388 



NA TURE 



[August 24, \.'6^i 



try, and all forming part of the " Illustrierte Katechis- 

 men." This form, however, is not one that commends 

 itself generally to the writers of English text-books, at 

 least in modern times. It is believed that the fascinating 

 style of the ingenious Miss Mangnall endeared her 

 writings to an earlier generation, but the peculiar form of 

 which she was so admirable an exponent has not found 

 many imitators. But the case seems to be different in 

 Germany, to judge by the number of works and editions 

 in this catechetical series, to which we have referred. 

 The author contends that the form of the work is suit- 

 able, and in his recent revision he has preferred to retain 

 it. But if the questions in a slightly altered shape were 

 made to fill the place of marginal notes, and the informa- 

 tion were presented in a continuous readable form, it 

 would, to an English eye at least, be preferable to that 

 adopted, which has all the appearance of a collection of 

 conundrums without their interest. But apart from this 

 question of form, there are two reasons why we are in- 

 clined to dissent from the judgment of the author. 

 Meteorology has hardly crystallised into that definite 

 shape in which a cut and dry answer can be given to 

 every definite question. The author seems to take some 

 praise to himself that every hypothesis has been most 

 carefully excladed. But this is a very doubtful merit. It 

 has the immediate effect of excluding much that gives a 

 charm and interest to the study, and without a knowledge 

 of which one can hardly be said to be instructed in 

 meteorology. Working hypotheses, recognised as such, 

 have a distinct value, especially in a science where much 

 is, of necessity, tentative and experimental. The other 

 objection which might be urged against the style arises 

 from the fact that, in the present instance at least, it does 

 not leni itself readily to the description of diagrams. 

 Perhaps this explains why the book is not more profusely 

 illustrated. It was doubtless felt that diagrams did not 

 greatly add to the clearness of description. 



The contents of the book are generally such as one 

 would expect to meet in an elementary work on meteor- 

 ology. There are, however, some e^cceptions, in which 

 the author enters upon subjects which we are apt in this 

 country to include under the wider title of physiography. 

 After dealing with the temperature of the atmosphere, 

 its daily and annual variations, the peculiarities of 

 isotherms, &c., we have an account of barometric records 

 and variations of atmospheric pressure with theories of 

 the wind. Under this heading are treated such subjects 

 as land and sea breezes, local winds, such as monsoons, and 

 movements of the atmosphere affecting small areas. The 

 transition to such subjects as the Gulf Stream and ocean 

 currents is easy if a little unexpected, but the author soon 

 returns to topics more immediately connected with 

 meteorology properly so called. The subject of evapora- 

 tion, and the deposition of moisture in its various forms, 

 is sufficiently dealt with, and if there is nothing new in 

 this chapter it is clear and satisfactory, and the same 

 can be said for the few concluding questions on electrical 

 and optical phenomena. A few remarks might have been 

 added with advantage on the aurora, but possibly the 

 author was afraid of hypotheses. 



The most readable and the most interest! ng portion of the 

 book is undoubtedly that connected with the behaviour of 

 NO. 1243. VOL. 48] 



storms, and the formation of weather charts with a view 

 to weather prediction. Here the catechist has practically 

 to stand aside. In about twenty pages we meet with 

 only eighteen distinct questions, and the tale is therefore 

 practically told without that annoying form of interruption. 

 And it is very well told. We feel that the author has 

 shaken himself free from his self-imposed fetters, and is 

 doing himself justice, and we can only regret that the 

 earlier portion of the work is not marked by a similar 

 freedom. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



The New Technical Educator: an Encyclopadia of 



Technical Education. Vol. I. (London, Paris, and 



Melbourne : Cassell and Co., Limited, 1893.) 

 The subjects dealt with in vol. i. are as follows :— 

 Drawing for Carpenters and Joiners, Cotton Spinning, 

 Cutting Tools, Dyeing of Textile Fabrics, Electrical 

 Engineering, Drawing for Engineers, Photography, 

 Plumbing, Practical Mechanics, Projection, The Steam 

 Engine, Steel and Iron, Technical Education, Watch 

 and Clock Making, and Woollen and Worsted Spinning. 



Taken as a whole, all these subjects are well written 

 and illustrated copiously, several full-page plates being 

 given. The frontispiece is coloured, and represents the 

 scene in the Bessemer department of a steel works at 

 night, during the process of a " blow." A very good idea 

 is given of the wonderful pyrotechnic display. 



The steam-engine is treated very much from the 

 " heat '' point of view. 



Under the head of Plumbing much useful information 

 is to be found, particularly the making of joints and 

 bends in pipes of lead and other metals. It is usual, 

 when making a bend in a wrought-iron lap-welded pipe, 

 to endeavour to keep the weld on the inside of the bend, 

 when possible, for obvious reasons. This is purely a 

 practice which every gasfitter or plumber would naturally 

 follow, and its omission from the paragraph is to be 

 regretted. 



The articles on electrical engineering are excellent as 

 far as they go. The illustrations are clear and to the 

 point ; one or two of the earlier ones, however, would be 

 improved by the addition of the lines of force. 



Prof. R. H. Smith takes charge of the articles on 

 " Cutting Tools"; needless to say they are well written, 

 with examples taken from every-day practice in the 

 works. The introduction of milling machinery into the 

 engineering works of the country is comparatively o( 

 recent date, yet this method of machining work is 

 rapidly coming to the front, and milling machinery is 

 taking the place of the planing, slotting, and shaping 

 machine for duplicate and general work. One great 

 drawback to this method of working is the cost of the 

 milling cutters ; these are very expensive to make, and 

 sometimes during the processof hardening and tempering 

 they very often crack in the body or some of the teeth 

 fly off. On the other hand, the quality of the work done; 

 by the milling machine is better than that from arj 

 average planing machine, less hand labour being requirec' 

 to finish the work. 



The articles on technical education are most instruc 

 tive ; they cover a good deal of ground, generally takinf> 

 a sensible and moderate view of the question. In thf 

 first article on this subject, the author, Mr. Henr} 

 Cunyngham, says that the object of technical educatior 

 is to make good industrial workmen, and then goes on t( 

 name what are the qualities which goto make up a gooi 



