The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-19
CURIOUS, USEFUL AND soiEN rIFIC.

Paper made from strong fbers can now
be compressed into a substance SO hard that
nothing but the diamond can scratch it.
From observation covering a period of
three years Nj. Feye, Of Dstmold, found
that lightning struck annually 257 oaks,
Al beeches. other large leaved trees, and
Ills conifers.
The process by which the wool on sheep
skins msy be transformed into velvet prom
ises to become an important industry in
France. where TN ingenius chemist, after
long and continuous experiments, has final
ly succeeded In accomplishing this result
With somewhat curious taste jeweler in
Middlebury, VT, has constructed clock
containing representation in miniature OF
the scene of the assassination OF President
Garfield. The eutomats are of wood, about
two inches high. The whole movement,
which includes the execution Of Guiteau.
takes about three minutes.
The largest trees known are probably
Eucalyptus amygdalins, or peppermint
tree" growing in the DAndenong district of
Victoria, Australia, which is said 10 meas
ure $40 feet to the starting point of the
crown, and All feet to the top, and another
specimen of the same species. mentioned by
Baron Ferdinand Won Muller as having at.
tanned the height Of $50 feet.
Seasons of low water in the lakes of
Switzerland offer favorable opportunities
for adding TO our knowledge of the ancient
lake jewellers. The water OF Lske Con-
stance has lately been lower than at any
other time since 1865. and advantage has
been taken of it to examine a number of
lscsutrine dwellings, with the result of nu-
merous discoveries of implements.
An agricultural experiment station has
been established at Geneva, N. Y. under a
board of control, and on n farm of 125
acres. The place came into the possession
of the State on the ist of March, and with
the appropriation Of $50 600 annually will
go immediately into operatisn. DR.. f.
Lewis Sturtevant has been appointed direc-
tor, ard from bis successful practice of his
theories on his Hausbakam farm in Massa-
chusetts it is believed that reports Of great
value are expected as the result OF this
scheme. In three other States stations of
this sort have been established, New Jer-
sey, North Carolina and Connecticut, which
was the first to introduce the public expert
ment station.
Two note worthy experiments have lately
train over his electric railway, at Menlo
Park, a. @ rate of over twenty miles an hour.
At the experiments a. Berlin last year, on
nine miles of the Siemens Road. the speed
attained was only about ten miles per
hour. Mr. Edisen's track is like that OF
any ordinary railroad, involving curves,
grades Zone over thirty feet to the mile)
with the various obstacles of rsvines,
e+raauos aud rccks Tho car resembles the
hors-car. The electricity is communicated
from tho generators, some 500 yards away,
Dy two heavy wires, one connecting with
each track The tracks are insulated by
covering the ends of the ties with nom
conducting compound. The wheels take up
The electricity from the tracks and commu-
nicate with the dynamo-electric machine
and gearing in the locomotive. Thus is
given TO the train noiseless, rapid,
pleasant motion, unattended with smoke,
cinder and clatter.