129 
The journal /sis devoted to the history of science has resumed 
publication according to a letter from the editor, Dr. George 
Sarton, in Science for February 14. This valuable journal was 
forced to discontinue publication during the war. 
We learn from the Journal of the Kew Guild that Major James 
Leonard Veitch, M.C., son of Mr. Peter Veitch of the famous 
Exeter firm of horticulture, was killed in action in France on 
May 21, 1918. The same number of the Journal (Vol. III, No. 
26) contains an interesting letter from Mr. Louis Gentil, written 
from Brussels under date of January 17, 1919, reading in part as 
follows: 
“It would fill several copies of the Journal to recall all the mis- 
chief done by the German occupation. The Botanic Garden of 
Brussels has suffered very much for want of coal. Seven houses 
were emptied, the large Winter Garden with all the Tree-Ferns 
had to take care of itself as far as heating was concerned. The 
general collection of plants is considerably reduced. The Ger- 
mans did not rob us of plants or herbarium specimens, but all the 
coffers have been stolen. The copper (about 4,000 lbs.) covering 
the dome of our large building was taken. They also took our 
waterpots, syringes, pulverizator, and all copper material. We 
reduced to a minimum the outside floral display, replacing it with 
vegetables. : 
“You have probably read in the papers that a few Flemish 
rascals joined the Germans to disjoint the Belgian people in two 
parts, French and Flemish. The Botanic Garden was specially 
marked by these fools. The French language was prohibited, 
our copper and rubber stamps were confiscated. Our letter-paper 
and envelopes were printed in Flemish. All the labels of the trees 
and shrubs were taken off because the French name of the plant 
was mentioned. All the members of the staff were compelled to 
speak Flemish and I, who cannot understand Flemish, was in the 
way to be dismissed and sent to the French part of the country. 
“M. Rockens (Kew, 1900), who is Flemish, received special 
attention. The renegades offered him an increased salary of 
2,000 f. a year if he would accept the post of Professor to the 
Flemish School of Horticulture. He refused. Since the great 

