420 
NATURE 
[Marcu -24, 1923 

the vascular tracts in primitive plants. Measure- 
ments of the diameters of the whole part (stem or 
petiole) and of the conducting tract (stele or meri- 
stele) in many living and fossil plants show that 
increasing size is accompanied by increasing com- 
plexity of structure. There is a tendency in the 
various organs of plants to decentralise their con- 
ducting tracts as the part enlarges, and to advance 
them in greater or less degree towards the periphery 
of the transverse section. This decentralisation is 
carried out homoplastically, with details differing 
in the several parts affected, in various primitive 
organisms. It is not inherent in any one organ. 
The final result may be a convergence of structure 
in different plants, and in different parts of the same 
plant. This is illustrated (i.) by the solenostele, (ii.) 
by the zygopterid petiole, (iii.) by ‘the: Dipterid 
petiole, (iv.) by the petiole of Anachoropteris. 
Stellation of the stele or of the xylem, medullation, 
decentralisation of the stele, and finally its dis- 
integration, so far as they are functions of increasing 
size, must lose grade for comparative purposes.— 
Miss Margery Knight: The life history and cytology 
of Pylaiella litoralis. Development and the re- 
productive processes were described. This involved 
a detailed cytological study of the organism. In 
particular it is shown that there is no obligate relation- 
ship between cytological features, somatic characters, 
and reproductive organs. The object of the paper 
is to emphasise this fact, and thereby to reopen 
discussion on the value of cytological characters in 
phyletic study.—A. Steuart: An electric clock, 
with detached pendulum and continuous motion. 
The speed of the driving electric motor is controlled 
by a pendulum, without throwing any work on the 
latter. A gravity arm acts on the pendulum, and 
then short-circuits a resistance in the motor armature 
circuit. The motor raises the gravity arm, and so 
replaces the resistance. A powerful turret clock 
and a silent regulator clock were demonstrated. 
SHEFFIELD. 
Society of Glass Technology, February 21.—Prof. 
W. E. S. Turner, president, in the chair—W. W: 
Warren: Organising for production from pot 
furnaces. The function of a furnace is to melt glass. 
For most purposes, circular gas furnaces, either 
regenerative or recuperative, are to be preferred to 
those of rectangular shape. Among the advantages 
of working to a time-table in the matter of founding 
and working during definite periods are: (a) the 
responsibility devolved on the producer and furnace- 
men to have glass ready in time for their co-workers ; 
(b) mixing, filling pots, and all labour subsidiary to 
glass-making work smoothly in an appointed groove. 
Informal talks with the men’s committee, with a 
blackboard for illustrating points and explaining 
figures, rarely failed to convince them that foreign 
competitors’ methods and prices were a challenge to 
business sport. But if there were rewards at the end 
of the production programme, the men must share.— 
F. W. Hodkin and Prof. W. E. S. Turner: The effect 
of boric oxide on the melting and working of glass.— 
Violet Dimbleby, S. English, and Prof. W. E. S. 
Turner: Some physical properties of boric oxide- 
containing glasses. Prof. Turner presented these 
two papers. The new British chemical glass, Ameri- 
can pyrex glass for chemical ware and cooking ware, 
and various forms of illuminating glasses, all contain 
boric oxide. Although the addition of boric oxide to 
a silicate glass brought a marked increase in the 
durability, this beneficial effect only holds good up to 
a certain point, Similar inversions in other pro- 
NO. 2786, VOL. 111] | 

perties, e.g. in the thermal expansion, the annealing 
temperature, the density, and refractive index, had 
also been found. 

