?9 



NATURE 



[March 25, 1920 



of the gauge above the ground is 1-5 to i-8 metres in 

 France, so that a correction would be necessary before 

 making comparison of the results with British records. 

 An excellent series of charts at the end of the 

 volume indicates the rainfall distribution in each month 

 and in the year as a whole. In the study of these 

 charts one misses a contour map of the country. The 

 annual fall varies from 500 mm. in two small areas 

 on the shores of the Mediterranean to more than 

 1500 mm. in the mountainous regions. It is note- 

 worthy that, after the Mediterranean seaboard, parts 

 of the Atlantic coast take a high place among the 

 driest regions of southern and south-western France. 

 This is particularly the case in the summer months. 

 A wise discretion has evidently been used in rejecting 

 stations of doubtful accuracy in the preparation of the 

 district means, and in other ways it is evident that 

 trouble has not been spared to render the results as 

 trustworthy as possible. J. S. D. 



Volumetric Testing of Scientific Glassware. 



ACCURATE work in the chemical and physical 

 laboratory depends not only on the worker, but 

 also to a large extent on the trustworthiness of his glass 

 measuring apparatus, such as burettes, pipettes, and 

 calibrated flasks. Whilst it is no doubt true that 

 every operator who is master of his craft should be 

 able, on occasion, to verify the accuracy of his 

 measuring instruments, it is also true that both time 

 and practice are required to do it well, to say nothing 

 of the fact that special equipment is necessary for 

 some of the verifications. Hence it is important, both 

 to makers and to users, that facilities should be avail- 

 able for the testing of such instruments by experts, 

 upon whose testimony reliance can safely be placed. 



At the National Physical Laboratory apparatus of 

 the kind in question has been tested, in respect of its 

 accuracy, for the past fifteen years, but on a small 

 scale only. Such instruments were mainly obtained 

 from abroad in pre-war days, and it is only within 

 the last two or three years that the making of them 

 has developed appreciably in this country. 



With the growth of the industry here it became 

 necessary to make arrangements for testing and 

 certifying glass volumetric apparatus on a larger scale 

 than heretofore. Facilities were therefore^ provided 

 and regulations drawn up, in co-operation with manu- 

 facturers and users of scientific glassware, for carrying 

 out systematically what are known as "Class A" 

 tests — that is, tests on apparatus required to be of the 

 highest degree of accuracy. A pamphlet describing 

 the arrangements and regulations was issued in July, 

 1918, and a new building has just been completed, 

 with special equipment for dealing with this class of 

 work on a large scale. 



Instruments required to be only sufficiently accurate 

 for commercial purposes are designated as "Class B." 

 A permanent . scheme for commercial testing of such 

 articles by State institutions, or by other approved 

 bodies, is now under the consideration of the Govern- 

 ment. Pending the settlement of this scheme, manu- 

 facturers may note that the National Physical Labora- 

 tory is prepared to undertake "Class B" tests, which 

 for' the present will be carried out at Teddington. It 

 is hoped eventually to arrange for this work to be 

 done at local centres. 



A full agcount of the methods df testing, limits of 

 error allowed, details of construction, and fees charged 

 is given in a new edition of the laboratory pamphlet, 

 "Volumetric Tests on Scientific Glassware." Copies 

 of this pamphlet may be obtained free of charge on 

 application to the Director. 



The "Class A" tests are designed for instruments 



intended to possess the highest degree of accuracy 

 required in scientific use. Whilst the "Class B" 

 tests are less stringent, the limits of error assigned 

 are such as all graduated apparatus of good com- 

 mercial quality should comply with, and are necessary 

 for obtaining satisfactory results in ordinary routine 

 analysis. 



It is very desirable that the scientific glass-making 

 industry developed in this country during the war 

 should remain as a permanent asset. To attain this 

 end the graduated apparatus produced should be not 

 only well made, but trustworthy in respect of accurate 

 calibration. From the maimer's point of view, the 

 advantage of having apparatus guaranteed by an im- 

 partial institution is invaluable for establishing a 

 reputation for accuracy. As regards users, they will 

 no doubt be glad to know that it is now possible to 

 obtain apparatus the correctness of which has been 

 impartially verified. The monogram of the National 

 Physical Laboratory is the hall-mark of British 

 scientific glassware so far as accuracy of measurement 

 is concerned. 



University and Educational Intelligence. 



Aberdeen. — Mr. W. G. Craib, formerly assistant 

 at Kew, and now of the botanical department, Edin- 

 burgh University, has been appointed to the chair of 

 botany vacant by the death of Prof. J. W. H. Trail. 



Birmingham. — Mr. A. A. Dee has been appointed 

 an assistant lecturer in physics. 



Cambridge. — The governing body of Emmanuel 

 College offers to research students commencing resi- 

 sidence at the college in October, 1920, two exhibi- 

 tions, each of the annual value of 50^. and tenable 

 for two years and, on the recommendation of the 

 student's director of studies, for such longer period 

 as the degree course may require. The governing 

 body may also make additional grants to students 

 whose means are insufficient to cover the expense of 

 residence at Cambridge or whose course of research 

 may entail any considerable outlay in the provision 

 of apparatus or materials. The exhibitions will be 

 awarded at the beginning of October, and applications 

 should be sent so as to reach the Master of Emmanuel 

 (The Master's Lodge, Emmanuel College, Cambridge) 

 ru)t later than September 18. 



The new statute authorising the degree of Doctor 

 of Philosophy for Research has been approved by his 

 Majesty the King in Council, and regulations giving 

 effect to the new statute will be offered for accept- 

 ance at the first Congregation in the Easter term. 



Mr. F. B. Smith, of Downing College, has been 

 appointed reader in estate management. 



Vacancies are announced in the Cayley lectureship 

 in mathematics and in the University lectureships in 

 physiology and zoology. Candidates must apply to the 

 Vice-Chancellor by April 20. 



Edinburgh. — In consequence of the appointment of 

 Mr. W. G. Craib, of the botanical department, to the 

 chair of botany in the University of Aberdeen, it has 

 been arranged as a matter of urgency that Sir George 

 Watt, formerly professor of botany in the University 

 of Calcutta, deliver the course of lectures on Indian 

 forest trees during the summer term. 



Mr. James Templeton has been appointed lecturer 

 in botany in succession to Mr. Pealling (resigned), 

 and Dr. Bella D. MacCallum full-time assistant in 

 the same department. 



With the assistance of the Scottish Committee of 

 the Royal Aeronautical Society, the services of four 

 lecturers had been obtained to give a series of lectures 



NO. 2630, VOL. 105] 



