August 6, 1896] 



NA TURE 



331 



PRIZES OhFERED BY THE SOCJETE 

 D'ENCO URA GEM E NT 

 '~V\\\'. litilUlin of the Societed'Kncoiiragemenl pour I'lndiistrie 

 '■ Nationale contains a list of the medals and prizes to be 

 awarded in 1897 and 1898. Amont;st these, the following prizes 

 are proposed for 1897. In the Mechanical Arts : for improved 

 methods in milling of grain (2000 francs) ; for a motor weighing 

 less than 50 kilogrammes per horse-power developed for use in 

 aerial navigation (2000 francs) ; for a study of the coefficients 

 necessary for the calculations of an aerial machine (2000 francs) ; 

 for a small motor suitable for domestic use (2000 francs) ; for 

 improvements in machine tools (2000 francs). 



In the Chemical Arts : for the utilisation of waste products 

 (1000 francs) ; for a new method of preparing fuming sulphuric 

 acid or sulphur trioxide, which shall be more economical than 

 those at present in use (2000 francs) ; for a liquid which shall 

 replace sulphuric acid in dyeing, especially of silk, without exer- 

 cising the same destructive action on the fibre (1000 francs) ; for 

 a scientific study of the physical and mechanical properties of 

 glass (2000 francs) ; for the preparation on the large scale of a 

 new alloy of iron possessing specially useful properties (2000 

 francs). 



In the Economic Arts : prizes are offered for the construction 

 of a hydro-extractor that can be worked continuously (2000 

 francs), and for important improvements in the manufacture of 

 permanent magnets, with especial reference to their stability 

 (3000 francs). 



In Agriculture : for a study of alcoholic ferments (3000 francs) ; 

 for the best study of the diseases of cider and the means of 

 arresting their development (2000 francs) ; for the best practical 

 means of destroying one of the insect enemies of the vine {1000 

 francs). There will also be awarded in 1897 a prize of 2000 

 francs for an economic study of an industrial centre in France, 

 and of 1500 francs for a study of insurance against involuntary 

 want of employment. 



The more important prizes offered for 1898 include the Marquis 

 d'Argenteuil prize of 12,000 francs for the discovery of the 

 greatest service in developing French industry ; for a publication 

 of service to chemical or metallurgical industry (2000 francs) ; 

 for an experimental study of the physical or mechanical proper- 

 ties of some metal or alloy in common use (2000 francs) ; for the 

 invention of new methods of utilising petroleum {o 8 k. or 

 higher) advantageously and without danger, for either manufac- 

 turing or domestic purposes (2000 francs) ; for the best varieties 

 of barley for brewing (1500 francs) ; for the reconstitution of 

 vineyards upon chalky soils (3000 Irancs) ; and for the best study 

 in vine culture in France (2000 francs). 



SCIENCE IN THE MAGAZINES. 



r^ L.\CI.\LISTS making arrangements for their summer 

 ^-^ migration to Switzerland, and other geologists interested 

 in ice-work, should read what Dr. A. R Wallace has to say in 

 the Forlnighlly on "The (!orge of the Aar and its Teachings," 

 before they set out, and they will then be able to judge for them- 

 selves the weight of the conclusions drawn. Dr. Wallace thinks 

 the phenomena presented by the valley of the Aar afford "a 

 fresh and very powerful argument in support of the power of the 

 ancient glaciers both to deepen valleys and to grind out lake- 

 basins," and his article is written to prove the correctness of 

 this view. In the enclosed valley with its two small rock- 

 basins in which the Hospice in the Grimsel Pass is situated, Dr. 

 Wallace sees an example of the effects of a kind of eddy in old 

 ice-streams flowing in nearly opposite directions. The celebrated 

 AarschluchI, one of the most remarkable gorges in Europe, is 

 from 200 to 300 feet deep, and only about six feet in width. 

 This is held to represent " the result of the action of sub-glacial 

 torrents acting throughout the whole period during which the 

 area was buried in ice. Thus only are we able to explain the 

 fact of the almost uniform narrowness of the gorge from bottom to 

 top, since during the process of its formation the rock walls 

 would be preserved from ordinary denuding agencies, and be 

 kept at a nearly uniform temperature." This view of the origin 

 of the gorge is held by Prof. Bonney and by other geologists 

 who have considered the subject, though the conclusions to 

 which it leads differ. A number of other gorges in Switzerland 



NO. 1397, VOL. 54] 



are similarly explained. Accepting this interpretation, it is 

 evident that gorges of this character ought only to be found in 

 regions which have been recently glaciated. "In our own 

 country," .says Dr. Wallace, " we have many small gorges of 

 this character, in Wales, the Lake District, and Scotland, that 

 of Dungeon Gill, in Westmoreland, being an example ; but 

 more are to be found in decidedly non-glaciated areas, such as' 

