66 
NATURE 
[May 25, 1871 
SSS 
perhaps two in the West Indian Islands, and hope there still 
further to investigate the theories of geographical distribution, 
especially endeavouring to see if they can in any way be regarded 
as having been connected with this submerged continent of 
Atlantis. G. R, CroTcH 
The Coronal Rifts 
Witt Captain Tupman kindly explain what he means by 
“actinic rifts” 2 1 should have supposed that the rifts are 
evidence of the absense of actinism at the places where they occur. 
I am not at all surprised that anyone observing through a tele- 
scope should fail to notice the rifts. The eye would naturally 
be attracted by the bright light of the corona and the red 
prominences. It may be observed, also, that there is in the 
photographs a considerable amount of bright corona at the places 
where the rifts occur, so that Captain Tupman might have had 
the telescope pointed at the very places where the rifis were, and 
yet they would escape his notice. The rifts are there, unques- 
tionably, in the two photographs taken (after the lapse of nearly 
an hour) at Cadiz and Syracuse, and the sketches taken in Spain 
also show the gaps. The evidence appears to me to be con- 
clusive against Captain Tupman, 
A. BROTHERS 
Spectrum of the Aurora 
Tuer is one pointin Mr. H. R. Procter’s letter in NATURE, 
vol. iii. p. 468, which I do not agree with He says the bands of 
the auroral spectrum are seldom visible, with the exception of that 
whose wave-length is 557; whereas I have found two bands, 
doubtless Winlock’s 464 and 431, to be invariably visible when 
the aurora is bright enough to show them, Also, I suspect the 
red line is always present when there is any red colour in an 
aurora, although our instruments do not show it unless the lumi- 
nosity is considerable. Of the thirty-four auroras in whose 
s-ectra I have seen the line 557, fourteen showed the bands 
46 and 431, and three others at least one of these, while 
eight showed the red line. In five auroras, all more or 
less red, I have seen a faint band, whose wave-length, I believe, 
is 500 or 510. I have never seen the line 532 (the coronal line), 
unless it be once ; probably from want of instrumental power. 
As regards the zodiacal light, I have looked at its spectrum 
several times when it has been at its brightest, but have never 
seen anything but a continuous spectrum. I am satisfied there- 
fore that if the line 557 exists in it, it must be much fainter in 
proportion to the rest of its light than is the case with the 
aurora. T. W. BACKHOUSE 
Sunderland, May 16 
Science for farmers 
As the independent and powerful advocate of scientific educa- 
tion, will you allow me to draw your attention to the object ot 
the enclosed letter? 
Within a short period I have seen such remarkable results 
attended with such an enormous saving of money arising from a 
limited knowledge of science amongst acommittee of farmers, 
that I am desirous the future generation should have at least a 
common sense idea of some of the laws of nature which more 
immediately concern their business and pecuniary interests. 
T have the more faith in the success of what I am advocating, 
because the kind and amount of scientific instruction I propose 
is really a business necessity. I have not forgotten the results of 
the Great Exhibition of 1851, how the members of each particular 
profession or trade were interested, especially in such stalls or 
departments that concerned this main object of their lives, how 
to make their own calling more successful or profitable. 
I believe therefore in the teaching of science a much greater 
prospect of success exists when it can be combined with a prac- 
tical business pursuit. I have read with much interest your 
article ‘‘The Hope of France” on the paper read by M. 
Deville before the Academy of Science, 
The advantages arising from scientific culture, in other words, 
the study of nature and her laws, are beyond appreciation, and for 
this reason a student of science must reason and think for him- 
self; he must do his own thinking, and not allow any other person 
to do this duty for him; and it is my conviction that the real 
power of any State is exactly in proportion to the number of in- 
dependent reasoners and thinkers that go to constitute it ; and I 

know of no means so powerful to promote this as the extension 
of technical teaching applied to business pursuits. 
