graphs. The encounter with electrons produces no deviation in the path of the particle. What, then, is responsible for the sudden deflections? They can only be produced by a very powerful center of force within the atom whose mass is at least comparable with the mass of the helium atom, i. e., the a-particle. The fact that the photographs show that the a-particle goes through as many as 500,000 atoms without approaching near enough to the central nucleus to suffer appreciable deflection more than two or three times, constitutes the most convincing evidence that the central nucleus, which holds the negative electrons within the atomic system as the sun holds in their courses the planets of the solar system, occupies an exceedingly minute volume. The evidence which has been reviewed in this article shows the atom to be mostly "hole." The nature of the very small amount of matter present in the nucleus and other points in connection with atomic structure will be considered in a later issue.

THE FIRST INTEREST INSTALLMENT.

On December 15 the first installment of interest on the two billion dollars of the first issue of Liberty Loan bonds became due. The amount approximated $35,000,000, being $1.75 interest on every one hundred dollars of bonds.

Holders of coupon bonds obtain their interest money from any bank or post office in the country by simply presenting their coupons. Holders of registered bonds are sent checks for their interest by the Treasury.

Hereafter every six months ten to fifteen million American citizens are to receive interest money on their Liberty Loan bonds from the United States Government. This is going to create a closer and more direct association of these citizens with their Government, and the effect of this association is going to be of great value to these citizens and of great value to the nation in making them more personally interested in their Government and more active and alert in the exercise of their duties and rights as citizens. Every Liberty Bond holder. is going to be an active champion of wise and economic legislation and administration.

The Liberty Loan is not only a great financial transaction; it is a great national force, a great national bond between the bondholders and their country, a great influence for better government and better citizenship.

ADVOCATES WATER-POWER LEGISLATION.

Noting the efforts of past years toward the enactment of legislation relating to the development of the water power of the nation, the Secretary of Agriculture, in his annual report, says that "it becomes increasingly urgent that amendments to existing law be made and that a wellrounded policy be decided upon." The report continues:

"The present industrial situation, and particularly the scarcity and high cost of fuel and construction materials, have increased the cost of steam power and make it highly important that action be taken at the next session of Congress. Legislation which will make it possible to safeguard the public interests, and at the same time to protect private investors, should result in securing cheaper water power and in conserving the coal and fuel-oil supply. Since three departments of the Government are vitally concerned in water-power legislation and its possible terms and would be vitally affected by the administrative handling of matters under such legislation, it would seem desirable to consider whether it is feasible to devise an executive body on which the three departments will be represented and which will be able to utilize to the best advantage all their existing agencies."

MINUTES OF THE EARTH SCIENCE SECTION OF CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

TEACHERS.

Meeting of Section called to order by the chairman, W. R. McConnell, State Normal School, Platteville, Wis.

Announcements: Nominating Committee: Dr. Geo. D. Hubbard, Oberlin, Ohio; Miss Josephine Leach, Toledo University, Toledo, Ohio. Reception at Library at 4:30 p. m. Dinner, Oxley Hall, 6 p. m. Lecture at University Chapel at 8:15 p. m.; topic, "Mt. Katmai-The Mountain of 10,000 Smokes," Dr. Robert Griggs, Ohio State University. Program: "The Home State as a Geographic Unit," D. C. Ridgeley, State Normal University, Normal, Ill.

A paper, "The Materials for the Geography of South America," Isaiah Bowman, Director of American Geographic Society, N. Y., was read by title only, Mr. Bowman not being present.

B. H. Schockel, State Normal School, Terre Haute, Ind., read an interesting paper on "The Geographic Influences in the French and Indian War." The third speaker was Miss Josephine Leach of Toledo University, Toledo, Ohio, who spoke on "The Aims of Geography in the Elementary School." Miss Leach says geography is no longer a textbook only; the world of today must be brought into the classroom. Let the textbook be a book of reference. Use topics, as: South America. What are the natural controls? What helps? What hinders? What are the life responses to these natural controls? Compare South America with other continents. Groups of suggestive questions may be given, one or more to be chosen. Have some pivotal questions as, "Why is Africa the 'dark continent?' Try to set up geographic concepts that may be used to measure and compare with other geographic matter as it comes to the attention of the student.

"The Aim and Content of Junior High School Geography," was discussed by W. M. Gregory, Normal Training School, Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Gregory gave a suggestive course for the Junior High Schools; the work that is being tried out in Cleveland is the study of Cleveland-the geographic factors of its growth and development, its industries, people, trade, its needs and how they are supplied, its commercial products, the disposition of the same, etc.

