tween those which are not homologous. They show, furthermore, that the correlation between the winter periods of the first and second year is the lowest of any of the four correlations between the productions of homologous periods. The difference between the winter-winter correlation and the spring-spring correlation is not large, but the differences between the winterwinter correlation and the summer-summer and the autumn-autumn coefficients are more substantial, the two latter being 2.57 and 6.10 times as large as their probable error. In so far as this type of evidence is pertinent to the problem, it indicates that in the White Leghorn at least there is no evidence of special factors which distinguish the "winter cycle" from any other period of the year. J. ARTHUR HARRIS STATION FOR EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION, COLD SPRING HARBOR, N. Y. THE EFFECT OF X RAYS ON CHEMICAL REACTIONS WHILE investigating with Dr. E. Dershem absorption coefficients for X rays, a brass cell with aluminum windows containing cyclohexanol was subjected to the X rays and afterwards opened. The contents showed very striking and unexpected consequences due to this exposure. The colorless hexanol had turned to greenish-blue, and later analysis showed that about 0.1 of a gram of copper had gone into solution. The intensity of the X rays was so small, coming as a nearly monochromatic beam from a crystal grating, that the amount of chemical action produced was most surprising. The geometry of our apparatus and the power used by the X ray bulb enabled us to calculate the maximum energy which could be involved. Assuming the target and the crystal grating to be 100 per cent. efficient, and taking one hour as the maximum time exposure, the energy received by the cell could not be greater than 3 X 106 ergs, or less than 0.1 of a calorie. Using the quantum theory, we may calculate from the wave length, approximately 0.2 Å, the number of quanta entering the cell. The energy per quantum is 1 X 10-7 ergs. Therefore the number of quanta received could not be greater than 3 X 1013. Since about 0.1 gram of copper went into solution each quantum must have caused at least 3.3 X 10' atoms of copper to react. The small amount of energy involved, and the small number of quanta relative to the number of atoms reacting, indicate that the reaction is an exothermal one. The quantum voltage producing the X rays was approximately 10 volts.. Since each quantum caused 3.3 X 10 atoms to react, not more than 3 X 10-3 volts could be expended on each atom if the reaction were endothermal. This value is only one five-hundredth of the smallest known resonance potential, that for cæsium as determined by Foote, Rognley and Mohler,2 being 1.48 volts. We therefore must conclude that the X rays produced some sort of trigger action of the type studied by Bodenstein and Taylor and by Jorissen and Ringer in their work on the formation of hydrochloric acid from hydrogen and chlorine by means of alpha particles. An excellent discussion of this work will be found in a monograph by Lind." Mesitylene showed a behavior similar to that of cyclohexanol, but in this case the color was a yellowish green. This difference in color may be due to concentration effects. On account of the large effect produced by relatively small amounts of energy, it seems that the use of X rays may acquire great importance in the production of organic compounds, especially if substances are produced in this manner which can not be obtained by other means. A. R. OLSON National Research Fellow in Chemistry UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, 2 Foote, Rognley and Mohler, Phys. Rev., 61 (1919). 3 (M. Bodenstein) and H. S. Taylor, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 37: 24 (1915). 4 Jorissen and Ringer, Ber., 39: 2095 (1906). 5 S. C. Lind, The Chemical Effects of Alpha Particles and Electrons, Chemical Catalog Co., New York (1921). THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES THE Fifteenth Annual Conference on Weights and Measures was held at the Bureau of Standards on May 23 to 26 inclusive. In many respects, it was the most successful conference which has so far taken place. At the opening session, the absence of Major Louis A. Fischer, formerly chief of the Weights and Measures Division, who died somewhat less than a year ago, was felt by practically all those in attendance, and it, therefore, seemed especially appropriate to devote this session to memorial addresses given by men who had been closely associated with him. The first of these was delivered by Dr. Stratton, director of the bureau, the second by Dr. C. W. Waggoner, of the State Department of Weights and Measures of West Virginia, and the last by Mr. D. J. Moynihan, who spoke on behalf of the manufacturers of weighing and measuring devices. A special committee presented resolutions memorializing Major Fischer. Following these addresses and resolutions, the regular program of the conference was taken up, and reports were made by the delegates from the various state departments, approximately two hundred delegates from thirty states being present. On the second day, an interesting paper was delivered by William F. Cluett, chief deputy inspector of weights and measures of Chicago, on the "Enforcement of sales by weight legislation and the elimination of the dry measure." The feature of the afternoon session was an address by the Honorable Herbert Hoover, secretary of commerce, in which he emphasized the need for unity of action through organized conferences and established methods, and the importance, not only of the "prevention of crookedness and the catching of crooks" but also the protection of the honest producer and distributor. The program included addresses by Mr. John N. Mackall, chairman of the Maryland State Roads Commission; Mr. Charles H. Ferris, of the National Bottle Manufacturers' Association; George Warner, chief inspector of weights and measures of the State of Wisconsin; F. S. Holbrook, of the Bureau of Standards; W. T. White, director of the Bureau of Weights and Measures of the State of New York; A. H. Vestal, chairman of the committee on coinage, weights and measures of the House of Representatives; Mr. W. B. McGrady, chief of the Bureau of Standards of the State of Pennsylvania; Mr. P. C. Brooks, president of the Scale and Balance Manufacturers' Association; Mr. J. J. Holwell, commissioner