May 18 W. Little 
‘¢ TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE SONS OF FARMERS 
“ To the Members of the Lincolnshire Farmers’ Association, and 
other Agricultural Associations in Great Britain 
“*Gentlemen,— Will you allow me to ask your earnest con- 
sideration and reflection on a subject which I believe is of vital 
importance to the future generation of farmers? The question 
I would put to you is this: Do you wish your sons whom you 
destine to the pursuit of agriculture to be entirely ignorant of 
such of the simple elements of chemistry as would give them a 
complete knowledge of the application and properties of the 
various materials used in the manufacture of artificial manures, 
when such knowledge may be acquired with little trouble, in a 
short time, and at small expense ? 
“‘T cannot for a moment believe that any intelligent farmer, 
with the costly and bitter experience of the past few years in rela- 
tion to the tricks and impostures of the artifical manure makers, 
can be so indifferent to the future success of his child as not to 
give him, by a brief course of practical scientific education, not 
only the power of protecting himself against fraud, but also the 
knowledge that will enable him to apply the gifts of science to 
the greatest possible advantage, and at the same time liberate 
himself from the large and plausible army of manure compounders. 
‘© Why should the business and pursuit of agriculture be an ex- 
ception in the rules of guidance for the successful pursuit of any 
other business or profession? For the practice of medicine, law, 
engineering, architecture, &c., a special course of study is re- 
quired, and is really necessary. Agriculture as a business pur- 
suit offers abundant occupation for the highest order of intelli- 
gence, and stands second to none in its claim to scientific skill 
and sound practical sense, and has therefore an equal claim with 
other professions, that those engaged in it should be properly 
qualified by a special form of education. 
‘¢ What can be more embarrassing to the present generation 
of farmers than the reading of the reports of chemical analysts 
on the composition of soils and manures? What can they under- 
stand by ‘ water of combination ’ other than that it may have too 
near a relation to a pump ; or the term ‘ organic matter,’ which 
may mean flesh or bread, woody fibre, peat, sawdust, or coal 
dust, most likely a large proportion of the latter elements ; or 
that very intelligible term ‘soluble phosphate equal to bone 
earth or tribasic phosphate of lime made soluble ;” or alumina, 
silica, alkaline, salts, &c., which generally mean clay, sand, and 
common salt, concluding with earthy matter as the dirty founda- 
tion upon which all the other perplexities stand. 
“Ts it not worth while, by a brief course of practical study, to 
rid one’s self of the influence of all this chemical necromancy ? 
The days of alchemy, witchcraft, and astrology have passed away, 
and so must the charlatanism and quackery of the inferior order 
of manure compounders. 
‘¢ What would be the history of many of these occult persons 
if it could be traced? Should we find that they have at any time 
been diligent students under such guides as Liebig, Ville, 
Voelcker, and other honourable and distinguished chemists ? 
No ! I do not hesitate to say that many of them have been mere 
wandering vagabonds haying no disposition or ability to get an 
honest living by ordinary industry, and as a last resource trade 
on the credulity of farmers as artificial manure makers. A case 
in point was recently reported tome. Two discharged lackeys, 
a butler and footman, embarked, for want of honest employment, 
in this trade. They are now millionaires ; one is an M.P. and 
the other has received the honour of knighthood. Recently I 
was over the works of a large and respectable manufacturer of 
phosphatic manures, who was also a maker of sulphate of 
ammonia. He informed me that he mixed these two ingredients 
in such proportion that he could well afford to sell it for 6/. per 
ton. The mixture went inimmense quantity to Liverpool, where 
it was christened under the name of phospho-guano, and was 
actually returned, more than a hundred miles, near to the original 
works, and sold for 127, per ton. Are not such cases, anda 
thousand others, sufficient’ to make every farmer ask himself f 
one object of his being born into this world was to feed and fatten 
knaves ? 
“A first-class tailor, hatter, shoemaker, butcher, or baker, 
desires before all things that his customer should thoroughly un- 
derstand the composition and quality of the goods he has for 
sale. Can the same be said of the manure compounders? ‘The 