After an animated discussion of all papers, the Section adjourned to meet again Saturday morning.

Saturday, December 1, 10 a. m. Meeting called to order by President McConnell. Announcements, reports, etc.:

Excursions for afternoon: By automobile to filtration and garbage disposal plants. By interurban to glens worn in the shales of the upper Devonian; excursion conducted by Dr. John Bownocker, State Geologist. Report of Nominating Committee, Dr. Hubbard, Chairman: Chairman for 1918, Mabel Stark, State Normal, Normal, Ill.; Vice-Chairman, C. H. Robinson, Montclair, N. J.; Secretary, Martha Linquist, Belvidere, Ill.; Chairman of Reception Committee, Eugene Van Cleef, Duluth, Minn.

Program:

"Reasons for Giving Geography a Greater Place in the High Schools," paper by Dr. Geo. D. Hubbard, Oberlin, O.

"Commercial Geography for the High Schools, Scope of a Unit Course," J. Paul Goode, Chicago University, Chicago, Ill.

A letter and rtial report from J. H. Smith, Austin High School, Chicago, Ill., was read. Mr. Smith was chairman of a committee ap

pointed in 1916 to outline a course of Earth Science work for the reorganized high schools. The committee had not yet worked out a course of study that would be suited to the high schools as they are now conducted-Junior and Senior High Schools. One fact agreed upon was that more time should be spent on the social aspects and less on the physical. The attention of the whole section was given to the partial report of the committee, all those present taking part in the discussion. The matter is considered of such importance now in this reorganization time in the high schools that a motion was made to continue the committee. Mr. Smith has sent word that it would not be possible for him to be chairman. The motion was therefore amended to read: "Resolved, That a committee be appointed to go on with the work so well begun, and to bring in next year a course of study in Earth Science that will be suited to the Junior and Senior High School courses. Carried, Committee will be announced later.

STELLA S. WILSON,
Secretary pro tem.

MINUTES OF THE MATHEMATICS SECTION OF THE CENTRAL ASSOCIATION
OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS.
November 30, 1917, 1:30 p. m.

The meeting convened with Mr. W. W. Hart of the University of Wisconsin in the chair, the general topic of discussion being mathematical aims and requirements.

Professor Harris Hancock, University of Cincinnati, read a paper on "What Course of Study Should be Taken by a Boy or Girl in High School "

Mr. Hart opened the discussion with the remark that there are educational aristocrats and educational democrats and that the judgment of the many is, in many things, of equal value to the judgment of the few. Mr. Weaver of Ohio State University thought most of us miss the point of what to aim at in the educational scheme. Is it general education or special that is wanted? It is not so much subject matter as aims. Mr. Comstock of Bradley Polytechnic Institute warned that the last word had not yet been said, that answers and questionnaires were not to be taken as final. If a man says mathematics gave him power of analysis then find out how much mathematics he had and what he did in the subject. A lawyer pinned down to answer whether geometry had helped, "Wasn't sure.' Perhaps power came from other subjects. We must prove our point.

Further discussion was postponed until after Mr. Foberg's report from the Committee on Mathematical Requirements.

Report: The committee's work has been largely tentative as to: The value of mathematics for high school students; adaptation necessary to assure results but actual in the study of: Valid aims in teaching mathematics; bases of objection to mathematics; formal discipline, transfer of training, coefficient of correlation.

Mr. Foberg put much emphasis on the need of proving our point, not merely saying that mathematics is good for a student but showing why.

Investigation in the question of "transfer" has shown that much of the objection has been loudly voiced without foundation in proof. Miss Blair finds many instances of "transfer" and means are developing for showing coefficient of correlation between two subjects.

Mr. Foberg presented four suggestions for consideration. Each with the action taken by the Section is given:

1. The Section should have a cooperating committee for the coming year. Same committee was continued.

2. There should be one year of required mathematics for every boy and girl. Discussion: The Section seemed to feel this a lowering of standard until reports showed many schools where no mathematics is required. Final action was not taken.

3. Steps should be taken by Section to bring about revision of college entrance requirements. Discussion showed that students who have had only one year of mathematics try for exams for which prerequisite is two years. Also college entrance requirements in one section of the country dominate requirements for the whole and form an insurmountable difficulty to improvement in mathematics teaching. Work was referred to the general committee at the suggestion of Miss Sykes.

Mr. Comstock's motion carried: That the Publicity Committee take steps to spread the findings of the Committee on Requirements before superintendents and principals at their meeting and in whatever other way they deem possible or advisable in conference with a similar committee of the American Mathematics Association.

