128 



NATURE 



[April 12, 191 7 



In the later growing- and fruiting stages the 

 influence of fertilisers is under investigation, and 

 also the effect of light, temperature, humidity, and 

 other physiological factors. None of the artificial 

 fertilisers produced any notable effect on the 

 tomato crop; the withholding of phosphates 

 caused some depression, but the withholding of 

 nitrogen and potash had little, if any, effect. It 

 must be remembered that the soil is virgin soil, 

 and the results seem to be on a par with the old 

 antagonism between vegetative growth and fruit- 

 ing. Mr. Spencer Pickering obtained very similar 

 results at Woburn in his manurial experiments 

 with fruit trees and bushes. The result is con- 

 trary to the usual experience, and indicates that a 

 marked distinction must be made between virgin 

 soils and soils that have been in use for some 

 time. The reason for the distinction, however, 

 is not clear. 



In the case of cucumbers, phosphates in some 

 circumstances actually depressed the crop, as has 

 been noted elsewhere with cotton and sugar-cane. 

 The determining factor in the case of cucumbers 

 under the conditions of the experiment was the 

 temperature, and the experiments show in a 

 striking way how easy it is for the leaves to be- 

 come overheated in a glasshouse — a phenomenon 

 already discussed by Francis Darwin. The 

 cooler part of the cucumber-house gave in the 

 first year 25, and last year 9, per cent, more fruit 

 than the warmer part. Proper appliances have 

 been installed for the study of this important 

 problem, and the results will be awaited with 

 much interest. E. J. R. 



THE NEW FOOD ORDERS. 



THE reduction of the available supply of cer- 

 tain articles of diet, especially of meat, flour, 

 sugar, and potatoes, has had the effect of chang- 

 ing to some extent the point of view with regard 

 to economy in diet. While until recently economy 

 in all things was desirable, it has now become 

 necessary to exercise, in addition, special economy 

 in the case of the four things mentioned above. 

 This is due partly to deficiency in means of trans- 

 port, but, in the case of potatoes, chiefly to bad 

 crops. It must also be remembered that the 

 large proportion of the population serving in the 

 Army or Navy require more than they had in their 

 previous occupations. For these reasons, it has 

 been recommended by some that those who are 

 well-to-do should endeavour to utilise the more 

 costly articles of food, leaving a greater supply 

 of the less costly, but restricted, articles for those 

 who cannot afford the former. With regard to 

 the Army rations, there is some reason to suppose 

 that the allowance of 16 oz. of meat p>er day is 

 unnecessarily large, at all events for men in the 

 trenches ; perhaps it may be the cause of certain 

 diseases which are apt to occur, such as "trench 

 nephritis." This affection seems to have some 

 relation to diet. The meat allowance might, with 

 advantage, and probably with appreciation by the 



NO. 2476, VOL. 99] 



men, be exchanged for an equal energy-value in 

 carbohydrate. 



The new arrangement of rationing by bulk, as 

 applied to restaurants, is undoubtedly an advance. 

 As the present writer has pointed out in another 

 place, the old system of limiting the number of 

 courses led to an undesirable increase in the con- 

 sumption of meat, as compared with other foods. 

 The present allowance of 12 oz. of meat per day 

 gives about 70 grams of protein, in addition to 

 that in bread and other articles — a perfectly ade- 

 quate supply. It is, however, not quite clear why 

 households should be allowed only about 6 oz. 

 per head. In some cases, no doubt, the smaller 

 consumption by children compensates. But it 

 must always be kept in mind that children require 

 more protein in proportion to their weight than 

 adults, since they are forming new body-tissues, 

 and it is only up to a certain age that children 

 require absolutely less protein than adults. It 

 would probably be correct to say that quite half 

 the total number of households consist of persons 

 requiring the protein ration of adults. Of course, 

 meat is not the only source of protein ; oatmeal 

 espjecially is an excellent source, and, at present, 

 the necessary energy-value can be made up with 

 this, at the same time as the increase in protein. 



With regard to the materials to be added to 

 wheat-flour, would it not be better to limit them 

 to those not readily used by themselves, such as 

 barley and rye? Beans, especially, seem to the 

 writer an undesirable constituent of bread. If 

 oatmeal, for example, is to be used in large quanti- 

 ties for mixing with wheat-flour, is it not prob- 

 able that the price will rise considerably? 



The new Order with respect to hoarding of food 

 is rather difficult to understand. Presumably, it 

 is not intended to prevent the purchase of fairly 

 large amounts at a time, provided that these 

 amounts are made to last as long as if bought in 

 small parcels ; nor to prevent the storage of sugar 

 for the purpose of making jam by the householder 

 in the autumn. W. M. Bavliss. 



A MINISTRY OF HEALTH. 



WITH the terrible wastage of the lives of the 

 best of the nation's manhood in the 

 European conflict, and with a birth-rate the lowest 

 on record, if the country is to recover after the 

 termination of the war and to maintain its place 

 among the nations as a great and thriving indus- 

 trial Power, it will be necessary for us to conserve 

 to the utmost those lives which we possess and 

 those which we may expect to be born to us. 

 While it may not be practicable at present to 

 anticipate a definite increase in the birth-rate, 

 though it is to be hoped there will before long be a 

 chanp;^e for the better, it is possible to do much 

 to reduce disability and loss of life from prevent- 

 able disease. The campaign against venereal 

 disease, the crusade against tuberculosis, the care 

 now being taken of munition and other workers, 

 and the medical consultations at infant welfare 



