Germany and Turkey; the Crisis in the Levant, by E. Tallichet, "Bibliothèque Universelle," Dec. United States : Theodore Roosevelt, by C. Dawbarn, "Pall Mall Mag," Jan. The Presidential Election, by H. C. Lodge, "North Amer. Rev," Dec. Socialism and Labour in the Election, by John Martin, "Socialist Rev," Jan. The Future of the Democratic Party, by H. L. West, "Forum," Dec. The Future of Parties, by A. M. Low, "Fortnightly Rev," Jan. The United States as a Peace Power, by A. S. Hershey, "World To-day," Dec. Races in the United States, by W. Z. Ripley, "Atlantic Monthly," Dec. Crimes of High Finance, by T. A. Lawson, "La Revue," Dec. 15. LANGUAGES AND LETTER-WRITING. N account of the large number of strangers Russian, German, and English-speaking who attend the lectures at the Sorbonne, the Faculty of Letters of Paris has decided to give a special diploma. Up to the present the only certificate attainable by such foreign students as sought chiefly a diploma for the language was the Certificat d'études françaises. But this "attestation," being variable from its nature, and therefore of uncertain value, has not been much sought for. It is now proposed to issue a Diplôme d'études universitaires, for which a two years' course will be necessary, and which will really come between the certificat d'études and the doctorat. The closing of the convent schools has caused considerable difficulty in many places, and especially in Paris, where there are at present considerably more than 3,500 girls for whom places must be found in the lycées, with the result that all are over-full. The Lycée Fénelon, for instance, constructed to hold four hundred scholars, has seven hundred students. Moreover, as in Paris sites are costly, it is calculated that it will take a long time and much effort to arrange for the building and equipment of new schools. The diploma also is an anxiety: should all girls take the baccalauréat, or should there be a distinct certificate for girls only, ensuring that in many ways their course of study should be different from that for boys? Mr. William Archer and Professor W. Skeat are now busily engaged in bringing to the notice of the public the lately formed Simplified Spelling Society (headquarters, 44, Great Russell Street, W.C.), the object of which is " to promote a better understanding of the history of English spelling; to advocate the gradual introduction of such reforms as shall remove its difficulties for children and foreigners; and to provide teachers and others who are acutely conscious of these difficulties with an organisation for furthering their views." The intention is to introduce reforms slowly; for instance, the silent "e" at the end of such words as "involve " should be dropped, and the second "1" in "will," and so on. Such a society should certainly receive support, for its methods are not arbitrary and the difficulties in the way many. I well remember the French professor who, when the reforms in French grammar were talked of, said, "Shall we, who have spent time and money without stint to acquire proficiency in manipulating our difficulties, help to remove them and so take away our own livelihood?" Also, let not the Society run upon the rock of "English as an international language." "Leaving out the political Leaving out the political impossibilities," a famous French scientist wrote once, "spelling is not your drawback; your spelling is international; it is your vile pronunciation that is the trouble. I might master the idea that 'tion,' 'sion,' 'shon,' etc., have the same sound, but when ough' has ten or more ways of pronunciation I am stupefied," Modern Language Teaching (A. and C. Black) for December contains, amongst other interesting matter, a paper by Professor Rippmann "On Extending the Modern Language Learner's Vocabulary," and the list of foreign teachers interested in the Scholars' Correspondence. ESPERANTO. Alas! if our workers have been busy so also has Death. Three of our most valued helpers have passed away suddenly. Edward K. Harvey, the head of the Perkins Institute for the Blind, was one; another is the author of the romance "Ĉu li" (which was noticed last month only), Dr. Vallienne. To many the loss is a personal one, for the Congresses bring us together from the ends of the earth, and each was a delightful comrade. Two small books have just appeared-one a translation of Swedenborg's "The Life for the New Jerusalem," prefaced by a short biography. The book itself is translated from the Latin version, but the Scripture passages are taken from the English Authorised Bible. The other is entitled "How We May Beautify Life." The author intends to compile a larger work, and therefore requests his readers to send him comments on this, so that thus the next may be more international. His views are sometimes heterodox. Clothes should be reduced to a minimum, the author says; but how about the requirements of such a climate as ours? Both little books are 7 d. post free, and can be obtained from the British Esperanto Association, 133, High Holborn, W.C. Events teem with encouragement. One of the candidates for the medical