The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-02-11
mot paid in advance, $1.25
For the Carbon ADVOCATE.
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

Frequent Impurities are found by
microscopic investigations to exist in the
diamond organic matter, carbon and bub-
bles of gas are common impurities.
Quartz. chlorite, pyrite and hematite
have recently been discovered in dia-
monds, and small crystals os topaz have
also b, en- seen.
Paul Marcoy has described lraf Of
the giant water lilly (victoria regial
found in Lake Nuns, Peru, as measur-
ing "a feet, 81 inches in circumference,
and weighing between l3 and IA pounds
One of the flowers was 4 feet 2 inches in
circumference, and weighed 81 pounds.
The outer petals we're 8 inches long.
-Some valuable relics discovered At
Ninevah, in the form OF fine ivory carv-
ings, showed sigus of crumbling on ar
rival in England. Concluding that loss
of albumen was the cause of the decay,
Prof. Owen boiled tho articles. The ex-
pertinent proved entirely successful, and
the ivory was restored to its original firm
ness and solidity,
Remarkable wind rressures are ex-
perieneed in India. On October s. 1864,
two passenger trains, one Of eight vehicles
and the other of twelve, vera upset on
the Eastern Bengal railway, all the cars
/
started from sidings by the force of the
wind. On September 81, 1878, long
train Vas travelling on the same railway
at speed of about eight miles an hour,
and was brought to standstill by heavy
storm and forced back about mile with
full steam and brakes against it. II was
found difficult to proceed after detaohing
half of the train. Instances of this kind
are said to be frequent on Indian rail-
ways.
The great red spot on the planet Ju.
piter still attracts large share of atten-
tion from astronomical observers. This
spot is of an elliptical form with taper
ing ends, and covers a vast area, being
$4,000 miles long and 8, 800 broad. The
mysterious appearance was 6rst observed
more than three years ago, since which
time its form seems not to have material
ly altered, although the ordinary dark
bands crossing Jupiter's disc are in a state
of constant change. Speculations as to
the nature Of the red spots have been nu-
merous but not very satisfactory. The
dark lines across the planet are believed
to be due to atmospheric movements, and
the suggestion that the red spot is por,
tion of the body of the plauet which hai
in some unknown way become visibl,
through the atmospheric envelope seemi
as plausible az any offered.
M. Gayon has been studying tn,
phylloxera of the French vineyards will
the object of discovering, if possible, som,
parasitic organism which might be pro
pagsted and made to destroy the phyl
loxera, He has found such organisms
and has striven to cultivate them, bu
with doubtful results. He is pursuing
the investigation further. The ravage
of the phylloxera have become source o
great loss to the vine e-growers of France
and any researches promising ultimat
relief from the pest are eagerly encour
aged.
1t is shown by NJ. Paul Bert's inves
LEGATIONS that green light hinders tn
y growth of plants, which soon wither an
die as If in darkness. NJ. Regnard find
- that the plants specially require red hgh
and soon cease to thrive if the red ray
are removed from sunlight.
Electrical exhibitions are likely |
become epidemic. Close upon the Par
> exhibition came proposition to hold OF
n at the Crystal Palace, London; aud
like project is now on foot at st. Peter
;, burg. Americans are singularly bacl
a ward in organizing such an enterprise.
The probability that nearly evei
large town or city will soon be supple
with large quantities of electricity &
lighting purposes has given rise to CO..
e siderable interest in the plan OF makir
ct use of the same supply for producer
power for light household work. Seve
" al small motors have been devised to me
the expected demand. The first of the
he little machines were constructed abo
We three years ago by M Marcel DepreE, Al
were found TO work effectively. A sc
ond apparatus of this hind has for sor
De tins been used by NJ. Trouve. an electr
,u magnet being used in place of the p'
manent steel magnets of Dsprez. II
I'd motor drives a sewing machine We
readily, although it is of very small sil
Trouve's little electric canoe at the PA
az electrical exhibition was propelled
w some Of these engines, and NJ. TIssandi
7 has suggested their use for balloon stet
~. ing. The last and best motor is that
hv Mr.. Griscom, the American electricia
to. One of these powerful little machiI
four and a half inches long, and weie
ing little more than two pounds. will r
a sewing machine very rapidly with
th smgn expenditure of electric energy. T
lack of labor-saVing conveniences in {
Is, household has often been deplored, /
ret the introduction of electricity seems
offer a source of power which may ser
?" in many wsys TO tighten the toll of
ey weary housewife.
EsTHETIC.
of "What do you think, asked NJ. Fl
an alameda. shall We be the first 10 wa