Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-04-08
Scientific Miscellany.

Experiments with the electric light in
forcing plant-growth are showing less
effect than was expected.
A new motor driven by the explosion
If small charges of gun-cotton has been
produced in England, and is said to be
applicable wherever small powers are
required.
According to French authority, the
vibrations caused by moving railway
train mile distant may make the use
of delicate astronomical instruments
impossible for the time being.
Attention has been drawn to tree
of Southern India-the ''Tuchmig' OF
the Chinese or Prameria glandulifera OF
botanists-from which it is said large
supplies of caoutchouc can be drawn.
A French savant, Mons. Forel, af-
firms that during the months OF July
and August last red halo or corona
surrounded the sun, which, though diff
ficult to see at low attitudes, became
quite brilliant at 600 feet above the sea.
He witnessed the phenomenon several
times from heights ranging from 3,OOo
to 10000 feet.
The French astronomer, Mons. c.
Flammarion, has received anonymous
" the sum of 5000 francs, to be given
as prize to the author of the best pro-
ject for the reform of the calendar.
Papers must be sent in by October l,
1856. A committee will make the
award, and propose the reform to an
international congress.
A species of ant observed in the is
land of St. Thomas has been described
to the French academy of science. A
large fire having been kindled at GER
tain distance from the ant-hill, the ants
were seen to precipitate themselves in
to it by thousands, until it was COM
pletely extinguished. 1t is proposed to
call the species Formica ignivora.
1t has just been made known that
during the great volcanic disturbance
at Krakatoa telephone communication
was almost impossible in Singapore, 500
miles away. On subterranean cable,
of about two miles in length, words
were drowned by peculiar sounds re-
sembling pistol shots. The phenome-
non seemed to be of an electric nature,
rather than acoustic.
Authorities are not agreed concern
ing the poisonous properties OF the ami
line dyes. DR.. Grandhomme, who has
had the benefit of prolonged observa-
tons in German aniline is of the opin-
ion that they are poisonous only when
| containing arsenic. Messrs. Poincase
and Nassias, however, consider them
dangerous even in state of purity,
magenta being the least dangerous OF
all.
One of the remarkable things which
botanists tell US is that we have more
plants of the Japanese flora than Eu-
rope has, and that even the Pacific
coast of America has fewer than are
found on the Atlantic slope. A few
American plants may have reached Eu-
rope by natural means; but in the main
the course of plant migration has been
from the old world to us-from west to
| east.
A bridge at Lyons, France. has a
stone parapet, pierced at intervals for
light, forming passage which plays
the part OF gigantic flute. The rush
of the air currents through the openings
causes the bridge to emit such sounds
of music at different parts of its course
that zone might believe it haunted by
legions of invisible naiads pursuing the
passengers with their plaintive melo-
dies"
In recent experiences, the images Of
candles were seen through the clear
water of Lake Geneva when sunk to a
depth of about 100 feet, the electric are
being still visible when some ten feet
lower. At greater depths the clear
images disappeared, being replaced by
difuse light, family perceptible when
the luminous bodies had reached lit
tie more than 200 feet in depth. Sum
light affects Photographic plates after
passing through thickness OF about
800 feet of the water.