NA TURE 



[December 30, 1922 



was present, as an observer, at the Brussels meeting 

 of August 20-22 to consider the future of the great 

 bibliographical undertaking carried on for so many 

 years bv M. Lafontaine and M. Paul Otlet. He 

 gives .111 outline of what he saw at the Palais .Mondial 

 at Brussels, where a portion of the former exhibition 

 ! to international co-operation. 

 The building contains not only libraries and card 

 catalogues, but also a permanent exhibition of the 

 acti\ ities of all nations and an International Summer 

 University. MM. Lafontaine and Otlet have for 

 uperintended this work, sustained by their 

 zeal, without drawing salaries. Mr. Richardson also 

 attended the Convention of the International Cata- 

 logue of Scientific Literature held at Brussels on 

 July 11 and 24. Of this meeting he writes : " Not 

 only were there nine or ten nations represented by 

 official representatives, but several of these showed 

 a very vigorous interest and a disposition to continue 

 contributions and to assist in paying the accumulated 

 debt." Mr. Richardson also visited the Concilium 

 Bibliographicum at Zurich. With the aid of funds 

 secured for the purpose by the American Research 

 Bureau, the work of the Concilium, which had been 

 111 abeyance since the death of Dr. Field, ti; 

 taken up again vigorouslj b\ Dr. Kellogg and the 

 new director, Dr. Strohl. It is expected that printing 

 will be resumed next July. Mr. Richardson believes 

 t ha t , w ith these enterprises in bibliography in existence, 

 a " Committee on Intellectual Co-operation " should 

 be able to secure that, by a proper division of labour, 

 the bibliography of science should be well and com- 

 pletely executed. 



Dr. Salaman's address to the Potato Conference 

 at Ormskirk on November 2, wdiich is published in the 

 Gardeners' Chronicle for November 25, should prove 

 of permanent value to horticulture, as while pointing 

 out a present abuse it indicates at the same time that 

 the remedy is ready to hand. Dr. Salaman dealt in 

 vigorous language with the habit of seedsmen of listing 

 the same variety of potato under different synonyms, 

 frequently giving different descriptions to the variety 

 upon its successive appearances, and often quoting it 

 at different prices ! The horticultural world is ob- 

 viously concerned with the effect of the practice in 

 commercial horticulture, but the scientific student of 

 horticulture has to remember this ever-present source 

 of error when he has to rely upon commercial firms 

 lor the supply of material in the form of cultivated 

 plants for study or experiment. Fortunately the care- 

 ful work now in progress at various plant-breeding 

 stations throughout Great Britain, a work which is 

 entirely disinterested from the commercial side of 

 horticulture, is making it continually more possible 

 to check the accuracy of popularly named varieties, 

 not only of potatoes, but also of fruit stocks and 

 scions, cereals, etc. Such work must precede any 

 careful study of such a problem as the behaviour of 

 a variety under continuous vegetative propagation, 

 and bodies like the Synonym Committee of the 

 National Institute of Agricultural Botany, of which 

 Dr. Salaman is chairman, are rendering considerable 

 service to science as well as to horticulture. 

 NO. 2774, VOL. I IO] 



In the Journal of the Washington Academy of 

 Sciences (vol. 12, No. 15), Mr. T. A. Jaggar makes 

 a plea for geophysical and geochemical observatories. 

 Instruments oi precise measurement need to be 

 applied to the problems of geology. A record of the 

 changes, for example, in a river system or mountain 

 range, is essential if the processes involved are to be 

 understood and given their due weight in the evolution 

 ol the earth's surface features. Geological science is 

 lacking 111 measured facts of change within human 

 time. The nature of changes may be gauged from 

 temporary expeditions to different localities, but 

 quantitative data can be obtained only by permanenl 

 observatories. The expedition method of study is 

 never free from the reconnaissance element, and 

 unexpected phenomena call for special instruments 

 not included in the equipment. Moreover, there are 

 seasonal and cyclic variations which an expedition 

 misses. Mr. Jaggar cites his own experiences at the 

 Hawaiian volcanic observatory as an illustration of 

 how continuous measurement may reveal rhythmic 

 recurrences. He dwells on the nature of the work 

 which might be done by river and mountain observa- 

 tories. A glacier observatory would be equally 

 valuable. 



It is probable that the most important development 

 of the cinematograph lies in its application to natural 

 phenomena. To be able to make a leisured scrutiny 

 of occurrences so momentary that the eye fails to 

 hold them, is an inestimable gain. Appreciating the 

 importance of such moving pictures, the Selborne 

 Society has recentlj issued a list of cinematograph 

 lectures (" Cinelogues ") and films which, under 

 arrangements made with leading film companies, can 

 be hired on application to the society's Extension 

 Secretary, Mr. P. J. Ashton, 72 High Street, Bromley. 

 The topics dealt with are very varied, including the 

 life-histories and habits of insects, birds, and other 

 animals, both terrestrial and aquatic, the rites and 

 customs of Australian aborigines, the physical pro- 

 perties of water and of air, the solar system, and 

 others in the realm of science, besides a number 

 illustrative of history, English literature, travel, and 

 topography. The selection offered is admirable, and 

 can be unreservedly commended to the notice of 

 schools, societies, and other educational bodies. 



We have already referred in these columns 

 (December 2, p. 743) to the film record of this year's 

 Mount Everest Expedition, which was taken bv the 

 official photographer of the expedition, Capt. J. B. L. 

 Noel. The film is now being exhibited at the Phil- 

 harmonic Hall, Great Portland Street, W., so that 

 all may have an opportunity of seeing this wonderful 

 picture-story ; the proceeds are to be devoted to 

 the cost of a third expedition. It is a wonderful and 

 inspiring entertainment. The first part shows the 

 country through which the expedition passed on its 

 way to Mount Everest, and it is ably described by 

 Capt. Noel. The second section deals with monastic 

 life in Tibet, and records the curious ritual dances which 

 the party was so fortunate to see at the Rongbuk 

 monastery at the very foot of Mount Everest. The 



