Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-10-25
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

VAIN III IHtid' IL II ''iitti'A III t~JNtiI-
ern India and Cochin China, and yi.fs
abundant supplies Of pure caoutehouc.
The liquid juice is often employed i'll
medicine by Arnalnites and Cam9odi aus.
Alcohol has been shown by Mons.
Muntz to be very widely diiiu'ol in nstare.
1t exists in all water except that from.
very pure springs. Rain and snow are
not free from it, and it is probable that
the air contains much Of it in thu state
of vapor. Poor soil yield, TRACES cf it,
aud rich mould has considerable guam
dty.
We're man weighing $50 pounds en-
dowed with the strength of Il beetle some
time ago exhibited by DR.. Theobold at a
scientific meeting he should be able to
move los, 900 pounds, or nearly 100 tons.
The insect weighed two grains, and NOV
ed 2,640 pounds.
Observations made last year by Lieut..
Gen. Sheridan indicate that the power
Of the Yellowstone Geyscrs has not di-
mioished since 1872, when they were
CAREFUL surveyed by DR.. A. c. Pcale.
Two new gcysers of considerable import.
ance have appeared since that time.
Elephants are capable Of doing a va
riety Of useful services. A Singapore
lady has sent London journal sketch
Of elephants at work in the timber yards
of Moulmein. Under the direction Of
drivers seated on their necks, these beasts
carry huge planks, sometimes two or three
together, and with great care and precis-
ion place them in stacks one over another
The old hands are even said to take q
sidelong view with one eye closed to test
the perpendicularity of the stacks.
BY means Of registering electrometel
In the new physical laboratory at Lau
same, Switzerland, variations 10 the cleo
trical condition of the air have been com
pared with the weather changes. Thu
result has shown an intimate connection
between the phenomena, and it is expect
cd that careful study of the ecctrometel
may enable meteorologists to predict tn
weather several days in advance. Thu
electric tension of the air is strong durin;
fine weather, but rapid diminishing o
the tension indicates the approach of
storm.
It was reported short time ago tina
piles had been driven by dynamite il
some German experiments. Later ad
vices concerning the process state that al
iron plate sixteen inches in diameter an,
Eve inches thick is placed on the top o
the pile to be driven, and upon this plat
. pound-and-a-half charge of dynamite
is exploded by electricity. The force o
the explosion drives the pile into the mu,
as far as would five blows struck by
weight of $3.50 pounds falling from
height Of ten feet. The system was orig
mated by Herr Pradamovic, city enginec
of Pesth.
Since the construction of railways il
Italy malarial disease has become NOR
prevalent and more severe than before
1t is supposed that this effect is due t.
the influence exerted by the numerou
earth cuttings necessary for the layin!
Of the tracks, aud to the greater use o
stagnant water.
Prof F. Forsky has experimental will
sulphuric acid and one Of its sodium com
pounds for manuring claycy soil, Boil
were without action upon moist soils, ant
caused reduction Of the yield of dry
soil.
In recent essay Herr August Voge
alludes to the possibility of changing tn,
colors Of flowers at will by the application
Of suitable chemicals to the soil. In THU
authors view, tannin plays an importan
part in the generation Of vegetable colors
1t is found in almost every plant, tn,
petals not excepted, and by the action o.
the most varying reagents-alkalies
carths, metallic salts, etc.-it assumes tn,
most manifold hues from pale rose to decl
black. A darker color, therefore, is pro
duced in flowers rich in tannin, wher
manfred with iron salts, since, as every
body knows, tannin and iron dye black
and produce ink. This fact has been put
70 practical use in the culture of hortens
las and dahlias. Blossoms of the former
were changed from pale red when the
plants grew in ordinary soil to sky-blue
when transplanted into soil heavily ma
nured with iron ochre, or when watered
occasionally with dilute alum solution
Similar manipulations have enabled an