846 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



was developed in Toronto in entomology 

 through the large attendance of ento- 

 mologists from all sections of the coun- 

 try. An Entomological 01 uh was formed, 

 and Washington is to be its first meet- 

 ing-place, but no date for meeting was 

 named at Toronto. Mr. T. J. Burrill, 

 of Champaign, 111., read an interesting 

 paper on the fermentation of ensilage. 

 Section H was more than usually strong 

 this year — the leading officers of the 

 Bureau of Ethnology being present in 

 force. The antiquity of man was dis- 

 cussed from opposed points of view by 

 Mr. W J McGee, of Washington, and 

 Dr. 0. 0. Abbott, of Trenton, N. J. 

 Mr. W. H. Holmes, of Washington, con- 

 tributed an interesting paper on the 

 evolution of ornament, as illustrated 

 in the ceramic and textile art of the 

 North American Indians. Mr. W. J. 

 Hoffman, also of Washington, described 

 the secret societies of the Ojibwas, 

 which enjoy as elaborate a ritual of 

 initiation, and as sharply defined grada- 

 tions of rank, as any modern order among 

 the pale-faces. Eev. Dr. Bryce, of Win- 

 nipeg, Manitoba, depicted the Winni- 

 peg mound region, the most northerly 

 district where mounds have been discov- 

 ered on the North American continent. 

 In Section I, Mrs. N. S. Kedzie read 

 a sensible, thorough -going paper on 

 scientific cookery. Prof. A. G. War- 

 ner's paper on luxury was an able and 

 discriminating discussion of the diffi- 

 cult question, How much of income 

 may be justly expended on luxuries? 

 Prof. B. E. Fernow, the chief of the 

 Forestry Division, United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture, Washington, 

 made a strong plea for the extension of 

 governmental control to forests, irriga- 

 tion, water-courses, and the like. His 

 ground was that in these matters indi- 

 vidual interests are often opposed to 

 the general good, and that the state 

 alone can represent national interests 

 with comprehensiveness and continuity. 

 At Prof. Fernow's suggestion the Associ- 

 ation passed a resolution recommending 



to Congress an early and earnest con- 

 sideration of a sound forestry policy. 



While the press and people of Toronto 

 promoted the success of the meeting by 

 hearty and intelligent co-operation in 

 its work, by cordial and multiplied hos- 

 pitalities, the question naturally occurs, 

 What did the Association do for Toronto 

 in presenting science in such wise as to 

 interest and instruct popular audiences ? 

 The first public lecture was delivered by 

 Mr. C. K. Gilbert, Assistant Director 

 United States Geological Survey, on the 

 geology of Niagara Eiver ; it was both 

 appropriate and timely, coming as it did 

 on the eve of an excursion to the great 

 cataract. Dr. H. Carrington Bolton 

 gave the second lecture, an admirable 

 illustrated account of a recent visit to 

 Mount Sinai. Interest, however, was 

 of course centered in the address of the 

 retiring president, Major J. W. Powell, 

 chief of the United States Geological 

 Survey. In his unavoidable absence, 

 the address was read for him. Its topic 

 was the evolution of music, from dance 

 to symphony. We regret to say that it 

 disappointed the vast audience which 

 had assembled to hear it. Major Powell 

 has made important fields of exploration 

 and research his own ; had he chosen a 

 theme which could have been illumi- 

 nated by his special knowledge, we feel 

 certain that he could not only have 

 interested but charmed the thousands 

 whom his fame drew together in To- 

 ronto. Section I, the Section of Eco- 

 nomics and Statistics, affords, in a larger 

 measure than any other, an opportu- 

 nity for the presentation of questions 

 having popular interest, and eliciting 

 instructive discussion. An increased 

 recognition of this fact at the hands of 

 the Council of the Association seems to 

 be desirable. 



The next meeting of the Association 

 is to be held in Indianapolis, and is to 

 commence August 20th. Its officers 

 will be Prof. George L. Goodale, Cam- 

 bridge, Mass., president. Its vice-presi- 

 dents : Section A, S. C. Chandler, Cam- 



