The Colfax chronicle., 1891-11-28
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

|
| Humboldt calculated the mean leve
of North America to be 74s feet abovs
the sea. and he found that in $500. O0l
years the whole of North America
might be worn down to the sea level.
"A strong wind prevents the forma.
ton Of dew, by keeping the air well
mixed, and leaving no part of IL in con.
tact with the ground long enough to
become cool and deposit moisture.
| Oregon farmers are coming to the
conclusion that there is more money to
be made in horticulture than in any
other branch of farming and arcrapidly
turning their grain fields into orchards
1t is estimated that the total ton
mage which will pass through the
Nicaragua canal when completed will
be ten million tons per annum. This
is equal to five large ships, and fifteen
ahips of ordinary size day.
Some plants appear to be able to
grow and develop in total darknesa A
committee of the Royal horticultural
society has been told of hyacinths that
developed colored flowers, although pre-
vented by some accident from coming
above the ground.
New Orleans agents of Louisiana
and Mississippi lumber mills have con-
tractcd for tho delivery of so, o00, 900
feet Of pine lumber to the German gov
crnment within eighteen months This
enormous amount is said to be for the
construction of railroads in that coun-
try.
I'm sandy soil the greatest success is
met with in utilizing . stream of water
from a hose to bore the way for the
sinking of piles. The nozzle is secured
to the heel of the pile and the stream
turned on. The pile sinks rapidly, and
the sand packing about it renders it per-
fcctiy solid.
In japan the artists are more num-
erous than the artisans, and receive less
pay. The great wood carvers earn 81
a day but capable carvcrs of less bril-
liancy are satisfied with 25 or 30 cents,
upon which they can live satisfactorily.
The entire Japanese race il of artistic
taste. and wood carvers have in recent
times entered upon new era of pros
perity.
"A long study of the parallax Of
Arcturus has led DIR. Elkin of Yale uni
versity to conclude that this star travels
with the inconecivable velocity of ssl
miles \ second. pr twcnty-one times
faster than the earth moves in it's orbit
round the sun. Arcturus proves to be
30 distant, that its light, travelling
100, 900 miles . second, must take 18l
years to reach us.
The aquatic plant. the bladderwort,
feeds on animal life. The tiny bladdcrs
attached to, the leaves and leaf stalks
are each furnished with . door, the
whole acting on the cel-trap principle.
Any small water creature that ventures
to peep in is seized in the clutches of |
the murderous plant. and Is at once |
swallowed and assimilated.
"A new departure is being made on
soms of tho leading railway lines 1t |
Is found that the great fault of the fag- |
man is to waste his time and divert his |
attention in conversation with his cro-
MES, and at various highway crossings /
twosstory towers arc being erected for
the Ratekecpers From these pneu-
matte gntes will be worked, and the
services Of the f1agmen, though deprived
If their amenities. will be more trust
worthy from the exalted perch.
Considerable olive oil is manufac-
'urcd IN Northern Persia in the prov
nee Of Gilan. There are about one
hundred thousand olive trees and these
produce from six to nine pounds of
Dives yearly. Only about seventeen
yer cent of the weight of the olives of
rood oil can be obtained by the Persian
presses This gives crop of about
me hundred and twenty seven thousand
'ounds. After the good oil is extracted.
he olives are pressed again and the oil
5 used in making soap. The residue is
lsed as manure around the trees
The laughing plant is the name of
liant growing in Arabia, and, accord
ng to the Medical Times, is 80 called
y reason of the effect produced upon
hose who eat its seeds The plant is
4 moderate size, with bright yellow
lowers, and soft velvcty seed-pods. each
I which contains two or three seeds re-
embling black beans The natives Of
he district where the plant grows dry
hese seeds and reduce them to powder.
dose of this powder has similar effects
D those arising from the inhalation of
aughinR gas. 1t causes the most sober
erson to dance, shout, and laugh with
he boisterous excitement of madman,
nd to rush about cutting the most re.
iculous capers for about an hour. At
be expiration of this time exhaustion
cts in, and the excited person falls
sleep, to awake after several hours
nth no recollection of his entica
Too Old.