Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-01-07

ELECTRICALLY-AI AIMED GUNs.-In new in.
| vention, small dry battery, an electro
magnet and circuit closer of mercury are
| SO arranged in tho stock of gun that the
| weapon can be discharged only when elev-
| ated to predetermined angle. At other
positions the trigger is locked and cannot
be pulled. The device is claimed to ensure
precision in range, and accuracy of firing at
night when the range has been previously
obtained.
! fANOrHER srLK. substance having all
the essential qualities Of silk has been made
from wild hemp by Nayemura Sakusaburo,
of Hikone. Japan. The plant grows on
! moors and hilIsides, and could be cultiyat-
cd. The fibre is strong and glossy, and
several silk factories are said to have found
it to be in no way inferior to silk.
some interesting, and perhaps very valua-
Bile, researches into the potato disease have
been made by Prof. J. L. JensoD. 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. Considering these facts, it
was thought that the tubers might be pro
tected By moulding the soil into broad
ridge, 8 or inches high and 10 or 10 inches
wide, after the first wedding, and . 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 appearance of the disease on the
foliage. Some $50 farmers are eaid to have
experimental in this way, with these as
tonishing results. Where no moulding or
earthing up was done, the percentage of
diseased potatoes was 34;where the mould.
ing was imperfect, -; and where the
moulding was perfect, only 1. Infection
during harvest was prevented by allowing
the tubers to remain in the ground for q
month after the withering of the tops.
COLD wAvEs.-A cold wave is defined
by Prof. T.Russel as fall of temperature
in twenty four hours of 90 degrees over an
area of 90, 900 square miles, the tempera-
ture in some part of this area descending
to SO degrees. Between 1880 and 1890 no
less than 691 cold waves were recorded in
the United States. In the great cold wave
of January II, 1882, the fall of 90 degrees
extended over an area of 1, 10l, 600 square
miles, and the fall of 10 degrees included
2, 929, 900 SO 1are miles. In six cold waves
of the ten years the area of the fall of 20
degrees was more than a million square
miles. Cold waves follow day after an
area of low pleasure, or occur to the south
east of an area of high pressure, reaching
their greatest extent when both conditions
are present.
NESTS FOR aERMs.-The impurities that
collect under finger nails have been inves-
tgated in the archaeological laboratories
of Vienna. The matter obtained in 78 ex
aminations was placed in culture solutions,
and gave SO kinds of micrococci, 18 of
bacilii. and of sarcinm. Cleanliness of
the nails is especially necessary for all who
come near wound, and for those who
live in a neighborhood where an epidemic
prevails.
A REMARKABLE PREsERvATIvE.-ABe Bel |
giau 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 re-
markably fluid in alcoholic solution, and
when'once dried resists even the action of
alcohol.
A NEW IDEA.-A recent contract pro-
vides for street lighting in Paris on novel
plan. Power is distributed by the COM
pressed air system tn great number of
small motors, each of which supplies cleo
tEicity for small number of lamps.