gum arabic were added to the mixture. Ten parts of the dry platinum chloride, 25 parts of the oil of lavender, and 30 of varnish are reported by a local writer to yield a good printing ink of this valuable kind when mixed with a small quantity of lamp- A NEW LOCOMOTIVE. - The compound locomoblack and varnish. When the paper printed with tive recently invented by E. W. Webb, superintendthis compound is ignited, the platinum salt is re-ent of the London and Northampton read, is attractduced to a metallic state, and becomes a coating of ing some attention in this country. Its purpose is a brownish-black color. to economize fuel by the use of both high and low A free-flowing ink for writing on the fire-proof steam. There are two sets of driving-wheels, which paper with an ordinary metallic pen may be ob- are not connected, but each set is driven by indetained by using 5 parts of the dry chloride of plat-pendent engines. The steam is first received, under inum with 15 parts of oil of lavender, 15 parts of high pressure, in two cylinders placed on each side Chinese ink, and 1 part of gum arabic, adding of the boiler, and about half-way back. The pistons thereto 64 parts of water. When the paper is ig- of these work the rear drivers by direct motion. nited, after being written upon with this ink, the The steam from them is then exhausted into pipes platinum ingredient causes the writing to appear which are conducted in front of the boiler-flues to transparent, and, as a consequence, it is claimed keep the steam hot, and then into one large cylinder that such writing as has become black or illegible located directly under the front of the boiler. This will become readily legible again during the process cylinder carries, by a shaft under the boiler, the forof heating the paper. ward drivers. A saving of over 25 per cent. upon the ordinary requirements is made in coal. COLORING GLOVE-Leather. — The coloring of water and keeps the antiseptic material securely one of sal ammoniac are to be dissolved in 64 parts Colors for painting may also be made fire-proof by mixing commercial metallic colors with the chloride of platinum and painters' varnish, adding an or-glove-leather has been usually performed by manual dinary aquarelle pigment to strengthen the "covering power" of the color. These fire-proof paints or colors can be easily used in the same manner as the common water colors, and it is claimed they will resist the destructive influence of great heat quite as successfully as the fire-proof printing and writing inks above referred to. labor with brushes. This process, besides being slow, has the disadvantage that ugly edges are produced on the flesh side, and the coloring, in spite of great care, is never quite uniformly distributed. Herr Kristen, of Brünn, has sought to remedy this by a (patented) process, in which uniform coloring is effected with the aid of centrifugal force, the skin being fixed on a horizontal disc, the coloring poured INDUSTRIAL MEMORANDA. on it at the middle, and the disc rotated. Thus an CLEANING HORSES BY STEAM. In the stables equal distribution of the matter is obtained. The of the Third Avenue Railroad in New York, a ma- liquid in excess flies over the edge, and is caught chine worked by steam has superseded the curry-in a funnel, which guides it to a reservoir, whence a comb. Its regular rate is ten horses an hour, but, pump brings it again to the disc. In about ten to in testing its speed the other day, one horse was fifteen minutes a skin is finished. Only one man is actually cleaned in one minute and fifteen seconds, required for five of the machines, which are placed and more thoroughly than by the ordinary process. near one another, and driven by the same shaft. The horse is led under a bar, from which depend In twelve hours 150 skins can easily be colored by on each side of him arms with universal joints. this method, and in a very satisfactory way. Turning on the arms are brushes a foot in circumALCOHOL FROM POTATOES. The manufacture ference. These are revolved by steam through the of alcohol from potatoes by means of hydrochloric arms and cross-bar at an ordinary rate of 800 revo-acid is carried on entirely in Germany (according to lutions a minute, which can be increased to 1000. Le Génie Civil), as follows: The potatoes are inA man on each side takes hold of the arm close to troduced into apparatus in which they are treated the brush, and applies the brush to the horse. The with steam at high pressure; then saccharification steam that whirls the brush makes a noise a good is effected with hydrochloric acid, and the excess of deal like the hissing of a hostler. The universal acid is neutralized with carbonate of soda. The joints allow the arms and brushes to be moved in cooled mass is