1899] NEWS 481 



Boarding accommodation is provided. Applications may be made to Professor 

 F. W. Hooper, 502 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., or to Dr. C. B. Davenport, 

 the director of the laboratory, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 



In connection with the housing of London University at the Imperial 

 Institute, it is reported that the Government will arrange to take over the 

 titles of the building, so that the University will be tenants of the Exchequer 

 and not lodgers of the Institute. 



The colonies of the West Coast of Africa have adopted a scheme whereby 

 picked boys shall be sent for training in horticulture and economic agriculture, 

 first to Jamaica and afterwards to Kew Gardens. This scheme is due to the 

 success that attended the experiment initiated by the then Governor, Sir A. 

 Moloney, of sending in 1890 two native lads from Lagos to be trained as 

 gardeners at the Jamaica and Kew Gardens. After spending two years and a 

 half in Jamaica, they were attached to Kew Gardens for some months, and are 

 now in charge of branch botanic stations in Lagos, growing and preparing 

 agricultural products, and giving instruction. 



The Scientific American records the wreck in Magdalena Bay of the schooner 

 '•' Ella Erland," and the consequent unfortunate end of a small expedition under 

 Professor A. W. Anthony. But the naturalists on board, who had intended to 

 study the fauna and flora of the equatorial Pacific coast, escaped with their lives 

 at least, and have returned in safety. 



Two new buildings in the new Zoological Park of New York are rapidly 

 nearing completion. These are the reptile house and the winter house for birds. 

 Much work has also been accomplished upon the various outdoor animal dens. 

 In a hollow in the park is a body of water which will be utilised for aquatic 

 rodents. The beaver pond is also ready, while up on the elevated portions 

 among the rocks, work on the bear dens is well under way. 



On the occasion of Spallanzani's centenary, celebrated recently at Scandiano, 

 a laboratory was inaugurated to commemorate and continue his work. Pro- 

 fessor Luciani of Rome and others delivered commemorative addresses. 



We are pleased to learn that Science Gossip is to be enlarged. This is the 

 result of the success with which Mr. Carrington has carried out the editorial 

 work. Among other changes we note the appointment of Miss Flora Winstone 

 as assistant editor. Miss Winstone for several years past has assisted largely 

 with the editorial work, and in the absence of the editor abroad has on several 

 occasions taken sole editorial charge of the magazine. 



We have heard that there are adequate physiological reasons to account for 

 the absence of blue roses, and we have not pined for them. It is not, therefore, 

 with either faith or hope that we read the report of the Vienna correspondent 

 of the Standard that an azure -blue rose has been produced in Kezaulik, the 

 Valley of Roses, in Bulgaria. 



The results of the Geodetic survey of the United States, which has been in 

 progress for over fifty years, are to be published immediately. Measurements, 

 such as the total distance across the Continent (2625 miles) will be known so 

 exactly that the error will be less than 100 feet. In making this survey many 

 stations have been used at altitudes of 10,000 to 14,000 feet, necessitating the 

 application of new formulae. 



A new Arctic expedition will soon sail from St. John's, Newfoundland, 

 under the charge of A. Barclay Walker, an English yachtsman. Mr Walker 

 intends to cruise in Arctic waters in the " Dundee," a steam whaler, during the 

 next six months, with a party, including representatives of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. They will probably attempt to reach the headquarters of Lieut. 

 Peary, in Robeson Channel. 



