Parts Of Great Britain Research Articles

War Fellings and Insect Pests

IN the Scottish Forestry Journal (54, Pt. 2, Oct. 1940), Dr. A. E. Cameron, of the Department of Entomology, University of Edinburgh, writes on “The Effect of Felling on the Incidence of Forest Insect Pests”. The many fellings throughout Britain during the War of 1914-18 and the remnants left on the ground for several years thereafter were the breeding places of large numbers of some of the more dangerous of our insect pests, which afterwards spread destruction in young, middle-aged, and old woods throughout the country. Once again we are faced with a similar emergency, and the same aftermath of the fellings is to be seen on many a site of a former wood, now felled for war purposes. The insect pest question, as Dr. Cameron says, is likely to be acute in the near future unless attention is given to it, and some effort made to counter its possible or certain virulence. The author practically confines himself to conifers and their chief pests. But in parts of Great Britain there is an equal danger to some of the valuable hardwoods, including oak, ash and elm, to mention three only. But since the major part of the afforestation work of the Forestry Commission is connected with the conifers, the question of this possible insect danger is greater now than it was in 1918, when there was a comparatively small area of young conifer plantations in the country.

Conference on Industrial Radiography

A CONFERENCE on Industrial Radiography organized by the Institute of Physics was held on January 25 in the library of the Research Laboratories of the General Electric Company, by the courtesy of the director, Dr. C. C. Paterson. Dr. V. E. Pullin, radiological consultant to the Aeronautical Inspection Department, was in the chair. The Conference was very well attended; members were present from all parts of Great Britain. They represented the many diverse industries which are now making considerable use of this comparatively new method of engineering inspection and development.

University of Bristol: Air Raid Damage

THE most serious damage to the University of Bristol during recent air raids was the loss of the Great Hall, gutted by fire. This hall, opened by the King in 1925, was a fine architectural feature with a hammer-beam roof and linenfold panelling of old English oak. With other buildings in the same block, it was the gift of Messrs. G. A. and H. H. Wills, and wood and stone carvers of the highest skill were brought from all parts of Great Britain for its construction. Since the arrival of King's College, London, the Hall had been used as a library and reading room for King's students, and the books it contained were all destroyed. A lecture room in the same building was also burnt. Another building which has been burnt out housed the anatomical dissecting room and theatre, portions of the Department of Geography and a unique collection of finds and exhibits of the Spelæological Society, which for many years has been active in the exploration of Mendip caves. The efforts of the A.R.P. guard, headed by Prof. C. M. Yonge, prevented fires from spreading to other departments. The roof of a new building to be used as an extension of the Library was burnt, but fortunately the University had not yet transferred any material into it. Other buildings, including the laboratories of physics and chemistry, suffered loss of windows by blast.

Textile Studies at Leeds

REPORTS on the work of the session 1939–40 in the Departments of Textile Industries and of Colour Chemistry and Dyeing at the University of Leeds show that, although the number of students, particularly of those from overseas, has suffered to some extent and the time-table has had to undergo considerable alteration to meet the special conditions arising out of the War, the work of both Departments has been actively carried on and an impressive list of successes in the examinations of the University and of the City and Guilds of London Institute has been achieved. The degree of Ph.D. was conferred upon three students, one gained the M.Sc. degree and sixteen others graduated with honours. Twelve diplomas were awarded, while no fewer than forty-seven students obtained first class passes in the examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute, several of them gaining prizes and silver medals. Facilities for work by the students in factories during the vacation, which forms a valuable and highly appreciated part of the training, have of necessity been somewhat restricted though not altogether suspended. In addition to the normal work of the research laboratories, much of which is carried out in co-operation with various firms in different parts of Great Britain, much attention is being devoted to problems of immediate national importance. Research activity has increased in intensity, not merely on account of the War, but also because of the appreciation shown by the industry in their results. A long list of recent publications in scientific journals is appended.

