The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-12-20
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
ELrcrRo1YT1c BLEACHING.

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ELEcTRoLYTIc BLEACHING.
A new process of bleaching by electricity is
being tested. The current from dynamo is
taken to electrodes in wooden box, in which
has been placed solution consisting of GA lbs.
of calcined magnesia, 357 lbs. of hydrochloric
acid, and 800 gallons of water. The solution
has no chlorine, and therefore possesses no
bleaching power, but after receiving for 100
hours a current of 100 amperes, with pressure
of 6 volts, the solution contains one-fourth of
one per cent. of fixed chlorine. This bleaches
yarn and tow in fraction of the time hitherto
required, and apparently without diminishing
the strength of the material The electrodes
consist of three sheets of copper, each q in. by
IS in, connected with the negative terminal of
the dynamo, and II plates OF peroxide OF lead,
each in. by in, connected with the positive
terminal The chemical reactions are not ex-
actly known, but the bleaching is performed
by the fixed chlorine, without the usual loss of
free chlorine, and the system seems to be re-
generative.
ELECTRICAL CHEMISTRY.
A recent writer observes that electricity is
gradually invading the whole domain of COM
mercial chemistry. A factory for the manu-
facture of chlorate of potash by electricity has
been established in Switzerland; soda is being
obtained by electrolysis of sea-salt the electric
bleaching CT paper is largely carried on in
France; and the manufacture of electric soap
transformation of wood into paper pulp by the
electrolysis of salt solution into which saw
dust or wood is immersed, has been proven to
be practicable, and the new industry is to be es-
tablished. Some sugar works in Havana have
adopted appliances which greatly hasten the
process of sugar-making.
WONDERFUL TREES.
The following statements are compiled from
apparently reliable accounts of tree wonders:
One tree Of the Mariposa Grove, in California,
is 80 feet in circumference; through another
roadway q feet long, 10 feet wide and 10 feet
high has been cut, yet the tree is still vigorous
and growing. Columbia county, Ga, has
quivering tree, every twig and limb of which,
however large is e1nStartly 1T freN e%fng = %
III. WHY niuiDeeIy VI NeM.oii' ~. -
which issue from every part of the tree. A
tree of New Zealand catches birds in sticky
fluid given off by its seed-yessels. The Gala
bash tree of the West Indies has fruit, often
II inches in diameter, with hard shell that is
made into dishes of various kinds. and may
even be used over fire for boiling water. A
tree of the Nubian forests grows ready-made
whistles, gals left by insects having holes
through which the wind blows with startling
effect. The vegetable wax tree of Japan bears
berries from which fine candles are made.
The singing tree of Queenslandis dangerous to
the touch, but leaves no mark, though the pain
is maddening, and the part stung is tender for
months when wet. A palm of Pedur, India, II
feet high, changes its position morning and
evening" a handkerchief tied to its leaves so as
to touch the ground at A. Il. having been 6
inches from the ground at $40 A. NJ, Is inches
at P. NJ, and 8 feet at A. NJ. A leaf-stalk of
the travellers tree of Madagascar contains even
in the dryest season, quart of water. Shell
wisch, the Bavarian naturalist, found in the
heart of Africa an iron tree, from which the
leaves could be removed only by filing. An
other African tree yields butter. An engineer
in ANN
ports a tree which shines with brilliant light
at night, tree which gives milk, and a tree
which bears dough for bread.
SEX PREDETERMINED BY POOR FOOD.
In review of our scant knowledge concern
ing sexes, Herr G. Herr favors a theory of
Fiquet, cattle farmer of Houston, Tex, who
had observed that the sex of young cattle was
usually that of the weaker parent. Difference
in the strength of parents was produced by
feeding, and in 80 cases the sex Of calves was
successfully predetermined. Herr has met
with the same results in experiments on goats.
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.
An Irish naturalist, Rev. S. A. Brennan, re-
cords these interesting observations A hen
was seen going down the chimney of cottage
in Arboe parish. The owner was asked how it
came to do this he said the house was often
locked up when he was at work, and this par
ticular hen discovered this strange way of in
gress. 2. A hen sitting on eggs in an clubhouse
at Cushendun, where there was a small hole in
the roof, just above her nest, moved the nest
and eggs to one side to prevent the rain falling
on her. 8. A goose made her nest and laid on
the top of matched cottage in Glendun. She
pulled away the thatch off the rigging of the
roof, and sat there during the time of incuba-
ton. She had to fly up and down.
FEATHER FACTORIES.
At Mannheim, Germany, several factories,
employing steam machinery and hundreds of
operatives, are now at work preparing feathers
for market. The feathers come in great guam
titles from different sections of Europe and
from China and other parts of Asia The bales
are opened near kind of gin or breaker, which
shakes out the feathers and throws them
around in chamber through which strong
air-current is passing. From this machine
they pass to others, in which the long and
from the short and light until the final grade
of delicate down is blown into large receiver
The cleansing is effected by jets of steam, the
dirt thus loosened being drawn off by currents
of dry air.
MISCELLANEOUS.
By the use of vacuum tubes, firm of Eng
lish engineers produce novel and beautiful eff
fects in electric illumination. They propose
also to employ their system for advertising, by
constructing the tubes in the form of letters.
Ice-cold tea, according to DR.. G. w. Barr
soon loses all of the physiological action of
theme. A man of nervous temperament, who
was kept awake all night by single cup of hot
tea, could drink halfgallon of iced tea during
the evening, and sleep soundly at his usual
time of retiring. To avoid excess of tannin,
the tea should be strained before being allowed
to stand
An English experimenter, Mr. E. T. Chaplin,
has given an account of hypnotizing laying
hen, and inducing her in that manner to sit on
Sc. ri