The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-09
Scientific GOSsip.

Both f. Meissl and F. Booker assert that
the sofa bean, which has been but recently
imported into Europe from Japan, is very
valuable fodder, being exceedingly rich in
fatty constituents.
A new mineral, named " richellite " by
q. Cessaro and q. Despret. has been OBJ
| taired from Richelle. near Wise, Belgium
| IL occurs in large masses, cream yellow IN
color at first, but afterward changes to an
ochre yellow.
In a paper recently presented to the Ber-
| lin Academy OF Sciences, DR.. Werner Sic
mems makes the statement that gases sub
iected to a temperature AT which steel melts
| do not emit any luminous rays il they are
merely heated and not also Influenced
chemically.
A newly-discOyered fungus named the
Phomd qentidn9 has its habitat on the
| stems. leaves. and buds OF the Gentidnd CT
| Edtd. and Herr j. Kuhn asserts that the va.
rieties OF this plant grown in mountainous
regions are not more free from the para
sites than those grown in the lowlands.
As an inducement TO the greater utiliza-
/ ton OF buttermiik in bread making II is
stated that ii contains to > per cent. OF
milk-sugar and per cent. Of mineral salts,
and that after settling for cheese-making
II also contains | per cent. OF heterogeneous
matter and nearly as much OF butter fat.
The basic process Of working steel is
now introduced into Russia, and, according
J 70 Herr 5. Kern, gives great satisfaction.
II can be welded quite as easy as iron. In
| deed during, and a. an incident Of, the
manufacture, the very scraps are heated tola
welding heat and afterward rolled into
mates. The raw material contains, on the
average, IS per cent. OF phosphorus.
! Uieratite is new mineral species found
among the volcanic products OF the Island
| ~ Vulcano. and named after Hiera, as the
| island was known in ancient days. Gray
| st,Iactitic concretions inclosing small oeta-
| hedral CRYSTALS were found near the apeT-
tures ~ the fumaroles. But IL Is especially
| 70 he noted that until now volcanic eXhala-
lions have never on analysis yielded tin,
zinc, and bismuth.
Meteorites are divided into five classes by
professor Tshermak. First, those con-
sis,ing essentially Of iron; second, those
having an iron ground mass with nclosed
silicates: third. those consisting chiefly OF
| aliyine and brOllZllt, VIII tiOu a. u cuDOI-
dinate constituent fourth, those consisting
essentially OF oliyIne, bronzlte, or pyrox-
enc and, fifth, those consisting essentially
Of augite, bronzlte, lime, feldspar, with a
shining crust.
Herr C. ETH says the tanning Of oak-bark
ev;sts in two forms-first as a fannie acid,
which in its free state has reddish-white
color and. second, as an anhydrate Of that
scid called phlobaphene," the color OF
which is brown-red. The distinction be-
tween these two bodies is familiar to tan
ners. who designate the anhydrate simply
as IS coloring matter" ano reject barks con-
tanning too large proportion OF II on ac-
connt Of the very red color IL imparts to
leather treated with such banks.
Residues from the making OF beet-sugar,
which are valuable food for cattle, lose con-
siderable portions OF their weight when
stored either In pits or barns. This appears
m be due to fermentation, and DR.. NJ.
Warcber recommends that when these resi-
dnes are intended for cattle-feeding they
should either be used fresh or they should