diploma of the Paris Faculty took for his thesis "The Use of an International Language as regards Medicine," and instead of a ten minutes' examination, the three examiners discussed the theme for an hour, and finally gave its author the highest possible marks, considered he had proved his point, and consequently that the study of Esperanto should be recommended to doctors In the Lingvo Internacia there is an interesting anecdote which I remember hearing from Herr Fischer at Dresden. I cannot give it in full. Its substance was that he was lately travelling from Bucharest to Constantinople. In the restaurant car a man was in difficulties. The waiter spoke to him in five languages. Mr. Fischer tried eight others, and in vain. At length the latter said, "Ĉu vi parolas Esperante ?" and was almost hugged. The man himself knew four languages, and none of the seventeen fitted. Mr. Fischer only knew the four Esperanto words he had used half in fun; but the stranger, a Swede, produced an Esperanto key-got what he wanted, and Mr. Fischer learnt Esperanto during the remainder of the journey. THE TRIUMPH TH OF NITRO-BACTERINE. Report on Results in 1908: Average, over 60 per cent. Success! HE tabulated statement of the Results obtained last year is not quite complete. But of the total reports up to date 67 per cent. chronicle good results a marvellously high average, when it is remembered that the experiments were conducted on all manner of soils by all sorts and conditions of men and women, the most of them handling NitroBacterine for the first time. Pending the publication next month of our table of results, the most important evidence to hand is the report which has been issued by the famous firm of seedsmen, Messrs. Carter and Co., whose celebrity is world-wide. This firm sold a large quantity of NitroBacterine during 1908, and has carefully collected and tabulated the reports sent in by those who used the cultures. The reports came from ali over the country, and afford a splendid proof as to the value of inoculation : Messrs. Carter add, as, doubtless, many of the cases where no difference was noticed in the inoculated crops were due to the improper preparation of the bacterial cultures, it is interesting to note that of the reports sent in by our professional customers (i.e., doctors, clergymen, schoolmasters, etc.), 76 per cent. showed successful results in their experiments, whilst only 62 per cent. of successes were reported by farm bailiffs and gardeners on our books. Just as I was passing these pages through the press I received a letter from a correspondent in Aylsham. Writing on the last day of the Old Year, on his experience with Nitro-Bacterine, he says: The results in our garden from treating both peas and beans were wonderful, not so much in the growth as in the amount of crop; we had much more than we could ourselves use. Beans showed a difference of some eighteen inches in growth, and, like the peas, were most prolific. We had them for three months about four days a week, and sent broadcast to our friends. The supply was only stopped by the early frost. Some of the pods were eight and nine inches long, bearing five, six, and seven beans in them. I print this volunteered testimony in order that it may serve as a foil to set off the amazing verdict solemnly pronounced by Mr. F. J. Chittenden, F.L.S., of the Royal Horticultural Society, which has excited so much laughter last month. In an elaborate report on the experiments which he conducted at Wisley in the use of Nitro-Bacterine, Mr. Chittenden declares that it is his opinion that inoculation with NitroBacterine of leguminous plants grown in ordinary garden soil is very unlikely to be followed by an increase in the crop, and that even in fallow land it is unlikely to give any benefit! It was a wise judge who cautioned his junior never to give reasons for his sentences. Mr. Chittenden would have done well to have acted on that cynical but sagacious counsel. For if he had merely pronounced his verdict and added never a word of explanation, it might have carried some weight. But, unfortunately for himself, he accompanies his judgment by an elaborate Report, which entirely destroys the value of his judgment. He may be a first-rate gardener, but he appears to be incapable of drawing the most obvious conclusion from the facts which he carefully records. I made a careful analysis of his Report with a view to its publication in these pages; but when the work was done I came to the conclusion that I was wasting good powder and shot over an absurdity. I have printed my "Examination of the Chittenden Report on the Wisley Experiments in Nitro-Bacterine," and will send a copy to anyone who asks for it; but in the crowded space of the REVIEW OF REVIEWS it is only necessary to say two things:-- 1. Mr. Chittenden made half his experiments under conditions which appear to have been deliberately selected in order to produce an apparent failure. We have always said that it was useless, and worse than useless, applying Nitro-Bacterine to soil which has already been amply supplied with nitrogenous matter. We no more claimed