SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; R. S. Woodward, Meclianics ; E. C. Pickeeino, 



Astronomy ; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics ; E. H. Thurstojj, Engineering ; Iea Eemsen, Chemistry ; 



Joseph Le Conte, Geology ; W. M. Davis, Physiography ; Heney F. Osboeu, Paleontology ; 



W. K. Beooes, C. H-A*feT Mbeeiam, Zoology ; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology ; C. E. Bessey, 



N. L. Brittos', Botany ; C. S. MiNOT, Embryology, Histology ; H. P. BowDlTcn, 



Physiology ; J. S. Billings, Hygiene ; William H. Welch, Pathology ; 



J. McKeen Cattell, Psychology ; J. W. Powell, Anthropology. 



Fbidat, July 6, 1900. 



CONTENTS: 

 The American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science: — 



TJie New York Meeting 1 



TJie Proceedings of the Association : Peofessoe 



Chaeles Baskeeville 4 



Address of Welcome: Peesident Skth Low... 9 

 Address of the President: Professor R. S. 



Woodward 12 



On the Teaching of Astronomy in the United 



States: PROFESSOR AsAPH Hall, Jr 15 



27(6 Eighth Group of the Periodic System and 

 some of its Proilems, II. : Professor Jas. 

 Lewis Howe 20 



Scientific Books : — 



Creio's Elements of Physics : Professor W. Le 

 Conte Stevens. Books Received 34 



Scientific Journals and Articles 36 



Societies and Academies : — 



Tlie Torrey Botanical Club: Professor N. L. 

 Britton 36 



Current Notes on Meteorology : — 

 Climate and the Ice Industry ; Frost Fighting : 

 R. Dec Ward 37 



Scientific Notes and News 38 



University and Educational News 40 



MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended 

 for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Profes- 

 sor J. McKeen Cattell, Garrison-ou-Hudson, N. Y. 



THE AMEBIC AN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF 



SCIENCE. 



From tlie point of view of scientific work the New York meeting of the Association 

 was the most successful in its history, with the possible exception of the anniversary- 

 meeting held two years ago at Boston. It was not expected that N"ew York City would 

 be a favorable place to awaken local enthusiasm or altogether suitable for social gather- 

 ings, but even in these respects there were no grounds for complaint. The attendance — 

 a registration of about 450 — was not as large as had been hoped for. It included, how- 

 ever, an unusually large proportion of fellows, and there were perhaps three hundred 

 members of the affiliated Societies present who did not register as members of the Asso- 

 ciation. The assembly of scientific men was therefore about as large as it ever has been, 

 and considerably larger than since 1884, with the exception of the anniversary meeting. 

 The general conduct of the meeting met with the approval of nearly all the mem- 

 bers, though a few regretted the lack of eleemosynaiy entertainments and excursions. 

 The members were welcomed to Columbia University by President L6w and to the 

 American Museum of Natural History by President Jesup. The address of the presi- 



