NOVEMBER 12, 1897. ] 
versity of Nebraska, whose departure for Argen- 
tine to study the plague of locusts we at the 
time noted, has safely arrived and is engaged 
in studying methods of mitigating the plague. 
THE Philadelphia museums have in working 
order their ‘Laboratory of Tests and Technol- 
ogy,’ to be operated in connection with the other 
work now being done by the Commercial Mu- 
seum. The laboratory is maintained as an ad- 
junct of the scientific department, of which 
Gustave Niederlien, now absent in Central 
America, is the chief. The work of the labo- 
ratories, however, is under the immediate di- 
rection of Dr. Louis J. Matos. 
THE firm of Siemens & Halske, electrical en- 
gineers, celebrated last month the fiftieth anni- 
versary of the foundation of the firm. The 
firm established a fund of 1,000,000 Marks for the 
benefit of its workmen and officers, and ap- 
pointed a committee to consider the best use to 
be made of the money. Herr Wilhelm Siemens 
delivered a speech, dwelling upon the two 
guiding principles of the firm, namely, scien- 
tific research and perfection of work. 
Tue British government has declined to take 
part in the Florida Fisheries Conference, stating 
that, while greatly interested in the objects of 
the Conference, it is unable to send an official 
representative. 
THE opening meeting and exhibition of the 
Rontgen Society was held in St. Martin’s Town 
Hall on November 5th. Professor Sylvanus 
P. Thompson gave a presidential address. 
WE learn from Garden and Forest that a 
State Forestry Society was organized at Raleigh, 
North Carolina, on October 21st, with fifteen 
members. The Society elected Mr. W. HE. 
Petty, Carthage, President; Dr. C. A. Schenck, 
Biltmore, Vice-President; Professor W. W. 
Ashe, of the North Carolina Geological Survey, 
Secretary and Treasurer. The main object of 
the Society is to lessen forest fires in North 
Carolina, which are doing great injury to pine 
lands, especially in the southeastern part of the 
State, in the valley of the lower Cape Fear 
River. Methods of improving the condition of 
lumbered and deteriorated woodland will also 
be considered, and the re-establishment of waste 
and eroded agricultural lands in timber. 
SCIENCE. 
TBS 
AT the Wagner Free Institute of Science,,. 
Philadelphia, ten weeks’ courses are now being 
given in the evenings as follows: Mondays, Pro- 
fessor S. T. Wagner, ‘Engineering Materials ;’ 
Tuesdays, Professor W. B. Scott, ‘ Historical 
Geology;’ Wednesdays, Professor R. E. Thomp- 
Son, ‘History;’ Thursdays, Professor G. F. 
Stradling, ‘Magnetism;’ Fridays, Professor: 
Henry Leffmann, ‘Chemistry;’ Saturdays, Pro- 
fessor Emily G. Hunt, ‘Chapters from the Life- 
of Plants.’ These courses are now in session. 
AT a recent meeting of the Board of Directors. 
of the American Chemical Society it was de- 
cided to appoint a committee of three, with Dr. 
Wiley as chairman, with power to take charge: 
of a want column in the Journal of: the Society. 
Members of the Society seeking positions, and, 
also, persons desiring to employ chemists, will 
be allowed a three and one-half inch advertise- 
ment free of charge. 
A NEW building for the chemical laboratory of 
the University of Berlin is now in course of 
erection, at a cost of about $250,000. It will 
contain four large laboratories, with desks for 
250 students and 25 research rooms. 
A PASTEUR Institute was opened in Sofia on, 
October 18th. 
PROFESSOR WILTSHIRE has presented to the 
mineralogical museum of Cambridge University 
his collection of minerals, which includes nu- 
merous specimens of high scientific value. The 
zoological museum has also been enriched by 
the addition of a collection of polyzoa presented: 
by Miss E. C. Jelly, and of the skeleton of an 
elephant seal, the gift of Sir W. L. Buller. 
THE New York Evening Post reports that 
Prince Roland Bonaparte has been paying the 
expenses of meteorological experiments made 
in the upper strata of the atmosphere with a 
balloon presented to the Central Meteorological 
Bureau by M. Balaschoff. 
EssAys in competition for the Alvarenga 
prize of the College of Physicians of Philadel- 
phia must be sent to the Secretary of the Col- 
lege by May 1, 1898. The value of the prize is 
about $180 ain the essay may be upon any 
medical subject. ” 
THE publication of the Academische Shen 
which has contained full news and valuable- 
