Nov. 1st, 1S87.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



215 



that department of solid geometry known as development of 

 surfaces. This development means the spreading or laying out 

 without rupture the surfaces of sulids in the plane or flat, the 

 plane being sheet metal. The introductory problems, with their 

 applications, are preceded by definitions, which may be readily 

 followed by ordinary intelligence, provided it is sustained by 

 application. The concluding pages deal with the metals mostly 

 in use by metal-plate workers, and with alloys and solders, and 

 other technicalities. It is a systematic and thoroughly practical 

 guide for workers in the subject of which it treats. 



The October number of the Journal of Microscopy and Natural 

 Science, opens with a paper on the " ivy-leaf toad flax," or 

 Linaria cymbalaria. Popularly, this little wild plant bears the 

 names of "roving sailor " and "mother of thousands." It is a 

 native of Italy, but is said to thrive anywhere. Still it may be 

 troublesome to find anywhere, as was the experience of the 

 writer, Mr. R. H. Moore, who, in considering the corolla, searched 

 in vain for a single flower in all the Bath localities known to him. 

 He was in consequence obliged to resort to slides and draw- 

 ings. This corolla is almost identical in shape with that of the 

 garden, or wild snapdragon, with, however, a distinct spur or 

 nectary, which is wanting in the flowers of the ordinary snap- 

 dragon. The lips of the corolla are closely set with a palate of 

 beautiful orange-coloured and silvery hairs, which lie close 

 together. The organs of fructification, within the corolla, occupy 

 a position opposite to the hairs. The leaves of the fully-grown 

 plant are quinquangular in shape, seated on long foot-stalks, 

 the upper surface a dark, shining, green colour, and the under 

 surface a metallic grey. The cuticle of the leaves, the stomata, 

 and the roots are also described. The paper on the photo- 

 micography of histological subjects, by Dr. King, of Amoy, 

 China, contains matter of permanent interest, and, as a whole, 

 the paper will be instructive to those interested in this particular 

 research. " Puzzles in Palaeontology," by Mrs. Alice Bodington ; 

 " The Structure of Flowers with reference to Insect Aid in their 

 Fertilisation," by W. G. Wheatcroft ; and " The Microscope, and 

 How to Use it," by V. A. Latham, T.M.S., complete a series of 

 more than common merit. 



The Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry reproduces 

 among its communications three of the papers read before theiSSy 

 Manchester British Association meeting. These papers are 

 those of Professor G. Lunge, of the Federal Polytechnic School 

 at Zurich, on the composition of some coke oven tars of German 

 origin ; of Mr. Watson Smith, lecturer on chemical technology 

 in the Victoria University, on the composition of the blast 

 furnace tars from the Eastsherne iron works ; and of Dr. Constan- 

 tin Fahlberg, on saccharine, the new sweet product from coal 

 tar. There is another paper by Professor Lunge on a new 

 apparatus for condensing gases by contact with liquids. The 

 new apparatus, which is fully described, is styled the " plate 

 column," because its essential feature is the perforated plates 

 with which it is filled. The "plate column" is various in shape 

 and may be constructed of any suitable material, but so far it 

 has only been made of the stoneware which is the speciality of 

 Mr. Rohrmann. The form now preferably made consists of a 

 number of earthenware cylinders of as large diameter as can be 

 conveniently made, the bottom being a trough surmounted by 

 one or more cylinders with the perforated plates within, and 

 having, together with an outlet for the gas, an arrangement for 

 spreading the condensing fluid. The selections under the head 

 of journal and patent literature are, as usual, ample and well 

 chosen. 



Calvert's Mechanics' Almanack and workshop companion is a 

 well-known, practical, technical, and industrial compilation. 

 Various short papers by named writers have a place among the 

 pages, one on workshop rectitude, by William Fletcher, being 

 the first. Mr. Fletcher thinks that were we to give up sizing 

 cotton with clay and other substances, and generally to become 

 honest in representation, production, and distribution, there 

 would be less reason to complain of trade depression. A paper 

 read by Mr. T. Pridgin Teale, M.A., at the Parkes Museum of 

 Hygiene, Margaret Street, W., on economy of fuel in house fires, 

 is reproduced as the second named paper. Mr. Teale's conten- 

 tion is, "that every fireplace should make its own gas and burn 

 it, and its own coke and burn it." The diagrams which illustrated 

 the lecture are not reproduced. 



SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS AND EXHIBITIONS. 



