Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-11-11
SCIENCE ANo INDUSTRY.

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
The number of varieties of apples
recognized in 1891, according to Prof.
Lazenby, was 339, all but % of which
originated in the United States. In
1899 only 300 varieties were admitted,
49 being of foreign origin, % from
Russia.
German surgeons say that the deli
cate membrane which covers the con-
tents of an eggshell will answer as
well as bits of skin from human be-
ing to start the healing of open
wounds. The discovery has already
been successfully tested.
MaXimite, the new high explosive,
invented by Hudson Maxim, has re-
ceived its final test. 1t appears to be
the most remarkable explosive ever
known, not only in rending power, but
also in stability, effectiveness after
penetrating the heaviest armor plate
and safety to those who handle it
Maximite is government secret.
In some parts of our country, saw
dust is burned at the mills, not as fuel,
but simply to get rid of it. But in Eu-
rope better use has been found for
sawdust In Austria, for instance,
sawdust is impregnated with tarry
substances, and then heated and
pressed into briquets, which are read
lily sold for fuel. These briquets,
weighing about two-fifths of pound
each, bring from 95 cents to 81 per
equal Ignite, and they leave only 4
percent of ash.
The American locomotive seems to
have been successful in its invasion of
India. A report from the locomotive
superintendent of the Oudh and Ro-
hilkhund railway on the working Of 10
Baldwin engines supplied to that line
last year, after describing certain
changes made in the engines to suit
them to local requirements, says:
''Those 10 engines have been working
passenger trains, running30 toss miles
and hour, and goods trains, running
at 20 miles an hour, and they have
done their work well. They steam cap
italy, and are remarkably good start
ers. They are little higher in coal
consumption than our new B class.
They do not, as far as | can see at
present, cost more in repairs than 9th
er engines, and I am very satisfied
with them" The cost of the Ameri-
can engine was about SO percent Of
that of the English engine used on
the line for similar work.
Poplar trees have been marked for
slaughter in Portland, Or. The city
has many of this kind of tree, which
were planted when the city was grow
ing, and when shade trees of any 9th
er variety, except naples, were scarce.
This objection to the treeis it's trespass-
ing on the sewers. 1t is a fast growing
tree, and graceful when growing, but
it reaches far with it's roots, especial
ly to find water and the slender root
let's penetrate the smallest crack in
the terra Gotta sewers. forming masses
of slender roots inside, and eventually
choking the sewer. The city is at
growing expense annually for the re-
pair of sewers which have been thus
choked or broken, and for this reason
the offending trees are to be girdled
Possibly it has not occurred to the
Portland citizens to preserve the trees
as sewer inspectors. Apparently they
are vigilant detectives in finding leaks
and leaking sewer pipes are more to
be dreaded than thirsty poplars.
M. Onimus, who his studied the hab-
Its or mosquitoes thoroughly, summar.
ICES his experiments somewhat as fol-
lows: He has made extensive inqui-
ries as to the effect of certain essential
oils and finds that eucalyptus oil, for
example, yields no protection at ALL
Houses shaded by eucalyptus trees are,
If anything, more subject to the pest,
for the reason that the insect is espe-
cially fond of damp and shady spots.
1t is a curious fact that the essence
of cajeput is quite effective at Paris,
while it totally fails in Italy and the
south of France. Pyrethrin, however,
succeeds everywhere. either as tine
ture or powder. The tincture burned
in lamp with a platinum wick, eff
fectually drives away the pest. The
larva, of course, may be killed by Pc
troleum oil spread over the breeding
places. 1t is worth remembering that
mosquitoes dislike drafts; they do not
attack persons using a fan. If electric
fans are established In a room the in
sects will abandon it, according to the
authority cited.
Drinlinn Elnclx