The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-02-05
soIExrIFIo m1soELLASY.

Frequent Impurities are found by
microscopic Investigations to exist in
the diamond. Organic matter, carbon
and bubbles of gas are commo impuri'
ties. Quartz, chlorite, pyrite and hem
attic have recently been discovered in
diamonds, and small crystals of topaz
have also been seen.
Paul Marcoy has described a leaf Of
the giant water lily (Victorin regial
found in Lake Nuna, Peru, as measur-
ing "a feet o. inches in circumference,
and weighing between IL and IA pounds.
One of the flowers was 4 feet 2 inches in
circumference, and weighed 81 pounds.
The outer petals were 9 inches long.
Some valuable relics discovered at
Ninevah, in the form Of fine ivory cary-
ings, showed signs of crumbling on ar
rival in England. Concluding that
loss of albumen was the cause of the de-
cay, Prof. Owen boiled the articles.
The experiment proved entirely success
full, and the ivory was restored to its
original firmness and solidity.
Remarkable wind pressures are x
perienced in India. On October 9th,
1864, two passenger trains, one of
eight vehicles and the other of twelve,
we're upset on the eastern Bengal rail-
Way, all the cars being overturned. Sew
eral cars were started from sidings by
the force of the wind. On September
II, 1878, a long train was travelling on
the same railway ut a speed of about
eight an hour, and was brought 10 a
standstill by a heavy storm and forced
back about a mile with full steam and
brakes against it. 1t was found diff
icult, to proceed after detaching half
of the train. Instances of this kind are
said to be frequent on Indian railways.
The great red spot on the planet Jupi-
ter still attracts a large share of atten-
ton from astronomical observers. This
spot Is of an elliptical form with taper
ends, and covers a vast area, being 90
QUO miles long and $500 broad. The
mysterious appearance was first observ-
ed more than three years ago, since
which time its form seems not to have
materially altered, the ordinary dark
bands crossing Jupitor's disc are in a
state Of constant change. Speculations
rs to the nature of the red spot have
been numerous but mot very satisfac-
tory. The dark lines across the planet
are believed to be due to atmospheric
movements, and the suggestion that the
red spot is a portion of the body of the
planet which has in some unknown way
become visible through the atmospheric
envelore seems as plausible as any offer
ed.
NJ. Gayon has been studying the phyl-
loxera of the French vineyards with
the object of discovering, if possible,
some parasitic organism which might
be propagated and made to destroy the
p~hylloxera. He has found such organ
isms, and has striven to cultivate them,
but with doubtful results. He is pur-
suing the investigation further. The
rayages of the ~phylloxera have BECOME
a source of great loss to the vine-gfow-
ers of France, and any researches pro-
missing ultimate relief from the pest are
eagerly encouraged.
1t is shown by NJ. Paul Bert's investi-
cations that green light binders the
growth Of plants, which soon wither
and die as if in darkness. NJ. Regnard
finds that the plants specially require
red light, and soon cease to thrive if the
red rays are removed from sunlight.