June i8, 1903] 



NATURE 



55 



tained, but kite flying is an art of which we were then 

 without previous experience, and so it was well to err 

 on the safe side. A steam vessel is extremely con- 

 venient for kite flying, as by altering either her speed 

 or direction the strain upon the wire, provided the 

 vessel is not already going full speed against or with 

 the wind, can be varied with the utmost nicety. 



With more than two kites difficulties often occur, 

 owing to the fact that very different wind velocities 

 may prevail at different heights. If the wind is 

 greatest at the surface, adding more kites does not 

 add appreciably to the height of the end one, since no 

 kite can rise into a stratum in which it does not find 

 sufficient wind. This sometimes occurred, but the 

 more usual case was that the wind force increased too 

 rapidly with elevation, so that if the tug were used 

 to increase the relative surface wind to suit the lower 

 kites, it added too much to the strength of the upper 

 wind, and by unduly increasing the force upon the 

 upper kites, put a dangerously high tension upon the 

 wire. If, on the other hand, the tug were moved to 

 suit the upper kites, the lower ones might be be- 

 calmed, and useless for lifting purposes, or perhaps 

 even fall into the sea. 



Very interesting results have been obtained from 

 these experiments, both in America and on the Con- 

 tinent, but it has been felt that the conditions prevail- 

 ing over the large oceans are very likely different from 

 those over the continents. The cyclonic disturbances, 

 on the motion of which our weather very largely de- 

 pends, certainly show a preference for the sea, and it 

 was in the hope that some light might be thrown on 

 their mechanism, and the causes which produce them, 

 that a locality on the west coast of Scotland was chosen 

 for the observations. The evidence obtained from last 

 summer's work is not sufficient to be conclusive, but 

 so far as it goes it tends to show that as a depression 

 approaches, the decrease of temperature with elevation 

 becomes less than it was before. This was the case 

 with every depression that passed while the experiments 

 were in progress, and it leads to the conclusion that the 

 upper air in the neighbourhood of a cyclone is relatively 

 warm, and that the cyclones are convectional effects. 



A further result of the observations shows that the 

 temperature of Ben Nevis was in every instance below 

 that of the free air at the same level some sixty miles 

 to the south-west, often from 5° to 8° F. below. 

 That the two air temperatures should have agreed 

 was hardly expected, but the difference was very 

 marked, and it is desirable that the experiments 

 should be repeated in the same locality to confirm the 

 result. The fact, however, that the summit of the 

 mountain is so often wrapped in clouds, when the sky 

 is clear elsewhere, tends to show that the summit must 

 be unduly cold, and it seems likely that the effect is 

 produced by the adiabatic cooling of the air as it is 

 forced up the mountain slope. In fact, the cloud level 

 on all the mountains and hills in the neighbourhood 

 was always much below the point at which the kites 

 entered the clouds. It is also known from the differ- 

 ences in the barometer on the Ben and the values 

 computed from the Fort William readings that the 

 temperature of the intermediate layers of air is not 

 truly represented by the mean derived from the summit 

 and sea-level temperatures. 



England being so near the usual cyclonic tracks, 

 observations on the upper air are of especial interest, 

 and it is very desirable that a permanent station for 

 the purpose should be established. It may perhaps be 

 found that unmanned balloons too often fall into the 

 sea to be usefully employed, but the attempt is well 

 worth a trial, and so far as kite observations are con- 

 cerned, the only difficulty is the financial one. 



W. H. Dines. 



A NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN AGRICULTURE. 



A SO-CALLED national diploma in the science and 

 practice of agriculture can now be obtained by 

 any student who passes the necessarj- examinations. 

 This diploma has undoubtedly a high-sounding title- 

 it would be difficult indeed to suggest a title of greater 

 weight — and it is therefore not surprising that the 

 number of students entering each year for the ex- 

 amination is steadily increasing, and that successful 

 students should be proud to write the important letters 

 N.D.A. after their names. Now we greatly wish that 

 a truly national diploma in agriculture could be 

 obtained ; that a well-ordered scheme of education and 

 examination were authoritatively set forth; and that 

 the skill and knowledge of the nation should be really 

 brought to bear upon the subject. The diploma in 

 question has no right to the title of " national." It 

 is granted by a joint committee of two agricultural 

 societies — the Royal Agricultural Society of England 

 and the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scot- 

 land—it should therefore be designated " the agri- 

 cultural societies' diploma." To claim for it a 

 national importance, and thus to imply that it ranks 

 above all other agricultural diplomas, is simply to 

 mislead the public, and to assert a position to which 

 it has absolutely no right. The question of continu- 

 ing to grant the' diploma in question has lately entered 

 a critical stage; it may be of service, therefore, to set 

 forth in few words the origin and character of the 

 examinations on which it is based. 



It must be reckoned as greatly to the credit of the 

 two agricultural societies we have just named that 

 they have been for many years engaged in promoting 

 agricultural education 'by means of examinations. 

 The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland 

 was at the pains to obtain a supplementary charter in 

 1856 in order that it might add agricultural education 

 to the other functions of the Society. This charter 

 sets forth that " in order to encourage the proper 

 education of agriculturists in Scotland " the Society 

 is empowered to appoint a committee consisting of the 

 professors of agriculture, anatomy, botany, chemistry, 

 natural history, and technology in the University of 

 Edinburgh, with sundry public officials, and seven 

 members chosen by the Society. This committee is 

 to appoint a board of examiners, and to grant diplomas 

 bearing the corporate seal of the Society. The Society 

 has acted on the powers thus given ; it has conducted 

 annual examinations in Edinburgh from 1858 to 1899, 

 and granted diplomas according to the terms of its 

 charter. 



The Royal Agricultural Society of England possesses 

 no such definite authority as that given to the High- 

 land Society for the conduct of examinations or the 

 granting of diplomas; its charter, given in 1840, 

 merely authorises it " to take measures for the im- 

 provement of the education of those who depend upon 

 the cultivation of the soil for their support." The 

 Society has conducted annual examinations in England 

 from 1868 to 1899. Up to 1897 the successful candi- 

 dates received certificates, but in 1898 and 1899 

 diplomas were granted. 



In 1897 the two societies nominated a joint board 

 of examiners to conduct examinations in the science 

 and practice of dairying, and annual examinations 

 have since been regularly held both in England and 

 Scotland. The successful candidates receive a national 

 diploma in the science and practice of dairying. 



In 1899 the two societies took a further step, and 

 appointed a joint board of examiners to conduct ex- 

 aminations in the science and practice of agriculture; 

 the examinations hitherto conducted by the separate 

 societies then ceased. The first examination by the 

 joint board was held in 1900, and such examinations 



:n. 1755, VOL. 68] 



