Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-02-12
POPULAR SCIENCE.

Itut.
To every 1000 males in London, Eng
land, there are 1923 females.
The population of the United States
increases by 1000, 900 persons yearly.
There are said to be 10000 different
kinds Of butterflies, of which two-thirds
are named.
1t is said that the curled leaf of the
peach is prevented in France by spraying
with solution of copper.
A smoke consuming locomotive has
just been built in Illinois from which not
one puff of smoke escapes.
Forty five per cent. of the water con.
Sumed or drawn for domestic purposes
in London, England, is wasted.
A British army officer has invented q
rifle which q cayalryman may discharge
by means Of little dynamo fitted in his
saddle.
An electric snow plow has been de.
signed, with thirty. horse power motor
for propelling the car, and Independent
reversible motors for running the
brushes. II is intended for Use on street
railways.
The French Admiralty has adopted
for covering the boilers of war ships
mattresses or cushions made Of asbestos
cloth and stuffed with some nol-con
Quoting material, such as silicatc cotton
or asbestos fibre.
Australian butterflies bathe. Oae will
alight close to the wator, into which it
back until the whole Of the body is sub
merged, the fore legs alone retaining
their hold on dry land. In a moment il
will fly away, apparently refreshed.
It is reported that the electric separa.
ting plant which was established at the
Michigamme miue, at Ishpeming, Mich,
has proved a great success. BY the
operation Of the plant a large quantity
Of low grade ore has been converted into
high grade Bcssemer ore.
A gardner Of Mauritius has tried to
raise sugar-cane from seed. A hunired
seeds planted in 1899 yielded five min.
ute seedlings, of which one has survived
and fourished. He believes that by
cross-ferlilizing the best varieties it i;
possible to produce sugar cane that
may be raised from secis an woald b.
ofgreatly improved quality.
A German professor recommends the
following receipt for a liquil soap for
medicinal use in wounds, etc.: One
part of caustic potash dissolved in an
equal weight Of water. T) this add
four parts of olive oil, and one-fourth
part OF alcohol. Stir thoroughly for teo
minutes, shaking repeatedly. After
about an hour mix with IN equal qrau-
tity Of water. Let it then stand several
days, then filter it, and it is ready for
use
Professor Eugene IIiigarl notes how
weeds common in the Atlantic States
make no hcadway on the Pacific, while
kinds that are not troublesome here arc
great pests there. The common mus.
tard take, possession Of abandoned
fields, and soon crowds out everything
else. So vigorous is it there that it is
frequently tall enough to hide horse
with its rider. California could supply
the world with mustard seed only for
the black aphis, which everywhere coveu
flower, bud and fruit.
The respiration Of insects has been
studied By II. Conteieln, who has found
that, contrary to what occurs in verte-
brates, the movement Of inspiration is
passive and that of expiration active.
The air is driven from the body when
the heart contracts; hence, when the in
sect is wounded, the flow Of blood oc-
ours at each expiration. lie fuds that
respiration is not interrupted By cutting
off the head, nor by the absorption OF
curate, which produces an immediate
cessation in man.