The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-03-13
POPULAR SCIENCE
Tsmpersturs Of Trees-Lengsvity Of Ele-
phsnts s-Relation Of Plants 20 Soil
Structure Of Pulpy Rrults
or Berries,

TsxpEnAruRE OF TRRnA--From some
observations recorded by Mr.. h. L. Rus
sci in the Botanical Gasette, 1t appears
that AZ . general rule the temperature
OF the interior OF Q tree is somewhat
higher than that Of the cir, except dur
ing the werner parts Of the day, the
maximum temperature Of the air be-
ing generally between one and two p.
m, and the minimum between six and
seven Q. m. The comparative tables
show that heat Is absorbed and radiated
more rapidly In the outer layers than In
the center.
Experiments made OF time when the
buds wore starting, In order to de-
termine whether the chemical action
carried on In the tissues gives rise TO
heat, led to tho conclusion thet IL Is
very doubtful whether the metaboll.o
processes involved generate enough
heat TO influence the ordinary thermom-
eter. A curious difference, however,
was discovered in the wood Of the oak
and pine in winter, the author having
found that the temperature Of the pine
was lower than that OF the oak at all
times except during tho latter part of the
night and early morning. This is at
tributed to the thick coating OF the
leaves on the pine preventing absorb
ton Of heat by the trunk, since the
larch, which has similar wood, resem-
bles the oak rather than tho pine in the
matter OF temperature. The further
conclusion Is reached that the direct
absorption Of heat Is the main cause Of
the high temperature Of trees, and that
it is largely dependent upon the ohsrao-
ter Of tho bark, smooth-barked trees be-
ing warmer as rule than thick-baiked
ones.
LONGEVITY OF FEIEPHANTs.-The journ-
ais Of Ceylon have recently mentioned
the death Of an elephant that was woll
known on the island and had been seen
by several generations Of Englishmen.
He was called Sello and had belonged
to the last OF the Kings Of Handy. He
was one Of the hundred elephants that
were taken by the English Government
in 1915, when the Kandyan Dynasty was
overthrown. At this epoch the elephant
was said to be fifteen years old. II this
Is correct, he died natural death at the
age Of eighty-nine years.
RELATION OF PLANTS 10 SoM.-Mr. g.
Vile, In o paper read before the Aoad-
emy OF Sciences Of Paris, shows that
the composition Of the soil influences
plants in five principal characters, viz:
The stature, the color, the amount Of
caroline and ohlorophyl and the guam
tity OF vegetation. A table is given
showing the difference in stature and
color Of plants Of the common hemp 90
oording to the manure used, from which
it is evident that this plant hourishes
least in soil without manure, next in
manure without potash and in manure
without nitrogen. The absence of lime
and phosphate in the manure in the
case OF hemp did not interfere 30 large
ly with the color and stature Of the
plants. 1t would appear, therefore,
that sich manure is essential, ct least,
to the development Of foliage.
STRUCTURE OF PuLPY FRurrs.-To the
Annals Of Botany Mr.. J. B. Farmer
contributes an article in which, after
pointing out the very different sources
OF the pulp in different fruits, he gives
detailed descriptions Of its mode Of for
nation In the elder, duloamara, black
berry and ivy. Tho term berry Is
usually applied 10 fruits in which
the pulp or sucoulent tissue is
derived from the perioarp, but in Daphne
mesereon it is formed not only from the
perioarp, but from the outer integument
of the seed also. In Citrus It Is duo to
hairs which spring into tho ovarian
cavities and become distended with
fluid. In Wits and Solanum Duloamara
the pulp Is formed partly from the pla-
cents and partly from the perioarp. In
the latter, after fertilization Of the
ovary. the coils OF the plsoents grow
out between the seeds, 90 as to give
them the appearance OF. being sunk in
It, and this growth 10 continued until
met by,a similar growth from the perl
carp, 20 that the cavity Of the ovary Il
then filed up with ,pnlpy tissue. The
outermost layer Of cells Of the ovules
also undergo q change, their inner and
side walls becoming 'iGnihed and the
outer wall becoming mueilaginous and
part Of the mucilage Of the
pulp, Just - 1t does in lfnseed. The red
coAor Of duleamara berries is due to tho
large number OF chromo-
plastids derived from the ohlorophyl
granules. At the same time that this
takes place the starch In the
fruit becomes changed 10 sugar.
Hailed the Presidentss Driver.
~ was in Washington, not 1on9 a0o.n