October 



1908] 



NA TURE 



643 



In the annual report of Ihe Sydney Technological 

 Museum for 1906, a copy of which has just reached us, 

 attention is specially directed to the building stones and 

 ornamental marbles of New South Wales, which are stated 

 to be fully equal to those of any other part of the world, 

 although at present only a small portion of them is 

 worked. A large series of specimens is exhibited in the 

 museum. The report also refers to the exhibits sent by 

 the Sydney Museum to the New Zealand International 

 Exhibition of 1906. 



Almost entirely new ground appears to have been 

 covered, so far as the alcyonarian zoophytes are con- 

 cerned, by the dredging of the U.S. Fisheries steamer 

 Albatross in Hawaiian waters in 1902. According to an 

 account by Prof. C. C. Nutting, forming No. 1624 of the 

 Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum, out of sixty- 

 eight species of these organisms collected in those waters 

 during the cruise, no fewer than thirty-nine proved to be 

 new. The oider Gorgonacea, as might have been ex- 

 pected, was the most abundantly represented, comprising 

 forty-seven species, while the Alcyonacea, which are chiefly 

 Arctic, although abundant in .Australian waters, comprised 

 but five. 



The agricultural departments in the various sugar- 

 producing countries are doing a great amount of work on 

 the sugar-cane, and much confusion has arisen in the 

 nomenclature of the many varieties now in cultivation, so 

 that two stations may be working on one and the same 

 variety under totally different names. By way of directing 

 attention to this state of affairs Messrs. Deerr and Eckart 

 recently issued a report from the experiment station 

 of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association giving lists 

 of synonymous canes and discussing the origin of some 

 of the better known varieties. There are numerous refer- 

 ences to the literature of the subject, and the report 

 promises to serve a very useful purpose. 



In Bulletin No. 66 of the Agricultural Experiment Station 

 of New Mexico, attention is directed to a very important 

 factor in connection wilh the fertility of the soil in countries 

 where intense farming is not yet practised. It is well 

 known that excessive cattle grazing is injurious for several 

 reasons. The herbage deteriorates in value. The kinds of 

 grass or other plants preferred by the animals get eaten 

 before they have time to seed, and therefore die out, leaving 

 only less valuable plants. The soil becomes so compacted 

 by the treading of the animals, especially in the neighbour- 

 hood of the drinking places, that rain-water will not 

 sink in, but flows over the surface in time of storm. 

 Direction is given to the flow by the paths trodden by the 

 animals, and from these small beginnings a great amount 

 of land erosion may take place, with much consequent 

 injury to the agricultural prospects of the country. 



A PAPER of considerable interest dealing with the embry- 

 ology of Gneium gnemon is contributed by Prof. J. M. 

 Coulter to the Botanical Gazette (July). The author fails 

 to confirm the development, as described by Lotsy, of a 

 compact tissue in the antipodal end of the embryo-sac, 

 but observed a definite pavement tissue below the sac. 

 The paper also contains details that were wanting of the 

 early stages of the embryo. A long branched suspensor- 

 like development of the fertilised ovum is formed, at one 

 end of which a cell is cut off that gives rise to the 

 embryo. 



Arising out of his extensive studies of African floras, 

 in the course of which he has had occasion to note very 

 numerous plant associations. Dr. Engler has sought to 

 devise a general system of symbols for indicating plant 



NO. 2034, VOL. 78] 



formations in tropical and subtropical countries on maps 

 or charts. The colour schemes present the most funda- 

 mental and important features. Generally, brown is used 

 to signify saline habitats, green represents verdure and 

 moisture, yellow the partially dry localities, red infers a 

 high altitude, and black signs indicate very dry conditions. 

 Dr. Engler's explanation, together with a chart of his pro- 

 posed symbols, is published in his Botanischc Jahrbiicher 

 (vol. xli., part v.). 



In the Economic Journal for September, under the title 

 " Appreciations of Mathematical Theories," Prof. F. Y. 

 Edgeworth discusses certain mathematical aspects of the 

 much debated problem of " free trade " in a criticism of 

 previous papers and reviews by Mr. Bickerdyke. 



Under the auspices of the faculty of science of the 

 University of Rome, a movement was set on foot to com- 

 memorate the contributions to physical science of Prof. 

 Alfonso Sella, who died on November 25 of last year. 

 A marble bust of Prof. Sella, by M. Ezekiel, was unveiled 

 on June 9 of this year in the presence of a large number 

 of subscribers and representatives of different universities, 

 and a small memorial pamphlet has been published (Rome : 

 G. Bertero and Co.) containing an account of the proceed- 

 ings and a list of Sella's works. 



In issuing a supplementary list of drawing cases, &c., 

 Mr. W. H. Harling, Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C., 

 has taken the opportunity to send out a pamphlet dealing 

 with slide rules. The brochure, in addition to giving 

 prices and illustrations of instruments, explains the theory 

 and use of the slide rule, and should prove of service to 

 purchasers of this useful aid to calculation. 



We have received a very complete catalogue of bacterio- 

 logical apparatus, surgical appliances, and hospital sundries 

 from Messrs. Townson and Mercer. Many of the illustra- 

 tions of the more complicated pieces of apparatus are 

 accompanied by full descriptions and practical hints for 

 using the instruments. In fact, some pages, like those 

 concerned with biological incubators, read like parts of 

 a laboratory manual. The catalogue, which is well pro- 

 duced, is arranged in such a manner that reference to it 

 is easy and expeditious. 



Messrs. Wratten and Wainwright, Ltd., of Croydon, 

 have issued a descriptive list of photographic dry plates, 

 filters, and safelight screens they are prepared to supply. 

 The catalogue directs special attention to the new X-ray 

 plate, and in describing the many kinds of plates manu- 

 factured by the firm gives many useful, practical hints 

 to enable photographers to secure the best results. Among 

 other photographic requisites dealt with in the list may 

 be mentioned screens, both orthochromatic and contrast ; 

 a series of safelights to give the greatest possible intensity 

 of light with reasonable safety ; and dark-room lamps. 



A new list of meteorological instruments has been pub- 

 lished by Messrs. C. F. Casella and Co., Rochester Row, 

 S.W. Among new instruments described in the catalogue 

 are some interesting forms of rain gauges. The " in- 

 sulated Snowdon rain gauge " is of simple construction, 

 and in it provision is made to protect the collected rain 

 from freezing in winter and evaporation in summer. The 

 " totalising rain gauge " is of tlie self-registering kind, 

 and the principle underlying its construction is that of the 

 tilting bucket, and it is claimed that a great advance has 

 been made in the registering mechanism. The catalogue 

 also includes a description of " Mountain's recording rain 

 gauge," and particulars of balloons, kites, and accessories. 

 for the investigation of the upper atmosphere. 



