272 
instances the collections in the American Museum 
of Natural. History at New York, the Field 
Museum at Chicago, the’ National Museum at 
Washington, the New York State Museum at 
Albany, the Golden Gate Museum at San Fran- 
cisco, and the Public Museum at Oakland. It is 
‘certainly an extensive list, but possibly: the col- 
lections in London and Edinburgh will, for real 
scientific interest, bear comparison with any of 
them. F 
As an indication of trade conditions it is men- 
tioned that the demand for diamonds has increased 
.so much that by February of this year the Diamond 
Syndicate had advanced the price for rough 
stones about go per cent., and of cut stones be- 
tween a carat and 5 carats in weight about 21 
per cent. Small stones under a carat in size were 
scarcely affected, no doubt in order to meet the 
competition of the stones, which are nearly always 
small, from the fields in what was German South- 
West Africa. It is stated that many diamond- 
cutting establishments have been opened in 
London by Belgian refugees. 
The omission of ruby from the species of 
precious stones considered is significant; we be- 
lieve its fortunes as a gem have been severely 
affected by the comparative success of the 
synthetic stone. Sapphires, on the other hand, 
have prospered, and prices have risen. The trade 
in the Queensland stones appears to have been 
brought to a standstill by the war, because all 
the stones were cut in Germany. Hitherto com- 
paratively little in detail has been known of the 
famous emerald mines in Colombia; it is interest- 
ing, therefore, to learn that a careful survey of the 
district has recently been published by Dr. J. E. 
Pogue. 
STATE AID FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. 
Pan the Institution of Civil Engineers on Friday 
last, December 1, the Marquess of Crewe, 
Chairman of the Committee of the Privy Council 
for Scientific and Industrial Research, with mem- 
bers of the Committee and of the Advisory Council 
to the Committee, received a deputation from the 
Board of Scientific’ Societies. Sir. J. J. Thomson, 
president of the Royal Society, in introducing the 
deputation, referred to the functions of the board, 
which had been formed to promote co-operation be- 
tween those interested respectively in pure and 
applied science. The deputation wished to urge the 
necessity for further grants in aid of research, both 
in pure science and in its applications to industry. 
It was often difficult to foresee, at the time a re- 
search in pure science was carried on, what its ulti- 
mate applications might be. The Réntgen rays, dis- 
covered incidentally in a purely physical investi- 
gation, but now of inestimable value in connection 
with. surgery, furnished an instance. Therefore 
men who devoted. themselves to such researches, 
with little prospect of immediate personal benefit, 
should receive from the State sufficient assistance 
to enable them to do their work in comfort. The 
» = “The Emerald Deposits of Muzo, Colombia,” Bull. Amer. Inst. Min. 
Eng., May, 1916. 
NO. 2458, VoL. 98] 
NATURE 
followed by an omission to Sow any seed. 
Sir M. FitzMaurice, president of the Institution . 
[DECEMBER 7, 1916 
neglect of pure science might be compared with 
the ploughing and manuring of a piece of land, 
of Civil Engineers, supported Sir J. J. Thomson, 
and. expressed the hope that research would be 
conducted in a more systematic manner in ‘the 
future than it had been in the past. as 
Prof. H. B. Baker referred to the importance 
of chemical research in industry. It would’ be 
found that chemical processes formed the basis 
of many of the most important national industries. 
Lord Crewe, replying as Chairman of the Com- 
mittee of the Privy Council for Scientific and In- 
dustrial Research, said that increasing attention 
had been lately devoted to the industrial aspects © 
of research. It had now become evident that the 
work of the Advisory Council could no longer be 
regarded as an annexe to the Board of Education. 
The Government had therefore decided to form a 
new department, presided over by the Committee — 
of Council. ~The Government also recognised 
the need for further financial assistance for this 
work, and desired to encourage the application 
of research to the leading industries of the country 
on a large scale. It was clear that wealthy in- 
dustries, which might naturally expect to derive 
direct profit from researches in their province, 
should be willing to ‘deffay part of the expendi- 
ture involved, and the Council was endeavouring 
to bring about a scheme of co-operation with the 
chief industries for developing researches of this 
nature. What they desired to see was the forma- 
tion of trade associations which would survey the 
conditions in their respective industries and decide 
upon and initiate desirable researches. Such 
associations should work under carefully selected 
committees of direction, including some leaders 
in the industry concerned, men of science, and 
also representatives of the skilled workers in the 
different trades. > 
In addition to industrial research of this kind, 
of direct and immediate value to industry, there 
would also be other broader researches of great 
national value, but not offering immediate pros- 
pects of profits to individuals, which would form 
fit subjects for Government support. In view of 
the varied conditions under which co-operation in 
these different classes of researches would be car- 
ried on, it was difficult to assess the amount of 
money required in any particular year, and in the 
circumstances it was impracticable to proceed by 
annual estimate. The Chancellor of the Ex- 
chequer was therefore prepared to advise the 
Government to devote a large sum to cover opera- 
tions during the next five years, on a scale which 
would enable them to spend four, and perhaps five, 
times as much on such co-operative industrial re- 
search as had been spent for the whole purposes 
of research by Vote hitherto. : 
The Chancellor of the Exchequer had also de- 
cided that, in order to encourage firms to make 
generous contributions, money devoted to re- 
search, on specified terms, will be regarded as 
“working expenses,” and will thus be free from 
