578 



NA TURE 



[September 23, 1909 



ing was not very large, but it is hoped tliat when the con- 

 clusions arrived at by this committee are circulated to all 

 the members a universal agreement as to a specification 

 very much on the lines of the British standard specifica- 

 tion will be reached. In regard to iron and steel, the 

 difficulties are much greater, but it is hoped that a nearer 

 approach to agreement may be reached in time for the 

 next congress ; meanwhile, the only definite result in this 

 direction is a carefully worded resolution indicating that 

 the congress recommends the sale of pig-iron on a basis 

 of chemical analysis alone, the old method of grading by 

 fracture being discarded as too indefinite. 



In Section B the papers dealing with reinforced concrete 

 were first discussed, but the discussion was of a very 

 general nature, the desire being widely expressed that 

 methods of testing and experimenting should first of all 

 be svstematised and standardised. One of the subjects 

 which received most attention was that of the action of 

 sea-water on cement, the report by Poulsen describing the 

 elaborate series of tests carried out on various points of 

 the coast of Scandinavia from Esbjcrg, in the south-west, 

 to Vardo, at the extreme north of Norway, being very 

 favourably received. Ultimately the section passed a 

 resolution, combining one proposed by Mr. Sachs and 

 another proposed by a French representative, setting up a 

 committee to bring the whole question up to date for the 

 next congress by preparing a summary of the papers 

 already before the association, and also to carry out further 

 experiments with specially prepared cements exposed to 

 sea-water to test the influence of various percentages of 

 sulphates. 



In connection with cement-testing there was a good deal 

 of heated discussion, principally as to the definition of a 

 "standard sand," while Mr. Blount and his committee 

 bad to contend with some strong opposition in carrying 

 their proposals in regard to volume-constancy tests. 



A general business meeting of the congress took place 

 on the concluding day (Saturday, September ii). .-Vfter 

 the formal business had been disposed of, Mr. J. E. Stead, 

 b'.R.S., was askrd to deliver his lecture on the practical 

 application of the microscopic examination of metals at 

 the present time. So little time remained, however, that 

 Mr. Stead could only give a very brief summary of his 

 subject-matter, the lantern-slides being, however, shown 

 in the afternoon by special request. While the report 

 of Heyn on the progress of metallography had sum- 

 marised the work of laboratories and investigators, 

 Mr. Stead dealt with the use of the microscope 

 in works practice, and was able to give an account 

 of the manner in which microscopic methods were 

 employed by a large number of firms both in England 

 and in .America. Examples of successful applica- 

 tion of microscopic methods in the case of cast- 

 iron, steel, copper, brass, and many other metals were 

 given, the names of the firms in question being stated, 

 including all those best known in their respective indus- 

 tries. The use of the microscope in the investigation of 

 failures and breakages was finally described. 



In addition to' the actual business of the congress, the 

 programme arranged by the reception committee included 

 a large number of interesting visits and excursions ; these 

 included the new railway repair workshops, the works of 

 Messrs. Burmeister and Wain, where shipbuilding is 

 carried on, the Royal Danish Porcelain Works, and a 

 number of municipal institutions, such as the electric 

 power station, the refuse destructor, &c., as well as the 

 newly organised State testing laboratories, the great 

 breweries of Carlsberg and the fine museums endowed 

 from their profits. The evenings of the congress week 

 were occupied by a series of brilliant functions, including 

 a reception by the Danish Society of Engineers, another 

 by the Municipality of Copenhagen, a special performance 

 at the Royal Opera House, and, finally, excursions to 

 Sgodsborg and to Elsinore on the Oresund ; the former, 

 carried out by means of a steamer, which first took the 

 party around the harbour of Copenhagen, was especially 

 enjoyable, and it was followed by an informal dinner of 

 huge dimensions (more than 900 sat down) at the beauti- 

 fully situated Sgodsborg Hotel. Our Danish hosts were 

 most warmly hospitable, and everything was done to make 

 the impressions of Copenhagen as pleasant as possible — 



NO. 2082, VOL. 81] 



even the weather was favourable, so that the 500 visiting 

 engineers saw Copenhagen at its very best. Although it 

 may perhaps be said that no very striking decisions have 

 been reached at this congress, it has undoubtedly served 

 a very valuable purpose in bringing together a large 

 number of scientific and technical workers who had 

 hitherto known one another by correspondence only. 