submitted to fermentation in vats, any direction. Beginning at the head, the men then distilled. When saturation has been reached, move the brush along the sides, back, and belly, the residues may, without inconvenience, be emand down the legs of the horse to the feet. A cloud ployed as food for cattle. of dust arises in the air, and in two minutes the horse looks like a different creature. The horses were a little nervous at first, but after a few seconds all appeared to be pleased with the operation. At the Third Avenue Railroad stables it takes six men thirteen and a half hours to clean, or half clean, 128 horses by the ordinary process. If the steam-brush is passed over the horse at a moderate speed once, each square inch is actually brushed more than if an ordinary brush had been passed over it 400 times. SILICATED CHALK. It is ascertained that chalk, whether in an artificial paste or in its natural state, if plunged into a solution of silicate of potash, absorbs even in the cold, a quantity of silica, which may be increased to a considerable extent by exposing the stone alternately, and for many times, to the action of the solution and of air. The chalk assumes a smooth appearance, a compact grain, and more or less of a yellowish color, according as it is more or less impregnated with iron. Stones thus prepared are susceptible of receiving a high polish. The OF hardness, which at first is but superficial, penetrates by degrees into the centre, even where the stones are of considerable thickness. They appear susceptible of undoubted utility in the more ready formation of works of sculpture and various ornaments, even those of the most delicate workmanship. Attempts have been made to apply these stones for lithography. ASPHALT USED IN THE PRESERVATION WOOD. The increasing cost of wood in this country has led to a great number of experiments in preserving from decay all kinds of wooden structures exposed to the weather. Among the more recent plans suggested is one for impregnating wood with asphalt, combined with some antiseptic material. The finished wood, ready to be put together, is first submitted to heat to drive out the moisture, and is PAINTING ZINC. A difficulty is often experithen placed in a hot bath composed chiefly of as-enced in causing oil-colors to adhere to sheet zinc. phalt and carbolic acid. On cooling, the solvent of Boettger recommends the employment of a mordant, the asphalt evaporates, leaving a skin or coating of so to speak, of the following composition: One part the asphalt on the surface of the wood that resists of chloride of copper, one of nitrate of copper, and ELECTRIC SPARKS. A ELECTRICAL MATTERS ABROAD. It was announced that an exhibition of electricity was to be held at Vienna this year, and another at Munich. Considering the disadvantage of these being at the same time, the Vienna Committee have resolved to delay till August-October, 1883. In Bavaria, the railway authorities have offered the Exhibition Committee trains for trial of systems of lighting, and the telegraph authorities lines for trial of long-distance telephoning; the longest of the latter is from Munich to Dresden, 550 kilometers (343 miles). Telephonic experiments have been lately made with success, by day, on the line between Paris and Dijon, a distance of 314 kilometers (196 miles). It is curious to read that three telegraphic stations have been recently opened in Palestine, at Nazareth, Tiberias, and Safiè. In Arabia, the material is getting ready for construction of the system of telegraph-lines of Hedjaz. Part is destined for the first lines from Djedda to Mecca, and from Mecca to Yambo and to Medina; the rest for connection of the lines projected for Hedjaz with the existing lines in Yemen. A CURIOUS ELECTRICAL PHENOMENON. remarkable instance of the development of electricity by friction has been brought to light in a Berlin brewery. The building is constructed of stone and iron, with the floors laid in asphaltum. In the upper story of the malt-house is a maltcleaning machine, from which the cleaned malt is conducted, through an iron shoot, to wagons, for distribution through the works. If the malt-cleaning machine remains a long time in operation, which frequently does occur without intermission for three weeks at a time, electricity is developed by friction of the malt in the iron shoot, and in the most insulated portions of it. Such is the tension of the electricity that sparks continuously flash here and there, the malt crackles throughout, and sparks fly from it to the hands of the employés. The men at first thought this was a demoniacal exhibition, until an expert calmed their fears. This gentleman, Herr Nehrlich, brought the subject before the Electrotechnical Union, and the discussion thereupon elicited