Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-09
Scientific GOSSIP.

strong dccoction OF the leaves and
stems Of tomatO-plants i said 10 ne ueadiy
10 caterpillars, lice. and other enemies 81
vegetation without being injurious 10 the
plants.
Previous to the year 1851 coal was the
only mineral raised in New South Wales.
Even twenty years later the only minerals
which had been worked there were coat,
shale, gold. copper. and entimony; but
since 1871 tin, silver. iron. lead, asDeStos.
and blsmuth have been added to the list.
For the last twelve months II ia officially
o..iplated that the fish caught on the coasts
OF Scotland amounted in value to more than
SlG.4So.OC0, the herring fishery alone
making fully Sl0.267,1jo. TIE fishery
industry OF that country supports p0pu-
htion numbering more than hall mix
lion.
Grapes do not grow well in New Iea-
land in the open air except IN rev shel,
tered situations. The climate is too humid
and eGuable. The winters are too warm
TO ripen the wood, and the summer, are
not hot enough TO mature the fruit. The
consequence i that the most OF the grapes
TO be had in the market there must be
either imported or grown under glass.
Regarding the alleged gold discoveries in
Assam the superintendent OF the geological
suryey OF India writes: "Thcre Is no
doubt that the Lakhimpur or Sabsnsiri re-
zion IL, and has long been, gold-producing,
but, from all can gather, very little more
30 thar other washing grounds In the
peninsula. IL Is, however, question
whether iuUIcasod ~vrhiuS would chow all
increased out!urn OF gold which would last
| for any time, and the determination OF this
problem may, think, be sdvisedly left to
private enterprise"
The railway up the Dracheniels has been
| compIeted at a cost OF S50, 900. Its length
| Is l,5s2 metres, the upper end 222 metres
above the starting point. and the mean
| gradient in 1873. Rack railways, accord
| ing to the Engineer, are not now uncOm-
mon, though the first was constructed but
a few years ago UP the Right by VI. Rig
| geniach. They comprise those worked
| wholly by engines gearing in the rack,
| and those worked either by locomotives
which have rack - well s. common gear or
by two kinds Of locomotives.
| Ground sir, says Mr. G.. ii. Robe, Is sim.
| ply the atmospheric air which had pene-
| rated into the intcr,tices Of the soil and
|
| going on there. In consequence of these
| chemical actions the relative proportions OF
the oxygen and carbonic acid IN the air are
changed. oxygen disappearing and giving
| place to csrbOnic acid. The researches Of
| Fador have demonstrated that the proper
ton Of csrbonic acid in the ground ar may
be taken rs an approximate measure OF the
| impurity Of the soil whence the air is taken.
A doe kangaroo, when hunted and hard
! pressed. says Mr.. j. III. Wheelwrigh,, viii
throw the young one out OF the pouch into
any handy cump OF scrub or tussOck OF
| grass. The Joey" accepts the situation,
and makes himself as small a. ever he can
IN fact, in looking for him, all you ever can
see are his bright eyes. Young kangaroos
seem TO possess exactly the same instinct
as the calves OF wild or semi-wild cattle,
that OF cOnccaling themselves. Young
kargaroos soon adapt themselves to cir
cumsiances, and make themselves COM
Portable at the bottom OF the pocket OF 4
jacket.
In the report OF the Peabody Museum il
i. stated that human mOlar tooth OF the
Trenton grayels was discovered by DR.. G..
c. Abbot at a place where paleolithic i'm.
pements have been brought TO light from
time TO time. As the tooth is rolled and
well worn 1t is supposed to be OF the same
age A. the ancient tools. Some little scep'
ticism was entertained regarding the rea
source OF portion OF humtn skull
alleged by the person from whom the relic
was obtained for the museum to have been
taken from the gravel-bed near Trenton
but shy doubt rs TO its origin seems Il
have been dispelled by the finding OF The
| tooth.