF great III
terest. .,
The Carnegie Institution has laboratory
at Cold Spring Harbor. l.. L., under tie
\
where an attempt is being made to deter
mine by direct observation and experiment
the laws of evolution in plants ana ailihifi IL,
Dr. Woodward saws that 1t mas ai'eauy
yielded an abundant harvest or Naluap,e
information. and that we may connaehtly
anticipate results of even greater ihlioi
lance in this important problem altnous a
the intrinsic difficulties are very great anu
demand time and patience for their soiu-
ton. - At;
The desert laboratory at Tucson AriZ'
has been enlarged 50 that Its usefulness S
may be extended. A reservation OF or
acres set apart by the territory OF Arizona
has been fenced in for experiments IN the
cultivation of plants that can De grow
uuon the soil of that territory ana otnei
regions where there is little or no Hols-
ture and several stations nave been pro-
vidcd in the mountains nearby LOT the
study of conditions of plant life at different
attitudes This work is of extreme I'M
nortarce It's object is primarily to furnish
the arid regions of the United states WIN
plants of economic value for the food OF
man and beast The spneless cactus IS
one of them.
Working With Luther Burbank.
Tnther Burbank of Santa Rosa, Cal, is
also working in the same line well as in
the DEVELOPMENT of fruits. berries, flowers,
trees shrubs and medicinal plants. Fortu-
nately. the great earthquake of April Is,
1s6 which destroyed the entire business
section of Santa Rosa in few seconds ana
no damage whatever to Mr. Bufpahh >
greenhouses or plants. Although ms eS-
detrimental garden was in the very heart OF
destruction not a pane of glass was
cracked not leaf was broken. Al the eA-
perimental farm. few miles OUTSIDE OF Tue
CITY rows of trees and plants were IN Soh5
piaces moved four feet from their orlghal
position by the commissions of the eaTlh
but not one of them was injured Hltherto
MIR Burbank has been carrying on ms mar
vicious work with very little method he
has never made any notes or kept any rec
ord of his processes, or even of his results,
and while he has accomplished what seem
to be miracles in the development anu
transformation of plants, fruits, mowers
tables and other botanical HE, ne Is
entirely dependent upon his memory for
the means and the processes by WHICH MS
wonderful work has been accomplished
In order to increase his usefulness, Mr.
burbank is now working exclusively under
tho direction of the Carnegie Institution,
and DR.. George H. Shull will spend TWO or
three years with him at Santa rosa prepar-
ing a scientific account of the ways, means
and methods employed by MIN In MS pas.
and in his future experiments.
The New Solar Observatory
DR.. Woodward thinks the solar observa-
tory recently established on Mount wilson
near Pasadena, Cal, under the direction
of Prof George e. Hale. is one of the most
important branches of the institution, ana
it is very gratifying to him and to all VINO
take an interest in astronomical work 10
learn that Mr.. John D. Hooker of Los An
geles has offered to purchase a mirror
100 inches in diameter for rejecting tele-
scoue which will cost $4,000. ana Will thor-
c,ahlv equip the observers for what Dr.
Hale calls IAN effective attack upon the
problem of stellar evolution. Mr.. hooker
had already given a cottage on Mount
Wilson for an observatory, ana mas now
very largely increased the oonsat nHS Si
science to a generous benefaclor. The oo-
iect of the solar observatory is to increase
human knowledge concerning the sun the
source of all light, heat, health ana happl-
ness. and the study or the stars III men
relationship to the sun and to one another
The sun is now photographed every clear
morning and afternoon with spectre,
helosraph and the plates are being stuoled
by a staff of astronomers.
Several other projects OF sclentlhc VaIue
are heing carried on by the Carnegie In
stitution They are of both practical ana
theoretical importance, ana are oescrlpeu
at length in the Year BOOK Whlch Will SOON
be ready for the pubic
One of the problems, and 1t is a serious
one. now perplexing the minds or the OH
GERS and trustees is the method by winch
the results of inquiries and experiments
should be conveyed to the public. The
Carnegie Institution is not primarily an
educational institution, In the sense that II
dos not attempt to disseminate among
the people lnIOTHdtiOu tiieiS diiS"oS
known 1t leaves that duty and privilege
to the schools, colleges and universities
of the country and is trying to carry out
the purpose of Mr.. Carnegie to increase
rather than to distribute knowledge Its
work is entirely original. Its officials and
investigators are devoting their time to
acquiring new knowledge of old things and
knowledge of new things that are partially
or absolutely unknown. In other words,
the object of the institution Is to add to
the sum of human knowledge concerning
all subjects that may be of importance
to the race, and promote it's happiness and
welfare The knowledge thus acquired is
permanently recorded in printed form and
prepared for distribution in volumes and
PAMPHLETS Copies of these publications
will be placed free of cost in about 5000
public libraries and in other institutions
where they may be accessible to all stu
dents. and it has been determined that
the remainder of the edition shall be sold
at cost price on application instead of be-
ing given away like ordinary public docu-
ments. This decision has been reached
after thorough inquiry and careful refec-
ton in order to avoid the wastage that
would otherwise ensue.
SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT.