New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-14
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.

THE FORESTS OF NEvADA.-Mr. Charles :.
Sargent raises warning voice IN me AmeF"' 'o'''
sf Science and Arts against the waniOn destruction "
the pine forests OF Nevada. After describing the var
ous trees which thrive on these elevated mountain
,lones Mr. Sargent says: "It Will have been seen that
the forests Of Nevada, consisting OF few species
sdap, 10 struggle with adverse conditions Of soil ana
climate are Of immense age, and That the dwared ana
scattered individuals which compose them reach ma
turity only after centuries of exceedingly slow growth
On this account and because II once destroyed INC
want OF moisture will forever prevent their restoration
either naturally or by the hand Of public attention
should be turned to importance of preserving before
e. too late some portions OF these forests Large areas
Of forest-cOvered mountain ranges are stu hed by inc
General Government; and in view OF the vast hnpoi
ance of their remaining wooded TO serve as reservoirs
moisture on the existence of which the future OF t
region must depend It would seem Wise ana no' p''
haps impractcabe to check or at
uate the terrible destruction forests. which follows
both ON public nd private domain every new discovery
of the precious metals" As compared with our Auahuc
forests or those still nober which further TO the
west owe their existence the influence OF the Pacc
The forests which clothe with scanty and suntcd veg
etaton the mountain slopes OF Nevada are mlstr7DS
poor in extent producyeness, aud especa.S lu w
number of species Of which they are thay
they OF immense value For 'Ganty as'iney ar G
regulate and protect the rare aud uncertain streams Oh
witch the agriculture Of Nevada depends anu iurlsu /"
large population with fuel and lumber; population,
too which while consuming ana Wasting euoI 80
off by lts isolation aud the cost of transportation o
outside supply
REGISTERING THE WIND.-At the Lyons
Observatory France a simple apparatus has been con
sructed by NJ Reder for recording continuously inc ii"
recton of the wind. From a suitable wind Vane Neru
cal rod passes down TO small cyhnder-piaceu Oh
vertical axis-supported below by steel pivot resting on
plate agate and guided at the upper end by horizon
tai pulleys Each movement of the yaHe is thus trans
mi,tod the cylinder. Around the Cylinder Is WouHu
sheet OF paper ruled vertically and horizontally 'He
vertical divisions representing the hours the horizon
tal the direction OF the wind pencil pressing upon
the paper is moved in vertical direction nv cockwork
II will be that the tracing on tRe p5peI W.
indicate the successive positions taken oy 1ae VIZ,
vane and accordingly, the direction OF the VIM ~ any
given time
ELECTRO oPPERISG SOLUTION.-THe Eicc-
trician gives the following recipe for solution Tor
eecrocopperng iron, lead, zinc, pewter, etc; Weigh
ont sulphate OF copper drachm taTtarc acid TWO
drachms; caustic potash-in stcks-tTO drachms. DIS
solve the sulphate of copper in about half lumber
ful OF water Also dissolve small quantity OF wash
ing soda-abOut two drachms-in warm water, ana aHd
the soda solution the copper solution just enough
should be added throw down all the copper in the
form OF green carbonate Of copper
This precipae has 20 be separated from the hnd
which, solution OF sulphate OF soda. The quickest
way 10 effect the separation is By ltraton in when
piece Of blOttingpiper, folded twice and acJusted
II time be no object the precipit9e NAV be allowed TO
subsde and the clear solution 8ftcrward poured off In
either case the preciptate should be washed with clear
water in order to the last portions OF the soda
solution Now dissolve the tartaric acid IN small
tate into umber, and pour INC tartailc gcd solution
upon It. Efervescence Will take place N@it uhtii an
the gas-carbonic acids eYolVcu; then P l, llcns
of caustic potash the tumber, and add sufficient
water 10 make up AT least balt umOlei1u-one GU
Of solution The potash dissolyes me copper Preci,e
the fluid becoming OF a beautiful blue coIor' without
any sediment
SUSPENDED ANMATION.-DT. Benjamin W.
Richardson Of London, commenting on the sensational
story of successful experiments in suspeudng animal
life of which The TRIBUNE has already published full
details. says that parts of the story may be true and
are at least certainty within the OF possibility lie
mentions various substances which have the singular
power. less perfect. of suspendng the vital
functions. Among these he cites mandragOra, nitric
Of amyl wOorali, choral Eydratc, the cyanogens'
alcohol and oxygen. Dr. Richardson believes that II
the experiments reported prove to be trust
worthy the effect produced either by the combna-
ton OF some Of these chemical substances with the
addition OF cold by new substance which has
been discovered and which possesses IN higher degree
than anything yet known the power OF uestroylns
hundreds substances in organic chemistry which, Ike
mandragora the nitric Of amy. would suspend the
regard the story as hoax.
MIRROR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to the
Deutseke AHqemoine Zeitung, a German, named Karl
s;enbach has made an important discovery IN photos
raphy After years Of study and experiment, he has
succeeded in obtaining chemical composition, by
means OF which mirror image may be fixed and sold
as q photograph. With this composition the mirror
surface painted and the back part Of the mirror re-
ceiyes also coating OF oil TIE mirror thus prepared
IS held before the person who Is to be photographed
The oil coating evsporas, and the likeness Of the per
son remains In natural colOrs the light surface. The
image so fixed is brought TO bath, and Is exposed
half an hour TO suuis ht, before delivery. rich capt.
talis in Peru IL is said has acquired this invention for
100000 and establishments are 10 be formed III
North aud south carrying II out Indeedl