460 SCHOOL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

sics, chemistry, etc. In the home one uses many devices aboutwhich one must have at least a fundamental knowledge of sciencefor their successful operation, repair, and renewal. For the farmerthe daily delivery of mail, the telephone, and the automobilehave done much to raise his standard of living. He no longeris isolated and his children may receive an education as goodas that of children of the city.The study of science branches is started early in the grades,

especially nature study, physiology, hygiene, and general science.There are very few of the younger generation today who haveno.t had some science training. It follows, then, that the publicshould be able to read with understanding the type of advertisingdiscussed in this article; and secondly, that the type reflects, ina measure, the thought and life of today.Another phase of this matter may be suggestive and of in-

terest to some. Reference has been made to the excellent picturesin some of the ads. I have made much use of them in opaqueprojection. For instance, as a review in physics nothing servesbetter than to study the automobile to illustrate the applicationof principles in mechanics, heat, electricity, and light. The cutsfrom ads and catalogs thrown on the screen are very valuablefor their aid in holding the,interest of the pupils.

SHELLS THAT REVEAL THE AGE OF ROCKS.The little jelly-like animals which the scientist calls Foraxninifera

swarm so abundantly in the sea that their tiny cast-off shells in someplaces make up a considerable part of the sediments which are laid downon the sea bottom and which in time may become beds of rock in a landarea. The small size and the compactness of these shells protect themfrom some of the accidents that befall the remains of larger animals, sothat in many samples of well borings the Foraminifera are the only shellsthat have survived in recognizable form the vicissitudes of drilling.In the hands of specialists trained to identify fossils the Foraminiferamay furnish the only available clue to the age of the rock inclosing themand consequently to the existence of strata or structure favorable orunfavorable to the accumulation of oil, gas, or water. Thus the "spec-tacled scientist," who may really look like an alert business man, becomesthe helpful adviser of the "practical" oil geologist or the well driller.

The- United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior,has recently issued a report that may be of great value in the search forunderground water, oil, and gas. This report, prepared by Joseph A.Cushman and issued as Survey Bulletin 676, contains descriptions ofsome species of Foraminifera from the Miocene and Pliocene formationsof the Coastal Plain of the United States and is abundantly illustrated withfigures, many times magnified, of these minute organisms.A copy of Bulletin 676, which is purely technical, may be obtained

without cost by applying to the l^irector of the United States GeologicalSurvey, Washington, D. C.