A Bird-watcher's Experiences

IN a lecture to the University of London Animal Welfare Society, at Bedford College on March 8, Mr. Eric Hardy, of the British Empire Naturalists' Association, spoke of his experiences as a birdwatcher in various parts of Great Britain. He mentioned how a day-by-day census and survey of the sparrow population of the Liverpool Cathedral Birds' Sanctuary, in the heart of city slums eight miles from open country, failed to prove any great migration out of the city to country harvest fields as is often supposed, although many other migrants, chiefly warblers, passing over the city, use the sanctuary as a resting-place. This famous little sanctuary is to be reconstructed and re-equipped this year by the Merseyside Branch of the British Empire Naturalists' Association, which will be its custodian in the future. Mr. Hardy gave his experiences of the increasing numbers of buzzards and ravens in Wales, how swifts and tawny owls are among the birds adapting themselves to life in growing towns, even in the industrial north. The annual May shooting of baby rooks in the nest is a cruel sport, he said, and even apart from that question, field-studies show that unless rooks are in abnormal numbers, they do more good than harm on the land. The habit of taking regular censuses of bird numbers in various areas has added considerably to our knowledge of bird movements and migrations, especially with shore birds.

Queen Mary College

QUEEN MABY COLLEGE celebrated this week the anniversary of the presentation of a Royal Charter to the College by Her Majesty Queen Mary, the Patron of the College, on December 12, 1934. The proceedings culminated in a reception on the evening of December 16, when the principal of the College, Prof. G. M. Bennett, Prof. J. T. MacGregor-Morris, Miss Florence Rich, and Sir John Russell are being admitted as fellows of the College. The College, which owes so much to the insight and wise guidance of its late principal, Mr. J. L. S. Hatton, and its present principal, Sir Frederick Maurice, occupies a unique position in the scheme of the University of London. Situated a mile and a half east of Aldgate Pump, it provides a university course of training for students drawn in the main from the population of Essex and Middlesex, but not from these regions only, for within its walls are to be found students coming from all parts of Great Britain and of the Empire.

The Influx of Labour into the Midlands 1920-37

THE industrial changes of the last two decades have brought about a marked contrast between the southern and northern parts of Great Britain; and cyclical fluctuations during the period do not seem to have interfered very much with the persistent long-run trend. It is well known that the metropolis and the surrounding counties have witnessed rapid expansion. The area lying to the east of a line drawn from the Wash to Portsmouth accounted for 28.3 per cent. of the insured population, aged i6 to 64, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in July, I937, compared with 24.2 per cent. in July, 1923. The spectacular advance of the South East has tended to overshadow the progress made in the Midlands. A great deal of industrial development has, however, taken place in the region immediately west of that line connecting the Wash and Portsmouth. In fact, the high lights in the picture may best be seen when the four Ministry of Labour Divisions situated in the south are combined together, namely, London, the South Eastern, the South Western and the Midlands, and set against the rest of the country. The result is significant. Of the total numbers of insured persons in employment in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the proportions for the Northern and Southern Sections were almost exactly reversed between I923 and 1937. In the former year the Northern Section included 53.5 per cent. and the Southern Section 46.5 per cent., respectively, of the total; in the latter year these proportions had changed to 46.6 per cent. and 53.4 per cent. respectively.' In a previous article an analysis was given of the inflow

