Notes and Comments. 201 
NATURAL MONUMENTS. 
Before a joint meeting of the Geological, Geographical, and 
Botanical Sections, Prof. Conwentz, the Prussian State Com- 
missioner for the Preservation of Natural Monuments, delivered 
an interesting Address on the subject which he has made his 
own. Heexplained that the phrase ‘natural monuments’ was 
new in Germany as well as in England, but we should recognise 
that there could be monuments of nature as well as of art. The 
constant inroads of cultivation and industrial undertakings upon 
primitive nature have led, and are leading, to the disappearance 
of scientifically interesting and even unique natural objects and 
types of scenery. A widespread feeling has arisen that as 
much as possible should be done to prevent such destruction, 
and this has recently led not only to much local effort directed 
to this end, but in Prussia to the institution of a special State 
department, under the Minister of Education, for the purpose 
of directing and co-ordinating such efforts. In the opinion of 
Professor Conwentz, however, procedure by Government 
department is not the right method in this country ; we should 
rather depend upon voluntary effort. We would point out, 
however, that many of the valuable suggestions made by 
Professor Conwentz have been anticipated by Professor G. 
Baldwin Brown in his book on ‘ The Care of Ancient Monu- 
ments,’ which was reviewed in these columns for November, 
1906 (p. 387). 
OTHER ADDRESSES: 
The Presidential Address to the Chemical Section was by 
Prof. A. Smithells, who took ‘Flame’ for his subject. Mr. G. 
G. Chisholm addressed the Geographical Section on ‘ Geography 
and Commerce.’ Mr. W. J. Ashley discoursed on the past 
history and present position of political economy to the Eco- 
nomic Science and Statistics Section; Dr. Silvanus P. Thompson, 
as President of the Engineering Section, referred to the De- 
velopment of Engineering and its Foundations on Science ; 
Mr. D. G. Hogarth dealt with ‘ Religious Survivals’ in his 
Address to the Anthropological Section; Dr. Augustus D. 
Waller addressed the Physiologists ‘On the Action of 
Anesthetics ;’ and Sir Philip Magnus addressed the Educa- 
tional Science Section on ‘The Application of Scientific Method 
to Educational Problems.’ 
PLANKTON INVESTIGATIONS. 
Professor W. A. Herdman, one of the Secretaries of the 
Association, gave a report of the Plankton Fishing Investigation 
1907 September 1. 
