1 84 



NATURE 



[May 8, 1919 



issued in July, 1918 (see Nature, vol. cii., p. 50). 

 The numerous portraits of American men of 

 science give it distinction, and Clerk Maxwell, 

 Huxley, and Charles Darwin are also represented. 

 It is not stated that the portrait of Huxley is from 

 Collier's famous painting. Some of the articles, as 

 previously noticed, cover the progress of a par- 

 ticular science in the world at large during the 

 century commemorated, 1818-1918, 



The American Journal of Science originated in 

 the widely cultured mind of Benjamin Silliman, 

 professor of chemistry and mineralogy in Yale 

 College, New Haven, and it is natural that from 

 the first it had as "a leading object" the illus- 

 tration of "American natural history, and espe- 

 cially our mineralogy and geology." Silliman 

 was fortunate in having James Dwight Dana as 

 a son-in-law, and to this day men of science 

 throughout the world look to the American 

 Journal of Science for the publication of original 

 researches on such subjects as fossil reptiles, 

 coral-reefs, and especially synthetic mineralogy. 

 This memorial volume appeals, then, particularly 

 to the geologist, who will find that half its pages 

 are devoted to subjects with which he has some 

 direct acquaintance. It will, moreover, sup- 

 plement the various published summaries of the 

 history of chemistry, physics, zoology, and botany 

 by bringing into prominence the happy flow of 

 communications that has moved in both directions 

 across the Atlantic during the past hundred years 

 of human thought and observation. 



G. A. J. C. 



La Genes e de la Science des Cristaux. By H^l^ne 

 Metzger. Pp. 248. (Paris : Fdix Alcan, 

 1918.) Price 5.50 francs. 

 This is a history of the science of crystals during 

 the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries — that is, 

 during the period of its origin and early develop- 

 ment. The earhest serious attempts at a study of 

 crystalline forms were those of the Dane, Nico- 

 laus Steno (1669), and M. A. Cappeller (1723), 

 but the first real advance was made by the French 

 crystallographers, Rome de ITsle (1772) and the 

 Ahh6 Haiiy (1784). Many quotations are given 

 from the old authors, and their theories and quaint 

 ideas are compared and commented upon. In 

 different sections the subject is considered in its 

 relations to (i) mineralogy, (2) biological sciences, 

 and (3) physical sciences. Although the forma- 

 tion of snow and ice crystals and the growth under 

 the microscope of crystals from mineral waters 

 and saline solutions attracted much attention 

 during this period, the study of crystals has 

 always been more intimately associated with 

 mineralogy. The book concludes with a long list 

 of authors quoted, and a more or less complete 

 bibliography, in which there are several misprints. 

 A rather discursive table of contents takes the 

 place of an index, and, as is often the case in 

 French books, there are no head-lines to the 

 pages. The author is a member of the French 

 Mineralogical Society, and has contributed to its 

 Bulletin under her maiden-name of Bruhl. 

 NO. 2584, VOL. 103] 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 



[The Editor does not hold himself responsible for 

 opinions expressed by his co-respondents. Neither 

 can he undertake to return, or to correspond with 

 the writers of, rejected manuscripts intended for 

 this or any other part of Nature. No notice is 

 taken of anonymous communications.] 



The Cultivation of Sponges. 



There appeared in Nature of April 20, 19 16, an 

 abstract of an article by me on sponge culture which 

 was published in the IVest Indian Bulletin towards 

 the end of 1915. In this article an account was given 

 of Moore's work in Florida, and of a more recent 

 commercial undertaking at the Caicos Islands, in 

 which marketable sponges had been reared from 

 cuttings on cement discs in comparatively shallow sea- 

 water. 



This interesting, and alleged highly profitable, 

 industry is now attracting serious attention in the 

 Bahamas, where there has been considerable deple- 

 tion of the natural beds. Farther south, in the Lesser 

 Antilles, the Imperial Department of Agriculture for 

 the West Indies, with which I am connected, has 

 been trying for some time to arrange sponge-growing 

 experiments at islands like Antigua and Barbados, 

 where, even though the locally occurring sponges are 

 of inferior quality, suitable conditions may be found 

 for growing introduced types of better quality by the 

 culture method. 



The uncertainty of our knowledge concerning the 

 behaviour of sponges amid different environments, 

 and the paucity of our knowledge of West Indian 

 sponges and their distribution, make a proper scientific 

 inquiry into sponge culture very desirable. Moreover,, 

 the prevailing scepticism in certain quarters regard- 

 ing the profitable character of sponge culture calls for 

 a technical report on the economic side. 



At present steps are being taken with the view of 

 securing two marine zoologists for the British West 

 Indies ; one of them may be attached to the staff of 

 the Imperial Department at Barbados, and the other 

 will probably be stationed In the Bahamas. It seems, 

 however, that some considerable time will elapse 

 before anything is definitely settled, and even then 

 the investigation of a subject like West Indian 

 sponges and their culture requires careful planning 

 and special qualifications on the part of the observers. 



When in London recently I took the opportunity of 

 bringing the matter before Dr. Harmer at the British 

 Museum (Natural History) and Prof. Dendy at King's 

 College. There can be no objection to stating that these 

 authorities consider that sponge culture in the West 

 Indies presents problems of great scientific Interest, and , 

 they suggest that the inquiry might well be pushed from 

 the' purely scientific aspect. It Is obvious to the least 

 Imaginative that a study of sponges along the West 

 Indian chain through 20° of latitude (1200 miles), 

 and including environmental experiments with dif- 

 ferent types, would be most valuable. Prof. Dendy is 

 of opinion that the Inquiry is worthy of a special 

 expedition, for we krow very little about West Indian 

 sponges In this country. 



It Is intended to bring these views to the notice 

 of the Colonial Ofiice, and to submit that an official' 

 application for financial assistance and scientific guid- 

 ance should be made to the Department of Scientific 

 and Industrial Research. Suggestions as to any other 

 steps desirable will be appreciated. 



In concluding this letter. It may be pointed out that 

 during the war, owing to the naval occupation of the, 

 Mediterranean, this country has been largely depen- 

 dent upon the West Indies for its supply of sponges, 

 which are essential to a large number of important 