of the Mayor's Bureau of the City of New York; Mr. John M. Mote, Ohio state inspector of weights and measures; Ralph W. Smith, of the Bureau of Standards; and W. L. Egy and L. W. Higbee, of W. and L. E. Gurley. Resolutions and thanks were tendered to the Honorable Herbert Hoover, Dr. S. W. Stratton and the Honorable A. H. Vestal, for their courtesy in addressing the conference. A motion to the effect that the entire question of standardization and simplification, as applied to all phases of weights and measures activities, containers, standards, laws, methods of procedure, etc., be given special consideration at the next conference, was passed without a dissenting vote. The executive committee was directed by this motion to give special thought to this subject and arrange for a thorough presentation of the various factors involved so that the matter might be presented to the next conference in its entirety. It was also voted that the second day of next year's conference should be devoted to the papers by and the activities of the city and county sealers of weights and measures. The following officers were elected: President: Dr. S. W. Stratton, director of the Bureau of Standards. First vice-president: Mr. A. H. Webster, commissioner of weights and measures of the State of New Hampshire. Second vice-president: Mr. W. B. McGrady, chief of the Bureau of Standards, State of Pennsylvania. Secretary: Mr. F. S. Holbrook, Bureau of Standards. Treasurer: Mr. J. Harry Foley, superintendent of weights and measures, State of New Jersey. THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CHINA In the process of reconstruction, and adaptation to modern conditions, which China is at present undergoing, the introduction of scientific research and, concurrently, the establishment of scientific government organs is absolutely essential to the success of the movement. To a narrow circle of interested mining men and scientists, it has long been known that the Geological Survey of China, established in 1916, has been making steady progress, both in the way of supporting the mining industry with expert advice, and in accumulating scientific data and material to such an extent that it has been recognized abroad as a factor in inaugural ceremonies by and in the presence ploration of the earth. But the work of the Geological Survey has been carried on in quite an unostentatious way, and little has transpired about its activities outside of professional circles, until July seventeenth, when the institution was officially thrown open to the public, with appropriate inaugural ceremonies by and in the presence of H. R. President Li Yuan Hung. Before giving an account of these exercises, it may be well briefly to review the development of the survey and its achievement up to the present time. Geological Government Surveys have been established during the last half century in all civilized states. The principal aims of those institutions are threefold: namely, (1) to promote the knowledge of the mineral resources of the country, (2) to carry on a general geologic survey of the whole country upon a uniform scale, and (3) to undertake scientific geological research. In the first of these fields the Geological Survey of China can already point to a creditable series of achievements, such as the discovery and survey of a large number of iron ore deposits, which will soon be described in a monographic report, and the examination of numerous coal-fields, as well as metalliferous deposits. Among the latter are the antimony and mercury deposits, which have already been described in the bulletins issued by the survey. The general geological survey of the country has so far been restricted to the province of Chihli, Shantung, Shansi, Bonan, and Kiangsu, the larger part of those provinces being already mapped. It is the intention of the survey to publish sheet maps of the whole of China upon the scale of one to one million, and four such sheets are now in preparation. The scientific work of the survey has been confined principally to the study and description of the fossil remains occurring in the various geological systems, and to the determination of stratigraphic horizons. The survey has had the advantage of the cooperation of a famous paleontologist, Dr. A. W. Grabau, formerly professor of paleontology at Columbia University, who has made great progress in describing the invertebrate fossils. A number of Swedish scientists, acting as associate paleontologists to the survey, have, with the Swedish fund, made extensive collections of fossil plants, fossil mammals and the remains of prehistoric man, and these are now being studied by them. The results of these studies, together with Dr. Grabau's investigations on the invertebrate fossils, will be published in "the Paleontologic Sinica," a series of monographs, which is intended to comprise, as far as possible, descriptions and illustrations of all the fossils of China. Early in the history of the survey, the collections brought together by the field geologists, were arranged to form a small museum. This has grown constantly, until now it comprises 3,250 specimens of ores, minerals, rocks and fossils, properly labeled and exhibited under glass, in the compound of the Survey west city, Fong Shong Hutung, No. 3. In order to bring together an up-to-date geological library, the director of the survey, Dr. V. K. Ting, approached private individuals as well as mining companies, requesting them to contribute to a library fund. Through their generous response, forty thousand dollars were collected, and with this fund Dr. Ting has been able to erect a modern library building and bring together a collection of geological literature comprising at present 8,873 volumes. President Li Yuan Hung has taken a leading rôle among the individual donators, while among the mining companies the Kailan Mining Administration stands foremost through the generosity of its donation. It has been considered by the minister of agriculture and commerce, and by the director of the Geological Survey, that this institution has now reached such a stage of development that it is appropriate to throw the museum and the library open to the public. The opening ceremony took place on the seventeenth instant at four o'clock in the afternoon, in the lecture hall of the survey, and in the presence of a distinguished gathering of Chinese officials, headed by President Li