Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-07-18
|k;90Science ]
.22 Afn
SSeses4llvention

Tie largest frog Is now stated to BIO
the new Rama goliath from the Gamer
oons, with head and body measuring
not less than ten inches. Hitherto the
largest known has been species living
In the Solomon Islands.
Root penetration in the soil has been
tested by excavating about six feet so
as TO leave vertical wall, and then
spraying from garden hose. Tho
barred roots retained their natural posi-.
lions. Rye, beans and peas each showed
a matted felt of white fbers reaching
down about four feet, wheat had ex-
tended 81a feet in seven months, anil
maize and clover We're traced to depth
Of ten feet in light, rich soil.
Tho aying erogs of tho Malays up
pear to be mythical, but three tree
snakes of Borneo, lately described to
the London Geological Society by r.
shelford, are credited with taking fly
Ing leaps from the boughs of trees to
the ground. 1t is found that scales on
tile lower part of the body may be
drawn inward SO that the whole lower
surface becomes concave. The resist
ance to the air Is thus greatly Increased
and experiments indicate that the
snakes do not full in writhng coils, hut
are let down gently In direct line
by the parachute-like action of their pc
cullar bodies.
Speaking at Glasgow recently, B. H.
Brougli summed up many facts about
the use of iron by the anclents Inter
esting In the light Of recent metalIurgi.
cal practice is a part of: an iron tool
found In the Great Pyramid, because 1t
contains not only nickel, but also com.
blned carbon, showing that 1t is not Of
meteorlc origin. Under sphinx at
karnak- an iron sickle was found. At
Delhi there still exists an iron pillar.
90 feet high and 18 Inches in diameter,
made up Of 50-pound blooms welded to
gether. This pillar. Mr.. Brough sug,
gested, may me regarded as "the doyen
among products of the heavy iron in.
dustry." The use of iron and steel in
China has been traced to the year 1857
B. c. The Japanese are said to have
had a curious method Of making steel.
They buried forged iron In marshy
ground, and after eight or ten years,
through some, alchemy Of nature, Ii
came out steel.
Interesting experiments have recent.
" been made at the Kew Observatory
near London on. the effects of the elec.
trio currents produced In the earth by
the electric traction systems of the
British metropolis. The delicate mag
netlc instruments Of the observatory
are affected by the currents. Metallic
plates buried In the ground were con.
nected with photographic recording
apparatus, and the tracings recorded
by the instrument formed picture OF
the timetable of the London Central
Railway, although the nearest point Of
approach of that line Is six miles from
Kew. Even accidental breakdowns oc
curling on the traction line were lnd
Gated In the Photographic record. By
connecting the earthquakes with a sen
sitive galyanometer, the effect of. thu
movements Of the tramway controller
was rendered evident, and, telephon,
being attached, sounds We're heard a
each controller movement.
Two projects for the construction O
railway tunnels Of unprecedented mag
nitude are now under discussion. On,
of them, which appeals strongly to thu
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