July 28, 19 10] 



NATURE 



125 



atmospheric electricity and on solar radiation are being 

 can ied out there. 



In our issue of June 23 we referred to the important 

 changes that were being carried out in connection with the 

 control of the two observatories at Richmond and 

 Eskdalcmuir. 



SCIENCE AT THE JAPAN-BRITISH 

 EXHIBITION. 

 'T'HK arrangement of the British Science Section at the 

 -*■ Japan-British Exhibition differs considerably from that 

 of the Kranco-British Exhibition. At the latter exhibition 

 a separate annexe was set aside for science which made 

 it comparatively easy to arrange the exhibits uniformly ; 

 but although the building was close to the entrance, • the 

 majority of the public passed it by and went straight 

 through to the grounds. The fact is, the average man is 

 rather afraid of anything called scientific, and unless he 

 is brought to examine such an exhibit unawares is very apt 

 to fight shy of it. Yet it was noticeable that those who did 

 go into the building, even if they had no scientific know- 

 ledge, found a great deal to interest them, and frequently 

 stayed a considerable time. 



This year the Science Section is housed in the upper 

 galleries leading from the Uxbridge Road entrance into 

 the grounds. Consequently, all who go to the exhibition 

 by that entrance, and the majority do, must pass through 

 the Science Section. The exhibits are more broken up 

 than in the Franco-British Exhibition ; but this is rather 

 an advantage than otherwise, as it takes away the museum 

 appearance of the exhibit. .'\nother advantage to the 

 public is that there are two special attendants, who are 

 able to explain the exhibits to the public in an intelligent 

 manner. It has also been decided that certain members 

 of the Science Committee shall give short lectures on 

 special subjects in a portion originally intended for a band- 

 stand, which has been curtained oiif ; whether they will 

 attract and keep an audience remains to be seen. 



Science is so diversified, and its scope so enormous, that 

 it is not possible to give in the space of a short article a 

 comprehensive account of the exhibit which has been 

 collected. Of course, it must be understood that the 

 exhibit is not comprehensive in the sense that it covers the 

 whole range of scientific research : but what it does do is 

 to give to those unacquainted with scientific work an idea 

 as to what is actually done by those engaged in scientific 

 study. The Agricultural Section will be of interest to 

 almost everyone ; the South-eastern .Agricultural College at 

 Wye exhibits some most interesting specimens and pre- 

 parations showing the various insects, mites, and eel- 

 worms which are injurious to crops and stocks, and in 

 some cases even harmful to man. The largest section is 

 that dealing with the enemies of fruit trees and bushes, 

 because the damage done to these is enormous, and has 

 received a great deal of attention. There are, for example, 

 specimens of the various aphides, green and black fly. The 

 insect pests of the hop are also fully illustrated, ' one of 

 the aphides being the most important, or rather, from the 

 grower's point of view, the most disastrous. It was verv 

 prevalent in 1909, and is calculated to have cost the hop- 

 growers in England 120,000/. in combating the attacks of 

 this insect. 



Astronomy is well represented, the section comprising a 

 large number of old astronomical, nautical, and horological 

 instruments. Examples are shown of the peculiar wooden 

 Davis quadrant employed by the navigators in the time of 

 Elizabeth for the determination of latitude. The Royal 

 Astronomical Society shows, among other things, a reflect- 

 ing telescope made by Sir William Herschel ; also a 

 sextant, formerly the property of Captain Cook. The 

 transparencies of photographs of the southern heavens 

 made by Mr. Kranklin-.Adams seem to attract considerable 

 attention, and are indeed worthy of it. The Solar Phvsics 

 Observatory exhibits a large number of photograph's of 

 stellar spectra taken with di'fferent instruments. There are 

 also photographs of ancient British stone monuments 

 which Sir Norman Locky(ir has investigated and shown 

 their astronomical connection. 



