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M. Camille Flammarion has been making some experiments at the station for climatologic agriculture of Juvisy, in the suburbs of Paris, to see whether the moon exerts any influence upon the growth of plants, according to the popular opinion. He made different sets of plantings at dates which corresponded to the different phases of the moon, using peas, beets, carrots, potatoes, beans, and many other vegetables of the ordinary kinds. After some experimenting he found that the results which were observed on the growth of the plants were extremely variable, and no fixed rule seemed to govern them. The plants appeared at periods which had no connection with the moon's phases, so that it was impossible to draw any definite conclusions from the first series of experiments. M. Flammarion is to continue his observations on this subject and sooner or later will no doubt have results which will decide this much-disputed point. Electric traction on the Teltow canal, which is one of the principal canals in Germany, is shortly to be applied on a large scale, in accordance with a programme formerly decided upon. It will be remembered that a number of experiments with different forms of tractors were made along the canal, and these showed that the electric system offered many practical advantages. A large central station for supplying the current has already been erected, and is about completed at present. It already contains a 400-horse-power dynamo and engine group and two large steam turbine and dynamo sets of 700 horse-power each. The station will be prepared tofurnish current very shortly. The extensive system of locks will flrst have an electric system for operating it. The rails for the electric locomotives have been laid along the canal in the eastern section between Grnau and Britz, on both banks. The overhead wires and the poles are being put in place, so that it will not be long before the locomotives will be ready to haul the canal boats. Some rather remarkable results which have been obtained in a series of researches upon the radiation given off from polonium are mentioned by B. Walter, a German physicist. According to him, the IX rays of polonium under certain conditions give rise to a luminescence of the air when passing through it. In this case there seems to be an emission of a certain kind of radiation which has a very pronounced photochemical effect, one whose properties are to be compared with those of the spectrum which is included between the rays 1 = 350 and A = 290. This radiation is absorbed by a sheet of aluminium 0.0004 inch thick, but it will pass through a plate of glass 0.006 inch thick. This emission seems to be produced especially in the presence of nitrogen. With hydrogen and oxygen the effect is fifty times less intense. Other researches in the same field bring out some of the oxidizing effects caused by bromide of radium. This action is shown when a tube containing bromide of radium is brought near a solution of iodoform in chloroform. A purple color of the solution is observed in the solution even when it is separated from the radium salt by screens of glass, mica, or cardboard. This chemical action does not result from luminous rays but from the special radiations which can pass through the screens. It seems that the and the y rays are the only ones which cause the oxidizing phenomena. Delegates from all parts of the world attended the recent Congress of World's Economic Expansion which was held at Mons under the patronage of King Leopold II. International expeditions to the North and the South poles were discussed and these projects were adhered to by many of the most eminent explorers such as Arktowski, Nordenskjold, Brune, Nansen, Von Dry-galski, Racovitza, Charcot, Cook, Peary, and the Duke of Abruzzi. The congress will thus be called upon to lay the foundation for an international association for the study of the polar regions. Besides this important work, the congress made the projects for two international institutions which will be of great value. The first of these is an international Bureau of Ethnography which will collect the documents and specimens furnished by explorers of all countries ap.d will publish the needed information at intervals. The second project is for an international Bureau of Statistics which will centralize all the documents concerning this field and will thus be able to give very important information. Different conferences are no doubt to be held in the future in order to decide certain questions such as an international definition of tonnage of vessels, which is now measured by different methods, also to regulate the speed of ship's during fogs and to decide other questions relating to the marine. The statistical section wishes to hold a conference in order to fix the principles of general statistics and to decide other questions of this nature.
