March 6, 1903.] 



SCIENCE. 



399 



at Erlaiigen. Heidelberg, Freiburg, and Strass- 

 burg, practised here, 1850-1853.' 



Eear-Admiral Willum Harkness, U.S.N. 

 (retired), the eminent astronomer, jiresident 

 of the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science in 1893, died on February 28 

 of tyijhoid fever, in his sixty-sixth year. 



EiCH.VRD JoRDAX Gatlixo, invcntor of the 

 giin that bears his name and of various agri- 

 cultural implements, died on February 26, in 

 his eighty-fourth year. 



Mrs. M. L. D. Putnam, of Davenport, Iowa, 

 died on February 20. Mrs. Putnam was presi- 

 dent of the Davenport Academy of Sciences 

 and a fellow of the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science. 



We regret also to record the death of Dr. 

 Charles Dufour, professor of astronomy at 

 the University of Lausanne, and of Dr. Rene 

 Thomas Mamert, professor of chemistry at 

 the University of Freiberg, in Switzerland. 



Mr. Henry Phipps, of New Tork, has given 

 a further sum of $50,000, making $60,000 in 

 all, for the promotion of scientific work in 

 India. It is said that the money will be used 

 for a Pasteur Institute in southern India and 

 for an agricultural laboratory in Cashmere. 



There will be a civil service examination 

 on March 24 to fill the position of assistant 

 curator in the division of physical anthropol- 

 ogy in the National Museum at a salary of 

 $1,800. On the same day there will be an 

 examination for the position of laboratory as- 

 sistant in the Bureau of Soils, Department 

 of Agriculture, at a salary ranging from $840 

 to $1,200. 



A Boston chapter of the American Insti- 

 tute of Electrical Engineers was established 

 at the Massabhusetts Institute of Technology 

 on February 13, Professor Elihu Thomson pre- 

 siding. 



The United States has been invited to take 

 part in an agricultural congress, which will 

 be held at Rome from April 19 to 28. 



The Davenport Academy of Science is 

 having a loan exhibit of objects illustrating 

 weaving. Among over 250 .specimens on ex- 

 hibition are some rare Aleutian, together with 

 fine Alaskan and Californian baskets. In 



connection with the basketry exhibit is shown 

 a collection of Navajo blankets, Mexican mats 

 and ethnological specimens from the South 

 Sea Islands and Manila. 



The Geographical Journal states that the 

 Swedish expedition which went last summer 

 to Spitzbergen to complete the operations for 

 the measurement of an arc of the meridian, 

 left unfinished the preceding year owing to 

 unfavorable weather conditions, returned dur- 

 ing the autumn after successfully accomplish- 

 ing its task, a junction being effected with the 

 Russian net of triangles in the more southern 

 parts of the group. The operations were be- 

 gun in 1898, and had, therefore, occupied in 

 all no less than five summers. 



We learn from the London Times that in 

 order to encourage investigations into the 

 increase of fertility in soils by the action of 

 bacteria and other micro-organisms, under the 

 influence of mineral manures, with special 

 reference to manuring with basic slag, Verein 

 der Thomasphosphatfabriken has instituted a 

 competition, with prizes amounting to a total 

 of £1,950. Scientific essays and experiments 

 conducted by practical farmers will be admis- 

 sible in the competition. The method of 

 treatment of the subject is left to the discre- 

 tion of each competitor. The competition is 

 to be open to all, without regard to nationality. 

 The following five gentlemen have consented 

 to act as judges, any of whom will be pleased 

 to give particular information to intending 

 competitors: Government-Adviser Dr. L. Hilt- 

 ner, principal of the Royal Agricultural and 

 Bacteriological Institution, Munich ; Professor 

 Dr. Alfred Koch, principal of the Royal Agri- 

 cultural and Bacteriological Institution, the 

 University, Gottingen; Professor Dr. Remy, 

 principal of the Institute for Researches and 

 Bacteriology, the Royal Agricultural Univer- 

 sity, Berlin; Professor Dr. A. Stutzer, prin- 

 cipal of the Royal Agricultural Chemical In- 

 stitute, the University, Konigsberg; and Pro- 

 fessor Dr. H. Wilfarth, principal of the Ducal 

 Agricultural Experimental Station, Bernburg. 

 Competitors are requested to send in their 

 essays, vn-itten in German, to the association, 

 not later than Februaiy 1, 1906, by registered 

 post. 



