February 17, 1888.] 



SCIENCE. 



85 



are not those which are recognized by modern science. Maury's 

 ' Physical Geography of the Sea ' is not in accordance with the 

 views held nowadays ; neither are primers on geography good 

 authorities. It is meaningless to say that the valley of the Missis- 

 sippi ' greets the south,' as its slope is southward. The author 

 would have us believe that this southward exposure affects its 

 climate, while practically it has no influence whatever. Passages 

 like this are numerous in the book. On the whole, it may be con- 

 sidered a fair account of the subject, sufficient to meet the wants of 

 the general reader, although the author's teleological views lead 

 him to a considerable number of statements which will not be con- 

 ceded by scientists. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



Prof. Anton De BARVdied at Strassburg on Jan. 19, aged fifty- 

 seven years. He had been suffering for several months of carci- 

 noma of the face, and had undergone an operation, but without re- 

 covering. He had held the chair of botany at the University of 

 Strassburg since 1872, being called there from Halle. He had 

 studied botany at Berlin under Alexander Brown, and was made 

 professor of botany at Freiburg at an early age. His first publica- 

 tion, ' On the Fungi causing " Rusts " and " Smuts," ' in 1853, at- 

 tracted much attention. While the anatomical methods of other 

 authors had somewhat increased our knowledge of the Thallophy- 

 tes, De Bary's method of tracing their life-history opened a new 

 era in this study. For a few years he was engaged in studying 

 certain algas, but he soon returned to his favorite study, that of 

 fungi. In 1864 he published the first number of the Beitrdge zur 

 Alorphologie tind Physiologie der Pilze, which was followed in 

 1865 by further studies on parasitic fungi. Here he traced the whole 

 life-history of several parasitic fungi from their entrance into the 

 host through all the various stages. He showed that the ' rust ' of 

 the wheat is identical with the acidium of the barberry, and thus 

 was the first to prove the occurrence of hetercecism. These obser- 

 vations and their startling results led to the extensive study of 

 cultures which has been carried on so successfully since that time. 

 In 1866 De Bary brought out the first edition of the ' Morphologie 

 und Physiologie der Pilze, Flechten und Myxomyceten,' the second 

 edition of which, thoroughly revised and brought up to date, was 

 published in 1884 as ' Comparative Morphology and Biology of the 

 Fungi, Mycetozoa, and Bacteria.' Both these editions were the 

 standard books on the fungi, and gave for the first time a compre- 

 hensive review of the subject, much of their contents being the 

 results of De Bary's own studies. The third number of his Bei- 

 trdge appeared in 1870; but at the same time he published numer- 

 ous memoirs, among which we mention that on the epidermis in 

 the Boianische Zeiiung, of which he had become editor after Von 

 Mohl's death. Since 1866 he has been working on the ' Compara- 

 tive Anatomy of the Ferns and Phanerogams, ' but it was only in 

 1877 that the results of his researches were published, — a monu- 

 ment of De Bary's faculties of observation, his accuracy and ex- 

 tensive critical reading. The influence of this book in the botanical 

 world has been enormous. In 1885 appeared his 'Lectures on 

 Bacteria ' in the form of a book. While the style of this book is 

 attractive and clear, it abounds in new facts brought to light by De 

 Bary's researches, among which the study of the development of 

 the spores of Bacillus Megaterium takes a prominent place, and 

 gives a comprehensive and critical review of the whole literature 

 of the subject. As a teacher he was eminently successful, and the 

 influence of the Strassburg school upon the development of botany 

 and biology has been very great. Although he was not a brilliant 

 lecturer, he knew how to excite the enthusiasm of students who 

 worked in his laboratory ; and all who worked under his direction 

 were so impressed with the truthfulness of his nature, his justice, 

 modesty, and kindness, that so long as his pupils live he will not be 

 forgotten. 



