278 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. No. 790 



abundant water supply. It was recognized that 

 a town located at the eastern end, or top of the 

 valley would be nearer the mountain supply and 

 that its subterranean streams would be nearer 

 the surface. Tlie town of Redlands was there- 

 fore plotted, about twenty-two years ago, in an 

 absolutely arid region. These calculations turned 

 out to be perfect and the to^vn of Eedlands is 

 now one of the most beautiful in the world, and 

 surrounded by one of the most fertile of regions. 

 Series of pictures illustrated the arid conditions 

 which antedated irrigation, and were contrasted 

 with others showing the rich orchards, vineyards 

 and other cultivated tracts of the present day. 

 Land previously absolutely worthless now yields 

 rich dividends on a valuation of from one thou- 

 sand to two thousand dollars per acre. Other 

 pictures illustrated the snow-capped summits of 

 winter, the humid, forest-clad slopes and the 

 gradually changing flora of the descent to the 

 plain. The Coniferae of these mountains are of 

 exceptional interest, because of their rarity or 

 limited distribution. The very peculiar branch- 

 system of Pinus Sabiniana, unlike that of any 

 other pine, was well illustrated by several slides. 

 It was remarked that the two fine characteristic 

 specimens of this species exist in the Pinetum of 

 the New York Botanical Garden. Other Coniferae 

 illustrated, besides many other forest species, 

 were Pinus Goulteri, Eeyderia decurrens, Abies 

 concolor and Pseudotsuga macrocarpa. 



The peculiar problems affecting the conduct of 

 the water to the plains and its distribution to 

 the consumer, arising from the tendency to loss 

 through seepage and phenomenal evaporation, the 

 legal questions arising in regard to water rights, 

 the necessity of governmental regulation of water 

 supplies, the methods of estimating the require- 

 ments of various crops, under different condition?, 

 and the methods of measurement and sale of the 

 water were discussed. 



A large number of illustrations were presented 

 showing the methods of applying water to the 

 orchards and vineyards. Others illustrated 

 typical fruit trees, in flower and fruit, fruit 

 gathering, drying and packing. Many slides of 

 very great beauty represented the street planting 

 of trees and other methods employed to beautify 

 the cities and their suburbs. 



Percy Wilson, 



Secretary 



THE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



The 674th meeting was held on January 15, 

 1910, Vice-president Rosa in the chair. The 



evening was devoted to hearing the address of the 

 retiring president, Mr. C. K. Wead, on " Music 

 and Science." 



The speaker gave a brief sketch of the develop- 

 ment of music, pointing out that rhythm is its 

 most important feature; instrumental and vocal 

 rhythm being entirely independent. Association, 

 and combination of sounds for beauty of form, 

 modulation and tonality were briefly explained. 

 As regards expressiveness the musician does not 

 attempt to put the music expression into thought. 



Musical scale was defined, and the principles 

 involved in the scales of various nations and 

 periods were explained, among which Helmholtz's 

 harmonic series was mentioned. No preeminent 

 usage to fix a natural scale exists, our scale not 

 following any law of a vibrating body. The four 

 stages in the development of the mvisical scale 

 were described. The phonograph is expected to be 

 of importance in the study of native music. 



The 675th meeting was neld on January 29, 

 1910, Vice-president Fischer presiding. Two 

 papers were read. 

 The Sixteenth International Geodetic Conference: 



Mr. 0. H. TiTTMANN, of the Coast and Geodetic 



Survey. 



The speaker gave a brief historical sketch of 

 the origin and organization of the International 

 Geodetic Association. The general conferences, 

 according to present arrangements, take place 

 triennially, the place for holding them is selected 

 from several invitations ofl5cially extended by the 

 delegates from various countries. 



The sixteenth conference was held in London 

 and Cambridge pursuant to an invitation by the 

 British government, and its sessions began in 

 London on September 21 and ended in Cambridge 

 on September 29, the session being opened by 

 addresses of welcome by Minister of War Haldane 

 and by Sir George Darwin. 



All but four of the twenty-two signatory powers 

 were represented, and among those of the western 

 hemisphere besides the United States and Great 

 Britain were Mexico, Chili and Argentina. This 

 is the first conference at which Canada was repre- 

 sented, and the speaker indulged the hope that the 

 progress of geodesy in Canada will be such that 

 its reports will hereafter furnish important con- 

 tributions to the triennial conference. 



The order of procedure of the conference was 

 briefly outlined. The special reports refer to the 