 Linguistic difficulties were, of course, of frequent occur- 

 rence, but willing interpreters were generally at hand; 

 the discussions of the congress were, as a rule, translated 

 into the three ofticial languages — a difficult task, in which 

 one or two of the British delegates displayed considerable 

 activity. In fact, it was a widely expressed feeling — not 

 a little gratifying to the British representatives — that at 

 this congress there was much evidence of the fact that 

 a great revival in matters of applied science had taken 

 place in England since the last meeting of the congress. 

 It is to be hoped that when the congress meets next — in 

 .•\merica in 1912 — still further evidence of this revival will 

 make itself felt. Adequate British representation at these , 

 congresses is of great importance, not only in securing 

 the due consideration of British interests, but also in 

 securing due respect for British achievements and British 

 capacity — respect which will help to promote the cause of 

 universal peace. 



GERMAN BOTANICAL CONGRESS. 



A FEW years ago the three German societies specially 

 ■^ interested in one or other branch of botany agreed 

 to meet in the same district and at the same time each 

 year, and the arrangement has proved so advantageous 

 that it has become permanent. This year the societies met 

 at Geisenheim, on the Rhine, in the Rheingau. The 

 Botanical Institute at Geisenheim, where the meetings 

 were held, is liberally supported by the Prussian Govern- 

 ment, and in most respects seems ideal. Both staff and 

 students are well housed on the spacious premises, and 

 the courses are arranged to suit many different types of 

 students. Owing, however, to the continuity of courses 

 throughout the year, there is no regular vacation for the 

 staff, the members of which must in time, one would think, 

 lose somewhat in vigour and freshness of teaching. 

 The institute exists for the promotion of the interests, 

 scientific and practical, of the vineyard, and its wine, and 

 of the fruit and vegetable industries. 



There are separate buildings for chemistr)', plant physio- 

 logy, pathology, and fermentation, each fully equipped and 

 under its own chief. The connection between science and 

 practice is very intimate, and research is encouraged. 

 From the fermentation station pure yeast cultures are sent 

 all over the world. The whole institute is under the able 

 administration of Prof. Wortmann, to whom the success 

 of this year's meeting is largely due. 



Naturally, several papers on the vine and on wine, too 

 specialised for general notice, were contributed by experts. 

 -Attention was directed to the fungus Rhacodium cellare, 

 which lives on cork, and causes the deterioration of wine 

 in store. Sound sterilised corks, replaced unconditionally 

 each year, are a necessary precaution against the damage 

 wrought by this trouble. 



Much of the time of the economic botanists was occupied 

 by papers on the potato and its diseases. Particular atten- 

 tion was directed to the disease called " leaf-roll," not to 

 be confused with " leaf-curl." Alarmist reports of the 

 extent of the disease and of the injury it was inflicting 

 appeared in the German Press last year. Though these 

 reports have been shown to be exaggerated, the disease is 

 clearly doing much harm. It is, as the writer noticed, 

 widely spread in many parts of Ireland, but not yet recorded 

 for Great Britain, or for France (judging from a conversa- 

 tion recently with M. Maublanc at the Pathological 

 Institute in Paris). There are several features of striking 

 interest in connection w-ith leaf-roll. It is generally re- 

 cognisable by the more or less dwarfed, stunted haulms, 

 and the inrolled, often more or less coloured, leaflets. In 

 leaf-curl the surface of the leaflets is crumpled. In the 

 first year of attack the tubers may appear sound and of 

 normal weight. The disease is, however, in them, as 

 shown by the next year's diminished, diseased crop. 

 .Appel's view, that Fusarium is generally present in the 