Man and Animals in Great Britain

A MEETING arranged by the University of London Animal Welfare Society (ULAWS) was held in the Beveridge Hall of the University of London on March 22 to discuss “Man's Relation to Nature and his Response” with reference to “the Survey and Regulation of British Fauna”. The chairman, Sir P. Chalmers Mitchell, said that the so-called ‘balance of Nature’ is a myth and has not existed since glacial times, when there were no animals in Britain to be balanced. We interfere too much for there to be one and interference is no good without knowledge. The Marquess of Tavistock showed how conflicting interests make legislation difficult. Fruit farmers and the owners of grouse moors oppose the protection of bullfinches and peregrine falcons respectively. There is no need to fear the introduction of wild birds for, unlike alien rodents, they find competition too strong. As regards method of control, there is no difficulty in shooting deer in the Highlands, but in the wooded Lowlands hunting is kinder. Shooting is often unkind to foxes owing to the uncertainty of aim. Otters are neutral in sporting streams, killing some game fish but keeping down eels ; but they are harmful in trout hatcheries and to ornamental wild fowl. Protecting stoats and weasels to keep rabbits down is a fallacy. Prof. F. A. E. Crew referred to the need for research on the ecology of British mammals ; he suggested that we should have something like the U.S. Biological Survey, that the Bureau of Animal Population should be supported, and the staffs of museums and university departments should be enlarged. Sir Roy Robinson, chairman of the Forestry Commission, said that complaints about his treatment of animals were sentimental and not based on knowledge. Rabbits should be exterminated. There are too many deer and foxes. The only mammal in need of protection is the pine marten, and he would like to harbour them. All birds, except black-game and caper-cailzie, should be encouraged in forests. Other speakers referred to the desirability and the difficulties of rabbit extermination in various parts of Great Britain.

DOLLARSPOT DISEASE OF TURF AND ITS CAUSAL ORGANISM, SCLEROTINIA HOMOEOCARPA N.SP.

SUMMARY The disease of fine turf known in America as “dollarspot” occurs in all parts of Great Britain but is less prevalent than some other turf diseases. The causal organism exists as several strains which maintain their respective characteristics under natural and cultural conditions. The strains differ in capacity for spore production; one yields ascospores and conidia, another ascospores only, and others reduced sporiferous structures only. The U.S.A. strain and an Australian strain, as also some British isolants, belong to the last‐mentioned group. The organism is characterized by well‐developed aerial mycelium, parts of which become reddish brown or cinnamon in colour; by sclerotial structures of parchment‐like thickness, in size from small flakes to expansive areas, olivaceous to black in colour; and by sporiferous structures arising from sclerotial sources. The ascigerous fructification is an apothecium which reaches full development with ascospores in spring; the conidiophore becomes cupulate and bears conidia toward autumn. The rate of growth of the strains and germination of spores is recorded for the range pH. 4–8. The optimum temperature for growth of British strains is 20–25° C, the minimum 0–1° C, and the maximum 35–37° C. The possible influence of temperature on the establishment of non‐sporing strains abroad is discussed. The organism is named Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, and a Latin diagnosis is given.

The Press and the Post Office

IN the course of an address to the Post Office Telegraph and Telephone Society given at King George V Hall, St. Martin's le Grand, London, on November 18, by Mr. J. H. Brebner, press officer of the Post Office, it was emphasised that the development of the Press has been closely allied to the progress of the Post Office. The Post Office can claim a great share in the development of newspapers, for from its establishment, six postal officials entitled ‘clerks of the roads' were the first newsagents in Great Britain, and were solely responsible for the distribution of newspapers to all parts of the United Kingdom. These ‘clerks of the roads' derived some £8,000 a year from the sale of newspapers, £6,000 of which was used by the Post Office for the payment of pensions and increases of salaries to Post Office servants who were inadequately paid. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the private telegraph companies maintained a press bureau which supplied the newspapers with general news. The newspapers, however, desired to organise their own press agencies on the ground that they were the better judges of the news the public required. Since the telegraph companies would not give up their press bureau, the newspaper proprietors joined the growing agitation for the nationalisation of the telegraph system. The Electric Telegraphs Bill was passed in 1868, and the State accordingly acquired the telegraphs. A special ‘News Division’ was created at the Central Telegraph Office, London, and was maintained until 1930, when the extended use of the telephone by the Press, and the leased telegraph lines to press agencies and newspapers, rendered this section with its special press wires unnecessary. The Press has taken full advantage of each step in the progress of communications brought about by the Post Office, and the rapid development of the telephone service, since its acquisition by the State in 1912, has enabled the speedier transmission of news not only from all parts of Great Britain, but also to and from all parts of the world.

