AvcusT 26, 1915] 
NO. 2391, VOL. 95] 

NATURE 705 
AE CE) A. (See a alee PRE MOR eet 5" 
From “ Antarctic Fossil Plants, by A. C, Seward, F.R.S. 
Fi. 2.—Buckley Island from the Beardmore Glacier. 

As regards the age of the plant-bearing beds the 
possibilities range from the Permo-Carboniferous 
to the Rhaetic; the former is regarded as the more 
probable. 
A considerable section of the paper is devoted 
to “General Considerations suggested by the 
occurrence of Glossopteris in Antarctica” (pp. 
25-39). The uniformity of the Devono-Car- 
boniferous flora throughout the world is con- 
trasted with the appearance of more or less 
distinct Northern and Southern Floras in Permo- 
Carboniferous times. In the northern region there 
is no evidence of seasonal changes or of glacial 
conditions, while in the south glaciation was 
widely prevalent, and the fossil trees show annual 
rings in their wood. In fact, as the author points 
out, the Glossopteris Flora is generally asso- 
ciated with glacial deposits. The interesting sug- 
gestion is made that Glossopteris may have been 
a gregarious and deciduous plant. 
The prevalence of glacial conditions in the 
southern hemisphere at that period adds to the 
difficulty of understanding how a highly organised 
vegetation could have flourished so near the Pole 
as Lat. 85°. No explanation, unfortunately, can 
be given; the author contents himself with the 
cautious statement: “That there has been a con- 
siderable change of climate is certain, but the 
palzobotanical data cannot be regarded as 
evidence favourable to an alteration in the 
position of the earth’s axis.” (p. 41). 
Prof. Seward regards the Antarctic discoveries 
as supporting the late Dr. Blanford’s view that 
the Glossopteris Flora may have’ been first 
differentiated on the great Antarctic continent, 
towards the close of the Carboniferous epoch 
(Pp. 42). : 
The concluding words of the memoir command 
our sympathy: ‘“‘The heroic efforts of the Polar 
party were not in vain.. They have laid a solid 
foundation; their ‘success raises hope for the 
future, and will stimulate their successors to pro- 
vide material for the superstructure.” 
Dv Ha St 

FUTURE COMPETITION WITH GERMANY. 
HE current issue of the Bulletin d’Encourage- 
ment pour l’Industrie nationale (May-June, 
1915, No. 3, vol. 122) is of special interest, inas- 
much as it gives the views of men, each eminent 
in his own particular sphere, on the reasons why 
much of French trade has been captured by 
Germans; and also their suggestions for prevent- 
ing the commercial aggression of the Germans 
after the war. The bulletin begins with a short 
preface by the president, M. Léon Lindet; this 
is followed by suggestions by M. Niclousse to the 
following effect : (i) A statute is to be passed for 
stopping foreign, and especially German, indi- 
viduals, companies, or products from masquerad- 
ing as French. It is urged that all machines, 
apparatus, and products should be of French 
manufacture and, if possible, invented by a French- 
man. (ii) A circular to be issued by the Syndicate 