 Devonshire, though narrow ravines are common enough. So in 

 the Northern United States there are many such gorges, the 

 Ausible Chasm in the Adirondacks, and Watkin Glen, near 

 Seneca Lake, are well-known tourist resorts ; but in the 

 Southern States, beyond the glaciated area, there are no similar 

 gorges, although the southern AUeghenies are loftier than 

 farther north, and contain much grand and picturesque mountain 

 scenery and many waterfalls and deep ravines, but these are all 

 of the rugged and weathered type." In the mountainous region 

 of Brazil, where there has certainly been no recent glaciation, 

 Prof. Branner testifies that none of the characteristic sub-glacial 

 stream channels occur. Finally, the gorges of the Aar, and 

 others of like nature, are shown to afford evidence in favour of 

 the theory of the glacial origin of the Swiss valley lakes. The 

 abrupt Kirchet Hill, which extends across the valley of the Aar, 

 is adduced by Prof. Bonney as an argument against this theory. 

 "This would be a valid objection," says Dr. Wallace, "if the 

 Aar glacier had continued in a straight, or nearly straight, line 

 to Meiringen ; but the influx of a large glacier stream from the 

 north-east must have so diverted that of the Aar, that the re- 

 sultant flow would have been across the lower valley, and 

 almost along the steep face of Kirchet instead of directly across 

 it. This would have been the case, because the glacier stream 

 from the north-east was not only equal in size to that of the 

 Aar valley, but had a more rapid descent, and, therefore, a 

 quicker flow. In the last five miles the Aar valley has a fall of 

 about 1500 feet, while the two north-eastern valleys have an 

 average fall of about 2000 feet ; and they are also much wider, 

 which would still further facilitate rapidity of outflow." 



Dr. C. M. Aikman gives in the Contemporary an account of 

 the inoculation of agricultural land with pure cultures of bacteria, 

 in the form of Nitragin, for the purpose of promoting plant- 

 growth. A note on this advance in the science of agriculture 

 will be found on page 326. To the same review Mr. Andrew 

 Lang contributes a budget of records of the rite of "Passing 

 through the Fire," beginning with the earliest accounts of this 

 or some analogous ceremony, and concluding with the most 

 recent authenticated contemporary examples The rite is very 

 widely difiused, and there is a considerable amount of evidence 

 that the fire walking is actually practised without apparent 

 injury. In a few villages in Turkey, on the Bulgarian frontier, 

 a festival is held in May, and certain persons still go through 

 the performance of treading and dancing on the red-hot embers 

 of a pile of wood, apparently without sustaining injury. Mr. 

 Lang appeals to men of science to take up the subject, both on 

 account of the widely-diffused religious character of the cere- 

 mony, and in order to discover how, granting the facts, the feat 

 is performed. A scientific observer who would go to Bulgaria 

 on May 21 next year, and thoroughly investigate the rite there, 

 noting the state of the fire, the condition of the feet of the 

 ministrants before and after the performance, and photographing 

 the scene, would obtain some definite and valuable information. 

 A brief mention must sufiice for the remaining articles on 

 scientific topics in the magazines received by us. The second 

 part of an historical study, by Mr. J. F. Hewitt, entitled 

 " How the first Priests, the long-haired Shamans, and their 

 successors, the tonsured Barber-surgeons, measured Time," 

 appears in the il'es/niinstcr Review. The article contains many 

 facts of interest as to the origin of the year in the northern and 

 southern hemispheres. The Century publishes some glimpses 

 of life in Africa, from the journals of the late Mr. E. J. Glave, 

 who completed his remarkable journey across Africa from east 

 to west in May 1895, ^"^^ i\eA while waiting for the departure 

 of the homeward steamer. The Strand Magazine has a detailed 

 account of the balloon, accessories, and plan of Mr. Andree, 

 for his aerial polar expedition. There is also a liberally illus- 

 trated account of the methods and results of Rontgen photo- 

 graphy, by Mr. Alfred W. Porter, in the same magazine. An 

 instructive article on "Atmospheric Pressure" is contributed to 

 Longtnan^s Magazine by Mr. H. Harries. Articles of a like 

 character appear in Chambers's Journal on "The Glastonbury 

 Lake-Dwellers," and "Work in Compressed Air." 