Burden Mental Research Trust

AT a meeting held recently in London, the committee of administration had before it reports of the first year's working of the Burden Mental Research Trust, which Mrs. R. G. Burden endowed a short time ago with £10,000. The investigations contemplated by the Committee are being carried out by Dr. J. A. Fraser Roberts, assisted by Dr. R. M. Norman and Dr. Ruth Griffiths. An extensive survey of the mentally normal as well as the mentally abnormal has been initiated, and when the Trust eventually publishes its final report, it is hoped and expected that much valuable information will be forthcoming as to the nature of the transmission of mental abilities and disabilities. The Trust has also arranged for the co-operation of other distinguished investigators from different parts of Great Britain, one of whom—Dr. Shepherd Dawson of Glasgow—has already complied with the request of the Committee.

Recent Archaeological Exploration in Great Britain

THE month of August, as usual, has been fruitful in results of arch¦ological exploration on sites in various parts of Great Britain. Among the more important, Dr. R. E. Mortimer Wheelers excavation of the great earthwork of Maiden Castle provides abundant material bearing on the Roman and pre-Roman occupation of the site. The discovery of four gold coins of the fourth century and a gold ring as treasure trove have necessitated an inquest in which the Prince of Wales, as owner of the land, is interested. It is anticipated that these objects will be handed eventually to the Dorchester Museum for custody. Evidence of a stone age settlement has been found, and it is expected that the excavation of the ditch now being undertaken will throw light on the origin of the work. Another hill-fort site will be available for the inspection of members of the British Association attending the Aberdeen meeting. This is the prehistoric fort on Finavon Hill on the main road from Aberdeen to Forfar at the entrance of Strathmore, which recently has been under excavation by Prof. Gordon Childe. On the hill-top are the remains of ramparts, still 12 ft. in height, but which, it is estimated, once stood nearly 20 ft. high by 20 ft. thick. The stone coping exhibits the curious character of vitrification, due apparently to exposure to intense heat, occasionally found in these Scottish forts. In the course of the excavation, pottery, flint implements, spindle-whorls, broken animal bones and a little iron were foundbut there is nothing which would make it possible to assign a date to the fort with any certainty. It is, however, thought to be pre-Roman, rather than Roman, in dating. A brief account of the exploration of the fort appears in the Times of August 30.

Drought and Disease in Lambs

As a result of the prolonged drought of last year, a bad outbreak of stomach-worm disease or scouring developed in lambs during the late part of autumn and early winter, causing heavy losses to sheep in many parts of Great Britain. There can be little doubt that the outbreak was due to deficiency in food, owing to the shortage of grass, for such a condition has been found to lead to a great increase in the numbers of parasitic worms. To prevent severe infestation it is necessary to keep up the condition of the lambs. The weather conditions of the present year in many ways resemble those of last year, and there is danger of a recurrence of stomach-worm disease with its attendant losses. Farmers and others interested are therefore recommended to apply for the account of the life-history of the parasitic worms, with information about their distribution and control, published as Leaflet 75 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and issued free of charge.

Sources of Cheap Electric Power

THE general idea of the scheme of production of electric energy proposed takes as its basis the complete linking up of all parts of Great Britain by the Grid, and the subsidiary lines fed from it or from the stations directly. All stations are connected to the Grid, and as well as supplying their local consumers, put the additional power into the Grid as required. This is the well-known main function of the Grid. It is here submitted that this leads to a different scheme of generation from that now followed, and that sources of cheap power are rendered available that previously could not be utilised economically.

Report on the Science Museum

IN the report for 1932 of the Advisory Council of the Science Museum (London: H.M. Stationery Office), special reference is made to the future policy of the Museum, particularly in relation to its utility to industry. With the co-operation of outside bodies, such as the National Physical Laboratory and various research associations, during the past six years special exhibitions have been arranged which have proved attractive not only to the general public but also to technical visitors. At the present time three such exhibitions are being organised annually. A further development of these exhibitions has been suggested in order to afford facilities to an industry or group in an industry, to show informatively its products to other industries, and such exhibitions the Council thinks might be of special service to the minor industries now being encouraged in many parts of Great Britain. It is pointed out, however, that here the Museum is handicapped by the want of space, and the Council expresses the hope that the erection of the centre block will soon be taken in hand. The report deals also with the attendances at lectures, the acquisitions, the publications, and with the activities of the Library. In 1931 a sub-committee was appointed to report upon the Library and its working, and among its recommendations was that in the interest of the progress in science and technology and their industrial applications, there is need for a National Library of Science in Great Britain.