Vienna Industrial Exhibition. — An industrial e.xhibition 

 will be held in Vienna next year, to celebrate the fortieth 

 anniversary of the accession of the Emperor to the throne. In 

 connection with this there will be published statistics showing 

 the improvement in the social condition of the industrial popu- 

 lation which has taken place during that period. 



King's College. — A course of about eighteen -lectures on 

 " Agriculture " will be delivered during the ensuing winter 

 session at King's College, London, by Mr. Frederick James 

 Lloyd. 



City and Guilds of London Institute.— The following is 

 a list of the winners of the various scholarships and student- 

 ships recently competed : Holt Scholarships — P. R. Jones, 

 Middle-Class School, Cowper-street, E.C. Saddlers' Company's 

 Studentships — W. E. Allen, L'nited Westminster Schools, pre- 

 viously educated at St. Thomas' Charterhouse School. Mitchel 

 Scholarships— T. W. M. Bull, F. Gaywood, F. H. Hammel, 

 J. J. Nisbet, all of the Middle-Class School, Cowper-street. 



Technical Education in the Border Burghs. — In Hawick, 

 Galashiels, and Selkirk, instruction has been given for some 

 years past, during the winter months, on scientific subjects as 

 applied to the art of cloth manufacture. Lectures have also 

 been delivered on the various processes employed in the manu- 

 facture of cloth. In Galashiels the classes are conducted under 

 the auspices of the Galashiels Manufacturers' Corporation, and 

 they may now be looked upon as a permanent institution in the 

 town. The manufacturers are fully alive to the wants of the 

 community, and they have shown themselves to be abreast of the 

 times in this important matter of technical and scientific educa- 

 tion. 



Stoke Industrial Exhibition. — The Finance Committee 

 have issued a circular appealing for subscriptions to the Guarantee 

 Fund, in which, after setting forth the objects of the proposed 

 exhibition, it is stated that neither at Birmingham, Wolver- 

 hampton, nor Worcester was one penny of the Guarantee Fund 

 required, and that the exhibitions in those centres have been 

 much on a par with that projected for this district. The leading 

 manufacturers and traders of North Staffordshire will certainly 

 exhibit a lack of spirit and enterprise if the minimum sum of 

 ^"10,000 be not readily forthcoming, as otherwise, according to a 

 resolution passed at their last meeting, the committee will 

 decline the responsibility of proceeding. — Industries. 



Newton Abbot Science Schools. — Under the auspices of the 

 committee of the Newton Abbot Science and Art Schools, Sir 

 Samuel Baker has delivered a public address on Science and 

 Art Education. Several additional donations were announced 

 at the meeting towards the payment of the debt which still 

 encumbers the schools to a moderate extent. 



Society of Chemical Industry. — The meeting of November 

 7 will be for Mr. C. T. Kingzett's note on the comparative anti- 

 septic action of chlorides, nitrates, and sulphates ; and for the 

 discussion on Mr. John Ruffle's paper on the correct analysis of 

 superphosphates, plain and ammoniated. 



Ipswich Scientific Society. — At the last monthly meeting 

 it was decided to hold a conversazione on the 29th November at 

 the public hall, and members are requested to communicate with 

 the hon. sec. as to any exhibits they may wish to supply. Atten- 

 tion will be given to maram grass as aftected by ergot, and to 

 animal wax as formed in Irish peat bog by the decomposition of 

 animal remains. The principal business of the monthly meeting 

 was a paper on colour, illustrated by experiments, which was 

 read by Mr. S. A. Norbcutt. 



Liverpool Engineering Society. — The programme for the 

 ensuing session is, on Nov. 2, automatic weighing, by Mr. H. 

 Pooley, jun. On Nov. 16, a paper by Mr. R. L. Tapscott, Assoc. 

 M. Inst. C.E. On Nov. 30, a paper by Mr. J. A. Sauer, Assoc. 

 M. Inst. C.E. On Dec. 14, an address by the retiring president, 

 Mr. John J. Webster, M. Inst. C.E. On January 11, on the 

 filtration of water, by Mr. A. W. Brightmore, M. Sc. 



Paris Exhibition of Fire Extinguishing Appliances. — 

 An International Exhibition of inventions and systems for pre- 

 venting or extinguishing fires in theatres is to be opened on 

 November 25, in the MunicipaliPavilion in the Champs Elys6es, 

 Paris. There are to be theatrical performances with sham fires. 



