The Opelousas courier., 1890-06-07
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.

German experiments nave proven 'N'>
eoa mud is a much better fertilizer lof rye
and oats than farm yard manure.
Trials of the latest express compound
,~ocomotiye in England with a special
train of eighteen carriages developed tae
UNPARALLELED speed of about ninety ni'le'
an hour. The highest speed, as measured
Inv a stop watch, was just over ten sec
onds per quarter-mile run
When the current II electric railways
,osseo from the car wheel to the track, 1t
ccanses a considerable increase IN 1rlctloA
/ between the two. Expert opinion seems
- favor the theory that this additional
resistance i due to Il slight welding az
ton caused by the heat generated pS tue
current.
The most recent observations as to the
amount Of heat the earth receives from
tho sun show that in clear, pleasant
weather 63t per cent. of heat IS ao-
sorbed by the atmosphere and only "o5
ner cent. reaches the soil. line inquire
rises in October 10 Al per cent. and SINKS
to IS per cent. in January.
The Dahl process of sterilising milk
has reeently been introduced in london.
Fresh milk is placed in cans which are
Theoretically sealed, then heated ana
cooled alternately until the germs are de-
stroyed. The milk can then be kept Tor
wears without loosing its freshness, OF
failing to yield cream and butter.
The medicinal virtues@ the apple are
sounded on all sides by sBRhe scientists OF
Europe, 1t is said to Heutralize the evil
effects OF eating too much meat, and ths
German chemists state that it IS rlcnef
than any other fruit or vegetable in phos-
nhorus. 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 nave
discovered the way to raise sugar cane
from seed instead of from cuttings, when
has been the former method, and expects
to realize great results from the crossing
! of breeds and the improving OF the stocR
as we'll as the ~cheapening OF cane rals
ing. The seed he discovered by the az
of a microscope in the panicle or fo"erJ
: held of the cane.
Investigations into the effect that anu
tude has upon the growth Of plants IL
the Alps and Pyrenees result in proving
that height is found to produce moan
; cations not merely in the shape. bht II
5 the thickness of the bark, &c color o
the leaves and flowers. and even III TIT
: anatomical structure of certain organs
| The leaves especially become thicker a
: great heights, and their faces often nav
| a double layer of cellnles.
G Parisians were lately treated to a rar
$ efechof mirage. The Eitfel Tower wa
seen ~sNhrnounted by an inverted image o
; itself, vertical in tine heavens and lookln
; like a duplicate continuation OF the rel
; structure. The base Of the image io'
1t itself in the upper mist, while behind tn
Il tower was a low cloud which gleane
:. like silver. The sun W1 shining aeros
y the haze to the left of the tower and COZ
t.. tributed an additional effect OF light an
VI shadow.
" 4 simple plan for protecting slee'
Il iron stacks has been successfully resorte
to. viz. before raising q new chime,
" each section, as it comes from the shol
|. is to be coated with common coal ia
to then filled with light shavings and free
ar it will, thus treated, resist rust for an il
ii definite period, rendering future pain
o. mo unnecessary. The theory by whi'
e. this effect is accounted foc seems qul
N reasonable, namely, that the coal tar
ID literally burned into the iron, closing
a pores and rendering it rust PROOF.