The Bossier banner., 1892-05-19
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

New York is said to employ an army
Of cash girls $4,000 strong, many OF
whom are nearer IL than Ii years OF
age.
Mexico is fast becoming coffee
producing country. The district OF
Seconuses contains twenty-six estates,
employing 1,5OO men. The cost of pro-
duction is about z cents per pound, but
as the demand is far ahead of the sup
ply sales are readily made on the plan
tation at 90 cents per pound.
"A scheme for taking vessels OF
twenty feet draught through the Cana
dian canals by means of steel pontoons
placed under them is being urged upon
the Canadian government. The ex-
pense of this system would be about
$500, 900, while to deepen the canals suf-
fciently would cost many millions OF
dollars.
The method of purifying water in
vented by DIR. William Anderson, and
now employed at Antwerp with
success, consists in passing the water
through revolving cylinder containing
metallic iron in the form of scraps or
filings. The estimated cost of purify
ing 100000 gallons in this way is
about six shillings
Mr. Francis Darwin has proved by
experiment that insect or meat fed
plants bear heavier and more seeds
than those unfed. He grew two lots
under similar conditions, feeding one
with roast meat and the other with
nothing, The pampered plants bore $50
seeds to the others 100. with superior
| ity In weight of seeds
According to the published returns
the total yield of the Italian vineyards
last year was 621, 562. 900 gallons, as
against about 500, 900, 900 the year be-
| fore. 1t is further stated that the quail
ity was very good for IL per cent. of the
| crop, good for II per cent, moderate for
| 10 per cent, and bad for only per cent.
The annual report of the Michigan
State salt inspector shows the salt man.
ufacturing capacity of that state to be
$3.50, 900 barrels. Last year 113 firms
| were engaged in the manufacture, the
inspection for the year ending Novem'
| ber so, 1891, being 3, 927, 671 barrels, and
the actual quantity manufactured 8, 900,
| 7S4 barrels.
A paper by Mr. John Watson, el
! Manchester, England, asserts that the
| redevelopment of lost limbs is not 'ln-
usual among insects. He has had three
| specimens in which limbs have been re-
| developed, and one case of complete
cicatrization. "Redevelopment," he
/ says, 'can take place either in the larval
| or the pupal stage of an insects meta
morphosis.'
| Experiments made in America with
the cottonwood show that the increase
in the girth of the tree is made only
during week or two about mid-sum-
mer. 1t is believed to be the rule with
most American fast-growing deciduous
| trees Experiments on coniferous trees,
recently made in Scotland by Mr.. David
Christison, show opposite results.
There is a retardation of growth al
midsummer and rather rapid increase
| just before and just after that time.
7 Experiments recently conducted ir
the. school of physiology, in Paris
France, have demonstrated beyond per
adventure that the kernel of the oat
contains three medicinal principles, the
first of which acts to calm, soothe anC
tone up the brain and nerves; the SECOND
l yielding phosphorus to weakened ant
hungry nerve tissues, and the third re
siding in the husk of the oat, or oat
meal, to act as laxative and anti-con
gestive on the stomach, liver and bowels
| 1T is a we'll known fact that birds
, enjoy much longerterms of life than d.
mammals. Hesiod and Pliny both tel
us of rocks that lived to the patriarcha
age of 700 years, and that the averag'
life of raven was 24c years. How ia
this was correct we cnn not determine
1t is we'll known thai they outlive man
! while swans have been known to liv
200 years, chaffinches and nightingale
have been kept in confinement for 4
years. Girardin tells US that he had
heron for 50 years, and that he knew o
Istwo storks that built their nests in tn
same place for 40 years.