Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1900-03-16
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A cobra that measured somewhat
over seven and one-half feet. taken at
Jaffna, Ceyion, Is stated to be by far the
largest ever recorded.
A French naturalist asserts that IL
the world should become birdless, man
would not inhabit 1t after nine years
time. in spite Of all the sprays and pois-
ons that could be manufactured for the
destruction of insects. The bugs and
slugs would simply eat up all the
orchards and crops in that time.
Eyestones are the opercula or small
lenticular footdoor of small marine
shell, family Turbinidae. They are a
calcareous body. The removal Of for
eign substances was performed by
placing one in the inner corner of the
eye and allowing 1t to pass across the
eyeball. under the lid. bringing the for
eign substance with it.
In France a system. invented by Mon
sieur Dubois. is used to preserve tele-
graph poles from rotting. The bottom
Of the pole up to. and little above. the
surface of the ground is incased in an
earthenware pipe. The space between
the pipe and the pole is filed with
mixture of sand and resin, which, on
solidifying. becomes waterproof.
Prof. Spring reports on his expert
ments of many years to explain the
color of the water. He has come to the
conclusion that pure blue is the nat
ural color of water. for when We look
through long tube filled with distilled
water against brilliant white surface.
pure blue is seen. such as shown by
the Lake Of Geneva in quiet weather, a
color which Is not Influenced by super
ficial or interior reflection.
A writer in the Contemporary Review
urges the need of new class of edu-
Gated physicians whose business shall
be the care and cure Of disease-threat-
ened and disease-stricken plants. "The
time will come" he says. when every
agricultural district will have its plant
doctor" He even foresees the devel-
opment of specialties by plant doctors
just as by other physicians. so that in
many difficult and obscure cases of dis
ease affecting valuable plants. the SER
vices Of such specialists will be en-
ployed. The foundation of schools Of
practical plant pathology is urged as
matter of national Importance.
1t has been noticed that many plants.
not natives Of the locality. are to be
found growing in the neighborhood of
great railroad yards. Sometimes the
seeds Of these plants have been brought
thousands of miles from their natural
habitat. Often they flourish amid their
new surroundings, and gradually
spread over the surrounding country.
Thus the railroads carry unsuspected
emigrants. which travel to and from
every point of the compass. In the
Mississippi Valley are to be found
plants which, within few years past,
have been thus brought thither. some
from the Atlantic seaboard. some from
the Gulf region, and some from the 9TH
er side of the Rocky Mountains.
Payta, in Peru, about five degrees
south Of the equator. has the reputa-
ton, according to Prof. D. G. Fairchild.
of being the dryest spot on the globe.
On the average, shower of rain occurs
at Payta only once in two years. But
the interval between showers is often
much longer. In February last, when
Prof. Fairchild visited the place, the
first rain fallen in eight years had just
wetted the thirsty soil, having lasted
from 10 p. m. until the following noon.
Yet in that arid climate seven species of
annual plants manage to exist. and the
natives earn livelihood by growing
species of cotton whose long roots find
moisture In the bed of a dried-up river.
This cotton is readily marketed. The
coast at Payta has risen forty feet with
In historic times.