The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-02-11
SPARKS OF SCIENCE.

attempted q new determination OF the
mass Of the planet Jupiter by examin-
ing its perturbing influence on the
movements of the asteriod Virginia
mo. SD. The result TO which he is led
indicates that the mass of jupiter should
be increased by about one two hundred
and seventy second part of the present
adopted value bat although this cor
reesion enables him more nearly to sat
isfy the observations that have been
made upon this body, he is yet inclined
to attribute to it only a slight value,
and hopes to attain better results by a
repetition of his work In future years.
NEW METHOD OF PRKsK IRVING Mar
NJ. Teller has described to the French
academy an apparatus for preserving
meat, by keeping it in ascold, dry cham
Der. The novelty of his plan consists
in the employment of methylic ether,
a substance that Is gaseous at ordinary
temperatures and atmospheric pressure,
but which can be reduced to the fluid
state by a pressure of eight atmos-
pheres. The methylic ether is con-
densed and then allowed to expand in
contact with metal compartments con-
tanning solution of chloride of calcium,
which it reduces to a low temperature.
Air is blown through this apparatus, it's
moisture is deposited as hoar-frost on
the metal, and it passes in a dry and
cold state to the chamber in which the
meat is placed. It is found that the
flavor of the meat is not injured by re-
tention in this situation for forty or
forty-five days, after which, although it
remains sound, it has a greasy taste.
AFRICAN EXPLORATION Game
ron has examined the western side of
IL
the long-looked-for outlet which all
physical geographers had agreed must
exist, as in no other way could the
sweetness of the water be accounted
for. This outlet, it APPEARS, is called
Lukuga, and is situated five miles south
of the islands explored by Spoke. 1t
had actually been passed by Living
stone, though In the night time, which
might account for his having somewhat
hastily concluded that the waters flowed
into, instead of out of, the lake. Lieut..
Cameron proceeded for about four or
fves miles along the stream, the current
of which runs from one to two knots
per hour, but further navigation was
impeded by floating grass and large
rushes. Lieut.. Cameron believes, how
ever, that it eventually reached the
Lualaba. The Lualaba itself, accord
and not into the Albert Nyanza, as as
serted by Livingstone and Stanley. This
intelligence can hardly cause much sur
prise to those who read DR.. Behm's ex-
haustive essay on the subject, published
two years ago, in which he arrived at
the same conclusion in the most unnis-
taxable manner. One Arab had gone
hfty-tive days journey from Nyangwa
down the LuAlaba, which he described
as broad as Tanganyika, and studded
with inhabited islands, and had arrived
at the sea- where white men had ships
and factories. Lieut.. Grandy, explOr-
ing from the West Coast of Africa, by
way of Ambriz and Bembe, has found
greater difficulty of penetrating into the
interior of the country by that route
and from his comparatively early recall
on account of the death of Livingstone,
he has been unable, apparently, to
achieve any great geographical discov-
cry. His opinion of the Congo is, that
there are two main branches, the south
ern one draining Angola, and the north
ern one being, apparently, identical with
the LUalaba. 1t is a matter of congrat-
ulation for geographers that sufficient
funds have been collected to enable
Lieut.. Cameron to prosecute his dis
coveries. According to his last advices,
he will write from Nyangwa, and thence
make his way down the Lualaba to the
sea, and thus complete a journey of the
very highest interest.
PINE FORESTS IN PoRTUGAL.-The
pine forest is in general monotonous
and unpicturesque, for the trees are al
ways cut before they reach to the digni-
ty of "two ton timber" and the side
branches are Topped year after year to
within 8 yard or two of the tree top.
The traveller passes league after league
of straight-stemmed pine, and wearies
for the sight of green field or vine
yard. The pine forest, too, as in other
countries, is silent and deserted black
birds, jays, and magpies are the only
birds commonly seen or heard. Now and
then wood owl fits out of the shadow
Of an ivied tree, and the occasional tap
of woodpecker's beak, or his sudden,
Iaugh-like cry, are sounds that a travel.
or feels to be a relief to the stiffness.
Human beings are rarely encountered,
though the forest maintains its own pc
culiar population. Where the trees are
rooted in anything but blowing sand,
gOrse grows and the cutting of it once
In every three years affords some profit.
Gorse IN Portuguese farm economy is of
great value, being Used for the bedding
of horned cattle, while the whole of the
straw of the farm is used for their food
a system that has many obvious advan-
tages, and others that are not SO obvious.
Every now and then, in the depth of the
forest, a party of charcoal burners is
met with, or of sawyers and carpenters,
who encamp in the woods, fell and saw
up the pines, and make the boards upon
the spot into doors, windows, and boxes,
that are carried long distances for sale.
hn s1
towns, the fallen needles and cones are
collected by women and children and
carried in nets on dOnkey-back for sale
as fuel, These are the purely forestal
lndustries-the only human life con-
nected with it-but this drsary desert
of pine wood has it's oasis. Wherever
brook crosses the forest, the scene
shifts immediately, and the water course
is margined by narrow fields of maize,
rye, and wheat, or orchards of fruit
trees reach on either side as far as the
water can be made to flow. The stream
itself is bordered with polIarded oak
and chestnut trees, over which vines are
trained. The water drops work like
magic under these hot suns, and the
barren, dusty soil is turned by it into
fertile meadow land. The silence of
the forest is exchanged in an instant for
a concert of WOODLANDS and nightir gales,
and the refreshing GOODNESS of the water
laden air and the green shadow of de-
ciduous trees are positively delicious to
the traveller who has passed through the
shRdeless forest and breathed the dry,
over-sunned air, pungent with the pecu-
liar burnt odor which the pines give
out.-NeeO Quarterly Magazine.
A Seasonable Story.
T,ayvSs ond Gam n a oo-,,,Ja ,F