The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-28
C0nspfiNdJ6y ZAe Av6sasaw ZS9vszer.
 SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY

Saigon was lately shown to the Londnc 4,
 throPological Society. His age is abo-,
 eight years, and the appendage or ipcb.'
 long.
 Under the influence of galvanic actio,
 milk has been kept sweet three w..k.
 summer, and it is suggested that beer s,s
 other liquids may be preserved in a sini.,
 manner.
 To assist in determining whether auv
 slow changes in terrestrial la,itudes ,,.
 taking place, series of observations cog.
 ering period of several years is to be mad.
 at Washington and elsewhere. A pressure of forty to I2o atmosphere.
 exerted during period of fifteen years. Ia,
 been found by Quincke to be incapable of forcing percePtibie quantity of carbonie
 acid or hydrogen gas through glass val
 one-sixteenth of an inch thick.
 The attention of the Russian govern.
 ment has just been drawn to the existence of
 extensive deposits of sulphur in wes,e,,
 Siberia, and an expedition is to be sent ,a
 examine them. Europe's supply of sulphar is now chiefly obtained from Sicily.
 Several agricultural chemists of Ger. many have heen studying e improve hes,v soils, and now recommend lime as a dress. ing. The crop for the first season should l. potatoes; for the second, oats; for the tbirs tares, or peas: and for the fourth 1tatoes again.
 A collection ofskulls from the southern hemisphere has been studied in England. the most notable conclusion reached being that some of the races of south Africa, Australia and the southernmost part of South America are remarkable for the smalIness of the.r heads.
 Earthquake observations are to be iu- stituted on the summit of the Ben Nevis. where is located the highest meteorological observatory in the British Isles. The iso- lated position of this station renders it par tieularly suited to observations of slight tremors.
 A disease called the potato-scab has been described by Prof. E. Heiden, who finds il to be occasioned by parasite fungus. A~N'-SAhSh-o SOadAAi anu nOL Qucs as IS com monly supposed, 10 the action of caustc lime upon the surface of the tubers. The disease is severest in fields dressed with farm yard manure.
 The treeless condition of parts of the South American pampas-of the La Plata region, al leas;-is attributed by Mir. Arthur Nicols to the work of an omnpresent ant. which feeds upon leaves and quickly de- stroys tree seedlings and other tender plants as soon as the leaves appear above ground. Indian corn grows freely on these plains, its growth being so rapid that the insects do no, succeed in completely deyouring the young plants.
 Natures Invisible Workers. Micro 'copic organisms not only destroy the plant md animal forms familiar to us, but they ap- pear also to build up such forms, and to be necessary to their very existence. French biologist, Mons. Duclaux, has just made 'ome experiments which tend to prove that alGfts will not germinate unless microbes ,xist in the soil and Pasteur had already been led 10 the conclusion that microbes are essential 10 animal life, as digestion cannot De performed unless they are present.
 Storm Statistics.-in a recent official the chief signal officer has .iven summarized account of 2,73o of the torms which occurred from January, 1876, o August, 1881, in region embracing large part of North America, the Atlantic and Europe. Of these 4r3 began and ended in America 5So began in America and ended n the Atlantic; Iso began in America and rossed the Atlantic; 52o began and ended n the Atlantic; s55 began in the Atlantic and nded in Europe; 4oI began and ended in Europe; and 66 began in America and rossed the Atlantic and Europe.
 Bird Migration to Statistics ollected by the American Ornithologists' jnion show that great numbers of birds are destroyed by flying against the light houses If Cuba. At Paredon Grande. more than % birds were found one morning; in one fight last October 27S were killed by flying gainst the light house at Cardenas; and at he San Antonio lighthouse more than 300 re sometimes picked up after single nigh,'s estruction. Thus is confirmed the view ex- 'ressed by Prof. Spencer F. Baird, twenty ears ago, that every autumn a great hird rave sweeps over from Florida to Cuba.
 Influence of House Plants.-Dr. I. M. finders has reached the conclusions that nly Towering plants, grown in well lighted 'laces. generate ozone; and that the most dorous flowers produce the greatest quan- ty. Tse ozone attacks the organic matter f the air and by oxidation renders it inert; nd pr. finders does not doubt that flower ng plants in clear weather give of enough f this natural purifying agent to be of ygienic value in doors. Foliage plants, lthough yielding no ozone. may be of ad- antage in contributing to the maintenance fl healthful degree of humidity in the at nosphere of rooms.
 Smoking Again Invesigated.-By a ong series of experiments, Russian phy- ician, Dr. Zulinski, has proven that tobacco moke is distinct poison, although its ae-