statements from several members, who had noticed similar appearances in other breweries, etc. Dr. Werner Siemens showed how, through the existence of the asphalt floors, the malt-room is so insulated from other portions of the building that it electrically resembles a Leyden jar. Agriculture. PRESERVATION OF LAWNS. RED CLOVER. A WORD ABOUT SILOS. enormous increase in the percentage of the mineral RED clover is, upon the whole, a rather troub-matter of the maize after it has been in the silo lesome crop, as it is very coarse and difficult to some months; this increase, however, could only le Ir is not as difficult to maintain lawns in prime cure, and it falls down when nearly mature, mil- in proportion to the amount of destruction which had taken place in the organic matter of the plant. condition in this country as in England; or rather dews, and often utterly decays before the mower the spread of wild and noxious plants in lawns in can reach it with his scythe. Also, it so shades England is more rapid and persistent than in the the ground that other forms of vegetation perish, Northern States of this country. The reason is, and large patches of denuded soil are found on the constant moisture in England is favorable to all clover fields. In England a troublesome dis- son have come under our observation, they have the growth of mosses, plantains, daisies, etc., ease attacks clover, called the "clover sickness," not withstood well the combined action of acetic while our dry seasons keep them in check. The the nature of which has not yet been satisfacto-acid and water and moisture. This relates to noxious weeds, most of them, have very strong rily explained. In this country it has not been silos constructed of stone under ground, and plas roots, and the leaves lie very close to the ground; recognized so far as we know, but we think it tered with hydraulic cement. The cement, unso when the grass is cut it is weakened by the would appear if our farmers were in the habit of der the combined action of the acid and external loss of its leaves, but the weeds are uninjured, repeating the growth of clover on the same field water, will crumble and fall off, leaving wide comparatively, and continue to thrive. for successive years, as do the English farmers. areas of the walls in a denuded condition. vere droughts here are not favorable to the con- The roots of clover are prodigious in size and tinuance of the intense green of lawns noticed in extent, and it seems to us clear that the roots reEngland; our lawns are often dry and brown in quire several years to decay in the soil; and July and August, indicating the need of moist- therefore to repeat the crop brings on a kind of But the lawns in England are not always vegetable fermentation in the soil which is fatal to plant life. Clover roots accumulate and hold green; we have seen Hyde Park when the grass, usually green and luxuriant, was burnt to a crisp, large quantities of mineral matter and nitrogen, and this was the state of the beautiful lawns all and they run very deep in the soil. over England. ure. The se The most troublesome weed we have to con In all silos acetic acid is developed to a greater or less extent, and this, in the form of vapor, comes in contact with the lime in the cement, and forms a fixed salt, an acetate. When this occurs the wall is weakened, and falls as soon as the contents of the silo are removed. It should be known that cemented walls are not impervious to the inflow of water. Although cisterns will hold water, if left empty in wet places, water will find its way through from without; and numerous silos constructed on the sides of hills where there are springs were found to have several feet of water in them last spring. Considerable loss resulted from this cause. All silos should be constructed with drains, and it is very important that the drains should be trapped, so as to prevent a current of air from passing in under the contents It may be that the true use of clover is to aid the farmer in keeping up the fertility of his tend with is the dandelion. It is a plant which lands. It seems to be specifically adapted to this has a persistency of life and facility of propagaend. We certainly have no plant like it. It is peculiar in its capabilities of enriching soils, if tion quite unusual, and in lawn culture is an We do not enemy of no small magnitude. We endeavored, cultivated with this end in view. think it well for farmers to grow clover for forthe present season, to exterminate the plant by continuous cutting and by digging up the roots; age to any great extent, but if a run-down farm but it was found that while the men were cutting is put into red clover, and the crops ploughed up the flowers in one place those uprooted an under in the