Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-18

This winter has been very favorable for ex-
periments on the advantages of the moist
south winds over the north Winds as we have
had unusually cold south winds and the
north winds have CONCEALED water at a
: remarkably high temperature. Nj. Charles
Martins notices the concordance of dryness
with the nortl4 and northwest winds along
; the borders of the Mediterranean, and OBJ
serves: 1.-THE causes of the death Of plants
in the winter are more complicated than are
generally supposed, and we must give up the
notion of defining the exact temperature
below which they must perish"
My experiments and observations show me
that NJ. Martins is correct; no definite rule
can be established except we know that evap-
Grafton and the negative electricity 10 the
north wind will, at times, cause more dam
age than the temperature would alone Justify
us in believing to be possible. In 1880, in
November, the 14th was the coolest night,
and the temperature was 22.50'. Orange
trees were destroyed all over the State, much
more damage being done than in December,
1878, when no old trees were injured In the
least, although the night of December 10Th
showed mean temperature OF only ~ TO !;
but in 1878 to this time 1856 inches of rain
had fallen. and in 1880 none had been de-
posted. In 1880 all the geraniums and other
tender plants were damaged and cut down to
their roots, and would have been this season
if not for the timely rain and fogs which
have come for their nourishment. 1t is noted
that every long dry spell in winter the frosts
do more damage to gardens than in wet cold
weather. This year in December the weather
was damp and cold, the coolest fogs | ever
noticed /; for instance. the 23d, 80 at A. NJ,
009 of an inch of water having been de-
posted, there was heavy frost and ice one
eighth of an inch thick formed, and yet no
damage happened to plants on the contrary,
many of the plants started to sprout and
grow. A dry north wind, at several degrees
above freezing point, will, by its rapid evap-
Grafton of moisture, and electrical phenomena,
freeze water. On the 1st of February, at +
A. NJ, it was 39'-7' above freezing point
wind north, no white frost. but ice 1-16th of
an inch thick formed on barrel Of water in
my yard. On the 9Th the temperature at
a. N. was the same (39'), wind south, and no
white frost or ice. When the north wind has
prevailed several days, an immediate change
of q few hours to the south does not change
the influence of the north wind /; at least
| twenty-four hours is required. The same is
true of the south winds. l have banana
ten feet high, which stands exposed. When-
ever the south wind prevails it will start to
grow, but a north wind will soon turn that
growth black. During the cold days of De-
| cember it made new leaves the north winds
| checked it, but the recent return of southerly
| currents has again started it. Moisture has
not always the deposit from the air. This is
seen by placing bright metallic substance
an Ak will doom the ground; underneath in
the morning you will tind it covered with
| dew, while the upper surface is dry.
Plants draw their moisture from the
ground through their roots The Gala
and banana are examples. If they are COW
eredfrom evaporating winds they will be found
wet. It was a generally accepted opinion
that dew which vets the leaves was absorbed
! By experiments Duchatre has TO the contrary
proved that dew does not penetrate into the
tissues of the leaves. Detached leaves do ab-
sOrb, but living plants do not absorb the
! least particle, the greasy coating of the
leaves preventing it. It is through the
medium of the ground, according to Sendtuer,
! that dew acts upon vegetation. 1t falls from
plants by its weight, the earth receives the
| moisture, which is at once sucked up by the
plants roots. 80 In the forests of warm coun-
tries, dew.drops continually fall from the
trees in plentiful shower" Ofthe influence
of the electric mists upon plants and animals,
saws Peltiers, we have not sufficient observ-
atoms to treat it properly. Sir HuEphry
DAyy says: SEEDS sprouted in water at the
positive pole of electricity rapidly. but at the
negative pole they did not sprout at all.
Liable Berthelon gives many curious facts;
fruits ripen, h1wers bloom, and are better
than ordinary with the positive electricity
but with the negative electricity, all was re-
versed. The growth and formation of leaves
were checked the development Of fruit and
flowers, and the secretion of matters was i'm
peded. The north wind of this coast has its
sister in that of the pampas OF South Amer
lea, of which Carnow says: " The north wind
imposes upon delicate nerves heavy weight
of disagreeable sensations. Such is the effect
! OF the wind that in the old Spanish Courts
some allowance was made for criminal who
had committed crime during its prevalence.
Many persons can by the state of their nerves
tell whether the wind is from the north.
/ There is no benefit to vegetation in norther;
south wind under all circumstances is to be
preferred. Professor Tyndall says that the
loss of humidity continued through several
DAYS, through the action OF drying wind,
prepares for the escape of the heat OF the
earth by night, through unimpeded radiation
into space.
At the equator, under vertical sun, the
| moist air is constantly rising during the day.
and electricity returning to the earth. The
vapor which accompanies the reverse trade
winds in the upper regions must be sstively
electrified. From which we may infer that
| there is current of electricity through the
earth, from the equator to the poles, and
naturalization by the air above which gives
rise to the Aurora polaris. Peitiers states he
can tell by the color of cloud whether it be
| positively or negatively charged Clouds ne.
gatively electrified are of blush gray color,
while those which are positively charged are
white. and at sunset have a red appearance.
| Il may be noticed that the peculiar look in
! the eastern horizon, at sunset the day before
aud during the prevalence of north wind;
it is of gray, violet color. and is no doubt
caused the same as the Aurora of the north,
by negative electricity.
Professor John Trowbridge, of Harvard
University, who is an accepted authority on
meteorology, says Very little is known
in regard to the electric state of the atmos-
! phere, and no systematic observations are
| taken of il in America. It is well known
that the northwest winds along our northern
coast are usually accompanied by positive
| change in the atmosphere, and the east winds
| by negative change or absence of change.
The coming of these winds can be predicted
| to certain extent by observations on the
electricity of the air." The Professor thinks
all the colleges should procure instruments
and take observations by some plan of CO.
operation, which could be- done at small ex.
pense.
LAUNCHED snag-bost Seller, which
has been on the ways at Washington for
several weeks undergoing repairs, was sue
cessfully launched yesterday afternoon. This
boat will go up the Sacramento river, and be
engaged taking out snsgs and otherwise i'm
proving the channel.
REwARD.-The Governor has offered re.
ward of $500 for the arrest and conviction of
the murderer or m7rderers of Fl. A. Kuchen-
thai. who was killed by some one unknown
at 0leta. in AmadOr county, January "a, 1881.
FINANCIAL SUCCESS notwithstanding the
enormous expense attending the getting up of
the Turner masquerade it was financially q
success. Their net proceeds were in the
neighborhood of 81, coo.
THR BUTToF CoUNrERi-Silk buttons, rome
buttons, vegetable ivory buttons, to cents
a dozen, at the Red House. Why pay from
25 to so cents dozen for same styles In other
houses?
No BETTER SHOES in the market than those
kept by the Leading Shoe House Of Lewis
Bros All ] street. One price