The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-09-22
Scientific Miscellany.


Satisfactory evidence shows that great fire
must have occurred in the out-crOppings of
Nova Scotia coal district at remote time
From the number of annual rings borne by
the trees growing over the spot, it is estimated
that not less than three hundred years have
elapsed since the fire was extinguished.. But
three centuries have not cooled the ashes, and
an area of some two acres is known to be now
abnormally heated to such degree that frosts
never penetrate far in the severest cold, and
snow soon melts.
. The present will be memorable year in as
Economical history-a year of rare planetary
conjunctions, of great solar commissions, and a
year distinguished by thu near approach of
two great comets. Two other events remain
to be observed. The first is a transit of the
planet Vulcan. 1t is predicted that this plan
yet, whose existence is still a matter of doubt
will cross the SUMS disc on the S2ther 18th Of
October. The other event is a transit of Muir
curry over the sun, which will occur November
9TH.
A naturalist asserts that cranes carry small
migratory birds-unable to perform the flight
of three hundred and fifty miles-acIoss the
Mediterranean Sea on their backs. In f1ocks
of cranes travelling southwark across this sea
little birds of many species are observed, fire.
quently flying from their perches only to re-
turn moment after.
The rapidity of the circulation is such that,
if it flowed in q straight line at the same rate,
1t would run one hundred and fifty feet per
minute. H' Hraiin
The average descent of large rivers, exclu-
sive of cascade regions, is seldom more than
twelve inches to the mile, and occasionally
does not exceed a third of this amount. From
Memphis down, a distance of eight hundred
and fifty miles, the Mississippi has pitch of
less than five inches at low water, and above
the Missouri, from its source, of only eleven
and three-fourths inches. The Missouri, in
its greatest length OF nearly three thousand
miles, descends twenty eight inches to the
mile; but from Fort Benton to ST. Joseph,
over two thousand miles, only eleven and one
half inches; and only nine and one-fourth
inches below St. Joseph to the mouth, length
of nearly five hundred miles. The average
pitch of the Amazon is a little more than six
inches to the mile of the lower Nile, less than
seven of the lower Gauges, about four. The
Rhone is notable for a great pitch of eighty
inches per mile from Geneva to Lyons, and
thirty two inches below Lyons to the mouth.
Prof j. L. Budd attributes actual antiseptic
properties to the Eucalyptus Gl06atles, which
has accomplished so much in arresting mala
rial disease on the fatal Roman Campagna and
in other places By an application of the
leaves wounds are healed and foul sores puri-
fed He recommends the cultivation to the
tree as house plant He has three year-old
plant in an eight-inch pot, which remains at a
aelgns OF ABOUT oues I'VE TIC lee. wlhou' Tile
eee oa n;n 81 b .e hean tev shown bv
put1 VI pr L. nus us, 'oon ra %, haIf
A, Tr rea,oad ~ it,
hui, h the s;n,Ie oction Of nresanre
exer,ad dmr;nn =, = ,,erind r Of two wears
n p rbenomennn occurred
- nn r, ~, tho 9th of Iune The Rnz
n ~ Mnnnio;n neor the vila@a of Pantete
mddanIu hrala IN two nreat fssnte 1oo to-
1oH f9nt ~ ar - 1oo faa3 5ae,l and 1en0 70
500 feet IN ' lnn@th beug formed hv the rnn.
80 'e iandsfi,~ ton i,oca Of tho Same ti,le