New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-22


of course be removed before the experiment.
EFFEcT OF VIOLET LIGHT on SILKwORMs.-It
was noticed by Prof. Guarnoni that while 30 per
cent of the slkworms exposed to white light died Of
disease scarcely 10 per cent of those exposed TO vo
let light died. although all other conditions were
the same. lie intends prosecuting experiments in
the coming year to determine whether this is simply
accidental.
SUPPLY OF NrTRE IN SOUTH Notwithstanding
to the Abb6 Moigno, there is, in single district Of
South America of about 4sS square miles. quantity
of soda nitro equal to GS0O0OOO tons, amount su
cient at the present rate of consumption for 1888
years; and still larger quantities of this salt are
found at The foot of the Cordilleas.
PREVENTION OF ACDlFIcNuoN IN BEER.-The
commercial Sulphite of lime. or, more properly
acid sulphite Of lime. has proved effective IN pre-
venting the souriug of beer, by the addition when
the cask is half flied, of one part of solution OF II
of specific gravity los to every 1000 parts of beer
the cask is TO contain. Adjudication OF wort III the
earlier stages. can also he checked by ITS use but
the acid already formed cannot be removed by IL
TRAVELLERS BEDs.-A very portable travelling bed
i manufactured by Saueman, of Flensbmg, Ter
MANY which can he rolled up like shawl in cyn-
drical FORM % TO 27i inches long, and to % mches
in diameter the price ranging from 80 90 to 81, ac-
cording to the size and quality. 1t consists OF
light hair mattress including single or double ar
pillows a fine wooden coveTlet, camp-sool' attach
Inents and cords for adapting the mattress as ham
mock and apparatus for filling the pillows with air
IpoN VESSELS FOR TRANSPORT OF SPIEITS-Iron
vessels for the transport of spirits are found to be
free from many of the defects of wooden ones espe
cially such cause loss. They are made of sheets
less than OnetcDth of an inch thick of cylindrical
FORM about A. inches long and % inches in diameter,
with ends slightly convex The bung is closed by
rubber disks and protected by wooden hoops ON each
side; there are thin iron hoops around each end and
the interior is protected from rusting by coating
of gum deXtrine.
ARIESTING DECAY OF POTuOEs.-Prof Church of
Cirencester the eminent agricultural chemist, an
nounccs that sulphite of lime appears TO exercise
very remarkable influence in arreSting the spread OF
decay in POTATOES affected by the potato disease In
one experiment the salt busted over some tubers
partially dccayed from this cause, they were be-
ing slowed away. Some months afterward the
potatoes were found to have suffered no further In
Jury similar trial with powdered lime proved to
De much less effective.
PTCInNG COMPOUND FOR WOODEN VESSELS
The following preparation has been patented by
Werner Of Mannheim: Two aud a half pounds OF
the best Coure cOpal is washed, powdered dried on
copper gauze or galvanized sheetiron, and dissolved
in Il pounds concentrated sulphuric ether and then
diluted with 10 pounds rectfed alcohol. The sou-
ton is then mixed with 50 pounds alcohol, 1Os
pound, OF seed lac, pound spcnnaceti, I pound
clyceriu. pound wax. pound Venetian turpentine,
aud distilled in an apparatus having worm.
WEypr', ToRsIoN CAR-SrEING.-Wendt the chief
locomotive engineer of the Berlin and GOrlitz Rail-
road. has obtained patent for a car-Spring which
depends upon tOrsiOn instead of 1oxion, as in tine
ordinary plate springs. and which, it is claimed, is
less liable to break gives greater security, with 20
per cent heavier load, is cheaper, and is easily at
tached 20 the car Incomplete experiments on the
above road indicate that the running is without
danger even after the accidental breaking of one
spring.
IMPROVED DRAWING INK.-The addition of one
part of carbolc acid to 80 parts of the fluid India
ink while it does not impair its uidity it to
dry rapidly even in heavy lines, so that they be
vanished over. The proper amount of carbolic
acid to be added in any may be ascertaned by
adding drop by drop the ordinary apothecaTys sOn-
ton Of il in alcohol until vanishing does not affect
the definition Of a test line by causing il to run.
The addition of too much carbOlic acid is indicated
by the transparency of the line AMI the inability to
draw fine lines a condition easily reInedied by the
addition Of more Of the fluid ink
WHITE METAL ALLOYS FOR MACIHNERY.-An alloy
of 90 per cent tin, s per cent anthony, and per
cent copper has been found excellent for crank and
connecting rod bearings on the Moscow and Nishni
Railroad. On the Kursk -CharcowAsOw Railroad an
per is considered very superior for pivots of all
kinds slide valves, eccentrics stuffing boxes, &c.
The Swiss Nord0stbahn Company, in ordering loco
motives recently required the following preparation
as a composition for axle journals 10 parts of anti
mony added to 10 parts of melted copper, with 80
parts of TN added and the alloy into bars to be
Gemelted for use.
EDmuITY OF THE Roofs OF THE WILD RICE
Prof GRAY in The american Journal Of Science calls
attention to an article by DR.. Hance upon Chinese
culinary vegetable named Kdn-sun, the shoots of
which constitute one Of the finest vegetables known
being. when boiled, much ike green corn, but of q
peculiar. rich delcacy. These shoots come from a
plant very closely allied to- perhaps even identical
with. our American wild rice (HydroppUm lah-
foIam-Zy.ania aquaticd), and it is suggested that
the wild rice NAV at any rate afford similar esculent
roots The professor therefore, thinks the sugges-
ton worth attending to, and it is to be hoped that
some one will try the experiment as TO the edible
qualities Of the plant in question.
UTILIZATION OF DISEASED POTATOEs.-The extern
sive failure of the potato crop in Great Britain in
consequence of the prevalence of rust and rot is a
subject of grave moment, as bearing upon the vel
fare of the laboriDg classes and method Of utiliz
ing the diseased potatoes has been made public at
the instance of the British Government This de-
ponds upon the fact that the starch of the potato is
not affected by the disease but retains its nuritiye