The National tribune., 1885-06-04
SCIENTIFIC CHAT.

The old blind instinct theory of bird architect
ure appears to have quite broken down. The proofs
most convincing that blind instinct has very lit
tie to do with the matter. Birds nearly pOssi
bic initiate the nests i'll which they reared,
and bring to the work sort of rudmentary reason.
As Mr.. Chas. Dixon says, Man has to learn the
particular art of house building practiced by his
own peculiar race and birds have to do the same"
The Western cattle men talk of using cleo
trieity TO brand their cattle.
In Arizona and Northern Mexico experiments
are making with the castor bean for the manufac
ture of OIL The estimates give 800 plants to the
acre, which produce GOO pounds of beans, worth
SlS0. An oil factory Is contemplated at Tucson,
Ariz., provided sufficient beans be contracted
for.
According to the census tests the Western
larch, Larir OccdeRtas, is the most elastic of the
$40 species tried 1t is not to be inferred from the
phrase most elastic" that this tree has the great
est power and strongest tendency to recover its
original position when the pressure which bends it
is removed but that it will bend further without
breaking than any other wood. Next to this lareh
comes the mangroye. then the yellow birch and
following these in order ranked Pinus eontorta,
Pinus Ctbensis. Eugenta 6nrQotid, Southern yellow
pine, nutmeg hickory, sugar maple, black birch,
Spanish oak and shagbark hickory.
- The largest Touring mill in France has reccntly
adopted rollers fact which has not n little discon-
certed the stone mill advocates, of whom in France
there are not a few.
hold a place for reducing middngs for a long time
yet, even in rOiler-mills.
"A micro-membranous filter has been con-
structed by a German engineer the pores of which
fine that certain of the baccili supposed to
be cause of zymotic diseases cannot pass them.
The construction of the filter is based on the ex
treme tineneSs of asbestos fibers which precipi
tated upon very fine brass wire sieve in such n
way as to form a microlithic membrane. The num-
ber of pores per square millimeter is given at
2500.OO0.
- The small red ants, says Prof G.. V. Riley. are
undoubtedly the most troublesome of the insects
infestng houses and to destroy them, even to
keep them I'm check, appears to be nearly hope
mems and the remarkable pertinacity they exhibit
in their attacks. All that be done is to carry
incessant and untiring warfare against them
by means of liberal and frequent applications of
pyrethrum powder, kerosene, or kerosene emul-
sions. hot water, napthaline, etc.
The following IS given as a cheap mode of
rendering fabrics uninfammable Four parts of
borax and three parts of sulphate of magnesia
are shaken up together just before being re-
quired. The mixture - then dissolved in from 20
to 30 parts of warm water. Into the resulting solu-
ton the articles to be protected from fire inn
mersed, and when they are thoroughly soaked they
wrung out and dried, preferably in the open
air.
- One by one the instruments and processes of our
fathers are being relegated to the domain of the
antiquated Now the churn must go. According
to French patent, the passage of suitable cleo
trio current through milk causes the rapid separa
tiOn of the butter, and renders churnng unncees-
of rancidity from butter by electrical aid are also
claimed.
AN effort has been made to cultivate the nettle,
with the object of obtaining from il a material suit
able for weaving. lady in Germany has raised
nettes patches of waste nearly protless land.
and has secured a crop which has yielded fibers of
such finenesS and tenacity that she has induced
farmers in her neighborhood to try what fur
ther Improvement can be effected in the nettlc by
growing it soil formerly devoted to wheat.