Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-30
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Compiled for the srnorAron. !

GLASS HOUSES FOR SToNE-THhowERs.-
A discovery which is expected to revolu
tionize the art of glass making il creditsf
| Mr.. Frederic Siemens. 1t is in effect tha
any desired degree of hardness, within {
rather wide range, may be communicated
to glass, and that by so simple a means al
uniform heating followed by uniform cool
ing. The difficulty of heating and cooline
glass at an equal rate throughout, is over
come by the application of radiant heat, ano
the surrounding of the edges with a materi
al that prevents the heat from leaving them
more rapidly than that from other portions.
The glass may be made much harder than
the ordinary product, and three times as
strong. 1t is adapted to many of the pur.
poses to which iron and steel are applied,
and it is not impossible that people now
living may inhabit glass houses, with NO
more fear of throwing stones, than if the
structures were of brick and mortar.
FLORA AND FAUNA OF BuRMAH.
natural history of Burmah, to which the
war has attracted attention, is in many re-
spects peculiar and interesting. The flora
Is richer in color than in most tropical re-
gions, and abounds in orchids and fragrant
creeping g-plants. The moon-creeper is a
remarkable vine, bearing flowers that open
only on moonlit nights. Insects are nu-
merous, including voracious mosquitoes and
many 6 rgeous butterflies. Crocodiles
and catfish of great size abound in the
rivers. Small deer and jungle fowl are the
pl incipal game. The cobra, attaining a
length of SIX feet and more, is the most
dangerous reptile.
Prof. T. Wagner has published analyses
supporting his opinion that steamed DO
tatoes are more nutritious than boiled ones
Not only is more water taken up by the lat
ter, but nutritious salts are extracted bv
the surrounding water.
DEPTH OF ARCTIC FREEz1Ne.-In a pa.
per on the thickness of permanently frozen
earth on the northern part of this continent,
Gen. Sir J. Il. Lefroy, of the British army,
states that the greatest depth of ground ice
ever actually measured in America was
forty five feet. This was found by him
self in June, 1874, on the banks of the
Mackenzie River, in latitude GA degrees
north, perpendicular cliff from. which a
lapdslin bod araha.a. 8 i.
Half a century ago, a merchant at Yakutsk,
Siberia in latitude 60 degrees north, had to
dig 382 feet before getting below the
ground ice. Yakutsk, where the average
temperature is only fourteen degrees Fab
renheit, is very near the Siberian pole of
greatest cold. The author believes that
the ground ice within the Arctic circle in
America is much thicker than the max
imum in Siberia, and even suggests 1900
feet as probable depth.
THE CUcUMBERs's GOODNESS Among
the results of a series of observations on the
temperature of growing fruits, DR.. Ord
Inu 1a. ,,oI ~ tI l.%.
the cucumber IS not mere fancy, growing
cucumbers having proven to be cooler than
the surrounding air. The same is also the
case with bananas.
MORNING WoRK.-A German physician
has sxperlmentcd to ascertain the hour of
the day at which man is at his best, and able
to do the most work with the least fatigue,
and has concluded that lie is strongest at
the time of rising. He has shown, also,
that breakfast has an important effect on
the muscular powers, and urges early eat
ing for those who rise early.
An exposure to light during twenty-five
years has produced remarkable changes in
the colors of beetles in an English museum
Fiery red has turned to bright green, pale
yellow to brown, blue to black, and green
to purple.
a..
on J;@ Hei.i EuoooSk oeciares Snat mlnds OF
gree.
MINUTE WORK.-Some remarkable rep
resentations of bouquet were made
oy nehiy Daiton' spe late Englsn
microscopsss. Eacn OF mem was prepared
on slass, from tne scales and nair OF BRAZIL,
AL nh ou'Soes, .a ss anu W .ne naheu eye to1keo
Inv eua'ii Sno', ou' uhuer powerful III
flowers of various shades and colors. There
are some fifty of these microscope slides in
this country, it is said, and they are held 60
valuable that money can scarcely purchase
them.
ever followed day by day from the Pacific
to Europe has been described to the Royal
Meteorological Society of London by Mr..
Harry Harries. 1t originated as a typhoon
near the Philippine Islands on Sept. 81,