Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-09-07
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLAN

size OF NIL, causing IL W IAN iHto
: road below. The lightning cut a
deep rut down the face of the hill.
Crystals sometimes attain an i'm
mense size, one of quartz at Milan be
ing three and a quarter feet in
length, and five and hall feet in cir
cumference, and estimated to weigh
over 800 pounds ; while great beryl
at Grafton, N. H., i. more than four
feet long end thirty-two inches in di
ameter and weighs not less than 5000
pounds.
According to Jehn Rogers, +. r.
M. s., it is claimed that mardern mi
croscopes are made to magnify as much
as 80, 800 diameters, while some re-
gard 100000 diameters as possible
Such expensive amplifc ton, however
gives too imperfect results and Is at
tended by two many difficulties to be
. Of any value. The greatest living
: microscopists are of the opinion that
. power Of 5000 or 1000 diameters
represents the highest useful limit of
microscopic vision.
A snake whose entire body had be-
come lignified has been taken from the
trunk Of q Brazilian tree,
Prof Whitney maintains that the
earth is gradually drying up, process
which commenced in cretaceous times.
The increasing dryness, within the his.
torical period, of Persia, Arab, the
Aral and Caspian, North Africa and
Greece is proved by abundant facts.
Messrs 'SchulhoT and Bossert have
worked out anew the observations re
corded Of the comet Of 1912, from the
most probably elements obtain revo-
luton period of III years, leading
them to believe that the comet will
again come to perlhelon about the
middle Of 1883. The uncertainty as
to The period Of revolution is about
three and = half years.
From four observations Of Comet
Wells Of 1882, Herr Thraen, of Din.
gelstadt. Thuringia, has computed a
set Of elleptic elements, which indicate
. return Of that body will not occur
for about 3,6l7 years.
1t has been found that the presence
Of silica is not essential to plant,
growth, but that it may serve valuable
purposes Is shown by the researches of
Wolff After fourteen years of ex-
periments on the oat plant, this obser-
var concludes that silica aids in the
Sipening Of grain by causing the
early death Of the leaves, which is
5 followed by a passage of their nutri-
tive matters to the seeds. Thus in an
experiment without silica, SO seeds
were produced with little silica 90
seeds !; with much silica lS4 seeds
Silica always tends to prevent the ab
sorption by plants Of superauous guam
titles Of essential mineral matter, thus
keeping the soil from unnecessary OK
haustion.
At o recent meeting of the Roya
Horticultural Society of London, Rev
@. Henslow exhibited potato tubers
which had been grown upon the stock.
Of the plants in the axis of leaves
He also showed plum leaves perforated
with small circular holes, caused b,
the lens action Of raindrops which con
centrated the SUMS rays and burned
the leaves. Another exhibitor, Mr.
Laxton, sent greens, purple and spec
Killed. pea pods-the last result o
crossing the two others.
In paper up "electro MANIA" Mr.
W. Mattieu Williams says that tn
leading fallacy urging electro-maniac
Of the present day to ruinous invest
nents is the idea that the electro me
tors are novelties, and that electric
lighting is in its infancy. Direct
following the brilliant discoveries q
Farady, Amphere and others, cam
numerous electro motors, and a parad
OF the wonderful results obtained, wit
machines, which, it was believed, wer
quickly to supersede steam engine:
This was nearly half century age
and electrical progress has been les
rapid than many seem to believ,
Comparing an electric railway of fort
years ago upon which he himself rode
with one of to day, and the exper