Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/159

 SCIENCE.

��FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1885.

��COMMENT AND CRITICISM,

We are glad to learn that the Bureau of scientific inrormation of the Pliiladelphia acad- emy of natural sciences, the organization of which was brieflv noticed in these columns last aatumn, is already' in successful operation. It is no small sacrifice upon their part when a score or more of busy specialists volunteer to receive and answer, without charge, reasona- ble inquiries in their several departments. It should be remembered, that while many per- sons are well enough informed to know to whom to write, and are courageous enough to do it, othere, from the want of sudi infor- mation, from moflesty, from fear of trespassing niK)n the time of those to whom they would gladly write, or from anxiety lest their r(»quest might meet with inhospitality and rebuff, are led, in fact, to refrain from questioning, and become eventually contented with ignorance, or, woi-se yet, half-knowledge. To mention but a single one of the man}' excellent features of this scheme, viz., bibliography, we need not say what a boon it will certainly be to some one, far removed from monographs, to feel free to consult Dr. Nolan, librarian of the academy, assured beforehand of his cordial co-oi)eration.

��We are pleased to note that the views regai*ding the proi>er functions of agricultural exiKJriment-stations, which have been advanced in recent numbers o^ Science^ have found inde- pendent expression in a report to the regents of the University of Nebraska by Prof. C. E. Bessey, dean of the industrial college. Ilis report includes a plan for experimental work in agriculture, horticulture, and entomology ; which plan, we are informed, has been adopted by the regents. It provides for two classes of experiments, designated as ' popular ' and
 * scientific ; ' the first designed to reach imme-

No. lor. — 1886.

��diate results, and the second to establish general principles. Professor Bessey does not fail to attach due value to ' popular ' exi>eri- ments, but he points out two facts which seem to be frequently' forgotten b}' those who make such experiments.

The first is, that while such expenments may often be of great immediate value, the}* are usually so only within narrow limits of both space and time, while a scientific principle, if once actuallv established, is true at all times and under all conditions. The second fact is, that mimy experiments of this character are constantly being made bj* private enterprise in all parts of the country. This is particularly the case with tests of new varieties of plants and new patterns of machines. Scientific ex- l^eriments, on the other hand, demand special training and ai)paratus, such as private enter- pnse does not usually c*ommand ; and it is therefore especially important that exi>eriment- stations and colleges which have the facilities for such experiments should be encouraged and supported in undertaking them to as great an extent as may appear practicable in each particular case.

Thk knowledge of thunder-storms is ad- vancing at a good pace. France has made special siudA' of them for a number of years ; Bavaria and Belgium have more recently taken them up ; and last summer they were made the subject of special investigation b}' our signal- service, with the aid of a large corps of volun- tary observers, that is to be continued during the coming season. A recent report by Lan- caster, on the storms of 1879 in Belgium, con- firms the conclusions previously announced there, and discovered to obtain so clearly in this country, that thunder-storms occur only in the south-east quadrant of the barometric depressions, or great cyclonic storms that fre- quently sweep across temperate latitudes.

�� �