that our lively and industrious bacteria could improve the crops grown in heavily - manured soil than that they could win the Derby or read papers before the Royal Horticultural Society. Therefore, Mr. Chittenden appears to have said to himself, "Go to! Let us try them under conditions where they are guaranteed in advance to fail. We shall at least have no fear as to that test turning out in favour of inoculation." If we omit these plots in which Mr. Chittenden knew it was a sheer foolish waste of time An all-round 15 per cent. increase in leguminous plants, sown under the only conditions in which I have ever claimed that Nitro-Bacterine would be useful, is no small triumph for inoculation. Mr. Chittenden, who came prepared to curse, has, like Balaam, been constrained, if not to bless us altogether, at least to publish figures which constitute veritable benediction. MANURING CULTIVATED SOIL USELESS! 2. If Mr. Chittenden had but carefully read his own report he would have discovered that it demonstrates conclusively that it does not pay to manure at all in cultivated land! Leaving inoculation out of the question altogether, either soil or seed, we find that non-inoculated seed yielded In Plot 4, which was not manured at all In Plot 5, which was manured with dung (ten tons per acre) In Plot 8, dressed with lime... In Plot 9, dressed with lime, kainit, and superphosphate (four cwt. per acre) ... 10,303 grammes of peas. 9,653 grammes of peas. 9,681 grammes of peas. 10,788 grammes of peas. In Plot 12, dressed with calcium cyanamide.. 9,696 grammes of peas. In every case, except one, the crop on unmanured soil was better than where manures-some of them costly-were used! Mr. Chittenden ends his report with a summary consisting of twelve paragraphs. The last reads: 12. It is concluded that the inoculation of leguminous crops with "Nitro-Bacterine" in ordinary garden soil is not likely to prove beneficial. Should he not in fairness add to this yet another paragraph which would read: 13. It is concluded that manuring for leguminous crops in ordinary garden soil is not likely to prove beneficial at all! NITRO-BACTERINE AT 6d. v. DUNG AT 30S. Comparing the yield from inoculated seed on unmanured soil with the yield from treated seed on heavily manured soil, we find : ----- Plot 14 (soil inoculated and seed inoculated) gives a yield of 8,188 grammes of peas, Plot 17 (dung, ten tons per acre), seed not inoculated, gives a yield of 7,686 grammes of peas. If we omit double inoculation we must take : Plot 15 (no manure), seed only inoculated, which gives a yield of 7,963 grammes of peas. This shows clearly that it is better, on fallow land, to inoculate the seed at a cost of 6d. an acre than to spend 30s. or more on dung. If we assume that the soil of all the plots in the fallow land had been inoculated, that the seed had also been treated, and that the soil had been of equal depth throughout, we would have had a yield of 8,188 X 12 = 107,226 grammes. If it had all been manured with dung (ten tons to the acre) and sown with untreated seed, the yield would only have been 7,686 X 12 = 92,232 grammes. This is enough to show that the Wisley experiments, so far from demonstrating the uselessness of inoculation, as stated by Mr. Chittenden, actually prove beyond question that for leguminous crops. there is no better treatment. My critical examination of the report goes thoroughly into the whole question, and deals with the extraordinary conclusions. made by Mr. Chittenden, also with the remarkable contradictions contained therein. It will be sent to anyone who cares to write for it. NITRO-BACTERINE FOR ALL CROPS. The experiments with the culture for plants which do not belong to the leguminosæ are going on vigorously. Astonishing results are being obtained in many cases. I hope to deal very fully with this culture next month. Its value to the farmer and horticulturist is enormous. The sowing season is close upon us now, and those who require cultures should order them at once, so that there is no delay when the seeds are ready. Nitro-Bacterine is made up in packages, containing enough bacterial material to produce one gallon of culture, carefully packed in tin cases, which can be sent without damage to any part of the world by letter post. The price per package is 5s. Id., post free, in the United Kingdom, and 5s. 6d., post free, abroad. The special experimental non-leguminous culture (5s. Id., post free, per gallon package) can be used. on any plant which does not belong to the leguminosæ, but separate cultures are needed for peas, for broad beans, for runner beans, for sweet peas, for lucerne, for red clover, for alsike, for tares, and for every variety of leguminous crop. All orders should be sent to the Nitro-Bacterine Distributing Agency, Portugal Street, Kingsway, London, W.C. Full particulars about seed and soil inoculation, and the special article dealing with Mr. Chittenden's experiments, will be sent on receipt of a postcard, A New Year's Greeting to the Helpers and Members MY Association of the of the Y DEAR FRIENDS,-I wish you all a very happy New Year, and invite