A Review of Seven Years' Malarial Therapy in General Paralysis

Shortly after the introduction of therapeutic malaria into this country, the Ministry of Health and the Board of Control, in consultation with the London County Council Mental Hospitals Department, established a special centre for this treatment at Horton Mental Hospital. A separate villa in the hospital grounds was set apart for the work, and, through the interest, advice and help of Col. S. P. James, M.D., F.R.S., of the Ministry of Health, a laboratory was equipped and arrangements were made for the supply of malarial infective material to all parts of Great Britain. The work was begun in April, 1925, and during the seven years that have elapsed since then, 200 cases have been treated. These cases are all women, drawn from the various London County Mental Hospitals; recently, however, an annexe has been added to the centre, and facilities are now available for treating men also.

Annual Conference of the Geographical Association

THE annual conference of the Geographical Association was held at the London School of Economics on Jan. 2–4, and was attended by between 400 and 500 delegates and members from all parts of Great Britain. The publishers' exhibition included an unusually fine display of wall maps and other maps for teaching purposes. The outstanding feature of this year's conference was the series of lectures by prominent business and professional men, all of them indicating very clearly the position which geography occupies as a key subject in a liberal education and in a preparation for a variety of careers.

Calendar of Customs and Festivals

ADDENDA. December 24. A rite practised on Christmas Eve as well as on New Year's Eve in many parts of Great Britain, but especially in the south and west, was that of wassailing the fruit trees. A bowl of eider and a cake from the ritual meal of Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve was taken to the orchard; the cake was placed on a branch of the tree and the cider poured over the trunk. This ensured the fertility of the tree in the coming year. In Sussex a doggerel set of verses—the relic of a charm—was sometimes said as the cider was poured out, while the line, “Give earth and she'll not fail,” which occurs in the Hampshire song, clearly shows the intention of the rite.

News and Views

THE sixth annual report of the Forestry Commissioners (Sept. 30, 1925) is a document of considerable interest if only for the summary it contains of a forest policy recently enunciated by the Government. A century or two has elapsed since any Government in Great Britain can be said to have held definite ideas on the subject of what a forest policy for the country should aim at. The Government of the day has now publicly recognised that the development of such a policy is largely dependent upon State action continuously applied over a period of years, a point which has for long been beyond dispute in many European countries. It is further recognised that large areas of land in many parts of Great Britain are more suited to the production of timber than food, that private forestry should be encouraged by a system of grants, and that the systematic establishment of forest workers' holdings at the rate of 5 holdings per 1000 acres of afforestable land should be aimed at. It may be said at once that this definition of the Government's opinions and aims in this matter is admirable. If persevered in, the progress of forestry should be assured.

Defoliation of Oaks

IN view of the deplorable effect of repeated defoliation of oaks by the larvae of Tortrix viridana, as noted by Mr. E. W. Swanton in NATURE for August 19, p. 250, it may be useful to remind planters that there are two distinct races of British oak (Quercus robur, Linn.), to which some botanists have assigned specific rank as Q. pedunculata, Ehrh., and Q. sessiliflora, Salisb. The latter, known in the vernacular as the durmast oak, prevails as an indigenous growth in the western and north-western parts of Great Britain, throughout the English Lake District, and in Ireland. In eastern England and Scotland and in midland and southern England the pedunculate oak predominates, but not exclusively, for I have found that the old trees in Merevale Park, Warwickshire, survivors of the ancient Forest of Arden, are durmast, while such oaks as have been planted there are pedunculate.