The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-05-21
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.


German experiments have proven that
sea mud is a much better fertilizer for rye
and oats than farm yard manure.
Trials of the latest express compound
locomotive in England with a special
train of eighteen carriages developed the
unparalleled speed of about ninety miles
an hour. The highest speed, as measured
by stop watch, was just over ten sec
onds per quarter mile run.
When the current IN electric railways
passes from the car wheel to the track, it
causes a considerable increase in friction
between the two. Expert opinion seems
to favor the theory that this additional
resistance is due to a slight welding ac-
ton caused by the heat generated by the
surrent.
The most recent observations as to the
amount of heat the earth receives from
The sun show that in clear, pleasant
weather 63I per cent. of heat is alb
sorbed by the atmosphere and only 36b
per cent. reaches the soil. The figure
rises in October TO Al per cent. and sinks
to 2S per cent. in January.
The Dahl process of sterilising milk
! has recently been introduced in London.
/ Fresh milk is placed in cans which are
Dramatically sealed, then heated and
cooled alternately until the germs are de-
stroycd. The milk can then be kept for
years without loosing its freshness, or
failing to yield CT cam and butter.
The medicinal virtues of the apple are
sounded on all sides by the scientists of
Europe 1t is said to neutralize the evil
effects of eating too much meat, and the
German chemists state that it is richer
than any other fruit or vegetable in phos-
phorus, an element that is useful in re-
newing the essential nervous matter of
the brain and spinal cord.
D. Morris, the assistant director of the
Kew Gardens, London, claims to have
discovered the way to raise sugar cane
from seed instead of from cuttings, which
has been the former method, aud expects
to realize great results from the crossing
of breeds and the improving of the stock
as we'll as the cheapeDing of cane rails
ing. The seed he discovered by the ald
of microscope in the panicle or flowery
head of the cane.
Investigations into the effect that alti
tude has upon the growth of plants il
the Alps and Pyrenees result in proving
that height is found to produce moditi
cations not merely in the shape, but IL
the thickness of the bark, the color o
the leaves and flowers, and even in tht
anatomical structure of certain organs
The leaves especially become thicker a
great heights, and their faces often hay
a double layer of cellules.
Parisians were lately treated to a rar
effect of mirage. The Eiffel Tower wa
seen surmounted by an inverted image o
itself, vertical in the heavens and looking
like duplicate continuation of the res
structure. The base of the image lo'
itself in the upper mist, while behind tn
tower was a low cloud which glea ne'
like silver. The sun was shining acros
the haze to the left of the tower and con
tributed an additional effect of light an
shadow.
A simple plan for protecting sheet
IRON stacks has been successfully resorte
to, viz. before raising new chimney
each section, as it comes from the shoI
is to be coated with common coal ia
then filled with light shavings and fired
it will, thus treated, resist rust for an il
definite period, rendering future pain
ing unnecessary. The theory by whic
} this effect is accounted for seems qui
/ reasonable, namely, that the coal tar
literally burned into the iron, closing Il
pores and rendering it rust proof.