174 



NATURE 



\_Dcc. 20, 1883 



deposited, and increases in relative weight. We are dis- 

 posed to think that the carbohydrates, and not the albu- 

 minoids, must be taken as the tru; criterion of quality in 

 ■wheats, and that, judged by this test, the Americans have 

 MO need to fear that their wheats are inferior to those of 

 Europe. 



The author finds a difficulty fp. 33) in accounting for 

 the small proportion of water in American wheats. Any 

 agriculturist would have been able to tell him that well- 

 developed, thoroughly matured, and well-harvested wheat 

 always contains a less proportion of moisture than wheat 

 in an opposite condition. It is due partly to simple 

 drying, but also to the fact that good wheat is thoroughly 

 filled up with starch cells (carbohydrates), and that there 

 are no fissures left for moisture or air to lurk in. Well- 

 fed meat contains less water than badly-fed meat for the 

 same reason, viz. the thorough filling up of the internal 

 spaces with fat cells. A little attention to the structure 

 of the wheat grain would have enhanced the value of Mr. 

 Jlichardson's monograph. 



The fact that unripened and badly matured wheat is 

 ■often rich in glutin is well known to chemists, and we are 

 disposed to think that the richness of European wheat in 

 this constituent is partly due to the fact that it is often 

 defectively matured. 



After treating e.xhaustively upon the composition of 

 American wheat, the author proceeds to treat of flour 

 and bread, and lastly of other cereals and maize. The 

 painphlet certainly repays the trouble of perusal, and 

 indicates the vast pains which is now being taken by the 

 United States Government in order to bring scientific 

 (knowledge to bear upon its most important industry. The 

 wheat production of each State is watched with minute 

 care, and the quaUty of the produce is subjected to 

 analysis. It is gratifying to notice that Canadian wheat 

 is in all respects equal to that grown in the United States. 

 John Wrightson 



College of Agriculture, Downton, Salisbury 



THE REMARKABLE SUNSETS 



SINCE our last number appeared the view that the 

 recent wonderful sunrise and sunset phenomena have 

 really been due to the terrible eruption of Krakatoa in 

 August last has been confirmed in the most definite 

 manner. Material brought down by rain in Holland and 

 snow in Spain has oil microscopic examination proved to 

 be identical with actual products of the eruption brought 

 from Krakatoa in the ordinary manner. 



The following letter to the Times from Mr. Joseph 

 McPherson, a:i eminent geologist now in Madrid, must 

 be read in connection with the letter from Holland 

 given below: — "Desirous of obtaining positive proof of 

 the brilliant theory put forth in your columns relative to 

 the cause of the remarkable appearances at sunrise and 

 sunset which have for many days excited public attention, 

 I have this day analysed some fresh-fallen snow with the 

 following results, namely, that I have found crystals of 

 hypersthene, pyroxine, magnetic iron, and volcanic glass, 

 all of which have been found in the analysis lately made 

 at Paris of the volcanic ashes from the eruption of Java." 



This being so, every fact connected with the displays 

 instead of losing really gains an additional interest, and 

 now that we know we are in presence of the work of the 

 upper currents each date becomes of great importance. 



The extraordinary fact now comes out that before even 

 the lower currents had time to carry the volcanic products 

 to a region so near the eruption as India an upper cur- 

 rent from the east bad taken them in a straight line %nA 

 the Seychelles, Cape Coast Castle, Trinidad, and Panama 

 to Honolulu, in fact very nearly back again to the Straits 

 of -Sunda ! The 5th of September is now fixed from two 

 sources as the date of the first appearance of the strange 

 phenomena at Honolulu. 



Mr. Bishop thus writes to the Salunlay Press (published 

 at Honolulu, September 22), which has been forwarded 

 to us by the courtesy of the Hawaiian Consul at 

 Glasgow : — 



" 1 first noticed these peculiar appearances on Wediies- 

 day the 5th inst. at 7 p.m., so long after sunset that ordi- 

 narily no trace of colour remains on the western sky. 

 The sky, from south-west to west, was then co\'ered w-ith 

 a lurid red and dull yellow glow, much resembling that 

 produced by a distant conflagration. This extended to 

 an altitude of 15° or 20°. I continued to distinguish the 

 light till 7.25." 



He then proceeds : — 



" 1 would note three peculiarities of the phenomenon, 

 distinguishing it from ordinary sunset reflections, and 

 unlike anything I remember to have observed before : (i) 

 It appears to be a reflection from no cloud or stratum of 

 vapour whatever. (2) The peculiar lurid glow as of a 

 distant conflagration, totally unlike our common sunsets. 

 (3) The very late hour to which the light was observable 

 — long past the usual hour of total cessation of twilight. 

 To this may be added (4) that the centre of brilliancy was 

 more or less to the south of west." 



Mr. Bishop at once ascribed the phenomena to Krakatoa 

 dust, and suggested more vivid appearances along the lino 

 Honolulu, Ladrones, Manila, Sunda. Of course he knew 

 nothing of the line Panama, Trinidad, Cape Coast Castle, 

 Seychelles, Sunda. 



In a subsequent communication Mr. Bishop tells us 

 that the after-glow remained brilliant for some time, being 

 very brilliant on September 30. The haze stratum wa^ 

 visible as a continuous sheet at a height far above that 

 of the highest cirrus, a slight wavy ripple being noticeable 

 in its structure, always perfectly transparent and invisible 

 except under certain conditions. A conspicuous circle oi 

 15° to 20° radius was observed during several days, "a 

 misty, rippled surface of haze, with faint crimson hue, 

 which at the edges of the circle gave a purplish tint 

 against the blue sky." 



He notes that Capt. Penhallow, of the Hope, observed 

 these phenomena in lat. 24" N., 140° 29' W., on Sep- 

 tember 18. 



The following notes as to the eruption itself we take 

 from the Straits Times, as dates and times are men- 

 tioned : — 



" In the afternoon of .Sunday, August 26, a rumbling 

 sound was generally heard at Batavia, coming from the 

 west, like that of far distant thunder varied by strong 

 detonations, the concussion from which shook and rattled 

 doors and windows on all sides . . . especially when on 

 the night between August 26 and 27 these phenomena 

 steadily became more violent until I a.m., when a detona- 

 tion was experienced which brought about such a concus- 

 sion that the gaslights here were all as it were extinguished 

 at the same moment. Many persons, anxious for their 

 wives and families and for life and limb, hence forbore 

 to sleep and awaited the morning in great excitement. 

 Morning broke, but the sun, instead of shining with that 

 clear brightness which characterises the morning hours in 

 the East, concealed itself, and the whole sky seemed over- 

 cast. At 7 a.m. on that day, August 27, the first showci 

 of ashes was noticed here, from which it was inferred that 

 wdiatever might be the volcano at work in the neighbour- 

 hood, the outburst must assuredly be appalling when ashes 

 in showers could be noticed even in distant Batavia. The 

 ash showers fell heavier, and before the hour of midda\ 

 had struck the whole of Batavia was enveloped in thick 

 darkness. From the lack of sunlight the temperature fell 

 several degrees. People shivered with cold, their dis- 

 comfort being heightened by anxiety, especially when 

 lamplight had to be used at midday. Like a mountain a 

 great sea wa\e came rushing on along the whole coast ol 

 West Java, forced its way into the rivers, thus causing 

 them instantly to rise several yards and overflow their 



