St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-02-18
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

the diamond. organic matter, carDOn
and bubbles of gas are common impuri-
ties. Quartz, chlorite, pyrite and hema-
tite have recently been discovered in
diamonds, and small crystals of topaz
have also been seen.
Paul Marcoy has described leaf of
the giant water lily Victoria regia)
found in Lake Nuna, Peru, as measur-
ing "a feet 81 inches in circumference,
and weighing between 10 and IA pounds.
One of the flowers was feet inches
in circumference, and weighed 81
pounds. The outer petals were inches
long.
Some valuable relics discovered at
Ninevah, in the form Of fine ivory carv-
ings, showed signs of crumbling on ar
rival in England. Concluding that loss
of albumen was the cause of the decay,
Prof. Owen boiled the articles. The
experiment proved entirely successful,
and the ivory was restored to its origi-
nal firmness and solidity.
Remarkable wind pressures are ex-
perienced in India. On October 5th,
1864, two passenger trains, one OF eight
vehicles and the other Of twelve, were
upset on the Eastern Bengal railway,
all the cars being overturned. Several
cars we're started from sidings by the
force of the wind. On September 81,
1873, long train was travelling on the
same railway at speed of about eight
miles an hour, and was brought to a
standstill by heavy storm and forced
back about mile with full steam and
brakes against it. 1t was found diff
cult 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 Jul
piter still attracts large share of at
tention from astronomical observers.
This spot is OF an elliptical form with
tapering ends, and covers vast area,
being $4,000 miles long and $500 broad.
The mysterious appearance was first
observed more than three years ago,
since which time its form seems not
to have materially altered, although
the ordinary dark bands crossing Ju-
piter's disc are in state Of constant
change. Speculations as to the nature
of the red spot have been numerous
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 a
portion of the body of the planet which
has in some unknown way become vi
sible through the atmospheric envelope
seems as plausible as any offered.
NJ. GayoD has been studying the
phylloxera of the French vineyards
with the object of discovering, If pos
sible, some parasitic organism which
might be propagated and made to de-
stroy the phylloxera. He has found
such organisms, and has striven to cul-
tivate them, but with doubtful results.
He is pursuing the investigation further.
The ravages of the .phylloxera have
become a source of great loss to the
vine growers of France, and any re-
searches promising 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
inds that the plants specially require
red liessat, and soon cease to thrive if
he revrays are removed from sunlight.
The probability that nearly every
arge town or city will soon be supplied
With large quantities of electricity for
lighting purposes has given rise to
considerable interest in the plan Of
making use Of the same supply for
power for light household |
work. Several small motors have been
devised to meet the expected demand. {
The first of these little machines was
constructed about three years ago by
q. Marcel Deprez, and was found to
work effectively. A second apparatus
f this kind has for some time been /,
lsed by M. Trouve, an electro magnet
'eing used in place Of the permanent
teel magnet Of Deprez. This motor
riyes q sewing machine very readily, !
Though it is of very small size. Trou-
e's little electric canoe at the Paris r
lectrical exhibition was propelled by
Dme of these engines, and NJ. Tissan- {
Ter has suggested their use for balloon :
The last and best motor is !
hat of Mr.. Griscom, the American !
laotr;c;an Ono of those rlnvarful Z