The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-25
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
The New Forestry-Famine Forecast
ing--Furnace Achievements = The
Conquest of Hail clouds-Liquid
Air Explosives 81 Phosphorescence
in Magnetic Field-IneFective
Inoculation-A New Horn-slate
Paint.
The modern practice Of the forestry
schools Of France and Germany Is
stated by Mr.aJohn Simpson to be the
checking Of, the latest growth OF tire.
trunks By closely surrounding thc,a
with smaller trees. These are the ai-
vantages claimed: The general theory OF
the system il that thick planting at the
outset, and dense culture throughout.
are the first essentials In the production
OF good timber; that thick planting
leads to the carly formation OF the over
head canopy. promotes growth in height
and protects the soil, preserving Its fer
tility. and keeping 1t more uniform in
temperature and moistur. than where
more exposed: that density, or crowd
ing. causes early struggle for existence,
In which the trees while young losc
their lower, branches. becoming free
from knots and more cylindrical In
stems: and that the yield OF timber 10
the acre Is greater than by any other
system. The European forestcrs con-
slider that oak timber Is at,i,s best when
the tree Is $50 years old, and that elm,
ash and beech reach maturity in about
125 years.
The Misunderstanding droughts OF India
are found by Mr. E. D. Archibald to
have some connection With the sun-sEot
cycle, although with sufficient Irregu-
larity to prevent Trustworthy predic-
ton. Extensive droushts occur In tie
dry area of southern India ut intervals
of nine 10 twelve years. and usually, but
not regularly, about year before the
sun-spot minimum. When severe, fam
Inc follows In the next year. A severe
drought in the peninsula OF southern
india Is followed by i severe drought
and ensuing famine In northern India
In about five cases in seven; and there
Is also tendency to summer droughts
in northern India in years OF maximum
ssuH-spot, connected In some way with
the abnormal high pressure prevailing
over western Asia at such epochs.
Since 1892, Molssan has produced his
electric, furnace diamonds and other
precious stones, graphite, chromium,
Manganese, uranium, vnnadlum. zircon-
ium. silicium. aluminium, etc. He hopes
soon to obtain pure Iron. which does not
yet exist. and which he supposes to be
silver-whIte, flexible and strong.
Tests OF liquid air for blasting. begun
at German colliery about three years
ago, are being systematically continued
at one of the largest factories for explo-
sives In Europe. The explosive COM
pound is formed by adding some car.
boRaceous substance. and many differ
ent mixtures have been studied, some
OF them proving very dangerous on az
count OF high iniiammability and too
sudden defamation. Good results have
been lately obtained with equal parts OF
paraiiln and charcoal, the filled cart
ridge being soaked In liquid air or havI
Ing the LIQUID poured Into the wrapper.
In practical mining. n probable method
would be to take 4 TANK OF liquid air to
the working place, and then deposit In
tia wire basket OF cartridges. allowing
these to remain until the moment OF
/ using. Complete soaking requires about
ten minutes. a cartridge 5 inches long
by az inches In diameter weighs Il7.
ounces when flllel with n mixture OF
kleselSuhr: tar and tar oil. and It abb
! serbs 2i& ounces OF liquid air. 50
rapid Is the deterioration that II would
be necessary to use cartridge OF this
size within fifteen minutes after re-
moval from the vital nuid. With car
bon materials OF the petroleum variety
and hIEhly-oxySanatcd liquid air, Il Ia
possible 10 nRalh an explosive com
pound OF greater strength ,taan b!asint;
Geintine. but safer mixtures are less
strong.
II phosphorcscencc IL due TO vibration
OF material particles. it&would seem
that magnetism might affect 1t. TAKE
Ing long tabes OF sulfhlde OF lime, sui
phIda OF zinc. nitrate OF uranium, and
other more or less ploSphorcscent sub-
stInees, MIR. AlcxandN dc Hamp.lnna
has placed portion OF their strength
Under the influence or powerful Haag-
ncis, but In no case could amy influence
upon The ,phosphotrscence be dstccted.
The tubpa remained uniformly lighted
In the dark. the brightness gradually
and uniformly isafenins
49,
Serum treatmcHt for drunkenness Is
no new thing. DID Crcynlly, OF Sydney.