green condition, rapid improvement of the silo. hour before would, in a mysterious manner, perfollows. As an accumulator of nitrogen, clover fect their seed-bearing apparatus, and the winds is indeed peculiar, and its cultivation probably would float the winged enemy to all parts of the furnishes this important element in soils at field. The daisy and the dandelion are pretty cheaper rates than from any other source. flowers, but they are great nuisances lawns. upon We have found that weeds are kept in check by the avoidance of the use of animal manures. DR. J. B. LAWES ON ENSILAGE. DR. LAWES does not advocate the construction During the past ten years, we have employed of silos in England, or the use of ensilaged crops. the nitrate of soda and alkaline salts for fertiliz- There are many processes in farming in the ing purposes with most satisfactory results. As United States which would be inadmissible in we have about four acres of lawn to maintain in England, and, on the other hand, methods of condition, its preservation has been male a study. English husbandry are not, in all cases, suited to Lawns should not be shaven too closely, and our country, but the great facts in chemistry, as once a week is often enough to use the mower. applied to agriculture, hold good the world over. On small plots, the fertilizer may be best applied Dr. Lawes writes to the London Agricultural in the liquid form; and if one is willing to bestow Gazette regarding ensilage as follows:a little extra care upon a lawn it may be maintained in great beauty in the driest seasons. With regard to ensilage as practised in the United States, it is almost entirely confined to InA barrel of water, in which is dissolved two dian corn. The crop is cut down as it comes into pounds of nitrate of soda, one pound of muriate flower; it is then cut into chaff, and thrown into of potash, and one pound of the genuine bone large pits, which are covered over. When these pits superphosphate, may be sprinkled over a lawn of are opened there is a strong smell of acetic acid and four or five thousand square feet once in two alcohol, and as far as I can gather from the pubweeks, during the summer, with great advantage. lished experiments - there is a loss of something When the salts are applied in the undissolved like 40 per cent. of the organic part of the crop. Maize is so full of saccharine matter, at one pestate, they should be pulverized very fine, and mixed with three or four times their bulk of good riod of its growth, that it has even been proposed sifted loam, and sown evenly. A few pounds of to use it for making sugar; it is evident that the dry plaster (gypsum) may be added to the mixture, as it promotes the growth of the white clover. With a little attention lawns may be maintained in good condition for many consecutive years. MR. CHARLES G. FRANCKLYN, in whose sea-shore cottage President Garfield died, has just founded and endowed a sanitarium for poor children, at Elberon, in memory of his young daughter, Gladys Francklyn, who died recently in Paris. sugar contained in the crop placed in the silo has In my remarks on the subject I did not in any An enthusiastic advocate of ensilage in the States points out, as one of its great advantages, the As a rule, where silos are constructed under ground, it will be better to plank them inside of a rough, dry wall. The planks will last many years and need but few repairs. If ensilage is to hold its place in popular estimation, much is to be learned in regard to the There is little doubt but that the cutting process construction of pits and in methods of ensilaging. which is so expensive and laborious may be dis pensed with, and it will be found that it is better to partially dry the fodder in the field before of the water is removed, it will cost much less putting it into the pits. If twenty-five per cent. in the least diminished. ANALYSIS OF EEL-GRASS. THE following, from the New Bedford Repub lican Standard, will be of interest to our farmer friends on the sea-shore : At a meeting for discussion of the South Bristol Farmers' Club last winter, in considering the value of eel-grass as a fertilizer, wide difference of opinion prevailed. Some thought its worth consisted wholly in its use for bedding stock, and as an absorbent of liquids, while others claimed that it contained large fertilizing properties. It was finally decided that specimens should be sent to Professor Goessman, of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, for analysis. The samples were taken from Sconticut Neck, and were apparently free from sea-shells or organic matOne sample was fresh from the water, and the other had been lying upon the uplands on the heap during the winter. On the 2d of May the club received the following