New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-23
PRICING WATER And MELTING ICE.
AND now To OBSERVE THE BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL
FLOWERS THAT BLOOM THEREIN

AND HOW 10 ObSLhNE Ahf bbAN ar " NNASAsAi-
FLOWERS THAT BLOOM THEREIN.
To the Editor OF The TribUHe
SIR Everybody is familiar with pictures
of snow-crysals though wonder how many people are
in the habit of examining their marvellous delicacy and
beauty through u magnifying glass But there Is
interesting eyen because less IA
mar than the of the Set glass vessel "a
goblet for nstance full of clear water on the ledge out
side the window, placing in it Thermometer take of
the tube from tho plate If the whole is too large and cuts
off the light too much In the waterl When the mercury
has aen to the freezing point and the least MIN begins
q, bur the surface OF the water apply your magniyng
ess and watch the delicate tracery OF the ice-crystas
weave their frostwOrk the surface Before 1t Is
fairly frozen however. with stick or the Thermometer
tube stir the water we'll Then quickly apply the glass
~ the surface and you will wonderful things differ
inc somewhat according TO the precise temperature 1t
may be the water will be filed with cleaning spcues
febery bits from broken ferncrystas; or IL may be all
twnking with minute enticular plates or you may see
tbut YOU must watch with exceeding care and with the
exac focus the glass at the surface of the wate very
little round plates OF ice rise to the surface and rest there
moment Then suddenly the edge Of one OF these
mates will grow frngc as the fringe increases you VIII
ace II grow fastest six eQuidstant points on the cir
cumferenco; then rapidly the whole becomes beautiful
hexagonal star before your eyes Meanwhile here and
there across the surface you can see slender spears go
shooting forth, featheng out US tney go INTO & sue
whole process will he repeated HIT freezes 700 ihs SET
inside the for rev minutes, Nuuc you
warm your fingers and ears Tor renewed ODserVa-
lions Should you have the skill to catch the water ut
lust the right temperature you may nj one instant nave
IL ali clear aud the next by sudden heitauon, woven
mil NJ crsscrOss spears and spcueS OF twlnkng lce
NOT only is IL very Interesting 10 watch WIN pocket
glass the formation or Ice crystals when wa
t e. frecInp but IL is IL possible even more fasclnat-
Inc Ia watch their spectral temperance when meilng
Predecessor Tvndal In his charming book on Tue tOfis
~ Mater very briefly describes this process and gives
,ats of drawings OF of the beautiful FORMS All
tb nnarntus one needs for repeating MS eXpernents
anal block of pure CLEAR ice Ga piece as large as sia
10 viii 40 chipued from the ice chest or cut where you
"rc Skating ON some clear pond lens Tor burning
aas and another tor the same one Will do) Tor inspect
r. tbe ice-sars sit at window where the sun comes
n rest the block OF ice on some vase OF cup 10 eaten ls
placing uppermOs the surface OF the Ice as II
SaIs won can tell this by the lines OF little bubbles
stondin,y mn ana down.. Focus the sunbeam through
your burning-glass the face OF the lee gradually
carrying the focus down little into the blockaOwlng
to rSSmaIn but a few moments At the same time hold
INC your magnifying-glass Ia the other hand watch IN
family the point in the ice where the FOCUS OF heat Is
mating Il little Here you will see II you are skllIu
enough or pAtient enough, wonderful thing happen
ing The sunbeam Is, Professor Tyndall happily ex-
presses IT, 80 gently taking apart the crystal stars when
md Won behold nmy water-blOssOm taking the place
OF the iceblossom OF an instant before You must nave
tho your eye-glass exactly on the STAR OF you
will not see II. You may easily be gazing NJ puneu
few haIrbreadths below or above IT, ana not suspect iS
existence. -. - ho,oo,ot s.aro
each with sparkle In the centre you may happen on
spot where your glass will reveal group o. ueieale
frngsd ern-eaves or OF eathercd spears; Tor the sun
beam Will give You In thus water-ilm whatever shape
was previously 6uded Ia the crystal ice ~,
You may perhaps gaze for an hour without succeeding