59^ 



NATURE 



[September 29, 19 10 



from the sediments "changing into granite in the ulti- 

 mate expression of metamorphism." 



It would be unfair, however, to judge the author's 

 powers of observation from this or by his more 

 startling propositions, such as that of the recon- 

 stitution of sand-grains on p. 140. The fact that he 

 has seen so much throughout South Africa, in a 

 country laid bare by nature for the geologist, entitles 

 him to a serious hearing. The emphasis that he lays 

 on the descent of ore-material from the surface (p. 11), 

 and on the ascent of calcium carbonate from below, 

 recalls at once the tropical rains, and the "pans" 

 upon the desiccating surface. But surely, as Mr. 

 Mennell has lately pointed out in his " Petrology," 

 there is abundant evidence of the accumulation of 

 iron-ores under African conditions at the surface. The 

 whole siliceous crust, however, according to Prof. 

 Schwarz, is a residue from the leaching-out and down- 

 sinking of iron and magnesium from the primitive 

 meteoritic matter. The silica was first set free from 

 this matter in a colloidal form which consolidated as 



Bjulder in Dwyka Conglomerate, Prieska, illu>trating lateral fl 

 From "Causal Geology." 



chert. Quartz arose only by metamorphic action in 

 the depths (p. 39J. When we are told that chert is 

 not crystalline, and when we reflect on the quartz 

 deposited in cavities from solution, as is the case in 

 limestones which retain all their fossils, we cannot 

 help thinking that our author's earlier studies have 

 been temporarilv overcast by a cloud of planetesimals. 

 The careless writing of some sentences suggests that 

 the work has been pushed forward with something 

 of the heat of a new gospel. The word "meteorite" 

 is thus missing in the middle of p. 10; cubes of salt 

 are said to be present (p. 57) in the "bubbles in 

 granitic quartz " ; to most field-workers the Archaean 

 masses (p. 69) cannot seem "characterised bv the 

 enormous development of limestone " ; when carbon 

 dioxide is included in an analysis of the air, the 

 omission of argon and its allies can hardly be excused 

 (p. 93) by their "minute proportions"; Fig. .A, a lunar 

 area, opposite p. 22, should surely be inverted to agree 

 with its description ; and, to come to smaller matters, 

 grammar is imperfect on pp. 3, 131, 145, and 200. 



NO. 2135, VOL. 84] 



Yet we again and again respect Prof. Schwarz's 

 grasp of geological literature, writing as he does in a 

 small South .African town, and his preface shows that 

 he is still to be ranked among the inquirers, and not 

 as the apostle of a dogma. Probably we also have 

 been the gainers, if, after reading his well-printed and 

 well-illustrated book, we feel that we know less than 

 before concerning the constitution of the globe. 



Gkenville A. J. Cole. 



TH£ BRITISH SECTION OF THE BRUSSELS 



EXHIBITION. 

 'X'HE importance of a Government department to 

 -•■ deal with exhibitions could not have been better 

 exemplified than when the King of the Belgians 

 opened the new British section of the Brussels Ex- 

 hibition on September 19. E.xactly five weeks previ- 

 ously the section which had cost so much in thought, 

 time, and money was reduced to a smoking mass of 

 ruins. For a moment everyone was stunned by the 

 extent of the loss, but within a few 

 hours it had been determined to re- 

 build the section provided the reply 

 received from previous exhibitors was 

 satisfactory. The replies were not only 

 satisfactory, but almost overwhelming ; 

 in fact, more space was applied for than 

 the Commission had at its disposal. 

 But the rebuilding of the section 

 was only rendered possible by the 

 Belgian Commission placing at the 

 disposal of the British organisers the 

 Salle des Fetes. This building was 

 originally used for holding kirge con- 

 gresses and meetings, and had a plat- 

 form and a sloping auditorium, the 

 side alleys being divided up into re- 

 ception and cloak rooms. .Ml the in- 

 lernal fittings of this building have 

 been removed, and it has been divided 

 up into courts in a most artistic 

 I ishion, the various courts radiating 

 ut from a central transept. 

 The space of the original building 

 was 150,600 square feet; the present 

 ^pace is only 35,500 feet ; but this fact 

 made it difficult rather than easy to 

 design and fit up the new section, 

 "wing to the large number of ex- 

 hibitors who desired space. How 

 rare is it for an exhibition to be ready 

 for the opening day, even after 

 months have been spent in collecting 

 the exhibits ! But although the work was enormous, 

 the new section arose from the ashes in the space of 

 five weeks, and the whole exhibit, with the exception 

 of one or two cases, was absolutely finished when the 

 King of the Belgians opened it. Not only was the 

 exhibit finished, but the new catalogue, "Catalogue 

 Officiel de la nouvelle Section Britannique," was ready 

 on the same day for distribution. Without the 

 machinery of the committees organised by the Royal 

 Commission of the Board of Trade it would, however, 

 hardlv have been possible to have accomplished this 

 feat. ' 



In declaring the new section open, and replying to 

 Sir Arthur Harding, the King said : " Your Excel- 

 lency has associated the British and Belgian people 

 in the eulogy which you have made in such happy 

 terms of the work of repairing the. disaster caused 

 by the fire. Certainlv the Belgians have displayed 

 in that work their fine qualities of courage and perse- 

 verance which no misfortune can daunt, and I con- 

 gratulate them upon it highly. But what shall I say 



cks iindsr pressure. 