The history of fire-making, illustrating the gradual 

 evolution of the match, i?; very interesting, and is probably 

 NO. 2126, VOL. 84] 



one of the most complete exhibits of its kind which has 

 ever been shown. The exhibit includes fire drills, tinder, 

 pistol tinder-box, and a brass fire piston. In order to 

 operate this latter a little tinder was placed in a small cavity 

 at the end of the piston ; the piston was then rapidly com- 

 pressed, and the sudden compression of the air caused 

 suflicient heat to ignite the tinder. Optical, electrical, and 

 chemical methods are also illustrated, and one of the first 

 friction matches, made by John Walker, of Stockton-on- 

 Tees, is shown. 



One of the largest sections is oceanography ; this section 

 is mainly designed to show the progress of oceanography 

 within the past forty years. Before the Challenger ex- 

 pedition in 1870, very little w'as known as to the depths 

 of the ocean, and there was practically nothing known 

 about the ocean beds. Specimens of the method of sound- 

 ing are shown, also recording thermometers for ascertain- 

 ing the temperature of the ocean at any depth. The series 

 of hydrographical charts shown are intended to illustrate 

 the process of construction of a chart from a sheet of blank 

 paper until it is printed and is ready to be issued to the 

 fleet. There is a very complete exhibit of compasses, 

 which comprises specimens used in H.M. ships from 1765 

 to the present day. In the days when very little iron was 

 used in the construction of ships, the errors of induced 

 and permanent magnetism were very slight, but with the 

 construction of iron vessels alterations had to be made in 

 the construction of the compasses, and specimens of these 

 compasses are show'n. 



Biology is very well represented ; there is an interesting 

 series of photographs illustrating the origin of the domestic 

 breeds of horses. .\n exhibit of particular interest is 

 one of the parasites which cause grouse disease, also 

 a series of charts illustrating the method of systematic 

 research into the conditions of life in the sea, which 

 is the only true method for any attempt to improve 

 the fishing industry. There are also interesting specimens 

 illustrative of the parental care of fish. One fish carries 

 its own eggs in its mouth, while another has an abdominal 

 pouch like thiit of a kangaroo, in which the young seek 

 refuge ; but there is so much to see and so many things 

 one would like to mention that we must pass forward with 

 the words go and see, as there is very much more of 

 interest. 



The chemistry exhibit ranges from artificial silk to 

 sections of ships' propellers, showing the erosion produced 

 on different alloys. There is the handsome exhibit of 

 nickel produced by the Mond process, oils from all 

 over the world collected by Sir Boverton Redwood ; an 

 original example of mauve, electrochemical preparations, 

 pharmaceutical products, and preparations of dye products 

 from the University of Leeds. 



The Physics Section is very representative, and includes 

 apparatus in connection w-ith mechanics, heat, optics, 

 electrical measuring instruments, and telegraphy and tele- 

 phony. The electric micrometer of Dr. P. E. Shaw is 

 shown, which, by means of a train of levers, an elec- 

 trical contact, and a telephone, enables movements of 

 ion,ooo,oooth inch to be detected. A seismograph is shown, 

 and in connection with it records of earthquakes taken in 

 London and the Isle of Wight. Much attention has of late 

 been devoted to rubber testing and its mechanical properties ; 

 in this connection the hysteresis rubber-testing machine of 

 Prof. Schwartz is shown. Under heat, there is a model 

 of the calorimeter used by Joule in his work on the 

 mechanical equivalent of heat, and near by it the most 

 recent example of the Boys calorimeter for testing the 

 calorific value of gases. Electrical instruments make an 

 exceedingly fine display, amongst which may be mentioned 

 Dr. Drysdale's potentiometer for measuring alternating 

 and direct currents, the Duddell twisted strip ammeter, 

 and a number of X-ray apparatus. 



In the Geological Section there are some specimens of 

 volcanic rocks from .Antarctica, obtained during the recent 

 South Polar Expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton. The 

 rocks were collected on Ross Island by Dr. Priestley, and 

 consist principally of lavas belonging to the type known as 

 kenyte. The important subject of geological surveying and 

 mapping is exhibited historically, one of William Smith's 

 maps of nearly a centurv ago being exhibited by Mr. F. W. . 

 Rudler. ■ 



