New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-04

mica powder. instead of bronze and the following
process is recommended, by Schelhass, of Munich
as afording cheap. durable, and beautiful coating
for such articles superior metallic bronze IN being
unaffected by suphurOus vapors, aud capable OF
being freed from dust aud dirt, without INJURY, by
washing. Mica scales, perfectly whitened by boil
ing with hydrOchorc acid, or by calclnall2uii az
washed and dried and finely pulverized by gTIndngi
sitting, and elutTiation, then stirred INTO uih'u
cOilOdiOn, ana laid on, number OF times hAe
color, with a soft brush.
differentiation OF FIELD MICE-The question
Of the best method Of exterminatng heid mice Is.
one that occupies the attention of the German agr
culturists to a much greater extent than III our
country, where it is only exceptionally that Ihe
numbers of these pests become so great as 10 cause
very serious mischief. Their raVages III America
appear in a considerable degree, to be confined 10
the destruction of young trees IN nurseries during
the Winter season; but IN Germany the loss OF
crops annually is said TO represent avery consdera-
BILE percentage SO grave, indeed, is the importance
of the question that invokes from time to time the
direct action Of the Government of the several States
which pay out large sums every year, although the
prce per capita for the destruction of the mice is
fixed nj a very low rate They also give rewards for
the best kind of traps and best modes of settnghem
"a well as of poisoning where traps are insufficient
the government of WuTttemburg is gram soaheu III
an alcoholic solution of strychnlne But lnls j
said not to penetrate deep enough 10 answer liS
pose the rains washing il off and rendering loV
nous the etrychnine being left rs powdered coat
ing on the evaporation of the alconOl lhls pIoPla
ton has. therefore, been replaced TO advantage uy
solution of the aTsenite of soda or potash cOloJu
red by fuchsin as TO make III more uIS
able This has proved 10 answer tOieIau!y Woh
but still more approved preparation consists III
mixture of one part of arsenic two parts OF uieal
and two parts of brown syrup or sugar IhaS up.O
little balls pills This answers an eNGelent I,,
pose for DISCRIMINATING mice around the mouse; put
If used in the field il becomes necessary 10 take some
precaution to prevent its being devoured py nI9s
and domestic animals To AVOID thls ulneulpy ~ -
placed within the households OF run-ways, when
are then closed by stamping upon them. By the
systematic application of this remedy II is sau InaU
fields completely Overrun have been freed rom mice
in the course of few weeks.
Discovery AND Use OF NATURAL PHoSPHATEs.-
According to DR.. Never, the discovery of phOspho-
rus in human urine in 1862 by the alchemist Brand,
did not reveal its Importance in the economy OF
nature aud although, before 1900, its existence IN
some plants had also been demonstrated, no one
seemed t. suspect connection between these facts
or to inquire into the source of the phosphorus IN
either case, or recognize iii 1t universal ana IN
dispensable constituent of the animal and vegetable
Kingdoms. Phosphoric acid was, of course, dScov-
cred at the same time; but with the transmutatiOn
"a
ytriol and muratc acid until its specific properties
were pointed out by Marggrof in 174S. 1t is fact,
indicative of the difficulties of the first stages OF
Discovery that the recognition made by Calm OF
phosphOric acid in the bones did not take place for
full century after the detection of phosphorus, and
"A quarter of century after that of phosphorlc
acid although bones were universally and daily III
the hands of all classes, and seemed TO he Just the
portion of the body to invite the lnVe>tlga-
ton of physicians. who were also, almost
ALWAYS chemists. 1t was, therefore, surprise when
Dr. Calm in $780, found the same acid abundantly
present in the mineral kingdom, in pyromorphlte,
and that Klaproth and NauQuelin ascertained that
apatite was similar in composition TO the earthly
portion of the bones The vast importance of these
simple. isolated facts-of the discovery of phospho-
rus in the three natural kingdoms-was not dreamed
of by these investigators, and they in nOwise sus
pected the part played by the acid lone similar to
that Of carbon and nitrogen in continual, M
changing circulation through these Kingdoms, as
water alone was at one time thought capable Of.
IL was shortly after also sought for in animal fluids,
especially in the blood and as soon as I'M
proved processes especially Of analytical chemistry.
rendered it possible, the general statement became
allowable that phOsphOnc acid is present IN all am
NAL fluids circulates through all the channels OF
the body, and is absolutely Indispensable in build
ing m the solid portions and in the performance Of
the functions of the most important fluids, although
il WAS i'm many cases, detected with difficulty IN all
the solids and fluids Of animals, on account Of its
very small percentage. The origin of this phos-
phors in the animal must be sought for in the yege
table kingdom and it may be assumed that one per
cent of phosphoric acid Is present in grain, one
third per cent in straw, one-half per cent in air
dried hay. One-ifteenth per cent IN potatoes ana
one twelfth per cent an undred fodder. However
although ID was recognized rs indispensable 10 yege
table uutriment, agTicultuUsts he'd no thought OF
snprlving il or any other ingredient To the soil,
artiGciallv. until the well known chemist, klap
roth IN 1884, in bis investigation OF leuclte. was led
by The unusual loss IN his analyses to the dis
cOvery If potash "a tat mineral HesaW ID ms as
eOverV the possibility of entire revolution III thc
system If natural history and from TINS polnt NeSe
table chemistry took new departure, Dy earnestly
in0uiring into the origin Of the constituents OF the
ashes Instead Of remaining satisfied WITH the simple
assumption that they were pToducfd ny I'VE p ,ahi
Hence the invaluable practical results OF the search
after the source of phOsphorc ACID, ana the hhu
conclusion bat such plants as grow on soils appa
rently free from phosphorus ana whlch Het acEu!hu
late pbOshoTic acid in the seed are able to detect
this substance, essential to Their HE more leauiy
than chemical reagents can The idea oil MAINTAIN
ing and assisting the proper NE Oh pan, Oy iui
Disling the necessary elements was hrst Droached
by Liebig who showed that plants must OBTAIN ma
terals for their growth from the SOIL, lnstead OF
from the all and water alone as previously supposed
Waters were examined as 10 the substances WITCH
they brought from the earth IN SOLUTION SOILS were
analysed &c. Apatlte was recognized as jhe Ollgi-
nal source of the phosphOTc acid circulating through
The animal, vegetable and mineral Kingdoms;
FeTtllizing with bones was first appreciated
in England. Hunter, in 1774 recommended 1t. and
experiments were made with bone dust; ana IN
Sheffield the waste from the manufacture OF knife
handles &c. was used in this way. While expert
ments were made in Germany in few localities,
and recommended by the Government. bones We're
largely exported to England and II was shown thar,
in $50 alone over 600 tons had been sent from the
recent batte-feds to London. Although II was
noticed that English farmers, who employed bone
dust, became prosperous, and that SOILS not woith
cnltiyatinV before thereby grew fruitful, fertzing
by means Of guano was the first method adopted by
the Germans and through it they learned TO apprecI-
ate their domestic resources in bones. For centuries
the manuring of vines and olive trees with bones IN