Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-06-06
SCIENTIFIC GLEANINGs.

A mathematician estimates that a ma
chine of one-horse power would keep o.,
100000 watches running.
CScrew nails for timber are now made,
without cutting the metal, by rolling wire
of soft open-hearth steel in a series of
dies until the thread is sufficiently formed.
An Engishman has invented what he
claims is practical application of the idea
of stills with wheels The wheels are
fastened to the feet, as stills are, and each
acts as sort of independent bicycle. They
go very fast when one mas learned to walk
on them.
a new botanical garden in the Alps OF
Valais is situated on a cone shaped knoll
about 200 feet high. at an altitude above
sea level of more than $500 feet. Plants
from all the Alpine regions of the globe
will be cultivated.
The Thompson-Houst Electric COM
pany reports the following sales for the
past month: arc apparatus for central
station work, total, 1875 lights; alternat-
ing incandescent light apparatus 1900
lights; isolated plant incandescent appar-
atus direct, total $3.50 lights.
The new electric submarine torpedo boat
Goubert has been tried at Paris, France,
and has proven emlnently successful. The
boat can be handled under water or upon
the surface with ease. twisting and turn
ing at high speed. 1t can remain below
twenty-fOur hours and can remain notion
less at any given depth for d long time
without being buoyed up like the Gym
nete.
The value of fertilizers depends upon the
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash they
contain. These are the necessary plant
foods. They are the elements most rapid
Iy removed from the soil and which must
be provided. These substances must exist
IN such d condition that they may be
readily taken up by the plant food.
To an inquirer the Electrical World
gives the information that there are prob
ably 1850 arc lamps burning in the
United States, and about 8, 900, 900 incades-
cent lamps. An estimate of the electric
motors in use reaches $4,000, although
very many of them are of less than one
horse power There are, either equipped
or under contract nearly 300 electric rail
ways, over 800 miles of track, and prob
ably 1000 cars. Probably 5000 volts is
the highest electrical pressure in regular
use, and this is on arc light circuits.
Few persons, says the London Ont
Free Press, ARE aware of the enormous
waste of heat incurred in burning coal. By
the very best method known to science, it
it is estimated that only s to 10 per cent.
is utilized. The remainder is wasted by
imperfect combustion. as well as carried
off through the chimney. When it is
turned into gas and that burned in a
properly constructed stove, nearly 50 per
cent can be utilized. Nothing can give
better promise than the use of gas fuel.
Not only has the cost been reduced CT max
ing hydrogen gas, but in the last two or
three years the method of produing what
is called gas has been far in advance of all
preceding inventions.
CGarret ?. Serviss speculates on the
canals of Mars in the Popular Science
Monthly. He thinks the hypothesis that
that they are artificial waterways high
ly improbable. 1t is true, he says. that,
if we consider only the influence of the
force of gravity on Mars, giants could
dwell upon than planet whose mechanical
achievements might vastly surpass the
greatest performance of our engineers, for
Il body weighing a ton on earth would
weigh $50 pounds on Mars, and on the
other hand, man on Mars possessing rel
atively the same activity as one of us,
might be fifteen feet tall and strong in
proportion. But even granting the exist
ence of such a race on our
neighbor world. it is not conceivable that
they could have constructed system of
tremendous canals over half the surface of
their planet, or that they would have done
it II they conld. The canals of Mars are
enormously disproportioned in magnitude
to the most gigantic inhabitants that Il due
regard for the law of gravtlatlOn would
suffer us to imagine there.
Profits Depend on Labor.
The item of labor is the largest in the
list of the farmer, and its value is not de-
pendent on the amount performed, but
rather on time, place and mode of applica-
ton. 1t is very difficult matter to so reg
ulate The work as to make every hour
profitable and the skill and ingenuity of
the farmer can be called into service to its
fullest extent in this department Labor
may be reduced not by curtailing the num-
Der of persons employed in all cases, but
securing greater proportion of labor,
with a corresponding increase of profit,
the cost eng reduced by the saving of
time and lessening of the waste of force.
The usual farm crops grown are but
repetitions of one year after another
A crop of wheat must be seeded down, har-
vested. threshed, cleaned. bagged and
hauled, the time required for so doing be-
ing equal to that which may be applied to
some other crops that may cost the same
but yielding larger profit. The failure
of the farmer to grow the more profitable
crops is simply a misappication of the
labor of his men and teams. When d crop
fails to pay the work should be turned in
some other direction. What the change
of crops may be to the farmer only can de
eide for himself, as climate, capital in
vested. condition of soil and facilities for
reaching the market must serve as guides
but it is safe to state that on every farm
some crops may be grown to advantage If
the labor is properly applied and the far
mer is progressive enough to venture out
side of grain growing, for until he deter
mines to devote his labor only to the crops
that give greater opportunities for profit,
he will incur risks of loss every season.
An acre devoted to grain may demand
more labor than an acre devoted to straw
berries but the latter will pay 4 larger
profit. Crops of celery and asparagus are
grown in every section that yield enorm-
Gus profits compared with the cost of pro-
duction. These crops depend on condi
tons, but the farmer can also be fruit
grower, or make speciality of certain
breed of stock. The simple change of
one breed of cattle or sheep for another
better adapted for the farm Is often a turn
ing point of success. Failures may also
occur by attempting to economize III the
amount of work done by reducing the help
when additional assistance might have en-
abled the farmer to produce d profitable
crop. Skilled laborers, at an advance of
wages over those that are experienced,
may decrease expenses by the work being
done to greater advantage. The farmer
should not fear to grow a crop because of
the amount of work necessary, for, as a
rule 1t is the cost Of the labor that largely
fixes the price of the crop, and the profit
depends on the kind of crop grown.-Phila-
delphia Record.
Caution With Poison.
The Country Gentleman