response: ter. AMHERST, MASS., May 2, 1882. Please find enclosed the results of careful analy ses of two samples of eel-grass, sent for that purpose from him: old, 66 25.17 per cent. แ 0.96 46 2.70 66 66 placed under cover for its reception. It may with Soot water is found to be exceedingly beneficial to Boston Journal of Chemistry. JAS. R. NICHOLS, M. D., Editor. BOSTON, SEPTEMBER 1, 1882. A CITY OF WATER JUGS. THE various roads leading from the country to this city present a curious spectacle in the early morning, the ways being encumbered with numerous vehicles heavily laden with casks and jugs of different sizes, filled with fresh water from the numerous springs in adjoining towns. These jugs are distributed to stores, counting-rooms, and houses in all parts of the city, and the water is used for drinking aud culinary purposes in place of the Cochituate water, which is supplied to almost every inhabitant. The empty jugs are picked up by the enterprising water carriers, and returned again filled with the sweet water of the country springs. The cost of this supply of water is large to individuals, and very large in the aggregate, and the luxury can be indulged in only by those of ample or fair means. Some of the points in the analysis not appearing plain to those unacquainted with chemistry, the It is also admitted to be a powerful manure for most writer requested of Professor Goessman a note of kinds of culinary crops; in the case of the onion explanation on some of the facts brought out in the it is of the greatest value. This crop is frequently analysis, to which the following reply was received attacked by the maggot, which, if not checked, soon commits sad ravages, and the best remedy is a good "The composition of the sea-weeds in their nat-dressing of soot. As, however, prevention is better The cause of this amusing display of water ural condition is somewhat modified by adhesive than cure, the land intended for this crop should, in sea-shells, sea-water, etc.; not two samples would almost all cases, have a good dressing of this material jugs in the streets, counting-rooms, banks, restaustrictly agree in composition. Time and exposure shortly before the seed is sown, in addition to any rants, dwellings, etc., is that an impression premodify organic and inorganic constituents; the al- other manure which may have been given during the vails that the water supply of the city is not kalies and some phosphates are washed out in part preceding winter. Nearly all plants of the Brassica suited to domestic uses by reason of impurities. by rain, etc.; starchy materials are decomposed tribe are liable to be attacked by what is known as There has been noticed for many months a disapparently at a higher rate than nitrogenous organic the club, which frequently proves very troublesome, agreeable odor and taste in the water, and promatter; lime and magnesia compounds increase in and the best known preventive of this is what is tracted discussion has occurred as to the cause of rate by keeping in open air; potash and soda de- called puddling the roots of the plants, - an opera- this offensiveness. The resources of science have crease. The entire amount of potash, phosphoric tion easily performed by merely making a hole in been exhausted in efforts to discover the cause, acid, and nitrogen contained in organic vegetable the soil near to where the plantation is intended to but without any satisfactory results. Professor matter is available in the same ratio as the disinte- stand; in this hole place a portion of fresh soot, and Remsen had the good luck to hit upon a plaugration advances. Potash per pound, five cents; to this add a portion of fine soil and water, until it sible theory, which attributes the difficulty to the phosphoric acid per pound, six cents; and nitrogen acquires the consistency of thick paint, and into this sible theory, which attributes the difficulty to the per pound, twenty-two cents, is, at present market dip the roots of the plants before planting them. growth and decay of fresh-water sponges in the Seed-beds of the various kinds of cabbages, let-ponds or supply basins; but as these sponges extuces, radishes, etc., when the seed is just about to ist in considerable quantities in numerous ponds germinate, are very apt to be attacked by birds of in New England where the water is perfectly various kinds, and this may sometimes be prevented tasteless and unobjectionable, the theory has no by giving the surface of the beds an occasional slight good grounds to rest upon. dressing of fresh soot, the odor of which the feathered depredators do not by any means relish. A slight dusting of this material round newly planted lettuces and other plants will also go far to keep slugs and snails from attacking them, which