150 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Otago, New Zealand, and Professor Haswell, of 

 the University of Sydney, N.S.W. Although so 

 bulky and learned looking, the two volumes form a 

 really simple and excellent introduction to the 

 study of zoology. The first carries us as far as the 

 end of the invertebrates ; the second volume com- 

 mencing the vertebrate animals. The drawings 

 are well chosen, and some are produced in colours, 

 as are also several of the maps. Although this 

 handsome work will be invaluable alike to students 

 and teachers, it is eminently a book for the public 

 library and for reference. The examples illustrat- 

 ing the different orders and classes are familiar, 

 and therefore more useful. We can recommend 

 the book to our readers. 



Practical Organic Chemistry. By Samuel Rideal, 

 D.Sc. Second edition. Pp. x. and 172, 6 in. x 4 in. 

 (London : H. K. Lewis, 1898.) 2s. 6d. 



The detection and properties of some of the 

 more important organic compounds is the object 

 of this little work. The author devotes space to 

 nearly a score of these, giving the chemical formula 

 as well as the name, describing the appearance, 

 where and how to be found, and the properties of 

 each, with their near allies or combinations. It is 

 a useful little work for students and for those in 

 practice, and one sure to go to further editions in 

 course of time. 



Transactions of Leicester Literary and Philosophical 

 Society. Vol iv. Part 12, April, 1898. pp. 503-550. 

 and 37 of Report, etc., illustrated with 2 plates. 

 8Jin. X5jin. (Leicester : Geo. Gibbons. 1898.) 6d. 



Among the papers read before the Society on 

 natural science subjects is one, illustrated with two 

 plates, on some human remains found in a gravel 

 pit at New Hunstanton, Norfolk, by Mr. W. True- 

 man Tucker, F.G.S. These bones appear to be 

 coincident with the deposit of the gravel in which 

 they lay. Their condition precludes any theory as 

 to age or race. The bones are now in Dr. Jonathan 

 Hutchinson's museum at Haslemere, Surrey. The 

 " Scientific Aspect of Entomology " is discussed in 

 a paper by Mr. J. W. Tutt, F.E.S. It is a severe 

 criticism, but by no means unjust, and should 

 awaken a better condition of things among those 

 whom it was intended to encourage. 



The Botanical Exchange CluVs Reports for i8g6 and 

 1897. PP- 509 to 579- 8|in. X5jin. (Manchester: 

 Jas. Collins & Co., Ltd. 1898,) 



These are in two parts, the report for 1896 having 

 been published on 31st August', 1898, and that for 

 1897 o^ 2oth September, 1898. In 1896, 2,639 

 specimens of plants were distributed, and in 1897 

 the number was 3,666. The notes on plants circu- 

 lated are of much interest, and if no other result 

 than the receipt of these reports came of member- 

 ship of the Botanical Exchange Club, it would be 

 worth joining. Difficult questions are submitted 

 to e.xperts, and the result is of highly educational 

 value to the members. 



The Doctrine of Energy. By L. L. iiS pp. 7J in. 

 X 5 in. (London : Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & 

 Co., Ltd.. 1898.) 2s. 6d. 



We can hardly imagine that "L. L." expects 

 many of his readers to follow him through all his 

 arguments. If so, we fear he has set some of us 

 a somewhat severe task. As far as one can make 

 out, his proposition is that everything in nature 

 is subservient to a supreme will which may, or 

 may not, be more or less capricious. We fear the 

 philosophy of some of us passeth understanding. 



SCIENCE mmm § 



CONTRIBUTED BY FLORA WINSTONE. 



Canadian Experimental Farms (Reports for 

 1897 • Ottawa, 1898). Dr. William Saunders, LL.D., 

 F.R.S.C., F.L.S., the Director of the Government 

 Experimental Farms of Canada, has issued another 

 of his interesting annual reports, extending to 449 

 pages. It is illustrated from photographs and 

 drawings made for this report. The practice of 

 agriculture at the central and branch experimental 

 farms of Canada, is highly scientific, and conducted 

 under Professor Saunders' direction with remark- 

 ably successful results. An exceedingly noteworthy 

 series of experiments have been conducted with 

 fertilizers to replace the elements of plant food 

 taken from the soil by repeated cropping, as, for 

 instance, with wheat. One of these trials has a 

 most important bearing upon the subject of sup-' 

 plying a store of nitrogen, such as that referred to 

 by Sir William Crookes at the meeting of the British 

 Association. Professor Saunders finds the great 

 value of planting with seed wheat when sowing a 

 liberal amount of clover or other leguminous crop. 

 The object of this is simplj- for fertilization, and not 

 as a rotation crop as used in England. The Director, 

 in his report, says : "The fact has been demonstrated 

 that such crops can be put with spring - sown 

 grain without reducing the yield of such cereals, 

 and that after the grain has been harvested the 

 clover will grow vigorously during the summer, 

 act as a catch crop all the season by appropriating 

 the elements of fertility which are brought down 

 by the rain, and at the same time gather and lay 

 up in its roots and leaves a large store of nitrogen 

 for the use of subsequent crops." In the late 

 autumn or early spring the stubble and clover are 

 ploughed in together, the result being that for 

 wheat growing, at least, the clover acts as a high 

 fertilizer. Of course those who have studied the 

 action of the nitrogen storing by the roots of 

 leguminous plants will readily see the advantage 

 of this process. The cost of this fertilizer is 

 only that of the clover seeds sown with the 

 wheat. There are also reports by the Horti- 

 culturist, Chemist, Entomologist, Botanist, Poultry 

 Manager, Foreman of Forestry, and others. An 

 illustrated paper, which was read before the 

 Botanical Section of the British Association at 

 Toronto in August, 1897, is here printed, upon the 

 results of experiments in crossing certain shrubs 

 and trees, with the object of creating hardy hybrids 

 for the production of edible fruit. It is illustrated by 

 figures. One of the more important reports is that 

 of Mr. James Fletcher, LL.D., F.R.S.C, F.L.S., 

 the entomologist and botanist. It may be remem- 

 bered that in the early days of agriculture in the 

 more outlying districts of civilization, Canada used 

 to suffer occasionally from the ravages of the 

 Locustidae, and grasshopper plagues formed 

 frequent complaints of the farmers. In this report 

 Mr. Fletcher states that a notable feature of the 

 correspondence of his division during 1897 '^^^^ ^^^ 

 almost total absence of complaints of injury to 

 farm crops by grasshoppers. 



