264 



NATURE 



[October 21, 1920 



.Since its coiiiparalively recent introduction into 

 Efjypt the puiu boll-worm, Fectinophura (Gelccliia) 

 j^Uiiypiella, nas so rapidly increasea that it lias for 

 some years been the cnief insect pest of cotton. 

 Much scientific work is being done on its life-history 

 and on its effect on the cotton crop with the view of 

 attacking the pest in the most eflective manner, as it 

 may now be classed on a par with the Phylloxera of 

 vines for destructiveness. Field experiments indicate 

 that the ettect of Gelechia attack may be rendered 

 less harmful by reducing the water-supply in July 

 and stopping it altogether after the hrst week in 

 August, as by this means the yield of cotton is 

 increased and the crop ripens earlier. 



During the last sixteen years the farmers of Cyprus 

 have exhibited an enlightened and receptive attitude 

 towards modern agricultural methods, with the result 

 that considerable improvements have taken place in 

 the agriculture of the island. These changes are set 

 forth by Mr. W. Bevan in the Bulletin of the Imperial 

 Institute (vol. xvii.. No. 3, pp. 302-58), and the 

 resources and possibilities of the island are briefly 

 summarised. About 1,200,000 acres are under cul- 

 tivation, but another 770,000 acres are either under 

 forest or could be cultivated. The average rainfall is 

 about 20 in. per annum, and the climate, especially 

 in the plains, shows considerable extremes of tempera- 

 ture. Agriculture is the main industry, but methods 

 and appliances are behind the times, though improve- 

 ments are being effected through the activities of the 

 Agricultural Department. Irrigation is essential, and 

 if a satisfactory solution of the water problein could 

 be reached, large fertile areas which now have to 

 remain fallow could be brought under cultivation for 

 growing cotton and other similar crops and for 

 extending vegetable and fruit culture. A consider- 

 able amount of stock-raising is carried on, sheep- 

 rearing being an important industry. Cheese and 

 butter are made from sheep's and goat's milk, largely 

 for home consumption, though some is exported to 

 Egypt. Poultry-farming could be made very profit- 

 able, as the climate and food-supply arc suitable, but 

 ignorance of proper management at present hinders 

 the industry from prospering. 



The chief cereals grown are wheat, barley, and oats, 

 though maize and rye have been introduced during the 

 last few years. Fruit-growing is of much importance, 

 and the export trade in this respect is considerable, 

 some amount of wine and spirits also being produced 

 and sent abroad. Market-gardening is receiving 

 much attention, as there is a good demand in Egvpt 

 for fresh vegetables which are raised round the 

 ■■ ports " of Cyprus. 



Heredity and Eugenics. 



T\\l. R. RUGGLES G.'\TES contributes to the latest 

 *~^ number of the Eugenics Review a valuable essay 

 on heredity and eugenics. " Probablv in no other 

 species of animal or plant does the number of differ- 

 ences between individuals approach the number to be 

 observed in inan." " It has now become a common- 

 place of observation that the differences between 

 organisms, as well as their resemblances, are often 

 inherited." Heredity includes both the entailment of 

 parental variations and the possibility of new varia- 

 tions. A very interesting survey is taken of the in- 

 heritance of both physical and mental characters in 

 man. Eugenic action should include, if only there 

 were sufficient knowledge, (i) positive selection for 

 desirable qualities, which are frequently dominant; 

 (2) negative selection against undesirable recessive 

 -qualities which appear in collateral or ancestral lines, 

 NO. 2660, VOL. 106] 



and may therefore be carried in the family germ- 

 plasm ; (3) isolation of individuals having undesirable 

 dominant qualities; and {4) an effort to foster matings 

 between individuals showing the same, desirable re- 

 cessive quality. .Another interesting feature of Dr. 

 Ruggles Gates's paper is the discussion of the question 

 whether there are any details of structure so small or 

 of such a nature as to be beyond the reach of here- 

 ditary entailment. Some good examples are given of 

 the continuance of very minute structural idiosyn- 

 crasies. .\s regards the inbreeding and outbreeding 

 of human races, the author concludes that inter- 

 mixture of unrelated races is from every point of view 

 undesirable. " The more advanced race is diluted and 

 degraded by such intermixture." " The blend is only 

 a blend when considered en niasse." On the other 

 hand, interbreeding of related races or str.iins gives 

 increased vigour. 



University and Educational Intelligence. 



Aui'-KDKKN. — The Lord Rector, Lord Cowdrav, will 

 deliver his address in the Mitchell Hall on October 23. 



Dr. J. B. Orr, director of the Rowett Research 

 Institute, has been appointed research lecturer in the 

 physiology of nutrition for the ensuing academical 

 year, and Mr. R. H. A. Plimmer, chief biochemist, 

 re-appointed research lecturer in applied biochemistn,. 



CAMBRIDGE. — Mr. S. M. Wadham, Christ's College, 

 has been appointed senior demonstrator in botany, and 

 Mr. R. E. Holthum, St. John's College, junior demon- 

 strator. 



Lo.vDON. — In response to a request made by many 

 of those who attended Dr. Jeffery's public lecture on 

 Einstein's theory of relativity, a course of eight lec- 

 tures on the same subject by Dr. Jeffery has been 

 arranged at University College. The course will begin 

 on Monday, October 25, at 6 p.m. 



A course of ten public lectures on "The Develop- 

 ment of Philosophy from Descartes to Leibniz " is 

 being given at King's College by Prof. H. Wildon 

 Carr on Tuesdays at 5.30 p.m. The course com- 

 menced on October 12. 



Oxford. — The new academical year has begun with 

 a very large number of fresh entries. The colleges 

 are almost inconveniently full, and most of the 

 scientific departments are overcrowded. The activities 

 of the teaching staff of both University and colleges 

 are being taxed to the utmost. A contributing cause 

 of the present pressure upon the resources of accom- 

 modation and teaching is the influx of women 

 students, who are now to be seen in the academic 

 costume lately devised for their use. 



On October 14 a new departure was taken by the 

 admission of nearly sixty \vomen to degrees ; these 

 included the conferring of the degree of M..-\. bv 

 decree on the Principals of the women's colleges and 

 halls and of the Society of Oxford Home-Students. 



A letter has been addressed by some members of the 

 University to the professors of the arts and sciences 

 and to members of the universities and learned socie- 

 ties in Germany and .Austria, expressing a 'desire to 

 dispel the embitterment of animosities that under the 

 impulse of loval patriotism may have passed between 

 us," and suggesting that a reconciliation may surely 

 be looked for in the fields of arts and learning. 



Mr. J. R. C. Gordon has been appointed professor 

 of materia medica and therapeutics at the .Anderson 

 College of Medicine, Glasgow. 



