490 



NATURE 



[January 2, 19 13 



rubber is as good as natural rubber, why tlie 

 two should not exist side by side." But the rubber 

 planter is bidden take heed of the lesson taught by 

 the fate of the natural alizarin and indigo industries 

 and consider possibilities of improving the yield 

 of natural rubber by better methods of tapping, 

 coagulation, the study of agricultural conditions, 

 and possible improvements by fertilisation and the 

 suppression of insect pests, which play havoc with 

 the young trees. It is a significant fact that the 

 Badische Anilin und Soda-Fabrik has agreed to 

 put by 1,000,000/. for research in connection with 

 s\nthetic rubber, just as nearly 1,000,000/. was 

 expended by the same firm in research before 

 synthetic indigo was placed on the market. 



MOVEMENTS OF GLACIERS.^ 



THE seventeenth report of the Commission 

 Internationale des Glaciers makes its ap- 

 pearance for the year 191 1, in conformity with 

 the decision at the Stockholm meeting, without 

 waiting for laggard documents. We learn from 

 it that on the Swiss Alps the majority of the 

 glaciers are still decreasing, probably in conse- 

 quence of the hot summer of 191 1, only three 

 showing signs of an advance, the reason of which 

 remains to be discovered. In the Eastern Alps 

 the observations include eight groups out of 

 twelve, and these show that the fairly general 

 advance of 1910 has not been maintained. In the 

 Italian Alps the retreat, except in a few cases, has 

 Ijeen general, as in the previous years, that of the 

 southern end of the Brenva Glacier (Mt. Blanc) 

 having been sixty metres. 



The report from the French Alps has not yet 

 been received, but it is not likely to differ 

 materially from the others, so that in this chain 

 the diminution which began about half a century 

 ago has now continued considerably longer than 

 the time which was supposed to be its average 

 one. Of the Scandinavian glaciers, four out of the 

 five observed in Sweden show a marked advance. 

 In Norway a larger number has been studied — in 

 jotunheim twenty-seven, and in different parts of 

 western Norway twenty-three. In the former 

 district only two show an advance, the remainder 

 being in retreat. In the latter about half the 

 Jostedalsbras are moving one way and half the 

 other, but the Okstind (five) and two of the Frostis 

 (three) are advancing. 



The report, owing to early publication, does not 

 include returns from Russia, Asia, and America, 

 so that general conclusions cannot be drawn ; but 

 we may perhaps infer that no marked change is 

 likely to be indicated. The value, however, of 

 summarised systematic observations such as these 

 is very great, because they form the first step — 

 and a very long one — in ascertaining the causes 

 which bring about these periodic oscillations of the 

 ice-streams. T. G. B. 



1 " Les Variations Periodiques des Glaciers.' 

 par Charles Rabot et E. Muret. (E.xtrait de: 

 I. v:i., pp. 37-47.) (Berlin: Borntraeger Fiere 



NO. 2253, VOL. 90] 



THE PROTECTION OF ANCIENT 

 MONUMENTS. 



THE last report of the Inspector of Ancient 

 Monuments, Mr. C. R. Peers, with an intro- 

 duction by the First Commissioner, Earl Beau- 

 champ, describes the limitations under which the 

 work of the Department is conducted at present. 

 The existing Acts are merely permissive, and the 

 State can exercise no supervision, except with the 

 consent, and indeed by the desire, of the owner. 

 Earl Beauchamp believes that his Department 

 should be invested with the power of intervention 

 when monuments are suffering from neglect, or 

 are threatened with actual damage or destruction, 

 a view in which all antiquaries will concur. 



Even under the present restrictions much useful 

 work is being done. The most important opera- 

 tions were at Carnarvon Castle in anticipation of 

 the investiture of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, 

 in the course of which much ancient work was 

 cleared and repaired. At the Chapel Royal, Holv- 

 rood, the discovery of the foundations of an ancient 

 church, with apparently contemporary interments, 

 has disproved the legend that the palace was 

 founded in 11 24 on a site till then uninhabited. 

 At the Tower of London the Bell Tower and the 

 turret flanking the Byward Gate had been repaired, 

 .^.t Old Sarum the excavations conducted by the 

 Society of .Antiquaries have disclosed the plan of 

 the Castle buildings. 



Among the most interesting buildings placed in 

 charge of the Department during the year were 

 the Old Machar Cathedral at Aberdeen ; the Gate- 

 way Tower of Chester Castle; Richard III.'s 

 Tower at Carlisle; Kirby Muxloe Castle in 

 Leicestershire; and the Bishop's and Earl's 

 Palaces at Kirkwall. 



Good progress has been made in the preparation 

 of the County Inventories of Historical Monu- 

 ments, of which five volumes have been issued, 

 and scientific inquiries are in progress for the 

 prevention of decay in stone-work. It may be 

 hoped that Parliament will soon find time to com- 

 plete the measures for the adequate protection of 

 historical monuments throusjhout the country. 



cvii Rapport, T91 1. Rrfdig^ 

 ' Annales de Glaciologie," 



NOTES. 



The names of few men associated with scientific 

 work appear in the list of New Year Honours. Three 

 fellows of the Roval Society are among the recipients 

 of honours, namelv Mr. Francis Darwin, upon whom 

 a knighthood is conferred ; Dr. A. G. Bourne, Direc- 

 tor of Public Instruction, Madras, who is made a 

 Kni£jht Commander of the Order of the Indian Em- 

 pire (K.C.I.E.); and Dr. W. R. Dunstan, director of 

 the Imperial Institute, who has been appointed a 

 Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. 

 George (C.M.G.). Other names of men known in 

 the scientific world are Sir Frank Crisp, a new 

 baronet, for many years treasurer and vice-president 

 oftheLinnean .Society, and honorary secretary of the 

 Royal Microscopical Society from 1878 to 1889; Dr. 

 R. W. Philip (knighthood), distinguished by his work 



