The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-06-21
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

piVcipn VI NY iAlAlANo NulklAAkt1 Nio
among the achievements Of the instan-
taneous method OF photography. How
our grandfathers would have wondered
at such pictures!
The Electrician reports "A rumor
from Berlin 10 the effect that means
has bsen discovered OF using electricity
for ascertaining the true north. instead
OF the magnetic needle; that, in short.
the new means will be superior 10 the
compass and is likely TO supercede IL.
Fourteen thousand tons Of boets
were crushed in the beet sugar factory
Of Claus Spreckels in California last
season. The sugar from these beets
weighed |, $40 tons. The farmers who
entered upon beet culture Noted an
average of $50 an acre. Next season
the production OF beet sugar will be
much larger.
Artificial cotTeo-boans are n curl
osity OF the German market They
are made from roasted grain flour, with
an addition Of dextrine or similar sur
face, and the counterfeit Is only de-
tected by a critical examination. Two
establishments offer for sale outfits
claimed TO make from 1000 10 1920
pounds Of these beans each per day.
The so-called "ioss-sticks,' the
burning Of which supplies incense for
Chinese religious ceremonials, are
made OF the powdered leaves Of Lin
dera fragrans, mixed with the pow
dercd leaves OF Biota Lindera fra
grams Is shrub OF the true laurel
family (Laurac1), and its Chinese
name means "lncenso Leaves"
An electrical fire engine, which
can be tapped for service whenever
wanted. is the latest invention. Tho
advantages claimed are that IL can be
started at full speed; that IL is much
lighter than stoam fire engine OF
equal power; that il costs one-third
less; that it is noiseless in its opera
ton; snakes no smoke, sparks nor ashes;
that il is safer and easier 10 control,
and is economical.
DR.. +. ID. Reese, OF Cortland, n.
Y, writes 20 the Medical Record. de-
scribing the use of carbolizcd oil ap.
piled 10 the carbunclc and then covered
with oakum, which had previously
been saturated with the oil. or iew
cases OF carbuncle treated In this way
not one has run over two weeks. The
disease has yielded 10 the carbolizcd
oil and oakum treatment as by magic.
He uses twenty per cent. solution.
M. Ungercr, French scientist.
believes that flowers and the perfumes
distilled from them has salutary
influence on the constitution. aud, in
deed. may be regarded rs "A therapeutic
agency Of high value. He says that
residence in perfumed atmosphere
forms a protection from pulmonary
affections and arrests tho development
OF phthisis. He adds that In the town
Of La Grassc, where the making OF
perfumes is largely carried on, phthisis
is rare, thanks 20 the odOrous yapors
exhaled from the many distillcries.
For several years past fears have
been freely expressed that the box for
csts OF Europe are giving out, and that
the engraycrs would suffer from tho
decreased supply. A new species has
been discovered in South Africa, the
wood Of which is beloved 20 be equal
20 its long-known relative, Buxus sem
pervircns. The new species has been
named Buxus Macowani 10y Hooker.
One forest covering fifteen square
miles exists in the Buffalo River Valley.
aud smaller forests have been found
near the coast. IL sometimes has o
trunk two feet thick.
"A very valuable insulating mate
rial, as it is regarded is described in II
French journal II is composed Of
one part Greek pitch and two parts
burned plaster, by weight. the lattcr
being pure gypsum raised 20 high
temperature and plunged in water.
This mixture, when hot, Is n homo
geneous viscous paste, and can be APP
piled by brush or cast In molds. 1t
Is amber colorcd, possesses the insulat-
ing properties Of ebouite, and can be
turned and polished. A peculiar ad-
vantage it possesses Is the endurance
OF great heat and moisture without an,
injury 20 its insulating properties.