Bridgeton pioneer., 1891-02-12
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.
Interesting Matter Which Proves
Most Valuable.
Special Correspondence.) J


Special Correspondence3
NEW YORK, Feb. 4-Valuable in
formation can be derived from the
following, which has been developed
by the leading scientists of the
country:
THE POTATO DISEASE.
In Denmark, some interesting, and
perhaps very valuable researches into
the potato disease have been made by
Prof J. L. Jenson. The disease is
found to consist of a fungus, whose
spores are carried by the wind, and
which first attacks the foliage of the
plants. 1t spreads to the tubers in
about seven days by spores washed
down from the stem and foliage. Con-
sidering these facts, ii was thought
that the tubers might be protected by
moulding the soil into a broad ridge,
3 or inches high and 10 or 70 inches
wide, after the first wedding, and a
further earthing up on one side only
causing the plants to bend so that the
spores would fall away from the ridges
within seven days after the appear
ance of the disease on the foliage.
Some 150 farmers are said to have ex-
perimented in this way, with these as
tonishing results: Where no moulding
or earthing up was done, the percen-
tage of diseased potatoes was 81; where
the moulding was imperfect 70; and
where the moulding was perfect, only
/. Infection during the harvest was
prevented by allowing the tubers to
remain in the ground for a month af-
ter the withering of the tops.
COLD WAVES.
A cold wave is defined by Prof T.
Russell as a fall OF temperature in
twenty-four hours of 20 degrees over
an area of $4,000 square miles, the tenn
perature in some part of this area de-
scending to S6 degrees. Between 1880
and 1890, no less than SOL cold waves
recorded in the United States. In the
great cold wave of Jan. II, 1882, the
fall OF 20 degrees extended over an
area of 1, ,101, ZOO square miles. and the
fall of 10 degrees included 1929 900
square miles. In six cold waves of the
ten years the area of the fall of 20 de
grees wac more than a million square
miles. Cold waves follow day or two
after an area of low pressure, or occur
to the southeast of an area of high
pressure, reaching their greatest ex.
tent when both conditions are pres Mt.
NESTS FOR GERMS,
The impurities that collect under the
tinger-nails have been investigated in
the ARCHAEOLOGICAL laboratories of
Vienna The matter obtained in IS
examinations, was placed in culture
solutions and gave So kinds of micro
cocci, Is of bacilli, and of sarcinae
Cleanliness of the nails is especially
necessary for all who come near a
wound, and for those who live in a
neighborhood where an epidemic pre-
walls.
A REMARKABLE PREsERvATIvE.
A Belgian chemist has found that
the green tar left after extracting the
oil from the white bark of the birch.
will effectually preserve even the most
delicate textures from decay. 1t yields
neither acid nor alkaloid, is remark
ably fluid On alcoholic solution, and
when once dried resists even the &C.
tion of alcohol.
A New IDEA.
A recent contract provides for street
lighting in Paris on a novel plan.
Poweris is distributed by the compressed
air system to great number of small
motors, each of which supplies elec.
tricity for small number OF lamps