Yuan Hung, who, himself a leading donor to the library fund, gave, by his presence, renewed evidence of his scientific interest and democratic spirit. Among other notable guests, we may specially mention the minister and vice-minister of agriculture and commerce, Their Excellencies Chang Kuo Kan and Chiang Tion To; the chiefs of the different departments of the ministry of agriculture and commerce; and delegates from other government museums in Peking, as well as many of the donators and other representatives of the mining industry. The guests were welcomed by the director of the survey, Dr. Ting, in the following words: "H. E. the President, Their Excellencies, the Minister and the Vice-Minister, our honored guests and my colleagues: It is my great privilege and pleasure to welcome you most heartily on behalf of the Geological Survey. First of all, I must thank the president, not only because he condescends to come to this ceremony, but also because he is one of the contributors to our building fund. In foreign countries it is not uncommon for the official head of the state to be present at the opening of a similar scientific institution, but, as far as I know, this is the first time in China that the President of the Republic honors such an occasion by his presence. This indicates the scientific interest as well as the democratic spirit of our president, for which we are sincerely grateful. "Secondly, I must thank the donors to our building fund. Without their generous help we would be still without a library. Furthermore they have come here to-day in spite of this very hot weather, so that we may have an opportunity to thank them publicly, and to show them what we have done with their money. It proves the real interest they take in our institution. I may add that this is also the first time that private generosity has helped a scientific institution belonging to the government. "Thirdly, I must thank my official superiors in the ministry of agriculture and commerce. In spite of the political changes that have taken place, they have always given us their support. They have not only provided us with sufficient funds in the time of great financial stringency, but they have also left to their responsible subordinate a great deal of freedom in administration, and in the appointment of the staff. Thus, with the exception of three men in charge of the business part of the institution, practically all the members are technical men. Again there is not a single extra man appointed beside the regular members, whose number is determined by the rules of the organization. Whatever result we have been able to achieve is entirely due to the confidence and guidance of our superiors. "Fourthly, I take this occasion to thank the members of my staff for their loyal cooperation. Because of the smallness of the staff, we are not able to put men solely in charge of the library and the museum. Practically every member has done his part, in order to render this opening possible. During this summer all have worked, through all the day, instead of only half a day, as in most of the government bureaus, and recently they have even worked on the national holidays and on Sundays. I therefore tender to both my foreign and Chinese colleagues my personal gratitude, and desire to tell our guests frankly that the results of the survey, such as they are, have been the work, not of one or two men, but of all the members of the organization. "For a summary of the history and the functions of the Geological Survey I refer you to the printed pamphlets. I wish only to tender to you once more our sincere thanks, before I respectfully request the President to deliver his address."' Following Dr. Ting's welcoming remarks, H. E. the President of China declared the Geological Survey Library and Museum opened to the public in the following words: Geology is by no means a new science in China; indeed, it originated here in very ancient times. In the book of Yu, the nature and color of soils were carefully discriminated. In the Chow Dynasty, a mining and geographical staff formed an important branch of the government organization. The book of Kwoitzu touches even on the principles of ore deposition and the manner of locating ore deposits. Since the Dynasty of Han and Wei, trained specialists on copper and silver were constantly employed by the government. Though their knowledge was fragmentary, and their results frequently inconsistent with modern ideas, we can not help thinking that the achievements of those pioneer workers entitles them to be considered as forerunners of the great army of investigators in the modern science of geology. It is only because of the lack of system in the methods of study of the ancient Chinese, that we are at present far behind other countries in this branch of science. As a result of this neglect in the development of this important branch of knowledge, our people remain poor and miserable, because we are not equipped with the necessary knowledge to develop our vast resources, which are at present almost untouched. As is well known, geology is most intimately related to mining, while mining is the foundation of a nation's prosperity. Important and fundamental though they are, our government has paid no attention to such investigations until very recently. The Geological Survey of China was organized in 1913, two years after the revolution. Having spared no efforts to overcome the many and serious obstacles in its path, this survey has now reached its present enviable position. This is due entirely to the efficient administration of its officers, and the ambitious labors of all its members. Under almost all kinds of difficult conditions, the members of the survey have willingly and earnestly enlisted to perform their duty-the work of collecting facts and materials, the mapping of many districts, and the study of the various problems connected with the mining industry. Recently the survey has purchased a large number of books in Europe, America and Japan, to serve the needs of its ever growing activities. In 1920 the new museum and library were established, this being made possible by contributions from outside sources. With these facilities, the survey is now able to arrange, in systematic manner, all the minerals, ores, rocks, fossils and books collected from time to time. To-day is the opening day for the public exhibition of the newly established museum and |