Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-22
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
compiled for the SPECTATOR. |

lCOmplled Tor the SPECTATOR.
The GROWTH OF COAL.-The most recent
light on the unsettled question of the pre-
else manner in which coal was formed is
furnished by the researches of Mr.. Edward
Wethered, who has been convinced. by a
microscopical study of coal from English
mines, that the beds were not formed by
forests, but that the fossil trees so familiar
to botanists grew IN them. The coal itself
that is, the plants which ultimately form
ed it-he regards as having been of aquatic
habit, growing in a manner similar to mod
ern -bogs, though of much larger extent.
The Greenwich Observatory in England
calls for large telescope. This most fa-
nous astronomical establishment in the
world is behind many observatories in the
size of its instruments, its largest refract-
ing telescope having an aperture of only
twelve and three-fourths inches.
Attention has lately been called to two
races of men that must soon become extinct.
At the present rate of decrease, the Mooris
of New Zealand-now reduced to less than
40, 900 from 100, 900 in Capt. Cooks day
must have disappeared by the year 1000.
The Laplanders are estimated not to exceed
80, 900 in number, and are gradually becom-
ing fewer.
In freshly-fallen hailstones in France,
Boussingault has observed temperature of
1876 degrees-or 1875 degrees below freez-
g-point-while that of the surrounding
air was about AZ degrees. Other observers
have noticed temperatures of 16, 25 and %
degrees in hail.
A new insect, reported to be more de-
structive than the phylloxera, has appeared
in great numbers in the vineyards of some
parts of Roumania and Bessarabia.
A mass of lead in an elevated furnace in
Paris was completely dissipated by stroke
of lightning, no trace of the metal being
found afterward.
A GREAT PRoJECT.-The director of the
Paris Observatory remarks that the heavens
may be completely photographed IN 5000
sections similar to a section Of the Milky
Way shown in a chart presented to the
French Academy of sciences. The whole
work might be done at six or eight well
situated observatories in five or six years g.
It is declared that such work, containing
the photographs of over 20,000,000 stars
down to the fourteenth or fifteenth magni-
tude, and bequeathing to future astronom-
ers an exact picture of the starry regions at
the close of tine nineteenth century, would
certainly be the greatest astronomic under
taking ever carried out.
The Maluva tree of Central India (Bassia
latif folia) bears flowers which are now being
exported to Europe for their sugar, Of
which they contain more than half their
weight. The tree resembles the oak, and a
-.
flowers.
Fur made from feathers is a product of
recent years. In many respects it is equal
or even superior to genuine fur. The ma
terial is used for the borders Of ladies'
cloaks, dresses, etc., and even sealskin
cloazs have been successfully initiated with
it.
discovered in Iterup, the largest and most
eral appearance the animal is said to resem-
BILE the American grizzly.
An apparatus for showing under the mi
croscope the combustion of metals by the
passage of the electric spark through them
has been exhibited to the Royal Society of
London. The apparatus is very interest
ing one, most beautiful color effects being
yielded by the different metals in burning.
The water-supply of many Of the artesian
wells in the Algerian Sahara is reported to
be gradually becoming exhausted, showing
that the subterranean reservoir is replenish-
ed very slowly.
AN INTERESTING OPTICAL EFFECT.-A
new French experiment consists in placing
two similar black paper f1gures-two cross
es, for example, quite closely together, at
about three inches from the eyes. When
so held before sheet of white paper, three
separate crosses will be seen. The phe-
nomenon-illustrating the>principle of the
explained by the simultane-
GUS vision of the two eyes. If figures of
complementary colors-as red and green
are used upon dark background, white
figure will appear in the middle.
The DECAY OF BUILDING-sToNEs.-
of Prof. T. Eggleston have
shown that calcareous materials are most
affected by the acid gases and rain-water of
cities at height of about ten feet above the
ground, the effect gradually decreasing up
ward, and entirely. disappearing above a
height of 100 feet. Waterproofing seems
to be the only remedy, wash of sulphur
proving to be the only preservative of value
for hard stones, while saturation with lin
seed oil may be recommended in the case
of all porous stones.
Trial trips at Nice with the submarine
boat of the naturalist Toseli have indicated
that the vessel will render valuable service
to science. 1t can penetrate to depth of
about 800 feet, and its powerful electric
lamps make easy minute inspection of the
sea-
An association of pharmacistsi in Paris has
been discussing the old question of the in
fuence of plants in bedrooms upon the
health of the occupants. The conclusion is
that the plants are beneficial, especially to
plants without flowers being
preferable to those in bloom.
The Milan Society of Hygiene has made
the singular suggestion that the soil of
cholera-infected districts may adhere to
shoes, and give rise to the disease in new
localities to which it is thus conveyed.
In a recent balloon ascent, Tissandier,
the French eronaut, secured "a instantane-
GUS photographs of the country between
Paris and Rheims.