quired to oxidize 500 feet of ore like that now existing would require the contributions of rainfall during a period longer than physicists and geologists are willing to allow for the entire age of the earth. It is thought, therefore, that a large part of the oxygen must have been derived from air that circulated through the oxidized capping.

A theoretical discussion of the chemical reactions involved in the alterations of the rocks and in the deposition of metallic sulphides in them is presented. The conclusion is reached that if the solutions were originally acidic the metallic minerals were probably deposited only after an alkaline or neutral condition had been attained.

R. W. STONE.

TECHNOLOGY.-Materials for the household. Bur. Stand. Circ. No. 70. Pp. 259. Dec. 5, 1917.

This circular describes the more common materials used by the household, comprising paint materials, cement, clay products, lime, plasters and stucco, wood, metals, bituminous roofing, inks and dyes, adhesives, paper, textiles, rubber, leather, cleansers and preservatives, fuels, illuminants, and lubricants, and concludes with a chapter on quantity in the purchasing of materials. Each title is treated under the general heads of composition and definition, sources, properties, uses, tests, preservation, hints as to selection and use, and references.

TECHNOLOGY.-Gas mantle lighting conditions in ten large cities in the United States. R. S. MCBRIDE and C. E. REINICKER. Bur. Stand. Tech. Paper No. 99. Pp. 37. October 29, 1917. From a careful inspection of about 4500 gas mantle lamps in service in ten cities, a summary of the condition of mantles, glassware, pilot light, and other particulars was made in order to determine to what extent the customer benefited through periodic maintenance service.

By these observations it is found that a lamp not on regular maintenance is likely to be defective five and one-half times as frequently as a lamp which is regularly maintained. Also it is shown that on the average 1 in 3 of the lamps on regular maintenance was not in good condition whereas the defects noticed in the lamps not so maintained average more than one for every lamp.

The principal defects in maintenance systems were also investigated and one satisfactory system of estimating the expenses for maintenance work together with a set of unit costs is presented, based upon the analysis of the operation of ten gas companies. A suggested table of costs for each type of unit is given.

C. E. R.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY AND AFFILIATED

SOCIETIES

WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

The Board of Managers met on June 8, 1918. The President was authorized to appoint Associate Editors for the JOURNAL, on the recommendation of the Board of Editors; the Associate Editors to be selected so as to represent informally the societies that publish proceedings in the JOURNAL. The following Associate Editors have been appointed: J. R. SWANTON, Anthropological Society; N. HOLLISTER, Biological Society; J. B. NORTON, Botanical Society; R. B. SOSMAN, Chemical Society; SIDNEY PAIGE, Geological Society; F. B. SILSBEE, Philosophical Society. ROBERT B. SOSMAN, Corresponding Secretary.

BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON

The 129th regular meeting of the Society was held at the Cosmos Club at 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 7, 1918; 31 members and 3 guests present. Prof. A. S. HITCHCOCK presided. The following scientific program was given.

WILLIAM A. DAYTON: Collecting data on National Forest range plants. For nine years past the Forest Service has conducted a study of the distribution, natural habits, and economic importance of its range flora. Approximately 35,000 plant specimens, representing about 4,800 species, have been collected on National Forests and Purchase Areas. Ecological and economic data have been furnished by the collectors of most of these specimens, and this material has been supplemented by much detailed data procured by grazing experts of the Service. The specimens have been identified by experts of the Bureau of Plant Industry. Economic notes are compiled in the Washington office and distributed among Forest officers. These data have application to many phases of range-management, e.g., intensive range-utilization especially with a view to minimum interference with the requirements of the important forage plants, and the utilization of each type at the time and by the class of stock to which it is best adapted; detection, eradication, fencing, etc. of poisonous-plant areas; natural range reseeding; studies in carrying capacity, plant indicators, plant succession, artificial reseeding, etc.

W. W. EGGLESTON: Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth and his influence on western botany, with a sketch of his return trip from Oregon in 1833. Capt. N. J. Wyeth was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1802. His

father was a Harvard graduate. Captain Wyeth received a business training, was one of the pioneers in the ice business, and an inventor of ice-cutting tools. Brought up in Cambridge, he seems to have taken advantage of his environment, as his letters and journals evidence. His interest in nature was fostered through friendship with Professor Thomas Nuttall of the Harvard Botanic Garden.

Through propaganda for the American colonization of Oregon, Wyeth's patriotic enthusiasm became so aroused that he joined the movement, but disagreeing with the leadership he organized the Pacific Trading Company, which started for Oregon in 1832 and after many discouragements reached Fort Vancouver, Washington, and disbanded. The following spring Captain Wyeth accompanied the Hudson Bay Brigade to Camas Creek, Idaho, returning home with the Rocky Mountain Fur Company Brigade down the Yellowstone and the Missouri. On this spring trip Wyeth collected many new plants, from which Thomas Nuttall described two genera and fifty-four species. Captain Wyeth acquired such an interest in the country that he immediately planned a larger expedition. His friend Nuttall was induced to join. A stock company, the Columbia River Fishing and Trading Company was organized and an expedition of seventy men set out in the spring of 1834. Financially this company failed and Wyeth closed the business, returning home in 1836. However, Captain Wyeth's second expedition took the first permanent American settlers to Oregon and blazed the trail for the great exodus to Oregon ten years later. As the result of this expedition J. K. Townsend collected and described many birds and animals. Nuttall described about eighty genera and seven hundred and fifty species of American plants.

