The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-11-10

-BOQV-dGAt
sun Storm-Curiously Colored Birds
Spider Silk-The Up-to Date Boiler.
hint at the Importance of the spectroscope
in the study of the universe was given in the
late address of Sir Norman Lockyer to the Lon
don Physical Society on the work OF the Solar
Physics Observatory at South kensington.
This work is mainly the comparison OF the
spectra of the sun and stars with the spectra OF
electrical discharges or other light produced in
the laboratory. The spectra of the star and OF
the arc or spark are alternately photographed
side by side on the same plate, and the bright
or dark lines thus recorded not only show us
what the distant luminous body is made OF, but
they tell us much more. Thickening or thin
ming of the lines may indicate a greater or less
density Of the substance to which the lines be-
long or a variation in quantity and displace-
Inent of lines to one side or the other shows
that the luminous body is moving to or from
the spectroscope, thus changing the wave length
of the light The amount of deviation is a
measure of the motion of stars in the line of
sight. Nova Aurigae shows bright and dark
lines side by side. proving that two bodies are
involved, moving with different velocities, and
giving a radiation and an absorption spectrum.
Increase of temperature usually gives increase
in number and intensity of the lines. Starting
with a hot star like Bellatrix, and passing
through Beta Persei, Gamma Lyrae, Sirius,
Castor, Procyon, to Arctus, cold star, we have
a gradual change in the character of the lines
which appear in the spectrum of any constitu-
emit, and this change gives rough estimate of
the heat of stars. In the case of sun-spot spec
ira, the widening of lines enables US to trace
.-ss~~..-sss 49, snse vNasatsrra IF thn SIM
AFs
The perfumes of flowers are best obtained by
distillation, but where high temperature changes
the substance the usual process is enfleurage,
or absorption with fats. Hitherto experiments
with solvents have required costly apparatus.
1t is now claimed, however, that new factory
at Fregius, France, is able to use carbon bi-sul
phide, acetone or petroleum ether in a very
simple apparatus consisting of tank for the
solvent, one for the flowers, and third for the
solution, with steam worm. condensing worm.
and pump. The steam heat gently distills off
the solvent, leaving an extract 100 times as
strong at the enfieurage pomade.
So
The rubber substitute discovered by an Italian
in Central Mexico is obtained from shrub called
Yule and other names by the Indians and botani-
cally known as Synathereoeas-Mexi canas. This
shrub grows rapidly and abundantly, reaches a
height of about three feet, and may be easily
cultivated. While it does not yield milky
juice, pounding and maceration in naptha or
other hydrocarbon solvent extract gum amount
ing to as much as 40 per cent. of the plants
weight. This gum hardens only to a viscid,
sticky mass that has the valuable properties of
rubber, may be Yulcanized perfectly, and is
superior to most rubber in its freedom from me-
chanical impurities. The plant may be treated
either in a green or dry state. AS prepared,
the gum contains a residual portion of the sol
vent, and the composition. hailed as 1.-THE twer-
tieth century gum,' is claimed to offer a saving
in the cost of reproducing the plant, in exporta-
ton, in purifying materials, in fuel. in machine
ry, and in time.
In experiments in Australia the temperature
of the stalks of growing bananas and bamboos
has been found to be 80 to 12o Fair. above the
surrounding air. and the cactus flower showed
100 to l5o above the air. Two cocoanuts, which
in storage had temperature 630 below that of
the air. were planted. The temperature remain
ed constant for eighteen days, then rose rapidly,
soon reaching s3o in the terminating nut, while
the air was at 1000 and the soil at $500. The
same experimental found the growth of the
bamboo to be from IL to "a inches in "a hours.
-.
The sun-spot of September. 1893, was one of the
greatest on record, and the period of its contin-
uance was notable for the prevalence of aurorse
and magnetic disturbances on the earth. In a
report of the phenomena ]. Fenzi states that OBJ
servations with the spectroscope showed the
gaseous matter in and about the spot to be in q
state of extraordinary commotion. with veloci-
ties reaching 200 miles a second.
-.
In the four years of 1895 to 1898 there were re-
| corded II earthquakes in Norway, "a in Great
Alhinism and malanism were rarnarkahlv Illus