At the meeting of the Royal Meteorological Society on February 15 last, an exhaustive paper was read by Messrs. Hermann Elias and J. H. Field on the scientific ascent of the balloon “ Brandeburg “ from Berlin on September 1, 1904. By reason of the excellent arrangements made for carrying out the observations, the ascent may well serve as an object-lesson in such work. It goes far to emphasise the usefulness of ascents with manned balloons for scientific observation, and reminds explorers of the air that though ballons-sondes are invaluable for carrying out observations with self-recording instruments at heights inaccessible to human beings and kites have their special value in affording opportunities of continued research in isolated conditions, still there is an undoubted gain when intelligence can regulate the use of instruments and apply them to the circumstances of the moment.