February 



1918] 



NATURE 



445 



of the national laboratories, but this would scarcely be 

 so, since the institution laboratory would devote its 

 attention more to the creation of new types of appa- 

 ratus, the outcome of improved methods of teaching, 

 and the perfection of existing types, rather than to the 

 purely theoretical ascertainment of data on which 

 standard apparatus is based. It must not be forgotten 

 that there are many small firms whose means are 

 insufficient to allow of their bearing the somewhat 

 heavy charges levied by the national institutions for 

 extended research work 



The discussion of methods of manufacture would 

 constitute another important function of the institution. 

 Certain firms no doubt meet with difficulties which 

 could often be cleared up by free discussion, just as 

 members of other scientific institutions profit by the 

 experience gained by their colleagues. There are very 

 few, if any, treatises on the manufacture of instru- 

 ments. Most of the existing books on the subject 

 come from Germany, and several of them have never 

 been translated. Thus it will be seen how original 

 papers and discussions could be made into a permanent 

 record. 



Such questions as the standardisation of designs and 

 the study and improvement of the designs of other 

 countries could also be very suitably dealt with in an 

 institution intended for the general development of the 

 industry. 



As regards the organisation of the proposed institu- 

 tion, this could follow, generally, the lines of existing 

 scientific societies, with extensions to cover the par- 

 ticular activities suggested by individual firms. It is 

 expected, of course, that the first cost would be "heavy, 

 and would necessitate the co-operation of the entire 

 instrument-making trade; but surely it is worth while if 

 the ultimate benefits to be- conferred upon the trade 

 were made permanent, as they could not fail to be. The 

 question should be dealt with at once, for indications 

 are not lacking that Germany is relaxing no effort to 

 secure, bv co-operation and concentration on the part 

 of her leading manufacturing concerns — and probablv 

 scientific instrument makers also — the dominant posi- 

 tion she held at the outbreak of the war. 



E. S. Hodgson. 



Coventry, Februari' 5. 



THE NATIONAL FOOD POLICY. 



THE columns of the daily Press have for many 

 months past furnished adequate evidence of 

 the controversy which is raging in agricultural 

 circles as to the lines upon which national policy 

 should be. framed with the view of securing the 

 maximum of efficiency in the production and hus- 

 banding of food supplies. That part of the ques- 

 tion which relates to animal production may be 

 said to have been brought to a focus in the notable 

 conference of representative agriculturists from 

 all parts of the country which met on Friday last 

 to receive statements on the position from Lord 

 'Rhondda and Mr. Prothero. 



Mr. Prothero indicated clearly that the domin- 

 ating factor by which national policy in this matter 

 must be guided is the great shortage of concen- 

 trated feeding-stuffs. Basing his conclusions upon 

 estimates of the supplies of such feeding-stuffs 

 which are likely to be available before next 

 , harvest, and postulating as self-evident that work- 

 ing horses and milch cows must be adequately, 

 ' though not extravagantly, provided for in the first 

 instance, Mr. Prothero found that the remaining 

 NO. 2519, VOL. 100] 



supplies of concentrated food available for other 

 classes of live-stock were far from sufficient to 

 enable these to be fed in the same numbers or on 

 the same lines as has been customary in past 

 years. Whilst expressing the opinion that ample 

 freedom should be left to the individual farmer to 

 determine how he can utilise inadequate food 

 supplies to the best advantage, Mr. Prothero out- 

 lined suggestions as to the kind of ration of con- 

 centrated feeding-stuffs which might be regarded 

 as giving a reasonable apportionment to different 

 classes of stock. A considerable reduction in the 

 numbers of certain classes of live-stock was in- 

 evitable, but the farmer must endeavour to miti- 

 gate this by growing as much food as possible at 

 home for his stock. 



The address of Lord Rhondda was punctuated 

 freely with criticism from the audience, especially 

 when outlining the reasons which had led to the 

 existing policy of control of meat and milk sup- 

 plies. This policy had been rendered necessary 

 owing partly to the undue rise in meat prices even 

 when supplies were relatively plentiful, and partly 

 to the necessity of keeping meat production 

 within moderate limits in view of the restricted 

 supplies of concentrated feeding-stuffs and the 

 more efficient utilisation thereof in other directions. 



From the reports of the meeting in the Press 

 it is evident that the conference was not entirely 

 successful, owing to no opportunity being afforded 

 the audience of discussing the many controversial 

 matters raised by the speakers. This view was 

 expressed in a leading article in the Times of 

 February 2, the writer then proceeding to criticise 

 adversely certain items of the food policy of the 

 Government, and incidentally to throw doubt upon 

 the competence of the scientific investigator to 

 furnish trustworthy guidance in the matter of the 

 economical utilisation of food supplies. "Scientific 

 calculations about food," said the writer, "are a 

 very untrustworthy guide to practice, because the 

 data on which they are based are quite inadequate 

 to justify the conclusions drawn from them," The 

 reply of the scientific worker came promptly in 

 Tuesday's Times from the pen of Prof. E. H. 

 Starling, with the retort that science is " nothing 

 but practical experience accurately noted, re- 

 corded, and classified." The data upon which the 

 man of science bases his calculations are furnished 

 entirely by practical experience, and include all 

 such data as are detailed and accurate. The prac- 

 tical man can have no other data which will render 

 his conclusions more trustworthy, and, indeed, in 

 all too many cases the individual practical critic 

 has little regard for data of any description in the 

 formulation of his opinions. 



It is surprising to find that the attitude of the 

 writer of the Times article on this point is appar- 

 ently determined by the views expressed in a letter 

 in the same issue contributed by Mr. C. B. Fisher, 

 "a well-known agriculturist of wide experience," 

 who is referred to as writing "in the moderate 

 tone of a man who is master of his subject." It 

 is doubtful whether Mr. Fisher would entirely 

 accept the latter description, but it is clear from 



