New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-09
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.

Anegbenv Observatory was the hrst and for IL long
WHILE the only astronomer who perceived the granular
surface OF the suns phOtospherc His DIVISION OF tne
brighter aggregatons OF the surface, was fsuccessve
rs to sze rst cloudke FORMS percepbe to telescopes
Of ordinary power second "ricegrains" or nodnes OF
which snch forms are composed the riccgrains being
perceppblc with higher powers and good definition
third cranules composing the rcegrains Tie diecoV-
cry OF Of tho granulcs appears to have been snguay
confirmed quite recently by the Photographic researches
Of ST. Jansen. That distinguished French astronomer
has succeeded obtaining photographs of the sun Win
ony IsoOot OF second exposure These were procured
with lenses of long focus and slow development OF tho
image which was finally strengthened with pyrogalic
acid and nitrate OF silver. The "willow-eaycs" or
rccgrans Of previous observers appear IN these pho-
tographs only occasional aggregations. me nam
feature Is abundant granulation The forms OF INC
granles are sufficiently defined for study tcy appear
TO be generally OF spherical shape; ana III Is h"u'c
able that larger grains seemed to be formed OF acgrc
cations of smaller ones. the lesser grains being most
evidently spherical NJ Jansen regards the evidence
as tending TO prove that the under layer OF INC photo.
snhcIc Il ouid or ga eOus and that the granuati0ls
are solid or liquid material floating IN 2 gaseous me-
dium like clouds The granncs would be merged 10
rcther and the surface would be OF uniform brightness
II the luminous envelope were wholly mgu,a h oa
fluid at rest As 1t uprising gaseous currents preas
tie egubrlm and. NJ Jansen thinks tear the bright
material into fragments which TEND oa nav he
correct hut 1t seems rather Hazardous, since ihe
zeal granules must DO nearly oil thc size vi n'ho'
planets.
TIE PHYLLOXERA AND AMERICAN VINES
II has been discovered that several kinds OF American
vines withstand the ravages OF the phylloxera notably
the "Clinton" vineyard at Montpelier France. Is
now largely planted with stocks OF the Clinton grape on
which the French Aramon vine is grated The giaihs
is necessary obtain grapes whose WINE mas
tory taste A work recently published al BOfdea"1 ue-
scrbes the American vines best suited for stocKs ana
specifies the French vines that can be graitea Oh ane
advantage. For awhile it was hoped thai German stock
wond have answered the purpose but they are rouhd
unable TO reoist the insect pest.
ERRORS IN USING SURVEYORS C0MPAssEs.-
correspondent of The Engineering and Mining Jourhdf
mentions some minor sources OF in taking readings
from the compass while surveying AFTER noticing GER
tain vaeares OF compass needle and test
ing the metal of the instrument, aud anerwaid exanin-
ing the observers pockets to determine whether any
thing OF iron or steel was on his person, the OF
variation was discovered the frame OF the magfying
glass The frame OF vulcanite or hard rubber pol
il ned 10 high gloss this frame was liable TO become
electrified by the slightest friction, such rs s caused by
CARRYING in the pocket. Further investigation showed
that from variety Of similar causes all ordinary frames
of magnhers apt TO give Ike trouble aud new ones
had 10 be specially made which were free from this
defect The impure metal of cases. rivets and other
parts may give rice this attraction an iron ring Ia
sometimes inserted TO fix the glass in the frame. Some
times the observer may unconscously carry The iron IN
his hat in wire that stifcns the briin Aluminium,
Fpay there il a story OF land surveyor had the
appearance of his compass improved 10y nlchel patihe
which applied 10 almost the entire Instrument
ba socket aud sighs-te effect on the Rede being the
as II the brass mad been coated with iron.
The FATE OF CLEoPATRA's NEEDLE.-From
study OF the subject German doctor has come to the
conclusion that the monoths Of Egypt decay with ra-
pidty In European climates Observations on the Luxor
olclisk show that within the last twenty eight years IL
mas suffered gradual charge In the atmosphere OF Paris
Gradually the rcd color OF tae syene has become dner
and lighter; the obelsk bears white blm OF kaoln
the last product OF the decay Of granite. In hirysiX
years the stone has received more damage from the
atmosphere OF France than during n many centuries Ia
Egyptian air. The injury which the moist climate Of
England will nGct upon Cieopatrs Needle, f. likely 10
be yet moIe rapid but there Is at least TIC consolation
worse Tor than the bad treatment II was receiv
Ing IN its neglected state al Alexandria
BAD BRIDGE BUHDING.-PrOfcssor Merri-
man. OF the Sheffield Scientific School Of Yale College, nj
tributes the railway disaster at TariGve defects in
the original construction Of the bridge, well as 10 the
neglect Of examination and repairs lie shows by figures
that the upper chord and the tiegods not strong
enough, and II ID not important which gave way hr-t
The upper chord shows cross section Of 2s+ square
inches when 1t should have had 1896: the lower chord
short the material was insufcient the bridge no,
rroery covered as structures Of that class should b. 20
protect them from rain. lee and suOw; II was not re-
paired when its top chord became rotten by exposure
Tho railroad company that built the bridge OF insufficient
material and neglected its repairs mu.t take the res"
ibty for the disaster; but II the state inspectors had
understood TIER duty aud performed II, ,he bridge
would not have fallcn 1t would have been torn down
and rebuilt IN accordance WIN accepted scIehtinc
formula, which define the proportions oi macIa 10
quirei In given positions to sustain probaoie lodd'
WEAK POINT IN A PATENT MEDIcINE.-In q
recent number OF Nature there is brief account OF an
enterprise foot in Paris France The projectors
are a merchant and a doctor OF medicine. They an
nounce the discovery that the substances contained in
seawater are remedy for all the natural ills that flesh
heir 10 and also, preventive OF all diseased This
they have followed with prepared bread biscuits and
beverages said to no made With the acuring seawater
Abundant advertising has obtained large sAo for these
preparations which stated 10 be ecaciOus to
render all other kinds Of medicine unnecessary. But to
impress further upon the public the cxcelcpcc OF the
preparations the statement Is now added In The adysr
scawater and Nature perinently Asks what become. Of
the various substances III seawaer which arc to effect
the cures;Ou mustibo removeliby distiila'iont
THE UNITED STATES NAVAL OBSERVATORY
by the substitute resolution passed in the Senate. pro-
vIdng a committee OF inquiry to report new site
within the District OF Columbia for the Naval Observa
tory the questions as To management cOhstfucloh anu
cot OF the new entirely postponed. Meanwhile
a considerable amount OF printers Ink has been ex-
pended In the discussion of these questions, which
conflicting views are held both insidc AID outside the
aory tDay bo stated In general terms that the
differences arc chiefly to whether 1t s better not to
continue the present system OF conducting the internal
affairs OF the institution; whether prominent asrono
mer ought be in charge officer Of the navy who
is not a professional astronomer; and whether the OBJ
mere research There are sound Citlicr
side of these questions and tire whole II Is fortunate
their dscIssO and give opporu for the snb.dcncc
OF some personal feeling hitherto exhibited, which bears
no necessary relation To the real isslies
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