August 29, 1907] 



NA TURE 



449 



peeled to find increasing employment in manufacturing 

 operations. The use of pure duty-free ethyl and methyl 

 alcohols in the science laboratories of universities and 

 colleges is also extending, 4017 proof gallons having been 

 utilised last year against 2277 in 1905. In addition, 3783 

 bulk gallons of the denatured (industrial) alcohol were 

 used for ordinary teaching purposes. For departments 

 other than the revenue branches some 7000 samples were 

 analysed. To check the importation of adulterated butter, 

 legal proceedings were instituted in a number of cases, 

 and it is satisfactory to learn that, as a result, there has 

 been a great improvement in the character of the butter 

 ■emanating from certain parts of the Continent. .An 

 interesting examination of dog-fish eggs was made for the 

 Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in connection with the 

 depredations committed by these fish along the coasts of 

 Devonshire and Cornwall. With the view of ascertaining 

 their economic possibilities, the eggs were analysed, and 

 found to contain about one-fourth of their weight of 

 protein and the same quantity of fat, or about twice as 

 much of the two substances together as is found in an 

 ordinary hen's egg. It is remarked that, apart from the 

 question of using the eggs for food — as to which there is 

 an obstacle in their fishy odour — the utilisation of the 

 protein matter and oil would be quite feasible if some 

 enterprise were shown in obtaining a regular and 

 sufficient supply of the eggs. 



Refekrixg to a iiotc published in Nature (this vol., 

 p. 280) on the recent series of determinations of funda- 

 mental atomic weights by Prof. Richards and his 

 colleagues. Prof. Bohuslav Brauner, of Prague, writes to 

 say that he considers that there can be no doubt as to 

 the correctness of the recently advocated low value of the 

 atoiTiic weight of nitrogen (i4-oi); the physico-chemical 

 researches of Leduc, D. Berthelot, Lord Rayleigh, Guye, 

 and Gray, as well as those of Scott in 1901, all tend to 

 show that the atomic weight of nitrogen does not exceed 

 14-009. Prof. Brauner refers to a paper which he read 

 before the Bunsen GescUschaft in May (reprinted in the 

 Chcmikcr Zeiiung, No. 3S) for a full discussion of the 

 question, and to his article on the atomic weight of 

 nitrogen in Abegg's " Handbuch der anorganischen 

 Chemic." The new value for the atomic weight of 

 nitrogen has the advantage that it is directly related to 

 the atomic weight standard 0=i6, whereas that of silver 

 is related very indirectly and only by imperfectly deter- 

 mined ratios to the oxygen standard. The recent work of 

 Guye would indicate that potassium chlorate always con- 

 tains potassium chloride, the quantity of the latter being 

 sufficient to reduce the atomic weight of silver from 

 107-93, as found by .Stas, to 107-89. Prof. Brauner con- 

 siders that the results of Prof. T. W. Richards should be 

 stated as follows : — " The atomic weight of nitrogen can- 

 not be higher than 14-10 and lower than 140S, and so 

 the atomic weight of silver must lie between Ag = 107-880 

 and 107-883. The atomic weight of sulphur cannot be 

 higher than 8 = 32-060, and therefore the atomic weight 

 of silver cannot be higher than Ag= 107-88." 



A REPORT by Dr. Leslie Mackenzie on the teaching of 

 school and personal hygiene to students in training as 

 teacher? in Scotland has been issued by the Scotch Educa- 

 tion Department. The object of the course of instruction 

 which has been instituted is to assist the teacher in dis- 

 covering such gross mental or physical defects as may 

 unfit, or tend to unfit, the child for school work. The 

 methods of instruction include lectures an J demonstrations 

 on elementary anatomy, physiology, and hvgiene, and 

 NO. 1974, VOL. 76] 



visitation of schools wilh inspection of classes and 

 premises. Among otiicr matters, the place of the subject 

 in the curriculum, the relation of the course to medical 

 inspection, and tests of proficiency are discussed, and 

 selected illustrations 01 file work done in various training 

 colleges are given. The Department has also issued a 

 memorandum on systems of physical training, viz. military 

 drill and physiological and hygienic exercises, and their 

 relation to the personal hygiene of school life. The 

 special education of the teacher for this is insisted upon, 

 and it is recommended that a medical officer ought to be 

 in charge of this branch at every training centre. 



The annual report of the British Consul at Dakar gives 

 particulars of the steps which are being taken by the 

 French Government in French West Africa to safeguard 

 and develop the rubber resources, of the country. A special 

 survey is being made of the chief rubber-producing dis- 

 tricts, and when the investigations have been completed the 

 worst districts will be closed to rubber collection so that 

 the plants may have time to recuperate. It is expected 

 that a beginning in this direction will be made in igo8. 

 For' the purpose of stocking plantations with rubber-pro- 

 ducing trees, a credit of 3200/. has been provided for the 

 present year, with which sum it is expected that from 

 300,000 to 400,000 trees will be planted, in addition to 

 nursery plantations for succeeding years. The intention 

 is to set apart from 4800/. to 6000Z. each year for this 

 purpose, and to plant on an average 500,000 trees every 

 year. 



.'\ccoR[>iNG to the Agricultural News of Barbados, a 

 plant has been discovered in Portuguese West Africa 

 possessing a fleshy, tuberous, turnip-shaped root, the 

 entire substance of which is permeated with laticiferous 

 ducts, that yield a supply of rubber latex. The plant 

 belongs to the natural order Asclepiadaceae. Rubber has 

 been obtained from the tubers by slicing them, applying 

 pressure, and coagulating with alcohol. Tubers two years 

 old weighed nearly ij lb., and yielded rubber of half of 

 I per cent, of the total weight. It is estimated that more 

 than 180 lb. of rubber per acre can be produced at the end 

 of two years. 



Among the various subjects dealt with in the Journal 

 of the Royal Horticultural Society, vol. xxxii., an article 

 by Mr. M. H. F. Sutton furnishes practical directions on 

 the formation and care of lawns and golf greens. The 

 author attributes great value to manuring the soil when 

 laying out a lawn. In connection with the choice of 

 seeds, a list of grass seeds is given, also the use of 

 clover is discussed and its disadvantage for tennis lawns 

 or putting greens is explained. Growers of campanulas 

 will find a useful list of species and synonyms prepared 

 by Colonel R. H. Beddome. A method of checking black- 

 currant gall mites by the application of grease is described 

 by Mr. Massee. The substance of a lecture by Sir George 

 Watt on the cultivation and manufacture of tea is pub- 

 lished, also an account of the West Indian lime by Mr. 

 A. J. Brooks, and a description by Mr. J. C. L'mney of 

 the source and extraction of perfumes. 



With regard to the flowering of bamboos, it has been 

 noted that this takes place only after a period of years, 

 that some species show sporadic or partial flowering, 

 while the flowering of others is simultaneous or complete, 

 and is always or nearly always followed by the death of 

 the plant. Mr. W. J. Bean has collated in the Kew 

 Bulletin (No. 6) some data regarding .species that have 

 flowered under cultivation within the last thirty years. 



