The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-08-19
CURIOUS, USEFUL AND SCIEN-
TIFIC.

The American Association for the Adj
vancement of Science begin their annual
meeting at Ann ArbOr Aug %
The scientific American states that plush
goods. and all articles dyed with aniline
cOlOrS, faded from exposure to light will
look bright as ever after being sponged with
chloroform. The commercial chloroform
will answer the purpose very well, and is
much less expensive than the purified.
The change of climate is having a dele
FERROUS influence upon the Egyptian obelisk
III Central Park. Fifteen years, says Profess
sor Eggleston of Columbia College, will de-
compose it beyond repair if it is not placed
under shelter. The climate of Egypt is dry
and here there is excess of moisture as well
as extremes OF heat and cold.
Four North pole expeditions are preparing
to leave Germany as early as possible next
spring, very much to the disgust OF those
who can not see any use in such undertake
ings and who would like to have polar ex-
plorations prohibited by law. The object is
to distribute the four parties around the pole
so that the best information can be OBJ
tanned.
Mai J. W. Powell. in speaking about
prehistoric America says that in his opinion
there has never been presented one item of
evidence that the mOund-builders were a
people of culture superior to the tribes that
inhabited the Mississippi valley 100 years
ago. The evidence is complete that those
tribes have built mounds within the historic
period; and no mounds of earthworks have
A simple way to preserve the color of flow
ers is said to be as follows: After fastening a
wire to each stem, dip the flowers separately
into clear solution of gum arabic, suspend
them on a line, and when dry they will be
found covered with glazing interfering very
slightly with their beauty, at the same time
preventing the air from destroying the color.
The report does not state how long the flow
ers thus treated will keep.
Bees in unaccustomed localities, according
to observations made recently, are timid and
find honey with difficulty, but they become
rapidly accustomed to their surroundings.
Flowers of subdued colOrs selected by
them instead of those of more brilliant hue.
Blue and violet seem 10 be the most attrac
tive and bright yellow the least so. NJ.
| Fabre has found that many bees are able to
| return to their nests when carried to a dis
| lance.
| 1t is suggested by the chairman ot the sec
| ton of statistical science of the American
| ISOLATION that subject OF special investiga-
| ton and discussion at the Ann Arbor meet
ing shall be THE daily ration OF the food OF
| working people in different sections of the
country. "a OF what does ii now consist
| and what Goes it cost? (2)'What proportion
does this cost of food bear to the total cost of
| living? (3) What constitutes Il standard ra-
| ton, az What kind of foods contain the
| largest proportion OF proteine NJ the lowest
| cost? 90 In what snanner can variety OF
| daily Tations he made up. of which shall con-
| tain the requisite quantities of nutriment?
| 90 Can a schedule of ratiOns at low cost be
| presented whereby much of the present
| waste of food, or of money expended in its
| purchase, may be saved? O. In what way
| can information be distributed upon this
| subject so rs to enable working people to use
| true economy i'm the purchase and prepara-
| ton of food?" Ii all these questions receive
| attention the meeting of the section will be
| of great economic interest To everybody.
| 1t is well known that all plants give off
| moisture from their leaves, even though this
| be invisible to the eve, Just our skin per
| spires always perspiring, though the sweat
may not stand in drops. Calculations have
| been made as to the amount of water thus eX-
| pired by plants. A suntlower, ) feet inches
| high, with 5,6l6 square inches exposed to the
| air. gives off every twelve hours from twenty
| to thirty ounces of water to the surrounding
| atmosphere. Most of the common agricul-
/ tural plants such as wheat, beans, peas and
| clover, exhale during the five months of
| growth more than POO times their dry weight
| of water. The Comedian cherry is still more
| remarkable. In the course of twenty-four
| hours it exhales water equal III weight TO
/ twice that OF the whole shrub. Naturally
the degree Of light warmth and dryness of
| the air effects the amount of fluid given off
| as well as the age and texture of the leaf.
| However, q calculation OF the amount OF
| fluid perspired by an acre of cabbages is note
worthy. If the cabbages are planted in rows
| of eighteen inches apart and eighteen inches
! from each other it is estimated that in the
| course OF twelve hours more than ten tons of
water will be exhaled by their fieshy leaves.
| <o-