HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



235 



Risijtg, Southing, and Setting of the Principal Flatlets 



in October. 



planet Jupiter. Mr. Williams has noted system- 

 atically the changes in the appearance of all the spots 

 and markings, which were sufficiently distinct for him 

 to observe them with the needful amount of accuracy. 

 The well-known red spot which was very conspicuous 

 in 1887, has become much paler, but a red or pink 

 tinge is always visible. The period of rotation of 

 this spot is 9 hrs. 55 min. 40 sees., which corresponds 

 with Mr. Denning's determination. Mr. Williams 

 considers that, in the neighbourhood of the equator, 

 the dark markings are generally at a higher level 

 than the light ones, but that this may not always be 

 the case. 



The death is announced of the distinguished 

 American astronomer, Professor Elias Loomis, at the 

 age of 78. He was a great worker in many directions. 

 His first noted work was making observations of 

 shooting stars ; next, he noted daily, for upwards of a 

 year, the change of the declination in the magnetic 

 needle, and, later on, the dip of the magnetic needle at 

 many places in the United States from the Atlantic 

 to the Mississippi. During the time he held the 

 chair of Natural Philosophy in the University of New 

 York — from 1S44 to i860 — he produced a set of text 

 books on mathematical subjects, and afterwards 

 added to these, Astronomy, Meteorology, and Natural 

 Philosophy. More than half a million of these books 

 were called for. His "Practical Astronomy" and 

 "Elements of Astronomy " are well known and highly 

 valued in England. 



On Oct. 15th there will be an occultation of 

 Tj Geminorum ; magnitude 3^. The disappearance 

 takes place at 3 hrs. 4 min. morn., and the reappear- 

 ance at 4 hrs. 21 min. morn. 



Oct. i6th, Venus will be nearest to the sun at 

 I hr. aft. 



In October Mercury will be a morning star in the 

 latter half of the month. 



Venus will be a morning star throughout the 

 month. 



Mars will be a morning star throughout the month. 



Jupiter will be an evening star. 



Saturn will be a morning star. 



OUR SCIENTIFIC DIRECTORY. 



[The Editoi'will be obliged, if, for the benefit of his numerous 

 readers, secretaries of scientific societies will send notices like 

 the following, also place and time of meeting.] 



T TE V Stamford Society : President, Rev. S. S. 

 11 Adkins, M.A. ; Secretary, Mr. J. Gartside, 

 Princess Street, Lees, W. Oldham. Meetings held 

 every Tuesday evening at 7*30, in St. John's School, 

 Hey, Lees. First meeting of season 1889-90, last 

 Tuesday in October. Further information from the 

 secretary. 



Great Yarmouth Young Naturalists' Society : Hon. 

 Secretary, J. B. Beckett, Trinity Place, Friar's Lane ; 

 Treasurer, J. E. Knights. 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



An Introduction to Botany entitled " Flowerland," 

 by Robert Fisher, M.A., with one hundred and-fifty 

 illustrations, will be issued in a few days by Messrs. 

 Bemrose and Sons. 



The three hundredth anniversary of the invention of 

 the microscope will be celebrated by the Executive 

 Committee of the International Exhibition of Geo- 

 graphical, Commercial, and Industrial Botany at 

 Antwerp in 1890. A retrospective exhibition will be 

 got together from all available quarters, illustrating 

 the history of the microscope, as well as an exhibition 

 of the modern instruments of existing workers. A 

 variety of conferences relating to technical and 

 scientific questions connected with the microscope 

 will be arranged. 



M. ScHLOESLiNG (who has long been engaged in 

 researches of a most important nature, relating to the 

 nitrogeneration of the soil) has fairly demonstrated, 

 from experiments made in various soils and under 

 divers circumstances, that there is no soil destitute of 

 germs which can fix the nitrogen of the atmosphere. 

 Mr. Warington long ago showed that the germs in 

 the soil were nitrificating microbes. Is this the real 

 scientific reason why farmers stick to farm-yard 

 manures in preference to " artificials " ? They may 



