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Lesson X. —Chlorine, its preparation from hydrochloric acid and manganese-dioxide ; and also from common salt, manganese-dioxide, and sulphuric acid. Properties of chlorine : —colour, solubility, power of bleaching, its affinity for hydrogen and metals. Bleaching powder. Lesson Xl. —The atmosphere —a mechanical mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, containing small quantities of other gases. Solubility of air. Carbonic-acid gas in the atmosphere ; produced by combustion and respiration. Necessity for ventilation. How plants restore oxygen to the atmosphere. Lesson Xll. —Aqueous vapour in the atmosphere, proofs of its presence. Ammonia in the atmosphere ; produced by the decomposition of nitrogenous organic matter ; acts as a plant-food. Nitric acid in the atmosphere, how produced. Impurities in the air of towns. Sulphur-dioxide; produced by the burning of coal containing iron-pyrites. Organic matter in the air. Becapitulatory lessons will be given as time permits. Third Stage. —"The properties of carbon and its chief inorganic compounds. Differences between metallic and non-metallic bodies. Combination by weight and volume. The use of symbols and chemical formulae." Syllabus of Fortnightly Demonstrations. Lesson I. —Definition of the term "symbol"; differences between symbols; symbols of the metallic and non-metallic elements. Lesson II. —Comparative abundance of the elements ; elements concealed in compounds; other uses of symbols; how to represent more than one atom of the same element. Lesson 111. —Nature of chemical formulae ; how formulas represent compounds; how to express any given number of molecules; formulas of certain binary, ternary, &c, compounds; composition and number of molecules ; how to calculate the number of atoms in molecules. Lesson TV. —Differences between metallic and non-metallic bodies; number of the known chemical elements; division of the elements into metals and non-metals; the fifteen non-metals ; state of the non-metallic elements ; the fifty-five metals ; nature of metals; properties of metals— lustrous, good conductors of heat and of electricity, &c Lesson V. —The elementary body called carbon; meaning of the word " allotropic " ; crystallized carbon —the diamond ; graphite or plumbago ; amorphous carbon ; charcoal; charcoal as an absorber of gases. Lesson Vl. —Carbon contained in coal; coke as an amorphous kind of carbon ; gas-carbon; lamp-black as an allotropic form of carbon ; bone-black ; how to prove that these various forms of carbon are all composed of the same element. Lesson Vll. —lnorganic compounds of carbon; meaning of the word " inorganic " ; two important inorganic compounds formed by the combination of carbon with oxygen ; carbonic-acid gas, its nature and preparation ; action of acids upon carbonates; properties of carbonic-acid gas. Lesson VIII. —Carbonic-acid gas (continued) :It does not support respiration; also known as choke-damp ; test for carbonic-acid gas ; nature of lime-water; action upon carbonic-acid gas upon lime-water ; carbonic-acid gas in the breath ; composition of the air ; how plants absorb carbonicacid gas. Lesson IX. —Carbonic oxide : Its preparation by passing carbonic-acid gas over heated coke or charcoal; carbonic-acid gas absorbed by caustic soda; the chemical changes in a coal-fire ; preparation of carbonic oxide from oxalic acid, and also from a mixture of yellow prussiate of potash and sulphuric acid ; properties of carbonic oxide. Lesson X. —Carbonic acid proper ; how carbonates are formed ; carbonate of lime, and its occurrence in nature as chalk, limestone, &c,; use of limestone as a flux ; quicklime, its nature and composition. Lesson Xl. —Chemical combination; chemical compounds are definite in composition ; combination always takes place in definite proportions ; Dalton's Atomic Theory ; atomic weights and combining weights; chemical combination in multiple proportions ; combining weights of compounds. Lesson Xll. —Chemical combinations by volume; use of the word "volume"; chemical equations express combination by volume as well as by weight; the metric system of weights and measures; equations correct for all weights and all measures; thermometer-scales ; how to convert Fahrenheit degrees to Centigrade, and vice versa. Becapitulatory lessons will be given as time permits. The following text-books in elementary science are authorised by the Birmingham School Board : Harrison's " Mechanics," Parts 1, 2, and 3, Is. each, Nelson and Sons, London; Harrison's "Science of Home Life," Parts 1, 2, and 3, Is. each, Nelson and Sons, London; Harrison's "Chemistry," Parts 1, 2, and 3, sd. each, Blaikie and Sons, London; Harrison and Bailey's " Chemistry for All," Is. 6d., Blaikie and Sons, London.

Instruction of Sixth and Seventh Standard Scholars. —In several districts I found that these boys were instructed at special centres, known as higher-grade centres, where every facility in the way of room and appliances was provided. This is, naturally, a considerable saving in expense". I would suggest similar centres being established at one of the larger schools in each city and at the larger country centres. (See "Higher-grade Schools," in Section 3.) Training of Teachers and Peripatetic Demonstrations. —In Birmingham, Liverpool, and London peripatetic science demonstrations are employed. In Birmingham lessons are given once fortnightly, of about forty-five minutes' duration, to boys in the Fifth and higher standards in each school. These lessons are illustrated experimentally with apparatus carried from school to school in a handcart. Between the visits of the science demonstrator, at least one lesson is given to the