HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



231 



by Professor Williamson, have had solid piths. It is 

 surprising how many of our best palceophytologists 

 have fallen into the mistake of describing fruits with 

 solid axes as calamitean. One would have thought 

 that the knowledge of what obtains in modern 

 equisetacere, combined with the well-known fact 

 that there is always a certain correspondence between 

 the structure of the stem of a cone-bearing plant and 

 that of the cone, would have saved them from falling 

 into this error. 



Most of our fossil botanists are familiar with the 

 fact, that all cones are only modified forms of the 

 stem and branches. If this be so, then the axis of 

 the cone must be the same in structure as that of the 

 branch of which it is a continuation. If the axis of 

 the stem be solid, such will be the axis of the fruit, and 

 if it be fistular, so will that of the fruit be fistular. 



Much controversy has also arisen concerning the 

 leaves of calamites, some authors having described 

 Asterophyllites, Sphenophyllum, Annularia, &c., as 

 such, but we now know that Asterophyllites and Sphe- 

 nophyllum are quite distinct plants, having a totally 

 different structure to calamites. It is probable that 

 Annularia may have been of calamitean origin, but 

 we have no satisfactory knowledge on that point or 

 of what was the exact form of the leaves. 



\To be continued.) 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



(reflections : JUBILEE, iSSl.) 



BUT fifty years ! what wonders rare 

 Come-from the Association chair ! 

 To hear the savants science talk 

 You'd think the " hub " of earth was York. 

 Oh, listen to the famed Sir John 

 The feats of science dwell upon. 

 Hear how mankind came on the earth. 

 How bees and flowers had their birth ; 

 Or, how by measure and by rule 

 We span the tiny molecule. 

 How through wave trembling atoms light 

 The optic nerve receives its sight. 

 And Maxwell's theory that unlocks 

 The fact that all 's atomic shocks ; 

 For not a savant now but raves 

 From morn to night of heat and waves» 

 And wondrous nature, what a child ! 

 Has gone mechanically wild. 

 Ah ! men through speculations vaiii 

 Can scarce on reason hold the rein, 

 As oft their instruments they whet. 

 Most antique knowledge to upset. 

 For instance, once we held it true 

 That green was yellow mixed with blue j 

 But now the " primaries," 'tis said„ 

 Consist of violet, green, and red. 



And yellow is— 'tis quickly seen — 

 Composed of— don't laugh— red and green. 

 The artist that these rules applies 

 Will really turn out funny skies. 

 And though the colours may absorb 

 The rays, he will produce a daub. 

 Except to those among mankind. 

 Like Gladstone's Homer — colour-blind. 



Nothing is right ; we march apace, 



Of four dimensions making space. 



But if our science is alive, 



We need not even stop at five. 



" Swallow " is not the word ; he "bolts " 



Who theorises with Ilelmholtz. 



Can he be wiser than poor poll. 



Who calculates the death of Sol ? 



Or tries to show with figures bold 



The shining orb will soon be cold. 



W^hy stop we here ? I heave a sigh 



At such a simple prophecy. 



Why not with figures thus assault 



The "bright patines" in heaven's vault? 



And calculate — for thus we're taught — 



W^hen everything will come to naught. 



So fast coal 's going ! it is dinned 



By Thomson we must end in wind. 



Oh, surely, he is poking fun, 



For have we not in " wind " begun? 



Or, is he not himself " a blower " 



Of the batteries of Faure ? 



Though Armstrong thinks them small potatoes- 



As practical accumulators. 



A more exact equivalent 



Of heat to find what pains are spent ! 



How far will have to fall in feet, 



One pound for one degree of heat 



In water measured ? It is true 



'Tis seven hundred and seventy-two. 



To prove this truth long years were lent 



By Joule so much experiment. 



W'e feel as wise as any owl 



But wish we could be " cheek by Joule." 



In close relation to the latter 

 Stands continuity of matter. 

 We brag that no gas can defy 

 The chemist's power to liquefy. 

 E'en atmospheric air they state 

 Will fluid get by pressure great. 

 And applications passing cold. 

 Or other methods quite as old. 

 Oxygen as oxygen cannot rest 

 When it's sufficiently compressed ; 

 And hydrogen will follow suit 

 In storm of pattering hail to boot — 

 If th'cold reach the " critical point " 

 At which the gas gets out of joint. 



