608 
photographs of the Sunderland Magnesian Limestone, 
suggested osmosis as the cause (see his “ Biologie 
Synthetique,” p: 176). This still awaits demonstra- 
tion. 
Two processes appear to me to have been at work 
in this coneretionary limestone. The first step was, 
I believe, the production of rod structures starting at 
every possible angle from ‘bands of origin,’ and 
lying either parallel to or divergent from one another. 
Both forms are shown in the photograph of a vertical 
section at Fulwell Hill (xi). The rods are often 
seen in a double series pointing in opposite directions, 
though they are certainly never of stalactitic origin. 
The second process seems to be similar to that which 
produces Liesegang’s rings; this caused a deposit of 
lime in zones (Fig. 1) across the rods, whatever posi- 
tion or arrangement. 
They commenced as nodes on 
the rods, ultimately by extension forming parallel 
bands. ‘The process often halted at various stages of 
development, but specimens are found showing a com- 
plete series of such changes and suggesting an easy 
classification, GEORGE ABBOTT. 
2 Rusthall Park, Tunbridge Wells, January 15. 
Weather Forecasting. 
Or the sciences, meteorology is perhaps the one 
which most deserves and requires State-aid. Even to 
the individual whose business is not affected directly 
by the weather, a more certain knowledge of the atmo- 
spheric changes which may be expected to take place 
during the day would be of very considerable value. 
Thanks to our Meteorological Office, we can even now 
ascertain from the morning papers what. the weather 
conditions of the day are likely to be; but it is gener- 
ally conceded that even the official weather reports 
sometimes prove untrustworthy. By some weather 
experts forecasts are issued for three days in advance. 
Such forecasts, however, are much more untrust- 
worthy than the daily ones: Indeed, weather changes 
are frequently so rapid that in the course of twenty- 
four hours the atmospheric conditions may be almost 
entirely changed over the whole of Europe. 
There is. no reason to suppose that any insuperable 
difficulty Stands in the way of accurate weather fore- 
casting; but individual effort cannot be expected to 
bring together, and put in proper form for study, 
NO. 2309, VOL. 92] 
NATURE |. 
[JANUARY 29, 1914, 
SEE 
the vast amount of detailed information from distant 
regions which must be dealt with. : 
To be of real service, correct forecasts should be 
published for at least seven days in advance. Such 
forecasts would be of great value to the agriculturist. 
It does not seem to be quite appreciated how great an 
interest agriculture is, even to a manufacturing coun- 
try like England. Compared with it the 18,0001. per 
annum provided by the State for the carrying on of 
the work of the Meteorological Office is an insignifi- 
cant figure. Indeed, that so little is spent on this 
department would seem to imply that those who are 
responsible for providing what is required take an 
altogether incorrect view of what might really be 
accomplished. One unexpected storm will often do 
ten times as much damage to agricultural produce and 
shipping as would provide all the money that is re- 
quired. 
[t is difficult to believe that in these days when 
scientific method has led to such enormous improve- 
ments in the conditions under which we live, 
there are those who believe that meteorology is a 
science which cannot be expected to assist greatly 
in promoting the generai welfare. That meteorology 
has not made more rapid strides is due to the fact 
that it is pre-eminently a science which requires 
organised effort of a kind which the individual 
meteorologist cannot undertake. What is required is 
an organisation the efforts of which are mainly 
directed to the accumulation of facts, and, what is of — 
equally great importance, the publication of such facts 
in a form easy of comprehension. 
A meteorological atlas gives us charts showing 
mean temperatures, mean atmospheric pressures, &c., 
' but although such charts are useful, indeed indis- 
pensable for some purposes, we still require charts 
giving the actual conditions obtaining at certain times 
each day. The only charts of this description avail- 
able are those issued by the British Meteorological 
Office each week. Although these have greatly im- 
proved during recent years, they still leave much to 
be desired. If they were printed on a larger scale 
they would be much more valuable. Such charts 
ought to show the isobars, isothermal lines, dew 
points, &c. The isothermal lines and dew points 
would, probably, be distinctive of each wind province. 
At the present time the science of meteorology, in 
so far as the laws governing the changes produced 
in the air by vertical or horizontal movements are 
concerned, is well up to date. What is wanted is a 
clearer knowledge of the nature and origin of cyclones 
and anticyclones. Correct conclusions can only be 
drawn from charts showing correctly the conditiors 
actually obtaining over large areas at particular 
moments. 
It must not be. forgotten that every cyclone as it 
reaches new areas finds there wind conditions the 
nature of which exercise a profound influence upon 
the form of the advancing cyclone. It is not, there- 
fore, sufficient to know that a cyclone is advancing 
towards us along a certain path. The actual form of 
this cyclone and the wind and other conditions of the 
area into which it is advancing, are each of great 
importance. So complicated are the conditions, and 
so variable are they, that anything short of daily, or. 
twice daily, charts will fail to provide the material 
required for ascertaining the laws which govern the ~ 
circulation of the atmosphere and produce rain, wind, 
and change of temperature. 
A rich country such as England, one in which 
agriculture and shipping are of such enormous im- 
portance, should not fail to furnish material for such 
a study of atmospheric changes as would render fore- 
casts trustworthy, not only for one day, but for 