V. K. CHESNUT: Papain from Carica Papaya grown in Florida. Genuine papain of good quality is so rare a product in commerce that the trade, and even most chemists, have been unable to learn its eminent worth as a protein digestant, especially from the manufacturing standpoint. Inability to control the product was thought to be due to a lack of knowledge of the ferment as well as to the need of a method of assay which would exclude pepsin and other enzymes which have been, or may be, used as adulterants. Forty-eight samples representing the latex from every variety and condition of fruit available at the Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction Field Station at Miami were collected by the author and twenty other genuine samples were secured from Honolulu and elsewhere. These were subjected to extended investigation and it was found that the optimal H- ion concentration and field of activity were identical in the case of all the specimens. A method of examination was finally arrived at which enabled the author not only to determine the comparative strength of a commercial sample, but at the same time, to detect the presence of pepsin or other enzymic adulterants. Much of the value of the latex depends upon the stage of ripeness of the fruit and especially the methods used for drying and conservation. Since only 10 mg. are required for an assay, it is now possible for an investigator to study the fruit with a view toward the selection of the varieties best suited for the

yield of papain of high quality. The product from Florida was found equal to that from Honolulu and very greatly superior to any found on the market.

H. N. VINALL, Corresponding Secretary.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON

The 314th meeting of the Society was held at the Cosmos Club, June 6, 1918, with 24 members and one visitor in attendance. President E. R. SASSCER presided.

The following were elected to membership: Lieut. L. H. DUNN, of the Army Medical School; Mr. J. E. GRAF, Mr. E. H. DURHAM, and Mr. G. F. MOZNETTE, of the Bureau of Entomology.

The regular program was as follows:

C. H. POPENOE: Eradication and control of the sweet potato weevil. This preliminary statement of the work being done for the eradication of this imported pest of sweet potatoes was not intended for publication. Mr. Popenoe gave a very interesting account of the habits, distribution, and food plants of the insect, and extent of damage caused by the pest (Cylas formicarius Fabr.)

C. A. MOSIER and T. E. SNYDER: Notes on gadflies in the Florida Everglades. Read by title.

J. R. MALLOCH: Genus Cnemedon Egger in North America (Dipt.). Read by title.

Lieut. L. H. DUNN: A new mosquito (Aedes whitmorei) from Colombia.

A. B. GAHAN, Recording Secretary.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS

The solar eclipse of June 8, 1918, was viewed at Baker, Oregon, by a party from the Naval Observatory consisting of Astronomer J. C. HAMMOND, Assistant Astronomer GEORGE H. PETERS, Assistant C. C. WILEY, and Assistant W. A. CONRAD, together with the following invited scientists: Professors S. A. MITCHELL and L. G. HOXTON, of the University of Virginia, Dr. P. W. MERRILL, of the Bureau of Standards, Dr. MARY MURRAY HOPKINS and Miss HARRIET BIGELOW, of Smith College, Mr. EDWARD D. ADAMS amd Mr. KEMPTON ADAMS, of New York City.

Assistant Astronomer H. R. MORGAN and Assistant W. M. HAMILTON, of the Observatory, made observations at Denver, Colorado.

Special measurements were made by observers from the Weather Bureau during the solar eclipse of June 8, 1918. At Goldendale, Washington, were installed a Smithsonian pyranometer for measuring the intensity of both the direct solar radiation and the diffuse sky-radiation, and a pyrgeometer for measuring the intensity of the outgoing radiation. A program of meteorological observations, arranged by Professor H. H. KIMBALL and Mr. S. P. FERGUSSON, and including atmospheric pressure, temperature of the air, direction of the wind, clouds and shadow-bands, was carried out at about fifty-five stations, nearly all of which were west of the Mississippi and within the belt where the sun was 90 per cent eclipsed.

The various parties sent out by the Carnegie Department of Terrestrial Magnetism and the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, have all reported securing successful series of magnetic observations during the time of the total solar eclipse of June 8. Magnetic observations were made by the Coast and Geodetic Survey at Green River, Wyo., Mena, Ark., and Orlando, Fla. In addition data will be obtained from the various magnetic observatories of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. The stations at which magnetic observations were made by the observers of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, were: Goldendale, Wash.; Corono, Colo., at an altitude of 12,000 feet; Moraine Lake, Colo.; Lakin, Kans.; Brewton, Ala.; and Washington, D. C. At Lakin, furthermore, and at Washington, D. C., atmosphericelectric observations were made. Reports on the results obtained will be published in the September issue of the journal Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric Electricity. Data will likewise be furnished. by the Canadian magnetic observatories and by various universities.