you to cooperate with me once more in the furtherance of our five-fold Ideal. This work must be done in the New Year as in the Old, first by the utilising of vigilant eyes and ears for the collecting of information bearing upon the questions at issue, and in the second place by utilising the co-operation of all our members for the purpose of giving a simultaneous impulse to some great public cause. The first service to which I invite you in the New Year is to let me know, first of all, your own opinion-on a postcard it may be of the scheme for settling the liquor question that is published in the present number; and, secondly, to obtain the opinion of at least one other person in your neighbourhood as to the advisability of carrying out such a project. I leave it entirely to you to select the person whom you consult. Of course, I would prefer that you obtain the opinion of the person whose judgment you regard as most weighty. Should any of you be sufficiently keen upon the subject as to undertake the canvass of the twenty or thirty more influential persons in your district, especially those primarily interested in the Licensing Question, either one side or the other, I should be very glad to supply you with reprints of the article, to be used in' such a canvass. I am personally sending a reprint of the article with a letter addressed from myself to all the members of the House of Commons. There is no need for you to write to your Member for his opinion, but if you approve of the scheme and desire to forward it, I should be glad if you could make your opinion known to your representative in the House of Commons in the course of the next fortnight. In the February number I propose to publish a synopsis of the replies received on the subject. I also appeal to our Helpers abroad and in the Colonies, who are not directly interested in the, question, to forward any information concerning the Government ownership and supply of intoxicants. The Helper who really helps is not the man or woman who perfunctorily complies with the requested service, but the person who, seeing the aim that I have in view, throws himself energetically into the task of focussing public opinion on the subject, and then of forwarding the realisation of such an ideal by every means that zeal and imagination can suggest. One of my old Helpers, Mr. Edwards, who for many years founded and conducted that admirable publication "The Reformers' Year Book," wrote to Review of Reviews." me when tendering his service, offering me his life, which, however, I was sure he could make much better use of by acting in his own way in conjunction with me than if I had accepted his offer. Mr. Edwards is now engaged in promoting actively a great scheme which has long been near his heart-the concentration in a great pile of offices in the heart of London of all the societies and agencies for the social and moral improvement of mankind. The headquarters of these societies are at present scattered all over London, whereas if they could but be brought together under one head a much needed work of co-operation, consolidation, and co-ordination could be carried out. I cordially commend Mr. Edwards's idea to the attention of the societies concerned, and also to capitalists who may be on the look-out for an investment which would secure the two great endsPhilanthropy and Five per Cent. To our Indian Helpers I extend a word of greeting and congratulation. The service which I ask from them this month is that they should send me as soon as possible after they have received this number a brief statement of what they think of Lord Morley's reforms. Secondly, what chance these reforms have of being worked in a sympathetic spirit both by the Bureaucracy and the Reformers. In conversation last month with Cabinet Ministers I was impressed by the immense service which could be rendered to the India Office by the prompt collection and publication of independent opinions from all parts of India on questions which the Government is handling. The essence of the matter is that such opinions should be brief and to the point, for hardworked officials and the British public generally will not look for a needle in a bundle of hay, nor will they look for the kernel of the nut through a column of verbiage. If in every centre of India there was a man of character and culture, with no connection with the Government, who could condense into a space of one hundred words what he thought the people and Government at home ought to know each month, and if such carefully collated and selected opinions were published every month in London, it would do more than anything else to get the wants and wishes of the people in India before the attention of the British public. I have to thank those Helpers who brought the importance of the boycott before their ministers of religion. I am glad to know that many sermons have been preached calling attention to the advisability of acting upon that Christian method of settling disputes which is proving so very efficacious at the present time. With best wishes for the New Year. I am, yours faithfully, W. T. STEAD, |