The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-09-23
Scientific Memoranda.

Scientific Memoranda.
Experiments in Germany on frozen
potatoes prove that the freezing in nc
wise alters the chemical composition OF
the tubers. The change is simply ply.
steal, and, even if frozen hard, they are
still fit for distillation, or they may be
pressed to get rid of the water and then
ground into n good meal adapted to
feeding cattle.
The sand.blast finds new applica-
ton in the manufacture of silver'plated
ware. Parts of the ware are finished in
stipplins work-a dulled surface, some
times known AZ "satin finish. This
work has been done by rotating iron
wire brushes, but fine thread Of snnd,
driven by compressed air, is said to do
the work mucl. more quickly and effect
ually. Patterns cut ont of Thin sheet
rubber are used to give any desired
markings or orDamenations, and the
slightest exposure to the blast performs
the work instantly.
A new process ia the manufacture OF
plaster of Paris is announced, that is
said to give excellent casts, that set
slowly, and are of pure white color,
instead of the usual grayish'whlte.
The unburnt gypsum is first Immersed
for fifteen minutes in water containing
ten per cent. of Rulphuric acid, and
then calcincd.
An apparatus resembling the type,
writer in design, End intended to be Isod
"a n stenographic reporting'machine,
has been brought cut in France. 1t con.
sists of keys and a lever very much like
the desk of the typewriter, and n long
roll of paper that automatically unwlnds
as the keys are touched. Each key
makes dots or dasheR, and the lever
spaces off the words and lines. The 70
port, in Morse's alphabet, is thus read
iy written out as fast as the keys can be
touched, and may be copied or set up
in tvpe without difficulty. Six months
practice will enable good operator to
follow the most rapid speaker.
In electro. mechanics n now magnet,
and method of softening iron for mag
nets, are offered. A slender copper
pipe, O12 of an inch in diameter, ia
wound in q spiral round a soft iron CYL
inder. Steam, at a pressure OF five
atmospheres, driven through the pipe,
causes the iron cylinder to become
strongly magnotizea, and this condition
will be maintained 30 long as the steam
flows through the pipe. To obtain good
soft iron magnets for electro motors, 1t
ia recommended to file or machine-face
the iron till it is free from scales, and
then to heat it to an evenly distributed
dull red. ",'hen it is reheated to an
oven, but faint red, and buried in pul
verized lime. When cold it will b'
quite soft, and greatly improved as
magnet.
A wind turbine has been patented IL
Denmark. 1t is said to work in n mncl
lichter breeze than the ordinary stylt
of wind.mind, and TO be we'll suited to
variety Of industrial uses.
Hydraulic machinery is being applied
to the handling and loading OF larg'
guns on some of tho ships of the Eng
lish navy. The gun in recoiling il partly
upset, and lifting machinery raises the
charge to the gun and places it in posi-
ton, and hydraulic piston rises from
the deck and rams it home.
The propellers put into the new circu'
lar ironclads building for the Russian
navy present some features of interest.
There are six screws in all, ard the two
in the center are much larger thar tht
others, aud are so placed rs to sinf
deeper in the water Ond below the ship,
bottom. These screws have only three
wings, and in shallow water they arr
stopped in position that leaves neithe
wing below the bottom. Deep'sunl
= screws have been used with success be
5 fore; and to enable the ships to ente
Swallows, the shall is in two parts
3 united by universal joint, 30 that th
. screw can be raised and still keptin mi
, ton. In deep water the two parts
+. the shaft are in line and work togethe
3 A box for transporting eggs is ofiere'
: having light iron-wire springs b
, tween each OF the trays in which Il
eggs are placed. The box cover, wht
put on, congresses all the springs,
, the various trays, and holds the loa
firm without injuring the elastic cusl
. ions on which it rests.
; Recent experiments with ozone pro
= il to have some commercial value as
, bleaching agent. Applied directly
!, animal or vegetable matter, it is CLAIM
q that it acts as an oxidizing agent, al
!. abstracts the hydrogen of the substanc
9 and thereby causes loss of color.