Aug. ist, 1887.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



123 



maximum produce. Upon this fact being ascertained, mea- 

 sures were adopted for exhausting the excessive fertihtyofthe 

 soil. At the same time the acre plots were divided, one half of 

 each being manured less liberally than before, and the other 

 not at all. The result last year was that in three out of 

 four cotton-cake plots a considerably larger yield of wheat 

 was obtained than on the corresponding maize-meal plots, 

 while it was equal in the remaining pair. 



In another set of experiments wheat and barley have 

 been grown year after year for ten successive years with 

 the aid of various manures, as at Rothamsted, and the 

 results so far have in the main confirmed the conclusions 

 derived from the experiments at that place. Mineral 

 manures alone have produced very little effect, while nitro- 

 genous manures, either alone or in combination with 

 minerals, have never failed to bring forth an extra yield of 

 corn, as compared with that of the unmanured plots. It is 

 also to be noticed, by way of commentary upon the im- 

 pression that the soil is exhausted by the application of 

 nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia, that plots on which 

 these manures alone have been applied every year have 

 yielded largely increased crops, and the soil as yet shows 

 no sign of exhaustion. In some seasons nitrate of soda 

 has given the best results and in others sulphate of ammo- 

 nia, the former doing best in a dry season and the latter in 

 a wet one. Year after year on plots from which the 

 nitrogenous manure previously applied has been with- 

 held the yield of corn has been greatly reduced, in spite of 

 the continued application of mineral manures, such as 

 superphosphate of lime, and sulphates of potash, soda, and 

 magnesia. The nitrogenous manures give striking results, 

 while plots manured with minerals only have little if any 

 more wheat, and not a great deal more barley on them 

 than the unmanured plots. As usual, the best results of any 

 are attained by the use of very liberal dressings of nitro- 

 genous and mineral manures in combination. 



The Public Services in Relation to Science. — In pro- 

 posing this toast at the dinner recently given to Professor 

 Tyndall, Sir Lyon Playfair remarked that undoubtedly the 

 public services were intimately connected with science, and 

 were profoundly affected by its progress, but unfortunately 

 the truth was only beginning to be recognised in this coun- 

 try. In the United States scientific men were attached to 

 all public ofiices, but in this country the attachment was of 

 the loosest possible character. Nevertheless, science had 

 undoubtedly affected our public services in the most profound 

 way. The telegraph had altered the whole system of com- 

 merce, as well as the methods and the powers of govern- 

 ment. At our great naval review, it would be interesting 

 to imagine Elizabeth's thirty small ships, which conquered 

 the Armada, sailing through two miles of modern ironclads. 

 The largest piece of ordnance used in the Crimean War cost 

 less than a single shot fired from the huge guns of our iron- 

 clads. But it was in peace rather than in war that science 

 rejoiced in aiding government, A strong feeling was arising 



that we must improve our intellectual position as a nation, 

 and this at last was being recognised by the Government. 



Sir Lyon Playfair added that a material index of pro- 

 gressive civilisation had always been desired, and that 

 Liebig contended that the best index of civilisation was the 

 quantity of soap consumed. When the Queen ascended 

 the throne we consumed per head 7I pounds of soap, and 

 now we use 10 pounds per head. The consumption of 

 paper, he thought, was a more reliable index. At the be- 

 ginning of the Queen's reign the consumption was i| pound 

 of paper yearly, now it was 12 pounds ; while in the United 

 States it was 10 pounds ; in Germany, 9 pounds; in France, 

 8 pounds ; and in Italy 4 pounds. But the main question 

 was whether we were developing the national intellect at 

 the same rate as other nations, and he concluded by saying 

 that our general intelligence is still high, but our trained 

 scientific intelligence is low. Our secondary education in 

 all matters relating to science is far behind that of the United 

 States, Germany, and France. Neither the Government, 

 nor the people governed, could go on in simple faith on our 

 practical aptitudes by relying on a blind and vain empiri- 

 cism, like a tree severed from its roots. 



British Association Meetings. — We sincerely trust that the 

 recommendations of Professors Lodge and Silvanus Thomp- 

 son as to improving the sectional procedure will not pass un- 

 heeded by the powers that be. Their suggestions refer 

 more particularly to the mathematical section (A), but there 

 is little doubt that in nearly all the sections there is a 

 decided want of business-like organisation, and a growing 

 tendency to allow too many papers to be hurriedly read, with 

 little or no discussion. It is all vei-y well to cater for the 

 popularity of these gatherings by promoting excursions and 

 garden parties, but it is indeed a grievous pity that such 

 amusements should be allowed to interfere with the real 

 business in hand, which is the " advancement of science." 

 At these meetings isolated workers and others who are 

 genuinely interested in scientific subjects, are brought face 

 to face with men of the highest attainments, and they 

 naturally wish to profit by the occasion. This wish, how- 

 ever, is often not realised, and we remember hearing last 

 year's meeting described as a mere " scientific lark." It 

 would doubtless be a great improvement if each section 

 were to begin work at 10.30 punctually; if the rule were 

 enforced that no paper should be read which had not been 

 submitted at least a fortnight before the meeting ; and if each 

 sitting were to begin with the papers of more general 

 interest. The public would then know that in each section 

 this rule would hold good, their attendance would doubtless 

 be more regular, and there would be less of that tiresome 

 coming and going hitherto so prevalent. The meeting at 

 Manchester will be in the heart of one of our greatest 

 industrial centres, where the applications of science are 

 numerous and important, and without in any way wishing 

 to curtail a fair allowance of amusements, we trust the 

 ruling motto will be, " Business first, pleasure afterwards." 



