Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-10-08

frOf. f. N. HorsfOrd, OF Harvard, on The
Permeabilty Of Metals to Mercury 1t has
been observed by Daniel that bars of lead,
tin and zinc, become penetrated by mercury
when partially or wholly immersed in it. Prof.
Henry modified the experiment Of Daniel, in
the case Of lead. bending the bar into the form
Of a syphon. one end only Of which was i'm
merscd in the mercury; and made the beautiful
and curious discovery that mercury may not
only be carried through the bar in this form,
but that it will drop from the longer division Of
the bar; thus performing the syphon expert
ment with solid bar of lead for the tube, and
mercury tor the liquid. Prof Horsford in his
communication, gave the results at which he
arrived in studying the laws Of this phenome-
non. These, though, perhaps interesting to
the man of science, yet seem to have no practi-
cal bearing. and would BIZ useless to the gen.
eral reader. He found that lead and tin are the
most rapidly penetrated by mercury; tin being
more susceptible than lead and zinc, his exper-
iments demonstrated that gold, silver and cad
MUM, were permeable to mercury.
ANALYSIS OF THE MusxxElLoS, AND Wafer
NELoS.-The succeeding communication was
from DR.. G. H. Salisbury, Of Albany, contain
ing the results of analysis Of the Nutmeg, Musk
melon and. W attermelon. OF 100 parts Of Musk
! melon, nearly 81 are water; of watermelon. IS.
The muskmelon contains but triHe more wa
ter than the beet; the watermelon more than
the muskmelon, and less than the cucumber
With respect to inorganic matter, 81, 900 lbs, OF
muskmeions, and Al, 323 of Watermelons, con.
tains each 100 lbs The muskmelon, as well
as the watermelon, contains a large per centage
of phosphoric and acid and soda. The occur.
renee Of these substances in such quantities in
those plants, explains why dead animal mat
ter, common salt and ashes, have such an in
auence in promoting their growth and produc
tiveness. Melons contain a large per centage Of
the proxmate elements. albumen, casein, dex-
trine and sugar, with little acid, which gives
them their peculiar rich flavor The melon
furnishes mild but very pleasant liquor. For
this use the muskmelon is much superior to
the watermelon. t.a..aH
FLOWERS IN CALrrRosrA-Of the papers pre-
sented during the afternoon of the second day
the most important was one by DR.. John L. LIZ
Conte of New York. on the Geographical Dis.
tribution of Animals in California From i,
we extract the following paragraphs relative to
the flowers, of CALIFORNIA;
1T is well-known that the abundance and
beauty of California flowers during the early
weeks of spring are SO great that the whole
country appears like ahighly cultivated garden
tits difficult for the traveller to believe that the
elaborate arrangement Of colors which every
where meet his eye, is the result Of purely nat.
ural causes; irresistibly the attention Of even
the most superficial observer is drawn towards
the delicate forms Of vegetation which surround
him. As compared with the eastern part Of
the continent, the greater dryness and clear
ness ofthe atmosphere tend to suppress the TO-
liage of plants. while they deveope their flow.
ers in a wonderful degree.
| While the attention Of the traveller is thus
directed to the brilliant colors and peculiar
forms Of the flowers, he will not be less con.
scious Of a remarkable phenomenon, which
greatly adds to the pleasure Of travelling, and
in the flower season. at least, makes full amends
for the absence Of trees.
The flowers Of to-day will not be seen to.
morrow-and even with the slow manner Of
travelling usually practised in California, q
period Of two or three days is sufficient to
charge all most all the plants. Nor is this 4
change produced merely by latitude or ele-
vation.' e,8
The remainder IF the Doctors communica-
ton. which treats Of the analogy between the
distribution Of the plants and animals Of this
new addition to our republic, is very technical,
and consequently too uninteresting for most
readers ..s -u
1t is our intention to continue this subject
until we have exhausted the store house Of in
teresting facts ard observations. collected BY
the members Of this Association. y.p.p.