New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-29
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.
CHEMISTRY OF FAIRY RINGS.

nc
Society. The circles of dark green grass which
frequently occur on pasture land, and which
have been long known by the name of fairy
rings have attracted much attention from
botanists and vegetable psychologists. Pro-
lessor Way, in 1916, explained this phenom-
enon as follows: "A fungus is developed on
single spot of ground, sheds its seeds, and dies
On the spot where 1t grows 1t leaves a yaluaOle
manuting of phosphoric acid and alkal'es, etc. ;
the ground then becomes occupied by vlgor-
GUS crop of grass, rising like phoenix on the
ashes of its predecessor. The grass crop is aleh
removed and with it the greater part OF tlle IN ;,
organic materials the fungus had eQlieo ~.
Professor Way, therefore, attrlouteu 'iio ono0'
chiefly to the inorganic elements ,,o srb;ect at
Experiments were made on the surrey az
Rothamsted: and in 1851 II was stateu 'nal
the manuring action was, due 10 tne n!,roseih
collected by the fungus rather Jim W .no asn
constituents. In ISn4 a data ON the sub
80 Samnles of soil were taken from the IN
Side of a fairy ring, from the ring, ana outside.
T6e onontity of organic carbon ana nitrogen
..ns Carefully estimated the mean results oD-
ta;ned were-nitrogen within the ring, O.247
ner cent on the ring, O.266 per cent OUTSIDE
fbe ring O.2S1 per cent. Carbon within, 40
Der cent; on the ring, 2.99 per cent; OUTSIDE,
$50 per cent. The percentage OF nitrogen anu
carbon is, therefore, highest in the soil outside
the ring and lowest within the ring, WINE Tue
quantities found in the soil from the ring nave
an intermediate value. 1t is obvious, therefore,
that the rOSth of the fungus ana inc SUISSE
0uept increased growth and removal OF the as
ISOLATED heritage are accompanied by cOnsid-
cradle reduction in the amount or the organic
carbon and nitrogen in the soil, and the fungi
have taken up organic carbon and nitrogen
from the soil, which was not available 70 the
previously established vegetation
THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
The Electrician is not hopeful of any imme
date discoveries in electric lighting which
shall greatly reduce its cost at present. The
cheapest way of producing elect richly Is by the
DYNAMO electric machines, and the most serious
obstacle to the economical generation of cleo
rricty by these machines is the extremely low
efficiency of the steam engine as means of
converting heat into mechanical work IL
some method could be devised for generating
electricity from heat directly, which would
avoid any considerable part OF the present.
enormous waste of energy, great advance
would be made. This would give electric
lighting possession OF almost the entire neld OF
artificial illumination, and make the electric
motor formidable competitor OF the steam
engiue, as prime mover, wherever mechanical
power is used. 1t is possible that "a discovery
may be made which will realize this, but we
see no indications which point to the dlrec-
ton from which it may be expected.
But, while we may not look for any great
Improvement of the present dynamOs IN the
direction of greater economy OF power we may
reasonably expect considerable simph6catiOn
parts of the apparatus Will also undoubtedly
be greatly improved in efficiency, and their
cost will he reduced ard many accessories
and minor appliances will be added to existing
systems, from time to time, which will greatly
increase their efficiency, safety anu CONVEX
fence in general use. The extension OF the
central station system will undoubtedly constl-
tute the great future of electric lighting. In
this we may reasonably expect great reduction
in operating expenses, from the adoption OF I'M
proved apparatus and better systems OF dlstrl-
button and regulation, the employment OF
cheaper labor In construction ana attend
ance, and from greater experience III the details
of management. With the reduction OF cost
will come increased demand ana larger extern
sion of the business.
As it stands to-day on the work it is doing,
and its proven capabilities, electric Lighting
rests on "a prosperous basis, with brilliant
prospects for the future.
PRODUCING FIRE BY THE BREATH.
In recent number of The Michigan Medical
Neus DIR. 5. G. Woodman gives some remark
able particulars concerning young man VINO
seems to be a regular storehouse OF electriclty'
The young mans name Is William Under wood,
age twenty seven years, and his gift is that oil
generating fire through the medium OF Ils
breath, assisted by manipulations with his hands:
He will take anybody's handkerclheI ana h0id
IL TO his mouth, rub it vigorously with MS
hands while breathing on it, and Immediately
ii bursts into flames and burns until consumed.
He will strip, and rinse out his mouth thor
oughly, wash his hands, aud submit to the most
rigid examination to pIecluds the possibility OF
any humbug, and then by his breath blown
upon any paper OF cloth envelop it In flame.
He will, when out cunning and without
matches DESTROYS of fire, lie down after col
lecting dry leaves, and by breathing on them
start fire, and then cOOlly take Oft his wet
stockings and dry them. 1t is impossible to
persuade him to do it more than twice day,
and the effort is attended with the most ex-
treme exhaustion. He will sink INTO chair
after doing it, aud on one occasion, after he
had newspaper on fire, DIR. Woodman placed
bis hand on his head and discovered his scalp
TO be violently twitching as if under intense
excitement He will do it at any time, no mat
ter where he is, under any circumstances, ana
DIR. Woodman has repeatedly known OF his
sitting back from the dinner table, taking "a
draueht of water, and by blowing on his nap
kin at once set it OH fire. He Is Ignorant, ana
SAYS that he first discovered his strange power
BY inhaling and exhaling OIL perfumed hand
kerchief that suddenly burned while ID his
hands.
THE SAHARA SEA SCHEME.
NJ. de Lessepss trip to North Africa seems to
have convinced him that the project OF turning
the Sahara or part OF it, INTO vast inland
sea connected with the Mediterranean, Will be
both practicable and profitable. Soundlngs IN
various parts have shown the existence OF nOtll-
ing but sand to the depth of over 200 feet.