The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-02-19
Ponular Science.

a congress OF sclentltcate societies
is to be held at the Sarbonne. Among
the subjects to be discussed IS the
utility of magnetic and electric OBJ
servations With regard TO weather
predictions.
Prof. II. Munk, worker of some
eminenco in agricultural chemistry,
says that moderate muscular exercise
increases the yield Of milk, but that
violent motion hinders the process of
milk-secretion. Dairy farmers may
turn his remarks to profit.
Grehant and Quinquand say that
simultaneous injections of increasing
doses Of aqueous solutions of pure
urea invariably terminated in tetanic
commissions and death. The convul-
sions resembled those produced by
strychnine, and were followed by
death in the course of from one to ten
hours.
After many observations at sea level
and at 1900 feet above, Professor s.
z. Langley concludes that the mean
absorption of light and heat by the
atmosphere is at least double the usual
estimate of 20 per cent. He believes
also that dust particles play a more
important part in this absorption than
is generally supposed.
Professor E. Wollny concludes that
the deep planting of seeds and tubers
is usually 'unfavoTable for their deyel-
opment. The most suitable depth de-
ponds on the kind of plant, on the nature
of the soil and On the weather. The
smaller the seeds or tubers, the less
favorable the weather and the more
he nGCnnfIal IE
shallow sowing.
is worth 100000 annually, one
fourth Of which sum has heretofore
been paid to the Carrara quarry, of
Italy. With the new San francisco
company operating IN the Alaska
! quarries the city hopes to purchase
; hereafter its entire supply from its
own citizens, and at the same time to
get marble of equal beauty as here
tofore.
The flexibility of itacolumite-a re-
markable sandstone existing in Geor-
gia and North and South Carolina
seems to be surpassed by that of a
magnetism limestone found at the en-
trance of the Tyne, in England. This
limestone is reported to De SO flexible
that thin layers, three feet or more
in length, may be bent into circle
While damp, retaining that form OF
drying.
AL ruminant hoofed beasts have
horns and cloven feet. If the hoofs
are even the horns are even; If odd, as
in the rhinocerous, the horns are odd
that Is single or two placed one be-
n+h fu
with feathers always have beaks.
Pigeons with short beaks have small
feet, and those with long beakS have
large feet. The long limbs of the
hound are associated with a long
head.
No two individuals have exactly
the same anatomical structure, and
nearly every one has in him some
bony prominence, superDUmery mus.
Gle or abnormal blood vessel which
tells the tale of his descent. Scarcely
one body Is perfectly normal in every
part. Some have as many as thirty OF
forty variations in their bones, mus.
cles OF arteries. Variations occur
more frequently in negro and Indian
subjects than in those of European
descent.
The limits of Insects are determined
by temperature and vegetation, by
oceans and mountains. There is an
insect fauna for each continent, zone
and latitude. The insects near the
snow line on the sides of mountains in
the temperate region are similar to
those in polar lands. The insects on
our Pacific slope resemble those OF
Europe, while those near the Atlantic
coast are more like those of Asia. Not
half dozen insects live in the sea.
Slightly soiled white wooden articles,
knitted or crocheted, may be made to
look as well as new if they are carefully
rubbed IN flour. Cover them with
flour rub gently as if washing until
the flour becomes dark. Snake out the
article and rub IN clean flour until all
the soil is removed. Shake well and
hang in the wind until no atom OF flour
remains in the wool. OF course one
would not care to cleanse in this way
articles that are worn next to the body,
but for shawls, capes and head cover
Ings flour answers admirably.