4. The actual condition in regard to findings about formal discipline should be spread abroad. The Section approved the suggestion and asked. to have information sent to others than mathematics people as well as to those naturally interested.

Committees appointed: Nominating Committee-Mr. Cobb, Chairman; Mr. Davis. Committee on Finance-Mr. Comstock, Chairman; Mr. Crandall, Miss Hunt.

Saturday Morning Session.

The Saturday morning meeting was addressed by Mr. S. A. Courtis, Supervisor of Educational Research, Detroit, Michigan, on "Measurement of Products ot Teaching High School Mathematics."

In the discussion which followed, valuable suggestions were given as to tests which teachers could make at the present time. Reference was made to the book, "Educational Tests and Standards," by Walter S. Munro (published by Houghton Mifflin Company).

The report of Committee on First Year Mathematics was submitted, briefly discussed and referred again to the committee for completion, with the suggestion that copies be put in the hands of every member of the Section and each member send in suggestions as to changes. Committee reports: Nominating Committee, Mr. Foberg, Chairman; Mr. Crosby, Vice-Chairman; Miss Atkin, Secretary. Ballot ordered cast by Secretary.

ETHEL JAYNES,
Secretary pro tem.

MATHEMATICS

SOUTHERN

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE AND

ASSOCIATION MEETING OF DECEMBER 20, 1917. The nineteenth semi-annual meeting of the Southern California Science and Mathematics Association was held on December 20, 1917, in the science building of the Manual Arts High School, Los Angeles, Cal.

Only one afternoon was given to the general session as well as the Section meetings, as the Association meeting was held in connection with the combined institutes of the Los Angeles City and county. These furnished a large and varied program continued throughout the week of December 17 to 21. About a hundred members were present and a very interesting and profitable program was enjoyed.

The chief speakers on the program were Dr. Babcock, who has been associated with George Ellery Hale in his work on the Council of De

fense, and Professor Laird Stabler of the University of Southern California, a recognized authority on petroleums. Their subjects, "Science and the War" and "Synthetic Gasoline" give some indication of the interest with which they were received by the audience.

At the business meeting which followed, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year.

President-Miss Agnes Wolcott, Long Beach High School.
Vice-President-Prof. E. E. Chandler, Occidental College.

Secretary-Treasurer-Miss Harriett S. King, Pasadena High School. The following officers were reported elected at the meetings of the various Sections:

Mathematics Section.

Chairman-Prof. Paul Arnold, University of Southern California.
Secretary-Mrs. E. C. Farnum, Manual Arts High School, Los Angeles.
Earth Science Section.

Chairman-Mrs. Helen V. Peasley, 14th St. School, Los Angeles.
Secretary-Miss Minnie Reed, Berendo Int. School, Los Angeles.

Biology Section.

Chairman-L. R. Longworthy, Manual Arts High School, Los Angeles.
Secretary-Miss Grace M. Abbott, Venice High School.
Physics-Chemistry Section.

Chairman-A. Haven Smith, Riverside High School.
Secretary-C. W. Gray, Hollywood High School.

"Kerosene emulsion is used for cleaning the carpet beetle and washing the floor so that they might not appear. It may be used for cleaning bedbugs also."

"Ichneumon fly is a parasite living on caterpillars. It stings the caterpillar and stays with its head buried until the caterpillar is dead."

"Beeswax is made by the workers. When the workers eat a lot of honey they sit still for a long time and wax forms in their wax pockets."

ARTICLES IN CURRENT PERIODICALS.

American Mathematical Monthly, for December; 5548 Kenwood Ave., Chicago; $3.00 per year: "Cavalieri's Theorem in his own Words," George W. Evans; "Mathematical Forms of Certain Eroded Mountain Sides," T. M. Putnam; "The Obsolete in Mathematics," G. A. Miller; "A Substitute for Dupin's Indicatrix," C. L. E. Moore; "The Work of the National Committee on Mathematical Requirements," J. W. Young.

Geographical Review, for February; Broadway at 156th Street, New York City; $5.00 per year, 50 cents a copy: "The Eskimos of Northern Alaska: "A Study in the Effect of Civilization, "Diamond Jenness. (1 map, 7 photos); "The Isolation of the Lower St. Lawrence Valley," Roderick Peattie. (1 map, 8 photos); "Our Waterway Requirements,' Robert M. Brown; “Ocean Temperatures Off the Coast of Peru," R. E. Coker; "Some Chinese Contributions to Meteorology," Co-Ching Chu; "New Evidence That Cook Did Not Reach the Pole."