Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-25
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
rFor the SPECTATOR. /

INFLUENCE OF HoUsE-PLANTs.-Dr. j
NJ. Anders has reached the conclusions thai
only Towering plants, grown in well-light-
ed places, generate ozone; and that the
most odorous flowers produce the greatest
quantity. The ozone attacks the organic
matter of the air and BY oxidation render,
it inert; and DIR. Andsrs does not doub'
that Towering plants in clear weather give
off enough of this natural purifying agent
to be Of hygienie value indoors. Foliage
plants. although yielding no ozone, may bs
of advantage in contributing to the main
tenance IF healthful degree of humidity
in the atmosphere Of rooms.
The treeless condition of parts Of the
South American Pampas-of the La Plata
region, at least-is attributed by Mr.. Ar
thur Nicols to the work Of an omnipressn'
ant, which feeds upon leaves and quickly
destroys trse-seedlings and other tender
plants as soon as the young leaves appear
above ground. Indian corn grows freely
on these plains, its growth being SO rapid
ly devouring the young plants.
The attention of the Russian Govern
,uent has just been drawn to the existenc.
of extensive deposits of sulphur in western
Siberia, and an expedition is to be rent to ex-
anime them. Europe's supply of sulphur
is row chiefly obtained FROM Sicily.
To assist in determining whether any
slow changes in terrestrial latitudes art
taking place, series of observations GOV
ering period of several years is to bt
made at Washington and elsewhere.
Under the influence of galvanic action,
milk has been kept sweet three weeks il
Summer, and it is suggested that beer an'
other liquids may be preserved i'll similar
manner.
SMOKING AGAIN INvEsTIGATED.-By
long series of experiments, a Russian ply
stefan, Dr. Zali.ski, has proven that tobac
co-smoke is distinct poison, although it,
action upon men is very slight unless in
hailed in considerable quantities. He has
found that the poisonous property is moi
exclusively due to the nicotine, for tobacco
smoke contains second toxical principl.
called colidine as well as carbonic oxid'
and hydrocyanic acid. The effects depend
largely upon tho nature of the tobacco and
the manner of smoking it. The most pei
son is derived from the smoking of cigars
less from cigarettes, still less from pipes,
and least of all from the use Of nargiles CT
any other apparatus in which the smoke il
passed through water. Tobacco which has
been artifcially lightened in color is, in DR.
Zulinski's opinion, more dangerous thar
the darker kinds.
STORM STATIsTICs.-In recent official
publication, the Chief Sigral Officer ha>
given summarized account of 2730 of th'
storms which occurred from January, 1876.
to August. 1881, in q region embracing a
large part of North America, the Atlantic
and Europe. Ofthese Alb began and ended
in America; $50 began in America and end
I'd in the Atlantic 100 began in America
and crossed the Atlantic; 1926 began ano
ended in tn. Atlantic; 655 began in the At
lantic and ended in Europe; 491 began ano
ended in Europe; and 66 began in America
and crossed the Atlantic and Europe.
Earthquake observations are to be insti-
tuted on the summit of Ben Nevis, where
is located the highest meteorological obser-
eatory in the British Isles. The isolated
position of this station renders it particu-
larry suited to observations ofslight tremors.
The photograph of tailed boy from Sal
gon was lately shown to the London An
thropological Society. His age is about
eight years, and the appendage or inch
Is long.
NATURES INVISIBLE WoRkERs.-Ni-
eroscopic organisms not only destroy the
plant and animal forms familiar to us, but
they appear also to bSild up such forms,
and to be necessary to their very existence.
A French biologist Mons. Duclaux, has
just made some experiments which tend to
prove that plants will not terminate unless
microbes exist in the soil; and Pasteur had
already been led to the conclusion that mi
crobes ale essential to animal life, as diges
ton cannot be performed unless they arc
present.
BIRD MIGRATION TO CUBA Statistic.
collected by the American Ornithologists'
Union show that great numbers of birds
are destroyed by flying against the light.
houses of Cuba. At Paredon Grande, more
than 100 birds were found one morning; in
one night last October, 278 were killed by
flying against the lighthouse at Cardenas
and at the San Antonio light-ho more
than 500 are sometimes picked up after a
single nights destruction. Thus is con-
firmed the view expressed by Prof Spencer
F. Baird, twenty years ago, that every au.
tumn great bird-wave sweeps over from
from Florida to Cuba.
A disease called potato-scab has been de.
scribsd by Prof. E. Heiden, who finds it to
be ,casioned by parasite fungus, RAizok.
fonia Solaai, and not due, q, is commonly
supposed, to the caustic lime UPON the tu-
bers. The disease is severest in fields
dressed with farm-yard m nure.
Several agricultural chem SIS of Germany
have been studying to improve heavy soils,
= and now recommend line IS a dressing.-
The crop for the fist St as N sh, be po-
totoes; for the second, oats; for the third,
tares or peas; and for the fourth, potatoes
again.