Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-04-03
POPULAR SCIENCE.

A French scientist has been studying
the effects of altitude upon vegetation,
and concludes that for each augmenta-
tion Of about 100 yards there will be, as
a general average, a retardation of four
days; that is, other circumstances being
equal, a crop planted at the sea level wi
appear above ground four days before a
similar crop planted $50 feet above it.
The camphor laurel, native of China,
and the tree from which most of the
camphor of commerce is obtained, seems
to have been introduced successfully in
California. one tree in Sacramento having
attained a height of thirty feet. The
wood, every part of which smells strongly
of camphor, is light and durable, not
liable to injury from insects, and much
favored by cabinet makers.
The treeless condition of parts of the
South American pampas - of the La
Plata region. at least-is attributed by
Mr.. Arthur Nichols to the work of an
omnipresent ant, which feeds upon
leaves and quickly destroys tree seed
lings and other tender plants as soon as
the leaves appear above ground. Indian
corn grows freely on these plains its
growth being so rapid that the insects
do not succeed in completely devouring
the young plants.
Microscopic organisms not only do
stroy the plant and animal forms familiar
to us, but they appear also to build up
such forms, and to be necessary to their
very existence. A French biologist,
Mons. Duclaux, has just made some ex-
| periments which tend to prove that
| plants will not terminate unless microbes
exist in the soil; and Pasteur had al
ready been led to the conclusion that
microbes are essential to animal life, as
digestion cannot be performed unless
they are present.
One of the most remarkable oils yet
discovered is that found in the Arago oil
basin in Wyoming Territory. In shaft
to a depth of twelve feet, oil flows in of
exceptionally high specific gravity. It
is, when first exposed, of a brownish
color, and can be cut with a knife like
soft butter. It gradually turns black on
exposure. 1t has little odor when it first
comes from the shaft, though what es.
capes on the south side of the adjoining
ridge has slight pungency, which it
loses on exposure.
In recent official publication, the
chief signal officer has given summar.
lied account of 1880 of the storms
which occurred from January, 1876, to
August 1881, in a region embracing g
large part OF North America, the Allan.
tic and Europe. Of these 413 began and
ended in America; $50 began in Americt
and ended in the Atlantic; 1870 began in
America and crossed the Atlantic; 32(
began and ended in the Atlantic; 55i
began in the Atlantic and ended in Eu
rode; and sc began in America ant
crossed the Atlantic and Europe.
Statistics collected by the American
Ornithologists' Union show that grea
numbers of birds are destroyed by flying
against the lighthouses of Cuba. A
Paredon Grande, more than 100 bird
were found one morning; in one nigh
last October 27S were killed by flying
against the lighthouse at Cardenas; ant
at the San Antonio lighthouse, NOR
than 500 are sometimes picked up afte
single nights destruction. Thus i
confirmed the view expressed by Prof
Spencer F. Baird, twentyeyears ago. tina
every autumn great bird wave sweep
over from Florida to Cuba.