— In his bulletin for December, 18S7, Mr. J. R. Dodge, statis- 

 tician of the Department of Agriculture, has an interesting note on 

 the British wheat-supply for the last fifteen years. Great Britain 

 absorbs a large portion of the wheat-supply of the world, and, if it 

 is determined where its supply comes from, we ascertain thereby 



where a surplus of wheat is grown. Since 1874 the largest nation- 

 al product has been that of the United States. France comes 

 second, although she imports more than she exports, and India 

 third. Russia occupies the fourth position. By analyzing the official 

 statistics of Great Britain, we find where the needed wheat has been 

 obtained, and in what proportion each source of supply has con- 

 tributed. From 1872 to 1886 inclusive, the United States has fur- 

 nished in grain and flour 5 1. 1 per cent, and for eleven months of 

 1887 the proportion has increased to 64 per cent. Russia in fifteen 

 years averaged 13.6 per cent of the whole, and for 1887 only 5.4 

 per cent. India contributed an average of 7.9 per cent, and for 

 1887 1 1.3 per cent, which is the smallest percentage in the last five 

 years, and a marked decline in absolute quantity from the previous 

 year. Australasia fluctuates greatly in its contribution, averaging 

 3.9 per cent for fifteen years, and less than 2 per cent for the six- 

 teenth. These three competitors of the United States have to- 

 gether furnished only 25.4 per cent, — less than half as much as 

 this country during fifteen years, and a much smaller proportion in 

 1887. 



— Mr. William Ellis, president of the Royal Meteorological So- 

 ciety, reviewed, in his recent annual address, the work and object of 

 the society, which, although unable to carry out expensive original 

 or experimental work, has a considerable influence upon the devel- 

 opment of the science of meteorology. Mr. Ellis remarked that 

 the society has succeeded in inciting volunteer workers throughout 

 the country to united action, of which one recent example was the 

 ready response to the request of the society for photographs of 

 lightning, an excellent collection of which had been obtained, and 

 which would shortly be exhibited ; in addition to which, arrange- 

 ments were being made for the more systematic observation of 

 thunder-storms. Referring to the question of sympathetic relation 

 between sun-spots and magnetism and meteorology, he thought 

 that any complete treatment of the question in its meteorological 

 aspect seemed to require that it should be dealt with in a much 

 more comprehensive manner than before, for which purpose obser- 

 vations more completely covering the surface of the globe might be 

 necessary, if indeed not necessary also for the solution of many 

 other meteorological questions, the present meteorological stations 

 being distributed over the earth in such isolated clusters. The at- 

 tention given to synoptic charts was most important, but the gen- 

 eral meteorological characteristics of places should also still con- 

 tinue to be studied. After remarking upon other matters, he laid 

 before the meeting tables showing the monthly means of amount 

 of cloud from observations made in three different series at the 

 Royal Observatory. Greenwich, extending in all from 181 8 to the 

 present time. In concluding, Mr. Ellis said that at one time the 

 science of meteorology seemed likely to form an exception to the 

 general rule of advance, for, more than any other, it has required 

 the united action of many workers ; but the field of inquiry of late 

 years opened out allows us already to talk of the new or modern 

 meteorology, — phrases typical of the advance achieved, although 

 the knowledge gained seems only to remind us of how much has yet 

 to be done. The Royal Meteorological Society has at present five 

 hundred and twenty-two members. ' Dr. William Marcet was 

 elected president for the ensuing year. 



— A firm in Yokohama, Japan, is now manufacturing the excel- 

 lent Auzoux models of human anatomy at low prices, as a corre- 

 spondent learns by private letter. 



— In Science of Feb. 3, p. 57, ist column, 21st line from bottom, 

 ' thallophytes ' should read ' protophytes.' 



— In Science of Feb. 10, p. d"], 1st column, 35th line, ' Herndon ' 

 should read ' Heudon,' as also throughout the paragraph. 



— In Science for Feb. 10, p. 69, 2d column, 27th line from bottom- 

 ' $2' should read '$1.' 



— Leaflets Nos. 7 and S in the series issued by the Industrial 

 Education Association (9 University Place, New York City) have 

 reached us. No, 7 is an able and concise paper on the scientific 

 treatment of education, and No. 8 gives an account of progress in 

 the New York City schools in 1887. This series is having a large 

 circulation, and doing great good ; for the phenomenally low price 



