i A!:Y 20, MUM 



NATURE 



48; 



to some "i the most highly complex structures 



found in organic Nature, th< istitution of which 



has been elucidated in .1 masterly fashion by 

 Willstatter and his associates. 



of 1 lie most interesting chapters in 

 tin- Ijook is th.it dealing with theories re- 

 lating synthesis "I vital products, 

 the greater part of which, according to the 

 author, has been elaborated by Prof. Collie. Here 

 we enter tin- re.ilm of speculation; indeed, so little 

 is known of the laboratory methods of the living 

 cell that free rein may in- given to the chemical 

 imagination. Enzyme action, of which, however, 

 little of value is said, will probably furnish the 

 key to organic synthesis and cleavage within the 

 living organism, and, until that action has been 

 lulh explained, there is no harm in manu- 

 facturing equations and mechanical devices to 

 represent t hese changes. 



One point, however, must be borne in mind — 

 namely, that these changes must take place with 

 comparatively small energy changes, so that the 

 equilibrium may be easily induced to shift, and 

 the balance of a reversible reaction thrown, to one 

 or other side of the normal point; in short, vital 

 I the expression may be used, must 

 occur within a small range of temperature. In 

 this respect such reactions as the synthesis of pyr- 

 idine derivatives from malic and citric acids, which 

 Studied many years ago by v. Peehmann and 

 others, and the more recent work on the synthesis 

 of tropinone by Robinson, have an unequivocal 

 signiti. J. B. C. 



OUR BOOKSHELF. 

 1 ■ and Practice of Manuring. For the 

 Imateur, Market, and Professional 

 Orchardists, etc. By \Y. Dyke. With 

 introduction by J. Wright. Revised and 

 enlarged edition. Pp. 157. iLondon: The 

 Lockwood I'ress (Harvey II. Mason), n.d.) 

 Price 25. net. 

 Mr. Dyke is well known to horticulturists as a 

 man with a strong scientific bent, and by those 

 men of science who are interested in large-scale 

 crop production he is recognised as possessing a 

 considerable stock of problems still requiring solu- 

 tion. The scientific worker will, therefore, take 

 up this book in the hope of finding a record of 

 some of these observations. He will not be alto- 

 disappointed, yet he will not find so much 

 might hope; for Mr. Dyke, having written 

 1 man and not for the plant physio- 

 logist, sets out some of the elementary scientific 

 which he considers the grower needs, bul he 

 has rut always recorded the growers' observa- 

 tions, which the scientific reader would lil 

 have had, and which no doubt Mr. Dyke con- 

 sidered the practical grower did not need to be 

 told. 



Mr. Dyke knows his . il 50 well that he 



may safely be trusted to furnish a syllabus of the 

 things they wish to know. To the horticultural 

 lecturer this will be one of the most interesting 

 features of the book. 



XO. 2573, VOL. 102] 



The information ^iven to the growers is largely 

 sound and likely to he helpful. Some of the data 

 might well be modernised, and a certain number of 

 tin figures need correction. In particular some of 

 the statistics in the first chapter are inaccurate ; 

 some of the experimental data given in later 

 chapters are old, and more modern figures are 

 available. It is incorreel also to say, on p. 20, 

 that agricultural chemists have "entirely over- 

 ed " the possibility of the presence of 

 ammonium nitrate in the soil. Large numbers of 

 determinations have been made, hut in no case is 

 more than a trace of ammonia present either in 

 cropped or uncropped soils. The amount of 

 nitrate, however, may rise considerably. It is 

 very doubtful whether the recommendation of 

 ground leather is sound, and it is certain that a 

 well-made superphosphate does not become wet 

 and sticky, or lose soluble phosphate on keeping, 

 at any rate so long as it is kept in a weather-proof 

 shed. 



The Life and Discoveries of Michael Faraday. By 

 Dr. J. A. Crowther. (" Pioneers of Progress," 

 Men of Science Series.) Pp. 72 + portrait. 

 (London : Society for Promoting Christian 

 Knowledge, 1918.) Price 2s. net. 

 In these days, when, by the loom of science, 

 strange and terrible patterns have been woven" on 

 our national life, and novel and improved designs 

 are demanded on every side, it is refreshing to 

 turn again to the history of one of the greatest 

 pioneers in scientific discovery and renew our 

 spiritual friendship with that "Just and Faithful 

 Knight of God," Michael Faraday. The author of 

 this little volume has done his work well, and 

 given us a realistic pictuYe both of the scientific 

 enthusiast and of the humble and devout Christian. 

 *' Not half his greatness was incorporate in his 

 science, for science could not reveal the bravery 

 and delicacy of his heart." We could wish this 

 book to be read by our legislators, bv our manu- 

 facturers, and even by our educational authorities, 

 in order to impress upon them " that research 

 must be free to be powerful and that there is little 

 to be gained from a servile science." Gradually 

 but surely the ideas of Faraday have permeated 

 physical science, and at no time since their publica- 

 tion have they met with such general acceptance 

 as they do to-day. " It may fairly be claimed that 

 modern English physics is the school of Faraday, 

 applving- his methods, led bv his vision, inspired 

 by his faith." H. S. A. 



('"Hun. By George Bigwood. ("Staple Trades 



and Industries," vol. ii.) Pp. viii + 204. 



(London: Constable and Co., Ltd., 1918.) Price 



6s. 6d. net. 



Tins volume gives a readable, popular account of 



the whole field which the cotton industry includes, 



beginning with the historical records, and passing 



successively through the cotton fields, the mills, 



and the markets. The book is well printed and 



illustrated, but, especially on the technical side, it 



would be improved by a number of corrections 



w hen it reaches the second edition. L. B. 



