New-York tribune., 1874-05-16
APPLIED SCIENCE.

MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION or TIE POTATO FUN
cus-The Royal Agricultural Society Of England
has granted the sum of one hundred pounds sterling
towards assisting Prof de Bary of Strasburg In in
| vestipating the life history of the potato fungus
(Perorospoya intestans) This s in accordance with
the determination of the Society after an eXamina-
ton of over eighty papers presented IN cohpetlton
for the prize offered by Earl Catheart Tor satisac-
tory demonstration of the cause ana cure oi the
potato disease None of these was considered worthy
f Tho nrize and as the entire question was thought
to rest upon the Of antagohzing ,he luheus'
it was determined to enlist the services VI com
petent mcroscopst and cryptogamist In the iurtAer
| inquiry.
| THE EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUs.-Accorulhst 10 com
| munication by Mr.. Sowerty to the hoyaI Dotahical
Society the Eucalyptus G'obuias the pant so much
talked about recently. grows hney III tnc oocie'y
Gardens onc spccimcp seven years DID, being fifteen
foot bigb Exnerimeats were under way for trying
its growth in the open air. but it was thought that
oxcont in the extreme south west OF England, it
| would not stand ~ ordinary English Winter.
Prof. Bentley stated that although probably some
If the nronerties of the Eucalyptus arc exaggerated
ts efficiency iu fevers has been well established and
that il is useG with success IN AustIalla ana else
where as a remedy in such cases III Is l9nhu' now
ever not To possess any of the cinohona akaoIds as
| had been previously claimed. Inc virtues OF the
tree in case of draining marshy lahus ana IN I'M
proving the sanitary condltoh 4 pa Houhiy Ill Mie
aIso dwelt upon. II was stated that ts plant yields
thc Furalvptua oil now imported INTO England, and
that il also yields astringent substance, Wbch IS
applicable, Ike catechu, IN medicine ana al lhe ats
Tur Rrr ,T1oSsUIP BETWEEN ELECTRICITY. HEAT.
| Ann NorvcrIAR FoRCEs.-Prof. Barrett of Dublin
calls attention TO certain remarkable molecular
changes occurring in IRON wire at low red heat
Mr. Gore in 1862 published the important fact that
when an iron wire is heated to bright incandescence
and then allowed to cool, a momentary eiongatlon
occurs lust after has begun to contract by cooling
Mr.. Barrett having undertaken further to lnyesti-
gate this subject finds that during the preliminary
heating of the wire slight and momcntary retro
pression in the otherwise regular expansion was
noticed at temperature corleSPonuing 10 ihe
poyerfu Jerk that occurred on cooling ana, again.
IL was evident that the anomalous depOftlheLt OF
the iron occurred at approximately the same TEN
peraturc AZ which iron undergoes magnetic chahee'
All kinds of iron do not exhibit this behavior some
showing il in more or less marked degree barrett
was not able to detect any change III heating or
cooling In certain specimens on Eoou' soli IRON w.re,
but in hard IRON wIre and notably III steel wlre 1t Is
very apparent
SUBSTITUTION OF CHARCOAL FOR LIME IN RE-
| MOVING HAIR FROM HIDEs.-Thc discovery OF
Andersen of Scotland that pulverized charcoal
effects the removal of hair from hides has been sub
ected TO thorough trial by different manufacturers
''''''N'
ing to reports made through different journals.
Since the charcoal, however, does not cause the
hides to swell, short previous lining, of two or
three days is sill necessary; but this is not obec-
tionable as the charcoaling prevents any injurious
| result in addition to the action on the hair The
process can be carried on i'll the ordinary lime pits at
tcmperaturc prevailing for the greater part of the
year namely so to 7O four to five days being suf-
fcient at temperature of GO to 20, while seven 10
eight days are necessary at 4O 10 JO Inc teinpeIa
| ture is easily regulated by steam Among the ad-
vantages the following seem to be generally con-
| ceded decided economy of time, as well as OF
labor since the subsequent operations are rendered
easier and the tanning proper more rapid. ne prah
| or dung bath NAV be entirely dispensed WIN. Inc
hquids act uniformly without leaving specks. On
account of the absence of disagrecable odOrs the
new process is much pleasant and less injurious
to health. The leather is softer and better IN qality
! is easily worked and does not tear ont IN sewing
There 4 gain Of one-hat To one pound III weEh' oi
leather per hide. while the charcoal, considering the
| amount required, &c, is found to be practically as
| cheap as lime.
| RELATION OF EARTH STRATA TO THE COMPOSITION
| OF WATERs.-Dr. List has been prosecuting some in
qurics in reference TO the variations in composition
of spring and river water in the course of which he
comes the following conclusions: First, that tho
qualitative and Guantia sc composition OF the water
and its physical pecuart.es are dependent upon the
| characteristics of the strata in which the water
acid is greater in springs rising in limestone dis
tricts or passing through limestone strata than IN
those from sandstone formations. Third, that the
| amount of carbonc acid is. in some degree, de-
| pcndent upon the temperature of the water Fourth
| that the amount of inorganic residuun varies III
very narrow limits, and is greater III Autumn than
| IN Spnng. Fifth. that the amonnt OF this residuun
and that of carbOmc acid. have direct r. aiOn to
each other. Sixth. that the total degree OF hdrdueSS
is i'll proportion 70 the amount of ash the temporary
| E vl.1.,,s 81 40 ha,
| greater il AutGmn than III Spring. Seventh, that
| the rainfall increases the amount of ash m spring
water wherever there is soluble material in the soil
| TO be washed out. and this Ii direct ratio to the
| amount of rainfall. Eighth. that nitric acid il
specially dsoernible in water after heavy ran and
| after great coudIness and thundery weather
Ninth that ammonia and nitric acid occur when the
falling rain filters through into water III elevated
ground. Tenth, that the occurrence of organic ma
terial is Independent OF the of the fixed
| constituents. Eleventh wood and other similar
bodies furnish to running water no increase OF nitric
acid on the Other hand they supply rich amounts
| of oXidzable combinations and great quantities oi
| ammonia.