The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
F7S5SaNz9,SS4@S SsN5ASSaMa19 lNESE79
.cIENcE I
|ANi;lpINDU5TRY.
NN & 6 1NN - - 81 ~
EYM .*l MoLAssEs IN TIL
WI 1 Il FEEDING OF STOCK
WtS Owing to recent

W. Owing to recent
| changes in legislation in regard to beet
root sugar in Europe the question of how
| to dispose of the residuum molasses to the
best advantage has assumed paramount
Importance. 1t is proposed to turn the
molasses into feed for cattle Already on
several European markets product IS sold
for stock feed containing 60 per cent mo-
lasses, 40 per cent cocoa-oil cake, which
costs fraction more than 1 cent per
pound. Another fodder is composed of 20
per cent cotton-seed flour, 20 per cent palm
nuts and DO per cent molasses. Some fac
tories undertake their own mixing, and
the substance produced contains IA per
cent protein, per cent fatty matter and so
| per cent non nitrogenous matter. The re-
suits OF feeding cattle on these rations
nave been most satisfactory. Sheep have
also been tdttened on a molasses diet, One
OF tho best ways of giving molasses to
cattle is to mix it with their drinking
water, and astonishing success has been
obtained by adding to the water given to
cattle about two pounds of molasses per
| diem per head.
WHAT Is AN ORcHID?-A horticultural
| journal seeks to remedy the popular inabil-
ity to define what an orchid is. People
may know an orchid when they see one:
they may even be cognizant OF the habits
and with the habitats of some OF the more
hardy varieties; but to give definition az
sight would certainly be impossible to
many. A plant which is not peculiar to
| anv zone, which is found in the fripid
equally with the torr1d, which has at least
| 10000 varieties already known to man. of
which some grow from roots, some from
| bulb Cor from a pseudo-bul some grow
| ing in trees, some creeping on the ground.
| some of the plants completely covering
| huge logs and trunks, others growing Of
| the size and with the profusion of the
| daisy; such a plant, such variety Of
plants must needs have something in com
| mon to enable the perpiexed bOtanist to
| classify and to catalogue his specimens. .
Every orchid flower consists of three petals
| and three sepals. Under the microscope
every difference apparent to the naked eye
| disappears, and one sees that whereas in
other plants the organs OF reproduction
are separate, in the orchid they are II
| each case, fused together. Orchids have
| the style and stamens in common with
other plants; but they bear the stigmata
underneath, while at the tip are the pollen
| grains.
How WILL THE BICYCLE BE IMPRovED?-
An expert on cycling matters who was
asked, How will the bicycle be improved
in future years?' says there is some
ground for believing that the chainless
| safety will be the coming bicycle. Over
| coming the friction is the greatest diff
! Guilty in the manufacture of this class of
| wheel, and many of the experiments which
| have been made to this end have given en-
| couraging results. There will be improve
! ment all around in the construction of the
| bicycle-in the tires, the saddles and the
pedals. Already saddle has been brought
| out in France which is pronounced COM
! fort and delight. 1t is said to enable
wheelman not only to ride further with
| less discomfort and wear and tear but TO
| add distinctly to his speed. The present
| saddle is barbarous and unscientifc, and
| before long the public will realize the fact
and demand Improvement. The bicycle
| makers are loath TO adopt a new idea, no
matter how good it is, and it is entirely
| the pressure of popular dissatisfaction that
| will drive them to the manufacture OF
better form OF saddle.
THE MIcRoBE IN NEW RoLE.-Microbes
as a class have been so roundly abused
that the discovery of the fact that we can
| not altogether get along without them in
duces a certain sense of satisfaction. \
| Russian professor has been taking great
trouble to determine the value OF germs in
assisting the body to perform its natural
| functions. He fed animals on food that
| had been carefully sIerlilZed and compelled
them to breathe germless air. The expert
ments proved that the presence of microbes
is necessary to digestion. The animals
soon showed the effect of the deprivation.
First they began to droop. then lost their
appetite, and finally weakened and died.
1t was found that the food simply would
not assimilate when the microbes were alb
! sent. This series OF experiments has been
! extended to the vegetable world. 1t is now
proved that certain plants can only assimi-
| late the nitrogen which is necessary to their
growth through the action of the microbes
that live at their roots.