New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-22

p0Scd by Aubert, IN winch epeclh aweh'Oh wiz w
Paid to the considerable amount of active potash
salts present in coffee, The experiments, up to this
point. offer no explanation of the invigoratng effect
TO which coffee owes its popularity.
CONTROVERSY BETWEEN PAsTEUR ASD FRENZY
NJ. Frenzy, the wellknOwn opponent ei the theoIen-
cal views of Pasteur in regard to fermentation, &c"
claims to have produced alcoholic, tactic, ana buync
fermentation. and to have CAUSED fermentation III
the heart of organic cells in the absence ana
without the possible access of atmospheric germs.
he also claims to be able 70 show that alcohohc,
tactic, and butyric fermentation are not derived
from germs and transformed one into the other, OF
produced with the same organising and the same
fermentable liquors.
Posteur promptly responds TO this, by saying that
the CORN of the yeast from grapes 10 the Ihyeo-
derna RIM that grape yeast differs from beer yeast
properly so called in the fact that it has not single
cell Of the beer yeast; that grape yeast is Identical
with beer Yeast of low fermentation and that the
NycoderRa RIM is one of the germs most com
mon in the air. particularly in the Summer; although
it appears TO have two modes OF NE III mother
Gouors if seizes the oxygen of the air, and makes 1t
serve for its nutrition and delivers It IN the state OF
carbonic acid in fements, it develops itself free
from air. and becomes alcoholic and grape yeast
TREATMENT OF New DWELLING ROOMs.-The
dampness of newly finished rooms Is not due so
much TO the water used in mixing the plaster as TO
the water of hydration of the lime liberated by the
action of carbonic acid. The action of the small
quantity present in the normal atmosphere would
however be so slow, and the water be liberated so
gradually that no injurious effects could result But
as soon as the rooms become tenanted, the large
amount of carbonic acid given off in respiration
causes such rapid displacement Of water, and with
it other matters indicated by the peculiar odor, that
unpleasant and Injurious results may follow treat
ment of the rooms with carbonic acid before oceu-
pying them, suggests itself at once rs a means OF
| rendering them rapidly tenantable. Although, by
calculation ii would require the carbomc acid from
the combustion of about 800 pounds OF coal, TO dls-
place the hydTate in water III the walls Of room ol
about 500 square feet of surface, in practice the
consumption in o suitable way, of about five pounds
of charcoal per day. for five days, in the ROOM would
answer because the interior portions are protected
from rapid action of caTbOnic acid as soon as layer
of about one-tenth of an inch has been acted on.
This is proved by the fact that Prof Fuchs has de-
teced caustic lime in walls centuries old
TxTrnrArloN OF SuKwoRM DIsEAsE.-Perfoct
freedom from disease Of the silkworm moth,
from which the eggs for a succeeding crop are
to be obtained is considered of the utmost inpor-
lance since eggs from diseased insects are sure 10
produce diseased worms. For the purpose OF secur-
| ing the desired result, the Susani method IS now
largely adopted in France and Italy. This consists
in placing the male and female in little tue bag,
about four inches long and two inches wide which,
after being closed, is hung up Oh WIRE After the
eggs are deposited inside the tulle bag both moths
soon die and are then taken out of the bag put
into mortar, and crushed to powder. Distilled
water is next poured on the powder, and drop ex-
amined under a microscope. If the drop appears
clear both moths were healthy and the are con-
sidered healthy likewise Should, however glass
like crystalline body of an oval form be observed IN
the drop the eggs are doubtful and are rejected. Ii
two such bodies are seem the tule bag is burned at
/ once.
Susani employs o girls during the whole Winter,
each Of whom makes POO examinations daily. There
are sometimes as many as half million bags at
time hung up in large, warm rooms, where the Work
is carried on THIS tedious but sensible proceeding
has proved very effective and it is hoped that, in
| time Italy may be freed from the of the
| silkwOrm disease
THE PoTATo DISEASE IN GREAT BRTAIN.-Aver
interesting article upon the recent outburst of the
potato disease i'll Great Britain has been communi-
Gated by Mr. L. G. Smith to the October number of
Hardwickes Science Gossip. In this the author refers
TO the fact that ii was not until 1871 that the disease
| was brough; prominently into notice. although as
far back as 1880 disease OF the potato known in
Germany under the name of the dry rot. In its more
recent manifestations it appears to have been OBJ
served in Canada and the United States but not be
| fore its memorable outbuTst in Western Europe in
| 1916.
The tine cause of the evil Is now well ascertained
to consist in the dsOrganiZatOn of the tissues of the
! plants caused by n fungus known PcOHOSpOrG
| injcstaas This never develops itself the upper
surface of the leaf (which appears TO be quite i'm
perviOus to its attacks, and il seldom originates in
the stems; but the mycelal threads pass down from
the leaves and soon reach the tuber. The stem and
leaves then rapidly rot and fall off upon the EARTH
in an offensive mass. So rapid, indeed Is the growth
OF the fungus that in few days it will spread from
plant to plant a large tract, giving TO the field
the appearance Of having been attacked by frost.
The prime cause of the death of the leaf is probably
TO be found in the choking Of its breathing pores
sembling in measure the action Of Group in the hui
man subject. The emission of perspiration or mois-
tire from the leaf is thus prevented and the plant
becomes surcharged with moisture, which rapidly
rots the stems and leaves, the mycelium preying
upon the tissues.
1t is very common to find species of aphis upon
the leaves and stems Of the infected plant and many
persons have ascrbed to this minute insect the orr
gin and perpetuation Of the evil II is however the
opinion of most authorities that the disease is pri-
marily caused by the fungus, which attacks per-
fectly healthy plants and that the aphides simply
find in the resulting decay a suitable and agreeable
Testng-place.
WHY THERE is NO REMEDY FOR THE Potato
DIsEAsE.-In reply TO an assertion in The London
Magazine, that our ignorance of satisfactory
remedy for the potato disease is rather a stigma
upon modern science, an eminent naturalist rctOrts
that the investigations necessary 10 determine the
desired remedy require large expenditures of time and
money and that, if those who practically inter