482 
NATURE 
[Jun Li rome 
Section L (Epucation).—Prof. J. Adams, president 
of the section, has selected as the subject. of his 
address, the possibility of objective standards in educa- 
tion. His aim is to estimate how far education has 
progressed in its way to be a science, and, with this 
in view, he proposes to examine the various develop- 
ments of experimental work in psychology and_peda- 
gogy. In the section itself, the papers and discus- 
sions will centre chiefly in the subjects which for 
some years past have been arousing popular interest. 
Thus the chief matters already down for consideration 
are vocational training, the present position of mathe- 
matical teaching, the psychological processes involved 
in learning to read, write, and spell, with special 
reference to their practical bearings, leaving certifi- 
cates, and the Scottish Education Department. In 
the discussion of vocational training, Miss Faithfull, 
of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College; Miss Burstall, of 
the Manchester High School; Mr. J. L. Holland, 
director of education to the Northamptonshire County 
Council, Mr. J. W. Peck, clerk to the Edinburgh School 
Board; and Dr. Morgan, president of the Educa- 
tional Institute of Scotland, have promised to take 
part. The discussion on the present position of 
mathematical teaching is particularly opportune, as it 
was Prof. Perry’s paper on ‘“‘ The teaching of Mathe- 
matics,” read at the Glasgow meeting of the asso- 
ciation, that was responsible for developments that 
are now being criticised. Among those who have 
promised to take part are Sir Oliver Lodge, Prof. 
Perry, Dr. T. P. Nunn, Dr. Pinkerton, Mr. W. P. 
Milne, and Mr. W. D. Eggar. The discussion on the 
psychological _ processes involved in learning to 
read, write, and spell has been organised by the 
sectional committee on mental and physical factors 
involved in education. Papers will be read by Miss 
Foxley, Prof. Green, Dr. Rusk, Mr. F. Smith, Mr. 
Dumville, and it is hoped that Dr. C. S. Myers, Mr. 
Bompas Smith, Dr. Rivers, Mr. W. McDougall, Dr. 
Wm. Brown, and others will attend and tale part in 
the discussion. The discussion on the Scottish Educa- 
tion Department is to be opened by Principal Sir 
James Donaldson, and Mr. J. Strong will deal with 
the Scotch leaving certificate. The reports to be pre- 
sented to the section deal with the question of over- 
lapping between school and university, the relation 
of school-books to eyesight, and tests for mental 
defect. 
Section M (AGricuLTuRE).—The first meeting of 
the new section of the British Association—Section M 
(Agriculture)—promises to be of very special interest 
and importance to the great industry which it is 
designed to help by the promotion of science in this 
direction. The district round Dundee is famous for 
more than one branch of farming, which has been 
carried to a high degree of perfection, and the follow- 
ing programme shows that the local interests have 
been made a special feature. On Thursday, Septem- 
ber 5, the presidential address will be given by Mr. 
T. H. Middleton. The remainder of the day will be 
devoted to papers dealing with milk. On Friday, Sep- 
tember 6, Mr. R. H. Rew, of the Board of Agricul- 
ture, will read a paper on the sources of the nation’s 
food supply, and Major P. G. Craigie, C.B., will 
contribute a paper on Scottish agricultural production 
—half a century’s changes. A paper will also be 
contributed by Prof. J. Wilson, on a consideration of 
the profits realised from the usual field crops, more 
especially from temporary pasture. The remainder of 
the day will be devoted to two special papers on the 
agriculture of the district. On Monday, September 9, 
a joint meeting will be held with the Meteorological 
Department of Section A, the subject being the con- 
nection between meteorology and agriculture. Dr. 
W. N. Shaw, F.R.S., will read a paper on the prac- 
NO. 2228, voL. 89] 
tice of cultivation in relation to our knowledge of 
climate and weather, and Mr. A. Watt, secretary of the 
Scottish Meteorological Society, will open the discus- 
sion. Other general papers on this day will deal with 
the action of quicklime on soil, studies on nitrogen 
fixation, the rate of evolution of hydrocyanic acid 
from linseed, the influence of origin and topography 
on grass lands, and the problem of disease resistance. 
On Tuesday, September 10, will be held a joint meet- 
ing with Section I (Physiology) on the important 
subject of animal nutrition. The discussion will be 
opened by Prof. F. G. Hopkins, F.R.S., and con- 
tinued by Prof. Leon Asher (Berne), Dr. E. P. Cath- 
cart, Dr. C. Crowther, Dr. Leonard Hill, and Dr. 
Martin Flack, Prof..J.. J; R.: Macleod (U-S.A.), and 
Prof. T. B. Wood. — This is. the. first time within 
recent years—if not the first time at all—when the 
practical feeder and the physiologist have met, and 
when the stores of knowledge and experience of the 
practical man have been drawn upon by the man of 
science. 
NOTES. 
WE are informed by the Royal Society that the 
Mackinnon studentships for the ensuing year have 
been awarded to Dr. H. M. Kyle (St. Andrews) for 
a research on the metamorphosis and origin of the 
flat fishes, and to Mr. A. L. Hughes (Emmanuel 
College, Cambridge), for a research on the ionisation 
in mercury vapour produced by ultra-violet light. 
Tue John Harling fellowship for the encouragement 
of the study and research in physical science in the 
University of Manchester, has been awarded to Mr. 
H. G. J. Moseley, who was until recently an assistant 
lecturer and demonstrator in the department of physics 
in the University, and to Dr. T. S. Taylor, now 
instructor of physics in the University of Illinois. 
Tue Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, Pa., has 
awarded the Edward Longstreth medal of merit and 
diploma to Dr. Charles Baskerville, professor of 
chemistry and director of the laboratory at the city of 
New York, for his investigations on the chemistry 
of anzesthetics. 
AmoneG the victims of a terrible colliery accident at 
the Cadeby Pit, Yorkshire, on Tuesday, July 9, were 
three inspectors of mines, including Mr. W. H. 
Pickering, chief inspector for Yorkshire and the 
North Midlands. An explosion took place in the 
main pit early in the morning, and thirty men were 
killed by it. A rescue party was at work in the pit 
later in the day when several additional explosions 
occurred, and many other lives were lost, among 
those who suffered death while in the worl of rescue 
being Mr. Pickering. Mr. Pickering was a Fellow 
of the Geological Society and the author of papers 
in the Transactions of the Institution of Mining 
Engineers and other societies. He was an authority 
on English and Indian coal mining, and founded the 
Mining and Geological Institute of India. His death 
will be deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends. 
A coMMUNICATION of Prof. C. D. Perrine to the 
issue of Science of June 28 states that upon the recom- 
mendation of the Minister of Public Instruction the 
Argentine Congress has provided in its budget for 
1912 a 5-ft. reflecting telescope for the National 
