St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-03-03
COvINGTON, PARISH, La, MARCH B. 1885,
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

oCSeNCe AND uVOOST6Vs
Few people carry the head erect;
that is to say, perfectly balanced on
the end Of the spine. like the end OF .
walking-stick. 1t is always leaned to
one side or the other.
Missouri copper mines that have
been lille for two or three years are BE-
ing operated. and valuable bodies Of
cre are being opened up. Foreign
capital has recently taken hold Of
several neglected mines.
The higher Of the two peaks Of
Kilimanjsro. the lofticst mountain in
Africa. has just been ascended by DR..
A. Meyer. of Leipsic. who places its
height at nearly 10000 feet
The hypothesis has lately been ad-
vanced that il sounds do not actually
possess colors. that sound is at least in
timately connected with color; and this
idea is supported by the fact that
'there are persons who are endowed
with such sensibil;ty that they can not
hear a sound without at the same time
perceiving colors."
"A noted archsologist who has been
exploring the ruins Of Uxmal. Yucatan,
claims to have discovered the remains
of three dead cities. the vestige Of the
first being many feet down, on the
same site. The relics indicate civiliza-
tion much superior to that Of the pres
ent day. and that the city must have
hourished twenty thousand years ago.
Prof. Sachs, the great German bot
anist, has discovered that the ultra vio-
let and invisible rays Of the solar spec
trum especially promote the develop
ment Of flowers. the growth Of which
Is exceedingly feeble when the rays arc
suppressed. although that OF the other
parts Of the plant is very luxuriant-
Public Opision.
Are shooting-stars ever the cause
Of mysterious fires? This question il
suggested BY Mons. Charles v. Zenger.
Of the Paris Academy Of Sciences. who
thinks that forests. and even buildings,
may have been set on fire BY burning
meteorS Investigation shows that
many fires. the origin Of which could
not b explained. have occurred at tho
seasons Of periodical showers Of shoot
ing-stars.
-Starfish have done great damage
this year to the Oyster-bsds Of Fair Ha-
ven. Conn. Some entire beds. valued
at 90. 900 each. have been destroyed.
and 1t il estimated that $500. 900 worth
Of damage has been done. To meet the
undoubsed demand for something 70
destroy the BtEtilsh:H Ysukss-haesin-.
vented dredge which takes the star
fish and leaves the oysters. and several
owners of beds are using it
Magnesium. the metal which pro-
dnces such an intensely bright light
while burning. and which has been
most generally used in ri0bon-shaped
strips, is now being made use Of for tho
purposes ofinstantaneous photography.
For this . magnesium powder is now
which, when ignited BY
the electric spark. makes . brilliant
and instantaneous fash. The subject
having been posed and tho camera ar
ranged. the powder il ignited. and an
photograph is the result.
The scant crop Of potatoes this last
year suggests the inquiry whether We
do not depend more upon this article
Of diet than its nutritive value warrants.
We are apt to think 1t indispensable in
some form. at least at breakfast and
dinner. and yet the ratio Of car bonace-
ous or heat-producing matter it con-
tains is ne&rly twice as greatin proper
ion to the nitrogenous matter as it
should be to constitute . perfectly
healthful food.