TBASSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 769 



oceiin freights, the author disagrees with the contention that the price of wheat has 

 been reduced in Europe by appreciation of gold alone, and thinks that it has been 

 in part brought about by the competition of Indian wheat, which was rendered 

 possible by the favourable circumstances detailed, but which received a fresh 

 stimulus from the fall in the gold value of silver. He ascribes the development of 

 the tea trade to the favourable circumstances in which this industry is placed in 

 India, and to the stimulus given to it by the high gold prices formerly ruling, and 

 thinks that the only effect of the fall in the gold value of silver on it has been to 

 enable the industry to be carried on at the low prices which have resulted from 

 increased production and Chinese competition, and which would otherwise have 

 been unremunerative. While admitting the advantageous conditions which attend 

 the manufacture in India of cotton twist and piece goods and gunny-bags, he 

 explains why he considers these exports have received a stimulus from the fall in 

 the gold value of silver. He then states his general conclusions that, though the 

 export of certain articles has been stimulated, the export trade of India has not on 

 the whole benefited by the fall in the gold value of silver. 



6. On Statigrams, with some suggestions for Greater Uniformity in 

 Comparative Graphics. By the Rev. J. F. Hetes, M.A., F.G.8., F.E.G.8. 



1. The word diagram is very loosely used. It is best confined to mathematical 

 and physical science. It is proposed to use the word statigram (first put forward 

 in the author's letter in ' Nature ' for 1885, p. 597) when graphical statistics of the 

 usual approximate and varying values are being given. 



2. The word graph, both as a noun and a verb, will be found conveniently short 

 and explicit. Thus a page of figures may be graphed, and the resulting graph or 

 i/raphs will exhibit a line or curve giving maximum information with minimum 

 trouble. These graphs are now becoming well known and popular. They are not 

 necessarily curves, so this latter word may thus be given a more restricted and 

 suitable use. As part of the wider science of Grajihics the whole subject is named 

 Statigraphy. 



3. It would be convenient to agree upon the use of the co-ordinates. The hori- 

 zontal line, as far as possible, should, for instance, mark years in preference to the 

 vertical one. In this way the marriage graph for the last ten years would be seen 

 to fall in a way corresponding to the diminished rate. 



4. It would be convenient to agree to use, whenever -^ossxhle, graph paper (ruled 

 faintly in small squares), with the co-ordinates marked at standard distances, say 

 either \ inch or ^ cm. The half-centimetre distance is much to be preferred, and 

 would, if regularly adopted in international statistics, facilitate comparisons and 

 tend to prevent mistakes. It is also convenient for printed books. In any case the 

 metric system is preferable. 



6. In the study of so complex subjects as Geosophy and Sociology all small 

 suggestions which are likely to help are wortliy of consideration. These names and 

 the proposed uniformity would, it is believed, help the advancement of science, 

 especially with those who are not mathematicians. 



7. Reasons for a Quinquennial Census. 

 By G. B. LoNGSTAFF, M.A , M.B., F.B.G.P. 



In order to expedite the publication of the results of the census of 1891, a» 

 much of the work as possible should be done beforehand ; to facilitate this the Bill 

 should be introduced into Parliament in 1889. 



The census should be the work of a permanent census sub-department of the 

 General Register Office, which, when not occupied in taking the quinquennial census, 

 would be greatly reduced in numbers ; the small permanent staff would, in the in- 

 tervals, supply all estimates of populations and make special inquiries for Royal 

 Commissions, Select Committees, and Government departments. The work would 



1888. 3 D 