Official Publications Received. 
Imperial Earthquake Investigation Committee. Seismological Notes 
No. 3: The Semi-Destructive Earthquake of April 26, 1922. By F. Omori. 
Pp. 30+18 plates. (Tokyo.) 
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Seventeenth 
Annual Report of the President and of the Treasurer. Pp. vii+211. 
(New York.) 
Annual Report of the Department of Fisheries, Bengal, for the Year 
ending 3lst March 1922. Pp, iii+8+2. (Calcutta: Bengal Secretariat 
Book Depot.) 4 annas. 
Lick Observatory Bulletin No. 343: An Investigation of the Spectra of 
Visual Double Stars. By Frederick C. Leonard. Pp. 169-194. (Mount 
Hamilton, California.) 
State of California: 
Fish and Game Commission. Twenty-seventh 
Biennial Report for the Years 1920-1922, Pp, 189, (Sacramento: 
California State Printing Office.) 
Shirley Institute Memoirs. Vol. 1, 1922. Pp. v+174. (Didsbury, 
Manchester ; Shirley Institute.) 
Journal of the College of Agriculture, Hokkaido Imperial University, 
Sapporo, Japan. Vol.10, Part 5: Experimental Studies on the Developing 
Eggs. Ry T. Inukai. 1: Age and Environment in Amphibia. Pp. 
107-140+2 plates. Vol. 10, Part 6: Spectro-Chemical Studies on some 
Biochemical Color Reactions. By Tetsutaro Tadokoro. Pp, 141-189+6 
plates. (Tokyo: Maruzen Co. Ltd.) 
University of London: University College. Report of the University 
College Committee (February 1922-February 1923) with Financial State- 
ments (for the Session 1921-22) and other Documents for Presentation to 
the Senate, Pp. 104. (London: Printed by Taylor and Francis, 
Smithsonian Institution ; United States National Museum. 
the Progress and Condition of the United States National Museum for the 
Year ending June 30, 1922, Pp. 210. (Washington: Government Printing 
Office.) 

Diary of Societies. 
SATURDAY, Marca 24. 
Roya Institution or Great Britain, at 3.—Sir Ernest Rutherford; 
Atomic Projectiles and their Properties (6). 
MONDAY, Marcu 26. 
Victoria InstITUTE (at Central Buildings, Westminster), at 4.30.—Rey. 
J. J. B. Coles: Relativity and Christian Philosophy. 
INSTITUTE OF ACTUARIES, at 5.—P, N, Harvey: The Scheme of National — 
Health Insurance considered in relation to the Valuations of Approved 
Societies as at December 31, 1918. 
Royat Society or Mepreine (Odontology Section), at 8—J. H. 
Mummery and B. Grellier: Multiple Dentigerous Cysts.—Mrs. 
Mellauby : Diet, Dental Structure and Caries, . ‘ 
Royat GroaraparcaL Society (at Molian Hall), at 8.30.—C, Christy : 
The Waterways of the Sudd Region, Bahr el Ghazal. 
TUESDAY, Marcu 27. 
Royat Society or Mepicrne (Medicine Section) (at St. Bartholomew’s 
Hospital), at 5. 
Roya PHoToGRapPnHic Society oF GREAT BriTain, at 7.—Sir Frank Baines : 
The History and Repair of the Roof of Westminster Hall. 
ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING Society (at Royal Society of Arts), at 8.—- 
P. J. Waldram and J. M. Waldram: Window Design and the Measure- 
ment and Predetermination of Daylight Illumination. 
RoyaL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, at 8.15.—Prof. W. Barthold: The 
Nomads of Central Asia. 
WEDNESDAY, Marcu 28, 
GEOLOGICAL Soctety oF Lonpon, at 5.30.—Dr. E. Greenly: Further 
Researches on the Succession and Metamorphism in the Mona Complex. 
Roya Microscopicat Society (Industrial Applications Section), at 7.— 
Demonstrations and Exhibits :—J, W. Atha and Co. : The New Zeiss 
Photographic Eye-piece, “ Phoku.”—J. H. Barton: A New Research 
Microscope of Original Design.—R. and J. Beck, Ltd. : A Microscope 
specially suitable for the Examination of Large Surfaces of Paper and 
of Prints and Engravings.—The Edison Swan Electric Co. Ltd. : The 
Ediswan Pointolite Lamp, 30, 100, 500, and 1000 ¢.p. in Operation ; The 
Working of the Alternating Current Pointolite Lamp.—Ogilvy and Co. : 
A New Stereoscopic Magnifier giving Large Field of View and 
Working Distance.—M. P. Swift: Professor Shand’s Recording Micro- 
meter which is designed to facilitate the Quantitative Estimation of 
Minerals in Rocks.—At 8.—-J. Strachan : The Manufacture of Containers 
and Papers used for the Wrapping of Foodstuffs.—H. B. Wrighton : 
The Microscope in Metallurgical Research.—S. R. Wycherley: Miero- 
scopy in the Examination of Manufactured Paper. 
PUBLIC LECTURE. 
SATURDAY, Marcu 24. 
Horniman Museum (Forest Hill), at 3.80.—Dr. W. A. Cunnington: The 
Natural History of Lobsters and Prawns. 
eport on 
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