53^ 



NA TURE 



[April 5, 1906 



The fact that many investigators like Boussingault 

 and Lawes and Gilbert found no fixation of nitrogen 

 during the growth of plants Mr. Jamieson dismisses 

 on the ground that the- plants under experiment had 

 not attained their normal vigour, forgetting that 

 Lawes and Gilbert had dealt with and dismissed this 

 •very point in their field experiments upon root crops. 

 Mr. Jamieson even argues that the growth of the 

 leafy turnip crop with small or no nitrogenous dress- 

 ings implies that the crop has drawn its nitrogen from 

 the atmosphere, whereas this is the standard example 

 in the lecture-room of how the great reserves of 

 ■nitrogen in the soil can be made to feed the plant if 

 nitrification be promoted by the frequent cultivations 

 and the high soil temperatures which characterise 

 rthe growth of the turnip crop. 



It is on this sort of foundation that Mr. Jamieson 

 -proposes to re-build the whole edifice of agricultural 

 •science ; really the thing would be amusing were it not 

 so dangerous and discreditable to the cause of scientific 

 research. Mr. Jamieson has a following. Putting aside 

 ihis official backing, and the dukes, earls, and mar- 

 •quises who figure as patrons, there is a body of solid 

 farmers and landowners who sit under him and take 

 advice on practical matters which they suppose to re- 

 present the last word of science. Accustomed to the 

 amenities of theological disputation, these men like their 

 agricultural science in the same style ; not the dry light 

 of reason, but a strenuous assertion of a monopoly of 

 the truth, rhetoric and passion, and a vigorous de- 

 nunciation of the other side — all these they get from 

 Mr. Jamieson. But it is a windy diet, and sooner 

 ■or later disagrees with the subject, whereupon science 

 gets the blame. A. D. H. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 

 Technical Methods of Ore Analysis. By A. H. Low. 



Pp. x + 273. (New York: John Wiley and Sons; 



London : Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1905.) 

 This book is of interest as showing the exact methods 

 of analysis of ores in use in the United States at the 

 present time. The author is a member of a well 

 "known and old-established firm of analysts and 

 assayers in Denver whose results are accepted with 

 respect by miners and smelters in the western States. 

 It is unusual for such a man to publish exact descrip- 

 tions of the methods used in his office, as any discover- 

 able flaw in a method might be seized on and magni- 

 fied by his rivals with prejudicial results to his busi- 

 ness. Now that Mr. Low has shown so much courage, 

 his example may be followed. 



The book contains detailed descriptions of the esti- 

 mation of the ordinary constituents of ores, omitting 

 all " fire methods " of assay. The details are minute 

 enough to be tiresome in reading the book through, 

 the account of the precautions to be taken in volu- 

 metric analysis, for example, being repeated whenever 

 a volumetric method is reached. In this swarm of 

 details the -iliin t points of the methods are lost, and 

 as the headings air somewhat vague, careful search 

 i~ necessary t<> find oul what method is being de- 

 scribed. An analyst must generally read the whole 

 of a section if he wishes in refresh his memory on 

 some particular point, and will count himself for- 

 tunate if he has hit on the right section. Neverthe- 

 less, the point will probably be in the book, to be dis- 

 •rovered by perseverance. 



NO. I9OI, VOL 73] 



The methods are usually good and carefully de- 

 scribed. It seems a pity that Mr. Low should desig- 

 nate the determination of zinc by ferrocyanide the 

 " author's method," without referring to Galetti or 

 Fahlberg, to whom he is indebted for so much, but 

 there is probably no intention to deceive. Also, in 

 the estimation of copper by iodide, the practice of 

 adding a solution of potassium iodide, instead of 

 crystals, is recommended without any warning as 

 to the decomposition of the solution if il is kept for 

 some time. However, the book in generally trust- 

 win iln and useful. There is no book like it, and the 

 analyst will naturally have a copy on his shelf. 



The Lepidoptera of the British Islands. A Descrip- 

 tive iccount of the Families, Genera, ami Species 

 Indigenous to Great Britain and Ireland, their 

 Preparatory States, Habits, and Localities. By 

 Charles (i. Barrett. Vol. x. Pp. 384. Heterocera : 

 Pyralidina — Tortricina. (London : Lovell Reeve 

 and Co., Ltd., 1905.) 

 Since our notice of the last volume of this work 

 entomologists have to regret the death of the accom- 

 plished author, well known as one of the best practical 

 lepidopterists in England long before he commenced 

 the elaborate monograph which he did not live to 

 complete. Hitherto, however, there has been no in- 

 terruption in the publication of the successive parts, 

 and we understand that the manuscript was left prac- 

 ticallj complete to the end of the Tortricina, which is 

 the more satisfactory as the Tortricina are a large 

 and difficult group which have been somewhat 

 neglected by most British lepidopterists, but to which 

 Mr. Barrett devoted special attention. 



The families included in vol. x. arc Pyralidina; 

 Phycitidae (conclusion), 13 genera (Cateremna to 

 Plodia); Anerastiida? (genus Anerastia), Crambidse 

 (6 gi nera), Galeriida? (5 genera), Tortricina, Tortri- 

 1 iiia' ( 17 genera), Cnephasida; (5 genera), Lozoperidse 

 (7 genera), Sercorida? (commencement, 4 genera). 



flu' general arrangement of the present volume is 

 similar to that employed in preceding volumes, and 

 the remarks on the habits of the insects are detailed 

 and interesting. For example, we are told that the 

 first species in the volume (Cateremna terebrella, 

 Zinck.) has a curious habit of emerging during 

 thunderstorms, these being, as is well known, fre- 

 quenl in the eastern counties. The history of the 

 various species, small and inconspicuous as many of 

 them are, is very fully given throughout. 



\V. F. K. 



I First Reader in Health and Temperance. By 



W. Taylor. Pp. iv + 219. (London, Westminster: 



Church of England Temperance Society and 



G. Philip and Son, Ltd., n.d.) Price is. 6rf. 



In this small bonk the instruction is given in forty- 



three lessons wherein all difficult words are avoided 



so far as possible, and when such words are necessary 



their meaning is always explained. The elementary 



matter dealt with is suitably illustrated, and the work 



is in every respect to be commended. 



fin various physiological requirements of the body 

 .in' explained in simple language, and it is shown 

 thai alcohol is not only unnecessary but may be 

 actually detrimental to every healthy function. 

 Abstention from alcohol is, in fact, the dominant text 

 ul the book. 



It is not easy to conceive a book better suited to 

 in. 1 1 the mi ils for which it is designed. The subject 

 ul personal hygiene is made interesting and it is 

 treated in a very happy and lucid manner, appropriate 

 to the intellectual powers of young children, for 

 whom the book is designed to serve as a first reader. 



