§ y a 3, 1923] 
_ acertain degree of justification, and various members 
' number and importance every year. 


of the Illuminating Engineering Society who were 
present at the discussion agreed that electric lamps, 
in common with other modern illuminants, require 
_ proper shading. The effects of ultra-violet light 
_ have been thoroughly studied, but it is now generally 
agreed that the possibility of injury to eyesight 
being caused by the small proportion of such radia- 
tion present in incandescent lamps is remote. Cer- 
tainly the matter does not deserve to be regarded 
with alarm. Moreover, photographers should be well 
aware that the amount of ultra-violet light in natural 
light is considerably greater than that in most 
artificial illuminants. Of other problematical dangers 
such as ‘‘ X-ray, electron, and undiscovered emana- 
tions,” the author could present no confirmatory 
evidence and they were not regarded with any 
concern by the audience, the speakers dissenting 
from most of his suggestions. The matter is of 
interest as furnishing one of those cases in which 
alarmist statements are indiscreetly published in the 
daily Press, and relatively small difficulties, easily 
overcome by reasonable care, are magnified. A 
little prior consultation with experts in such cases 
would enable editors to avoid giving publicity to 
unconfirmed statements which are liable to cause 
misapprehension on the part of the public. 
Amonc the resolutions adopted by the council of 
the American Association for the Advancement of 
Science at the December meeting at Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, is one referring to recent attempts in 
various parts of the United States to prohibit the 
teaching of evolution as applied to man. The council 
asserts its position and that of the Association with 
its 11,000 members clearly and emphatically in the 
following resolution : ‘‘ (1) The council of the associa- 
tion affirms that, so far as the scientific evidences of 
the evolution of plants and animals and man are 
concerned, there is no ground whatever for the asser- 
tion that these evidences constitute a ‘ mere guess.’ 
No scientific generalisation is more strongly supported 
by thoroughly tested evidences than is that of organic 
evolution. (2) The council of the association affirms 
that the evidences in favour of the evolution of man 
are sufficient to convince every scientist of note in 
the world, and that these evidences are increasing in 
(3) The council 
of the association also affirms that the theory of 
evolution is one of the most potent of the great 
influences for good that have thus far entered into 
human experience ; it has promoted the progress of 
knowledge, it has fostered unprejudiced inquiry, and 
it has served as an invaluable aid in humanity’s 
search for truth in many fields. (4) The council of 
the association is convinced that any legislation 
-attempting to limit the teaching of any scientific 
doctrine so well established and so widely accepted by 
specialists as is the doctrine of evolution would be a 
profound mistake, which could not fail to injure and 
retard the advancement of knowledge and of human 
welfare by denying the freedom of teaching and 
inquiry which is essential to all progress.”’ 
NO. 2783, VOL. 111] 
NATURE 

299 
THE association of Sir Christopher Wren with the 
Old Ashmolean building at Oxford, to which Mr. R. T. 
Gunther directs attention in a letter published in our 
correspondence columns, is of particular interest at 
the present time, on account of the celebration of 
the bicentenary of Wren’s death. Mr. Gunther’s 
suggestion, that the upper rooms of the building 
should be used as a science museum, has received 
the support of practically all the leading members 
of scientific departments of the University, as well 
as of others. If this proposal is approved, it is 
hoped that the valuable collection of old astronomical 
and other scientific instruments offered by Mr. 
Lewis Evans to the University will be housed in the 
Old Ashmolean building, which, should Mr. Gunther’s 
views be correct, will thus be restored to its ancient 
purpose. 

H.R.H. THE Prince oF WALES has accepted the 
presidency of the Empire Forestry Association, and 
is presiding at the Association’s annual meeting at 
the Guildhall at 3 p.m. on March 2. At this meeting 
the new council of the Association will be elected, 
consisting of 45 members—g for the United Kingdom, 
to for the Dominions, 2 for India, 6 for the Crown 
Colonies and Dependencies, and 18 for affiliated 
societies—nine of these representing Overseas associa- 
tions. The Prince of Wales is proposing the adoption 
of the report of the Empire Forestry Association, 
which has made remarkable progress since it was 
formed as an outcome of the post-war Imperial 
Forestry Conference. The Association is promoting 
a permanent exhibition of Empire commercial 
timbers in London, and will play an important part 
with regard to the timber section at the British 
Empire Exhibition in 1924. 
A SPECIAL exhibit of abnormal growths taken from 
trunks, branches, and roots of trees and shrubs has 
been arranged in Museum IV. at Kew Gardens. The 
specimens include burrs, witches’ brooms, deformed 
leaves, contorted stems, fasciated shoots, deformed 
roots, and other items. In some instances the de- 
formity is due to injury at an early period of the 
plant’s life; in others (as in fasciation) it may be 
caused by luscious growth, while deformed leaves 
may sometimes be a reversion to a former type. 
Witches’ brooms are usually caused by irritation set 
up by fungus or insects. They are very common on 
birch, but occur on many kinds of trees. Burrs on 
trunks may follow a blow on the bark or the punctures 
of insects. Burrs are often very large, and the wood 
is prettily marked. It is in demand for furniture 
and cabinet work, and often commands a high price. 
Curved trunks (as in the pine stems exhibited) are 
brought about by the tunnelling of the larve of a 
small moth. Irregular annual rings are often caused 
by a tree being fully exposed to sun and air on one 
side and crowded on the other. Roots are often 
deformed by growing in gravel beds or between the 
bricks of walls, whilst the development of aerial 
roots on trees and shrubs may be due to an injury or 
to excessive moisture. 
