554 



NATURE 



[January 22, 1920 



(4) Mangels, pasture grass, wheat-bran, brewers' 

 grains. 



(5) Swedes, molasses, cabbages, oats, pollards, rape- 

 cake. 



(6) Potatoes, barley, sharps, peas, beans, decorticated 

 cotton-cake. 



(7) Locust beans, rye, wheat, middlings, cotton- 

 seed, maize-germ cake, palm-nut cake, linseed cake. 



(8) Maize, maize meal, gluten meal, gluten feed. 



Mr- J. Mackintosh dealt with the outlook in dairy- 

 ing, especially with regard to the return obtained (a) on 

 the sale of milk, (b) on cheese-making. The effect of the 

 control of prices was discussed, and the possible effect 

 of the high prices now allowed for fresh milk on the 

 use of condensed and dried milk imported from other 

 countries where milk is more cheaply produced. Simi- 

 larly, in connection with the control of cheese, it was 

 pointed out that if the British cheese-maker cannot 

 produce at a much lower price when control is 

 removed, he will have to meet very severe competition, 

 and the outlook cannot be regarded as satisfactory. 



A joint meeting was held with Section K (Botany) 

 to discuss forestry problems. Prof. A. Henry, in a 

 paper on "The Afforestation of Water-catchment 

 Areas," advocated the afforestation of all gathering 

 grounds, not only as a hygienic measure, but also as a 

 means of increasing the timber reserves of the i^ntion. 



The enormous extent of these gathering grounds, 

 more than 928,000 acres in extent, has not hitherto 

 been recognised. Of this area 183,416 acres are owned 

 bv local authorities, but only in a few cases, e.g. 

 Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, has 

 the work of afforesting these gathering grounds been 

 taken up seriously. Prof. Henry urged that all catch- 

 ment areas still privately owned should be compul- 

 sorily acquired either by the corporation or bv the 

 State, and that all ground suitable for planting should 

 be utilised. 



Mr. R. L. Robertson, of the Forestry Commission, 

 gave an interesting account of the work of his Depart- 

 ment, but had little to sav as to its future policy — a 

 question on which the audience would have been glad 

 of some information. Other speakers included Sir 

 Daniel Morris. Prof. Somerville, and Mr. Duchesne. 

 Mr. \\'. R. Hilev read a oaper on "Sources of Infec- 

 tion of 'Forest Trees by Fungi." 



The work of the Section concluded with an excur- 

 sion to Iwerne Minster, by kind invitation of Mr. 

 Ismav, where the home farm and stock were inspected. 



.\lex. Lauder. 



UNIVERSTTY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



The annual oration in connection with the Medical 

 Societv of London will be delivered on Monday. 

 Mav 10, at q o'clock, bv Sir D'.Vrcy Power, who will 

 speak on "The Rev. John Ward and Medicine." 



The Irish Geographical .Association, which now 

 enters upon it» second year in close connection with 

 the Geoafraphical .Association in Great Britain, has 

 elected Prof. Grenville A. J. Cole as president for 

 iq2o, and Miss F. M. Berry, 15 Lower Leeson Street, 

 Dublin, as hon. secretary. 



The following are among the forthcoming free 

 courses of nublic lectures at Gresham College : — 

 Phvsic, by Sir R. Armstrong- Jones (January 20 to 

 2-),); Geometry, by W. H. Was^staff (February ^ to 

 6) ; and Astronomy, by A. R. Hinks (February 17 to 

 20). The lecture-hour will be 6 o'clock. 



.\ MEETING of zoologists was held in the rooms of 

 the Linn,ean Society on Friday, January 9, to consider, 

 among other matters, the teaching of zoology in 



NO. 2621, VOL. 104] 



schools and the salaries and remuneration of zoologists 

 in general. Prof. S. J. Hickson presided, and after 

 discussion the following resolutions were passed 

 unanimously : — (i) That this meeting of British 

 zoologists considers that paragraph 10 of the Report 

 of the Investigators of the Secondary School Examina- 

 tions Council, appointed to inquire into the method- 

 and standards of award in the seven approved First 

 Examinations held in July, 1918, referring to the sub- 

 jects of natural history and zoology, is likely to dis- 

 courage the teaching of zoology in secondary schools, 

 and requests the Zoology Organisation Committee to 

 take such steps as may seem desirable to submit to 

 the Board of Education the views of zoologists on thf 

 subject. (2) That this meeting deplores the present 

 difificulty in filling vacancies in the scientific staff of 

 the Natural History Museum, and regards it as 

 mainly due to the poor pay and prospects of the 

 members of the staff. It is of the opinion that this, if 

 not remedied, will react adversely not only on the work 

 of the museum, but also on the advance of zoology 

 in this country. It therefore requests the Zoology 

 Organisation Committee to make such representatiAis 

 in the matter as may seem desirable. 



Under the title Discovery, Mr. John Murray has 

 just published the first number of a monthly periodical 

 intended to promote intelligent interest in all brancin 

 of intellectual activity and practical achievement. 1 li 

 journal had its origin in a conference held a short 

 time ago at which representatives of many literary, 

 educational, and scientific associations were present. 

 It has the blessing of these associations, and sup- 

 port in the form of suggestions for contributors and 

 subjects of articles. It is to be maintained under a 

 deed of trust, and the trustees, whose names appear 

 on the cover of the magazine, include the presidents 

 of the Royal Society and the British .Academv. There 

 is also a committee of management, which will 

 apparentlv advise the editor. Dr. .\. S. Russell, as 

 to the suitability or otherwise of articles submitted or 

 solicited. With such distinguished patronage and 

 competent opinion. Discovery should be able to pro- 

 vide interestinj? fare month by month for the delecta- 

 tion and profit of many thoughtful minds. Prnf. 

 R. S. Conway, who has been largely responsible for 

 the inception of the journal, opens the first number 

 with an instructive article on "The Secret of Phila?," 

 particularlv with regard to Gallus the prefect and his 

 relations with the poet Virgil. The other articles are 

 on smoke-screens at sea. Dr. T. Slater Price; the 

 modern studv of dreams. Prof. T. H. Pear; dis- 

 covery and education, the Master of Balliol ; the Con- 

 ference at Paris, J. W. Headlam-Morley ; sound- 

 ranging in war-time. Dr. .\. S. Russell; and Spit 

 bergen. Dr. Rudmose Brown. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 



M.-vnchester. ^^^ 



Literary and Philosophical Society (Chemical SectioHJ^ 

 December 18. 1919.— Mr. H. N. Morris in the chair — 

 H. Moore : Future supplies of motor fuel. The author 

 dealt with the possibility of meeting the future demand 

 by an increased production of petroleum spirit ; benzol 

 as a motor fuel ; alcohol as a motor fuel ; and the 

 advantages of mixed motor fuels, with particular 

 reference to the compression pressures of engines and 

 to the vapour tension of mixed fuels. 



Literary and Philosophical Society, January 6. — Prof. 

 F. E. Weiss, deoutv chairman, in the chair. — R. W. 

 James: The Antarctic: .Shackleton's Expedition of 

 1014-17. A description of the life and scientific work 

 of the expedition and of the explorations round the 



