102 
NATURE 
[JANUARY 20, 1923 

in the electric arc which he had begun in 1907, but 
his proposal to undertake research on the synthesis 
of ammonia was received with open doubts as to 
the potential value of the method. The nitric oxide 
syntheses, in cooled arcs under reduced pressure, and 
in flames and explosions, were not found suitable for 
technical application, and attention was then turned 
to the stone which the builders had rejected. The 
judgment of the technical chemists of the Badische 
Gesellschaft had been at fault, since ammonia syn- 
thesis was ultimately a very real solution of the 
problem of the economic utilisation of atmospheric 
nitrogen. 
Ramsay and Young in 1884 had found that with 
‘nitrogen and hydrogen in presence of iron at 800° C. 
no ammonia was produced. This was found to be 
incorrect, and traces of ammonia were detected. 
Other catalysts were tried, and from the results it 
was evident that an equilibrium state was attained, 
from which it was possible to calculate the yields at 
other temperatures and pressures. No further pro- 
gress was made, however, since it was judged by the 
technical experts to be impossible to carry out the 
reaction on the large scale at the temperatures re- 
quired under the very high pressures indicated by 
the calculations. 
In 1906 measurements under pressure were for the 
first time carried out by Nernst and Jellinek (these 
are not referred to by Haber), and in 1908 Haber in 
conjunction with Dr. Le Rossignol began experiments 
at higher pressures. The work of Le Rossignol (a 
British subject) is spoken of with great approbation, 
although his part in the achievement of success has 
perhaps not always received full credit in some quarters. 
The technical chemists were still unfavourably inclined 
towards the process, although practical yields had 
now been reached: it was clear that “es eines 
eindrucksvollen Fortschrittes bedurfte, um das tech- 
nische Interesse fiir das Gegenstand zu wecken.”’ By 
the use of new catalysts the temperature was lowered 
to 500-600° under a pressure of 200 atmospheres. In 
1913 the process was taken up by the Badische 
Gesellschaft, but an account of the main scientific 
results was also published. The work of Dr. Bosch 
speedily led to the successful introduction of the 
synthetic ammonia process, and in the period 1913- 
1920 the capacities of the German factories rose from 
nil to 35,000 tons per annum in 1914, 850,000 tons 
in 1918, and 1,500,000 tons in 1920. 

University and Educational Intelligence. 
CAMBRIDGE.—The annual report of the General 
Board of Studies on certain University departments 
shows much useful work being done both in instruction 
and research. Here we must limit ourselves to some 
of the new features. (1) It is announced that the 
enlargement of the Small Animal Breeding Research 
Institute with help from the Ministry of Agriculture 
has been followed by a proposal to place at Cambridge 
a Horticultural Research Station set up by the 
Ministry in conjunction with the growers. (2) The 
formation of the Cambridge Architects’ Club to unite 
former members of the University within the pro- 
fession in support of the School of Architecture is not 
valuable merely to the department concerned, but 
may react favourably in several ways on all depart- 
ments of the University. (3) Research work is being 
carried out on aerial surveying, also on the measure- 
ment from aeroplanes of the altitude of the sun by 
means of gravity-controlled sextants, the aeroplanes 
and pilots being provided by the Air Ministry for 
work under the direction of the professor of aero- 
nautical engineering. (4) The exhibit made by the 
NO. 2777, VOL. If | 


School of Forestry at the Royal Agricultural Society’s 
Show was awarded the Society’s special gold medal. 
Lonpon.—A number of free public lectures have been 
arranged for the Lent term at King’s College, Strand. 
A course of eight lectures, on Wedmesdays, at 5.30 P.M., 
commencing January 24, on ‘‘ Some Aspects of Natural 
Philosophy,” will be given, and the following, in the 
order named, have promised to lecture: Prof. A. N. 
Whitehead, Sir Frank Dyson, Dr. J. S. Haldane, Dr. 
Dukinfield Scott, Prof. F. Soddy, Principal L. P. Jacks. 
Sir Herbert Jackson, and Sir Richard Gregory. Prof. 
H. Wildon Carr is giving six lectures on ‘‘ Physical 
Causality and Modern Science’? on Tuesdays, at 
5-30 P.M., beginning February 20. In the department 
of psychology, Dr. William Brown is giving a course 
of three lectures on ‘‘ Psychology and Psychotherapy ” 
on Mondays at 5.30 P.M., commencing February 19. 
There is also a course of six lectures by Prof. V. 
Barthold, of the University of Petrograd, on “‘ The 
Nomads of Central Asia,’ on Thursdays, which 
commenced on January 18, and three lectures, by 
Dr. J. H. Orton, on February 20, 22, and 23, at 5.15 
P.M., on ‘‘ The Bionomics of Marine Animals.”’ 
At University College, a course of ten public lectures 
on “ The Micro-organic Population of the Soil ” will 
be given by Sir John Russell and the staff of the 
Rothamsted Experimental Station in the lecture 
theatre of the Botanical department of the College, 
at 5 o'clock on February 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 27, and 
March 1, 5,and 7. Dr. G. Anrep is also to deliver a 
course of eight public lectures at the College, at 5 
o’clock, on January 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, and 
March 2, 9, and 16, on ‘‘The Physiology of the 
Cortex as investigated by the Method of Conditioned 
Reflexes.’’ No tickets will be required for either of 
these courses. 
THE Board of Education announces that the Im- 
perial Education Conference is to be held in London 
in June next. The last meeting was held in London 
in Ig11, and, but for the war, the conference would 
have met in 1915. The conference will be attended 
by official representatives from the Education Depart- 
ments of the self-governing Dominions and Colonies 
and the British Isles, and various matters of common 
interest will be discussed, including the question of 
the interchange of teachers within the Empire. 
THE trustees of the Albert Kahn Travelling Fellow- 
ships will elect one fellow in May or June next. 
These fellowships were established by M. Albert 
Kahn, of Paris, in order to enable suitable persons to 
undertake a year’s travel round the world with the 
view of obtaining an unprejudiced survey of various 
civilisations and the acquisition of a generous and 
philosophic outlook on life. The value of the award 
for this year will be between gool. and roool., the 
exact amount being decided at the time of election. 
Candidates may be of either sex, but must be British 
subjects and graduates of a university of Great Britain 
or Ireland. The vice-chancellors of these universities, 
and the presidents of the Royal Society and the 
British Academy, may each nominate one candidate. 
Nominations must be sent in by February 28. 
ProF. BoHUSLAV BRAUNER writes :—‘‘ John Gerald 
Frederick Druce, senior science master at Battersea 

Grammar School, London, has obtained the important 
degree of ‘ Doctor Rerum Naturalium ’ of the Charles’ 
University, Prague, after having passed his examina- 
tions, which were conducted in English and French, 
“summa cum laude.’ Dr. Druce is the first English- 
man to take this degree in the Charles’ (Bohemian) 
University of Prague. This is the beginning of new 
scientific connexions between the Czech and English 
nations. Vivant sequentes.” 
ee 
OE 
