NA TURE 



[May 1 8, 1882 



Chordarie^e, sixteen are natives of these colonies; while 

 in Dictyota, Dilophus, and Glossophora, which, together 

 contain thirty-four species, no fewer than fifteen belong 

 to the same localities. 



It is almost superfluous to say that the work in every 

 part gives evidence of the careful and patient observation 

 which characterise all the writings of Dr. Agardh, and 

 .tender them so valuable an aid to the study of algology. 

 It is to be hoped that before long we may have the 

 pleasure of welcoming another instalment of his contribu- 

 tions to the study and classification of the Melanosperms. 



M. P. M. 



NOTES 

 This week we give the first of a short series of articles on the 

 life and work of the late Mr. Darwin. The series is under the 

 general care of Dr. G. J. Romanes, P.R.S., who also will take 

 special charge of the Zoology and Psychology. The Geology 

 will be by Prof. Geikie, F.R.S., Director of the Geological 

 Survey, and the Botany by Mr. W. T. Thiselton Dyer, F.R.S. 



The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Darwin 

 Memorial was held in the rooms of the Royal Society on 

 Tuesday, May 16, at which it was resolved that subscriptions be 

 invited in order to promote such a memorial of the late Mr. 

 Darwin as shall seem most fitting, having regard to the amount 

 that may be collected. Subscriptions will be received by Mr. J. 

 Evans, Treasurer, Royal Society, Burlington House, W. 



At a meeting of Convocation of the University of London 

 held May 9, the following resolution was unanimously passed : — 

 "The Graduates of the University of London, in Convocation 

 assembled, desire to record their sense of the irreparable loss 

 which science and philosophy have sustained in the death of Mr. 

 Darwin, whom they recognise as an acute and patient investi- 

 gator, an earnest seeker after truth, and an original thinker, 

 whose discoveries have exercised a profound influence upon 

 scientific research and upon the progress of scientific thought 

 throughout the world." 



A NOVEL feature at the meeting of Convocation of London 

 University, last week, was the appearance for the first time of 

 female graduates in academical costume. Sir George Jessel, 

 who presided, gave some statistics to show the rapid progress in 

 the numbers availing themselves of the University's examina- 

 tions, while Sir John Lubbock pointed out the progress that had 

 been made in scientific education during the past year, referring 

 especially to the City Technical Institute. "What is wanted," 

 he said, "is not so much money or men, as method and organi- 

 sation, and to utilise the resources we already possess." lie 

 referred to the wasted resources of Gresham College, v.hich, he 

 said, ought to be " placed on a footing more in accordance than 

 it has been with the v ise designs of its noble founder." It was 

 agreed to request the Senate to take definite steps with regard to 

 this fossilised institution. 



A well-deserved baronetcy has been conferred upon the 

 eminent scientific agriculturist, Dr. John Bennet Lawes, F.R.S. 

 The vast services rendered to agriculture by Sir John B. Lawes, 

 in connection with Dr. Gilbert, are well-known. The new 

 baronet, we learn from the Times, was born in 1814, and suc- 

 ceeded to his estate at Rothamstad, in Hertfordshire, in 1822. 

 Mr. Lawes was educited at Eton and at Brasenose College, 

 Oxford, where he remained from 1S32 to 1835. During his 

 academic career he displayed at once a strong partiality for the 

 laboratory, and on leaving the University, spent some time in 

 London, for the purpose of studying in a practical manner the 

 science of chemistry. Possessed of independent means, a hand- 

 some property, and a beautiful old manor-house and demesne, 



Mr. Lawes at once interested himself in agriculture. In Octo 

 ber, 1834, he first commenced regular experiments in agricultural 

 chemistry on taking possession of his property and home at 

 Rothamstead, and from that date up to the present time Mr. 

 Lawes has unceasingly been applying his scientific knowledge 

 to the solution of questions affecting practical agriculture. Sir 

 John Lawes, we believe, has not only entirely maintained his 

 experimental farm of 500 acres, but has further set apart a sum 

 of 100,000/. and certain lands for the convenience of the under- 

 graduates after his death. This is indeed a gift to the nation, a 

 gift, too, which no money value adequately represents. 



Mr. F. V. Dickins, M.B., B.Sc, has been appointed 

 Assistant Registrar to the University of London, in succession to 

 Prof. Moseley. 



The second meeting of the Bohemian Naturalists and Phy- 

 sicians will take place at Prague during May 24-30, to celebrate 

 the foundation of a Slav University in that city. 



M. Cochery, the Minister of Postal Telegraphy in Francej 

 has printed a circular extending tie use of telephones to provin- 

 cial cities. The charge for telphonic communications in the 

 cities where the government will establish central halls, is 10/., 

 and in the cities where the number of subscribers will exceed 

 300, the subscription will be reduced to 8/. a year. The sub- 

 scribers will have the right of supplying their own telephones 

 from among those approved by the Government. Special rooms 

 will be fitted up in Paris, as well as in the provinces for tele- 

 phonic conversations. The charge will be 5<z\ from each interlo- 

 cutor for each five minutes. The time allowed will not exceed 

 ten minutes if there are other would-be interlocutors waiting. 

 The telegrams received for the subscribers to the telegraphic 

 offices will be telephoned to them if desired. The subscribers 

 will enjoy the privilege of telephoning their letters to the Post 

 Office for immediate despatch, on paying a charge of $d. for 

 each 100 words ; this privilege is limited to 200" words, the 

 pos'age must be paid be-ides. Telegrams will be received in 

 the same manner and on the same scale. 



During the last two or three years a bark containing quinine 

 and quinidine has been imported into this country from Co- 

 lumbia in such enormous quantities as to equal or even some- 

 times exceed the whole of the importations of cinchona bark 

 from all other countries. The botanical source of this bark, 

 which is known in commerce under the name of Cuprea Cin- 

 chona, on account of its peculiar coppery tint, has hitherto been 

 a myttery. M. Triana, the well-known quinologist, has recently 

 succeeded in tracing it out, and has stated, in the Pharmactuti a! 

 Journal for April 22, that it is derived in great measure from 

 two species of the nearly allied genus Remijia, none of the mem- 

 bers of which were previously known to contain quinine. Several 

 species of Remijia have leaves resembling those of the true 

 Cinchonas, and of these M. Triana has determined that R. 

 Purdieana, Wedd., and R. pedunculata, Karsten, certainly 

 yield Cuprea bark, the fotmer being the species which contains 

 the alkaloid Cinchonamine, recently discovered by M. Arnaud. 

 It appears probable that other species also yield the Cuprea 

 Cinchona of commerce, but definite information on this point is 

 still wanting. The value of this bark has led, according to M. 

 Triana, to great devastation Df the forests in which the trees 

 grow, and has produced a financial stagnation, business being 

 neglected in order to follow the more profitable occupation of 

 collecting the bark. Fortunately seeds of the tree have been 

 received and are now in cultivation at Malvern House, Sydenham. 

 The tree is likely to prove valuable for cultivation in countries 

 where malarial fever abounds, since it grows at an elevation ..f 

 200-ioco metres above the sea, at which even red Cinchona bark 

 will not flourish. 



