212 



SCIENCE. 



TWO NEW METHODS OF FIGHTJNG INJURI- 

 OUS INSECTS.* 



By Prof. A. J. Cook. 



The Codling Moih has been, and is, the most serious pest 

 to the American pomologist. All previous remedies have 

 only destroyed the Imago insect, after the larva of the same 

 had destroyed the apples. London Purple, applied as a 

 liquid mixture, one pound of the poison to ioo gallons of 

 water, sprinkled on the trees once in May and again in 

 June, has saved the fruit of the following season. Upon 

 picking the fruit in August, the most delicate chemical test 

 could find none of the poison on the apples. 



Bisulphide of carbon, so excellent in fighting museum 

 pests, and so much esieemed as a specific against the grape 

 phyloxera in Europe has been tried by the author of the 

 paper to destroy the Cabbage Maggots, Anthomyia brassiae, 

 and other insects which infest subterranean stems, etc., with 

 excellent success, 



A hole is made in the ground, the liquid poured in and 

 the hole quickly filled with earth, which is pressed down 

 with the foot. The hole is made with a small rod, close to 

 the plant, and about a table spoon-full of the liquid poured 

 into each hole. 



SOME OF THE INFUSORIA FOUND IN FRESH 

 POND, CAMBRIDGE.* 



By S. P. Sharples. 



This paper was a general review of observations on the 

 water of Fresh Pond, as delivered in the City of Cambridge. 

 These observations extend, at intervals varying from a few 

 days to a month, over three years. Particular attention was 

 called to the fact ttiat there seems to be a marked periodi- 

 city in the forms of life in the water, some appearing at cer- 

 tain seasons and then disappearing again. This periodicity 

 is not always annual, but may embiace a period of time cov- 

 ering several years. Attention was called to the necessity 

 of continued observation ot a water in order to understand 

 its character. The periodical bad taste of certain waters 

 was referred to, and the suggestion made, that in order to 

 discover the cause of this, extended observations were ne- 

 cessary, as frequently the cmse had entirely disappeared 

 when the investigation commenced. A new species of An- 

 nurea observed in the pond, was described as follows: 

 Annurea Longirostris, lorica, witn four anterior and one 

 posterior spine; thr.e of the anterior spii.es short about 

 half the length of tue lorica; the fourth twice the length of 

 the loric.i; the posterior of the same length as the long an- 

 terior, otherwise resembling Annurea Stipata, though more 

 slender. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



The Metric System and Interchange of Weights 

 and Measures. By B. Beach, Jr., and E. N. 

 Gibbons, Principals ol the P'ilth Avenue School of 

 New York City. G. P. Putnam's Sons. New York. 

 1880. 



The metric system has been adopted by all civilized 

 nations except Russia, England and the United States, 

 and its universal adoption is earnestly desired by the 

 educated and scientific classes ot this country. It has 

 been adopted or recommended by the National Academy 

 of Sciences, the American Metrological Sociely, the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 by the American Society ol Civil Engineers, the United 

 States Coast Survey, the United States Marine Hospital 

 Service, the Ameiican Medical Association, the Congress 

 of Ophthalmogists, Dy leading medical societies and 

 journals, by numerous boards ot education, college facul- 

 ties and local scientific societies. It is also our wish that 

 contributors to this journal should, on all occasions, use 

 the metric system, and we have pleasure in directing atten- 



♦ Read before the A. A. A. S., Koston, 1880. 



tion to the present cheap and handy little manual, writ- 

 ten for those desirous ot making use of the metric sys- 

 tem. As a class-book in schools it will prove very val- 

 uable, as rules and examples are given for working out 

 problems for all weights and measures, answers to which 

 are given, on an extra sheet, with each book. We ad- 

 vise all who are undecided as to the policy ot using the 

 metric system to read Dr. R. H. Ward's able plea lor its 

 introduction in No. 5 of " SCIENCE," published the 31st of 

 July last. He concludes with the practical observation 

 that the proper way to introduce it is to use it yourself. 

 We believe the publication of Messrs. Beach and Gib- 

 bons's manual will be a great aid in securing its universal 

 use. 



Fourteen Weeks in Physics. By J. Dorman Steele, 

 Ph. D., F. G. S., author of " Fourteen Weeks in 

 Natural Science." A. S. Barnes & Company. New 

 York, Chicago and New Orleans. 



This is an excellent elementary work on Physics 

 adapted to the class-room, written in a happy style to 

 interest the student and well supplied with illustrations. 

 The author employs simple language, which is readily 

 intelligible, and the experiments are within the reach of 

 every pupil. In order to tamiliarize the pupil with the 

 metric system it is constantly employed in the problems. 

 As an introduction to the study of physics we consider 

 this work one of the best for the use of young students. 



The Young Chemist. — A book of Laboratory work 

 for beginners. By John H. Appleton, A. M., Pro- 

 fessor of Chemistry in Brown University. Second 

 Edition. Price 90 cents by mail. Cowperthwaite & 

 Co., Philadelphia. 



The purpose of this book is to aid in the instruction of 

 pupils in chemistry by the experimental or object method, 

 and the author has attempted to remove at least one ob- 

 jec ion to this method by economizing the time of the in- 

 structor, and we are glad to admit that the cost of sup- 

 plies has been greatly reduced of late. Professor John 

 H. Appleton claims with truth the following advantages 

 for his work : — First, the apparatus described and the 

 supplies called for, are of the simplest character. Second, 

 the experiments are described in clear and simple language, 

 and in direct form ; the pupil can hardly fail to perlorm 

 them successfully, even without the special aid of the 

 teacher. Third, dangerous experiments have been ex- 

 cluded. Fourth, the chemical elements are discussed in 

 a scientific order, which, while it aids the memory, does 

 so upon correct principles. Fifth, formulas and re- 

 actions are introduced freely, so that the student learns 

 the new nomenclature and new notation without suspect- 

 ing it. This work is not an experiment, the first edition 

 hav.ng been used with success by Professors of great 

 experience. 



A Short Course in Qualitative Chemical 

 ANALYSIS. By Professor John H. Appleton, A. M., 

 Brown University. Fourth Edition. Price, 90 cents 

 by mail. Cowperthwa ; te & Co. Philadelphia. 



The author has used this work in his own class for 

 many years, and to those who are unable to purchase 

 the more bulky and costly manuals this little work will 

 be found of great use. It has the advantage of brevity 

 and compactness. It prescribes the most direct and 

 simple course of analysis, and presents a large number 

 of formulas and reactions. This work and the "Young 

 Chemist," by the same author, will be found very suit- 

 able for those who require a reliable introduction to the 

 study of chemistry. 



