The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-05-24
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

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"A company has been formed in Ber-
lin to manufacture electrical watches.
Two small cells and small electric
motor take the place of the ordinary
watch movement.
The number of pianos made in
America last year, according to musi-
cal exchange, was $4,000. requiring
4.576,00O keys. 100000 casters. over
100000 tuning pins. and 1900. 900
brass agraffes.
The raising of forest trees is re-
garded as one of the most profitable
industries in Southern California. The
eucalyptus, pecan and black walnut,
cherry and many other varieties have a
quick growth and are very remuner-
ative to the planter.
"A deaf race of men seems to be the
inevitable result of a continuance of
schools for deaf-mutes. The close as
sociation with one another naturally
leads to intermarriage, with offspring
inheriting the common intirmity.
Several of the French railway COM
panies and other public bodies have
resolved to have their printing done on
green instead of white paper. The
reason for the change is that they be-
lieve the combination of white paper
with black characters endangers ths
eyesight of their work people. Black
on green has always been recognized
rs good combination. and many rail-
way tickets are so printed.
A composition has been produced
which may prove valuable to book
binders, having for its purpose the rem
dering waterproof of leather. cloth,
paper. etc. 1t is a mixture of water,
silicate of soda, rosin. alum, potash,
fish glue, sulphate of zinc and sulphate
of copper in various proportions. The
application is said to render the mate
rial impervious to the influence of oil
or water, and if a variety of ingredients
increases practical utility. should be
very valuable.
AT recent meeting of the Archm-
ological Institute, in London, a paper
was read on the results of diggings
made in prehistoric graves in Southern
India. The relics found deposited in
them showed remarkable identity,
even in matters of detail. with those
which have been discovered in prehis-
toric graves in Great Britain and
Greece, and on the sight of ancient
Troy, and in Egypt This is another
indication that the dominant races OF
the world have all come froa one par
ent tribe, or at least from a common
stock.
"A noted German chemist having
noticed some incomprehensible differ
ences in the weights of equivalent
quantities, undertook investigations,
which showed that balances of precis-
ion are often influenced by the electric
state of the glass case which surrounds
them, and this electricity influences
the ''riders" which slide on the beam
of the balance. The error resulting
from this influence may amount to 600
milligrams when the case is strongly
charged, and two hours afterward there
may still be an error of ten milligrams.
The vanilla bean is the costliest
bean on earth. 1t fourishes In Mexico,
chiefly in Papantala and INSANITY. It
grows wild. aud is gathered and
marketed by the natives. just as they
come from the forest the beans sell at
$40 or $12 per 1000. After the beans
are dried and cured they are worth
from 81 to $12 per pound, according to
quality. Last year the vicinity of Pa
pantla alone exported go. 600, 600 beans.
They are used by druggists and con-
fectioners and are an important article
of commerce.
There is an establishment in New
York that employs a large number of
girls to crack and pick nuts, the kernels
of which are sold to confectioners. The
nutshells are sold to manufacturers in
various eastern towns, more especially
in Boston. The shells of pecan nuts.
English walnuts and hickory nuts are
used in the manufacture nf spices. The
shells arc ground up into . powder and
mixed with other spices. This shell
dust has considerable fla, or. although.
of course, it is not what i. is alleged to
be when sold as spice. 1t Is not known
that it has any injurious qualities.