Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-03-04
POPULAR SCIENCE.

At Cassis, France, granite blocks Of
fifteen cubic metres have been moved by
wave force.
1t has been shown conclusively that
insect or meat fed plants bear heavier
and more seeds than those which are un-
fed.
The new British cruiser Piguc in re-
cent run is reported to have made a
speed Of seventeen knots an hour with
out difficulty.
Recent experiments in France on the
velocity of ofpropagation of electric waves
give a mean velocity which is almost ex-
actIy that Of light.
II has been found that vaccination is
beneficial to horses having the glanders,
and this treatment is now being used in
France aud Germany.
A marine railway has been built in
Elizabethport, n. j., which is capable
of hauling 25OO-ton vessel out of the
water in nine minutes.
The enterprise of stocking the rivers
OF Arkansas ani Missouri with the rain
bow trout of California is said to be
most gratifying success.
The alleged power of camphor to
awaken seeds or stimulate their germina-
tion has been shown by the experiments
Of NJ. Henry de Varigny to have no real
existetce.
A copper rod projecting from the
face Of cliff in Saline County, Missouri,
indicates that at some date in the far
West, beyond the ken of man, copper
mining was carried on in that vicinity.
Currents of water serve to a vast ex-
tent the purpose of distributing seed.
Many trees are found on the banks OF
streams which carry their nuts miles
away, where they spring into new for
ests.
An alloy which adheres firmly to glass
and can therefore be used for Joining up
glass tubing, is said to be made by add
ing five per cent. OF copper to ninety
five per cent. Of tin. The tin is first
melted aud the copper added subse-
quently.
A recent English invention is buoy
ant life saving seat for ships. 1t is in
tended for deck seat, the upper and
lower parts being made Of buoyant ma
terial so that if thrown into the water
the apparatus will support several people
Comfortably.
Sometime ago Professor Parisi, OF
Athens, Greece, was surprised at being
relieved of tape worn after very free
use of cocoanut. Since then he has
tried this as a remedy with almost in
variable success, and goo1 results are
reported from its trial in America
w. Werner writes to the ZOologist
that the Kentish ploVer, like the stone
curIew or thicknee, is being rapidly ex-
terminated in the county from which 1t
derives its name by collectors aud 50
called "naturslists," who, with walking
stick guns, in and out of season, destroy
all they can opproach.
1t is proposed to use electricity tor tue
disinfection Of ships. BY the electro
lysis of sea water chlorine gas is liber'
ated and the same effect-that OF the
oxydatiou of the noxious substances
produced by chloride Of lime results. The
gas will be carried in pipes from the
electrolytic bath to the various portions
of the snip.
Dew may be derived from moisture
from the ground or from excess of mois-
ture in the air, near the earth, coming
in contact with vegetable or other sub
stances that have become c)ld by radia-
ton. Dew falling upon metallic roofs is
free from the influence Of ground mois
ture. and is due to saturation Of the air
by cooling of both air and metal by noe
turnal radiation.
A recent improvement in arc-light
pencils consists of wire cloth contain
ing no carbon, but Is coated with chro-
mate of any kind. These chromates are
non conducting, but the metal cloth
starts the arc aud the intense heat re-
duces the chromate to a chromate OF the
metal used. These pencils burn at the
rate of one-eighth of an inch an hour
when the current is properly controlled.
Ventilation.