282 



NATURE 



[November 13, 1919 



interest and co-operation of so many distinguished 

 leaders in the world of science, the columns of 

 ihe journal will continue to represent with 

 authority the position and claims of progressive 

 knowledge. In sending us best wishes for con- 

 tinued fulfilment of this function, Dr. Hilda 

 Brade-Birks and the Rev. S. Graham Brade- 

 Birks, of the South-eastern Agricultural College, 

 Wye, refer us to some striking verses in the 

 seventh chapter of the Wisdom of Solomon in the 

 Apocrypha, and the words are of such interest as 

 expressing the human outlook upon natur:il know- 

 ledge that we are glad to reproduce them : — 



God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to 

 conceive as is meet for the things that are given me : 

 because it is He that leadeth unto wisdom, and 

 directeth the wise. 



For in His hand arc both we and our words ; all 

 wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship. 



For He hath given me certain knowledge of the 

 things that are, namely, to know how the world was 

 made, and the operation of the elements : 



The beginning, ending, and midst of the times : 

 the alterations of the turning of the sun, and the 

 change of seasons : 



The circuits of years, and the positions of stars : 



The natures of living creatures, and the furies of 

 wild beasts : the violence of winds, and the reasonings 

 of men : the diversities of plants, and the virtues of 

 roots : 



.\nd all such things as are either secret or manifest, 

 them I know. 



Scientific and Other Socif.tiks. 



Royal Society. President : Sir Joseph Thomson, 

 O.M. — The council of the Royal Society offer to the 

 Editor and publishers of Nature their congratula- 

 tions on the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of 

 that journal. They desire to express their apprecia- 

 tion of the services rendered to scit-nce by Nature 

 during the past fifty years, both by the promotion of 

 research and especially by providing an efficient and 

 convenient means for workers in one branch of science 

 to keep in touch with the progress made in other 

 departments of scientific activity. They recall with 

 satisfaction the fact that the jubilee of the election 

 into the society of their distinguished fellow, Sir 

 Norman Lockyer, coincides with that of his jubilee 

 as Editor of Nature. 



Royal Society of Edinburgh. President : Dr. 

 John Horne, F.R.S.— I am glad to have the 

 opportunity of expressing my high appreciation of 

 the invaluable services rendered by Nature in 

 promoting scientific research in Scotland during 

 the last fifty years. In 1862 a distinguished 

 Scottish man of science deplored the progressive 

 decay, during the previous half-century, of the once 

 illustrious Scottish school of geology. Since that time 

 the progress in each department of geological inves- 

 tigation in Scotland has been remarkable through the 

 labours of English and Scottish geologists. The pub- 

 lication of Nature has been a powerful stimulus to 

 geologists and other men of science in North Britain 

 to test all previous work in the light of the most 

 recent research. 



NO. 261 I, VOL. 104] 



Royal Irish Academy. President: The Right Hon. 

 AND Most Rev. J. H. Bernard, D.D., D.C.L., 

 Pkovost of Trinity College, Dublin. — The 

 jubilee of Nature marks the completion of fifty 

 years' useful aid to science, and the proprietors aro 

 heartily to be congratulated on the fruitfulness of their 

 undertaking. The application of science to the prac- 

 tical needs of mankind is taking a wider range every 

 year, and the president of the Royal Irish Academy 

 wishes all success to the Editor of Nature in hi» 

 efforts to encourage and give publicity to the aims of 

 scientific research and its importance to the nation. 



Royal Dublin Society. Vice-President : Prof. J. 

 JOLY, F.R.S.-— In furthering scientific progress. Nature 

 has played no small part, for it has supplied a vital 

 necessity : early publication of new ideas, new results, 

 and new projects. We who now write know that our 

 earliest efforts found encouragement in its columns. 

 May the early efforts of our successors continue to 

 gather from its columns the same encouragement and 

 the same stimulus ! Looking back, we recognise and 

 acknowledge that Nature has played an important 

 part in our lives. 



Royal Anthropological Institute. President : Sir 

 EvERARD iM TiiiKN, K.C.M.G. — Thc council of the 

 Royal Anthropological Institute has commissioned me 

 to convey to the Editor of Nature very hearty 

 congratulations on the jubilee of that journal and on 

 fifty years' successful furtherance of science generally, 

 and not least of anthropology. Our subject may 

 be said to have developed during the same period 

 from a merely interesting to a scientific stage. We 

 anthropologists foresee a very special task lying before 

 us in the immediate future, in the betterment of the 

 almost innumerable races included in our world-wide 

 Empire. We look to Nature for continued and in- 

 creased help in the furtherance of this work. 



Royal English Arborlcultural Society. President: 

 Major (J. L. Couimhope. — May I offer my con- 

 gratulations to N.ature upon attaining its jubilee, 

 and upon the excellent work it has done, 

 during its fifty years of life, in the promotion 

 of scientific study? The passing of the Forestry 

 .•\ct opens a fresh vista of useful possibilities to the 

 student of natural science — a vista in which, I am 

 sure. Nature will play its part., In the United King- 

 dom scientific forestry has been the rare exception 

 rather than the rule, with the result that our 

 3,000,000 acres of woodlands produce only a fourth 

 of the yield which we might expect from them if 

 scientific principles had been applied to the varying 

 natural conditions of our countrysides. Let us hope 

 that the next fifty years will make up for our short- 

 comings in the past. 



Royal Institute of British Architects. President: 

 Mr. John W. Simpson. — Many congratulations will 

 be received on the issue of the jubilee number of 

 Nature, and I shall feel privileged by being allowed 

 to add my ow-n tribute. The journal has achieved a 

 great position ini the scientific world by reason of its 

 sane and unprejudiced attitude towards research ; and, 

 in common with all highly specialised technical call- 

 ings, the architectural profession is greatly indebted 



