The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-01
POPULAR SCIENCE.

One of the experiments with the electric
light in England has been for the illumin-
alton of the cathedral at Bristol.
Eastern salt works have declined on ac-
count of the richness of the Michigan salt
wells. The latter require less fuel to volatile
the water, and the product is also superior
to the former.
NJ Dutertre, of the School of Agriculture
at Gregnon, France, has invented sucking
apparatus with India rubber teats for be-
reaved lambs, who are thus fed, greatly to
their satisfaction, four times day.
The microphone has been applied, IN con-
junction with the telephone, to the science
of terreous meteorology, by Prof Rossi, with
satisfactory results. The shocks of earth
quake, otherwise imperceptible, were regis
tered and three distinct and periodical
classes of sound made out, though their
special origin and significance must yet be
established.
Some recent experiments made at the Iowa
Agricultural College show that the popular
notion that the trunks of trees elongate is
erroneous. Tacks we're driven into the
trunks of various trees and the distance be-
tween them accurately measured At the
end of the season no difference was percepti-
bic in their distance apart Various aged
trees were selected, all with similar result
There is growing dissatisfaction in Eng
land at the present law preventing English
inventors from accepting decorations or &C.
itary men, says a journal, receive titular
honors for Staying savages and destroying
huts while men who have helped to make
England what she Is, commercially and in
dustrialy, are lett to their fate, which may
chance often to be pecuniary ruin.
Locomotive whistling is to be superseded
at Poughkeepsie, n. Y, by bell worked by
IL nil hrc ~,
pot. When the train arrives within a mile
OF the station, the bell will ring until it gets
to the depot. The danger signal is thus
given. and the waste of steam Is avoided to
say nothing of the racket. Any engineer
who whistles hereafter when In Poughkeep-
sic loses his situation on the Hudson River
Railroad
Serkys tea, which gives the frmness and
freshness of youth to the oldest face il drunk
copiously and regularly, is said to be all the
rage in Europe. 1t has the colcr of amber,
resembles no other tea, is drunk with or
without sugar or cream. according to taste,
and is very agreeable beverage. Louis
XIV.'s physician, who speaks of it in his
travels says that he has seen women of 20
who. having drank Serkys all their lives, did
not seem more than 20 or 25.
The Journal of Chemistry says there is no
nation in Europe 30 advanced in its methods
of teaching agriculture as Italy. IL possesses
two high schools of agriculture, school of
forestry, school of horticulture, one of
visiculture, two veterinary schools, and 81
secondary schools, varying in importance
and organization. but which may be COM
pared broadly with similar French colleges
These institutions are largely subsidized,
either by the state or by the province where
| they are situated.
H. F. Mann, of Pittsburg has completed
plans for II inch breech-loading rified
cannon, to embrace some valuable improve
ments in the system of breech loading. The
gun will weigh complete 10000 pounds,
| and will be provided with an improved gas
check, which prevents all escape of gas at
! the breech. The charge will consist in 700.
pound projectile and $50 pounds Of hexago-
| nal powder in metallic cartridge case. The
gun Will be 26 feet long, and will send the
| 700-pound projectile through solid iron
| plate is inches thick, and has a range of Is
/ Iuiles.
The Scientific American says unslacked
| lime compressed into cartridges, or used
| loosely and well stamped down in the bole,
using water or other liquid to ssturate and
expand it, is now proposed for use in firing
! coal mines 1t Is claimed that the advan-
! tsges TO be gained from its use are economy
| in the production of coal maxine less slack
| than using ordinary blasting powder; lives
| of GOLFERS are IN less danger, the breaking
or SCATTERING of coal back of the charge
which is especially characteristic OF gun
1 powder, is avoided, and the quality of the
atmosphere is rather improved by its use
than otherwise.