The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-04-14
POPULAR SCIENCE.

Birds, according to Mons. Desplats,
evolve three times as much heat as NAM
mails, absorbing thrice as much oxygen
and emitting thrice as much carbonic
acid.
A member of the Royal Horticultural
society of London, has observed that
dah.ias collect much dew on their leaves;
the peach rose, and evening primrose
very little; while the ounce and null
berry are only very slightly wet.
Major-General E. F. Burton has de-.
scribcd certain large yellow hornets of
India which dispose. themselves in regular
circles upon their nest, with their heads
to the centre. They thus appear like
the spokes of a yellow wheel, and nest
of them is sometimes mistaken for sun
flower.
It is found that when paraffine is, thor
oughly mixed with linseed oil, cast into
small blocks, and cooled it may be used
to make any fabric, as clothfelt, and
leather, waterproof, by rubbing it with
such block, and ironing afterward
to equalize the distribution Of the ma
terial in the press. If too much is not
put on, the material may be made to be
only impervious to water, but not to air,
the small greasy pores repelling water,
but not air.
In the recent English tests of light
house illuminants was brought out the
curious fact-of great practical as web as
scientific interest-that remarkable
changes in the transparency OF the air
occur without any visible haze or mist,
invisible clouds seem to float by, obscur-
ing the lights for a time; and It some
times happened that while the distant
French lights showed with unabated
brilliancy, the experimental lights, only
mile and a quarter away, had lost one
fourth to one third their power.
Franklin Institute tests indicate that
one pound of coal burned under a good
boiler, yields light of about twenty
candles by the incandcsccnt electric sys-
tenn. The same weight of coal gives
from the naked arc light, about 1853 can
dies, only eighty candles being ordina-
rily available, on account of the shading
of arc lights. The gas from one pound
of bituminous coal yields from fourteen
to seventeen candles. The greater econ
omy of fuel in electric lighting is offset
by the increased expense for machinery
and attention.
In a recent lecture in London, MIR. j.
G.. Baker estimated the total number OF
characteristically tropical plants as from
100000 to $4,000. The plants of the
North Temperate zone embrace about
90, 900 species. The Arctic zone has less
than 1000 species, while the. higher
mountain regions possibly furnish 2,OOO
more-a total of 3, 900 species of what
gardeners call alpines, that is, plants
Specially adapted to cold, damp climate
with short summer. Mr.. Baker estl-
mated that 46, 900 species of plants are
represented in the possessions of Great
Britain.
The data in respect to atmospheric
electricity recorded by Professor Pal
mieri, of the Vesuvian observatory, show
that in clear weather the electricity is
usually positive, and if negative, adown-
fall of rain, etc. may be inferred to be
going on at some little distance. There
is maximum of atmospheric electricity
at 9 o'clock in the morning, another soon
after sunset, which often continues dur
ing a great part of the night; minimum
occurs before daybreak, and another in
the afternoon. This prriodicity, how
ever, is disturbed by atmospheric move
ments. Thus, with the maxima, very
pronounced cloudy weather often follows;
If the sky becomes overcast, the electric
indications grow stronger, and if at the
time of the evening maximum the rela-
tive moisture increases with heavy dew,
maxima of special duration and intensity
may be expected. The presumption that
atmospheric electricity becomes stronger
with altitude is not borne out by the Ve'
suvian observations.