they are apt to do, before the plants have recovered from the effects of transplantation. Grass lawns and belts in the pleasure grounds, etc., may also be frequently much improved by the application of soot, or a mixture of soot, wood ashes, and fine soil; this appears to have the effect of encouraging the growth of the finer sorts of grasses, and as it were assists them to overcome and to finally extirpate the coarser kinds, together with weeds and moss. condition, a fair valuation." This analysis shows a high commercial value of eel-grass, which some have heretofore claimed for it. As the professor says: "The chemicals in eel-grass are available in the same ratio as the disintegration advances; and as eel-grass decays very slowly, under most circumstances, its agricultural value in general is not so fully appreciated as in those materials of equal commercial value which decay rapidly." It appears from the analysis that eel-grass, which some have placed so low an estimate on, is really of considerable value. SOOT AS A FERTILIZER. A WRITER in the London Garden gives the following facts and hints under this head: GLEANINGS. HOW TO KILL DOMESTIC ANIMALS HUMANELY. The August number of Our Dumb Animals contains full directions, illustrated by cuts, "how to kill domestic animals humanely." To supply the public, the society has printed five thousand extra copies. Each person owning a domestic animal can obtain a copy without charge by calling or sending to the Society's office, 96 Tremont Street. These sponges are found in six or eight ponds in Essex County, where the conditions are precisely similar to those of the Framingham pond, and no unpleasant results to the water are observable. If the Remsen theory were satisfactory to the water takers, and would have the effect to quiet apprehensions, the labor would not have been lost; but such is not the case. In one view the condition of the city water supply is greatly exaggerated, and that relates to its possible unhealthfulness. We do not conclude, from the results of many years' observation upon the sanitary influence of New England pond waters, that there is anything contained in Boston water at present which is positively deleterious to health. These country water basins are to a large extent similar in their surroundings, and they swarm with the lower forms of animal life, and large quantities of fish of various kinds are present; but they have no positive anti-sanitary influence. They may confer disagreeable physical qualities, but not chemical. There can be no doubt that soot is an excellent fertilizer, and it is possibly less appreciated as such than it deserves to be. I recollect trying experiments with various kinds of manure, including soot, with the view of ascertaining their effect upon the production of various culinary crops, such as peas, potatoes, French beans, cauliflowers, etc., and, so far as I can remember, the crops obtained from the portion of land dressed with soot were next in point of produce, or nearly equal, to those obtained from land heavily dressed with well-decomposed stable-yard At all events, the two fertilizers just named proved much better than all the others tried, Boston water contains no impurities which consisting of bone dust, nitrate of soda, gas lime, wood, coal, and other ashes, spent hops, etc. Soot made of?" asked a French lady of the distinguished may not be removed easily and readily by mechanical means. should therefore be secured whenever it is possible, savant. The inflowing of water jugs "Madame, I do not know." "Then what and as it is of great importance that it should be is the use of being an Academician ?" "Madame, may meet the ends of a conceit, and so far as it kept dry a bin or large box of some kind should be that I may be able to say I do not know." is confined to wealthy citizens the conceit is ap manure. parently harmless; but poor people cannot afford to purchase water in jugs, and they are excited to alarm by the acts of those who can afford it. The jugs create uneasiness and apprehensions on the part of the mass of the people of the city, without doubt. By filtration, even by the most simple means, Boston water becomes pure and inodorous, and as good for domestic uses as any brought from springs. The use of ordinary flannel, of several layers, securely attached to a water faucet in the form of a small bag, gives to the inflowing water a colorless appearance, and removes nearly all offending matters. It is better, however, to use a filter of more efficient nature, and this can be of home construction and cheaply made. A cylinder of tin, three inches in diameter and six or eight inches long, filled with alternate layers of clean beach sand and pounded charcoal, answers an admirable purpose. It may be attached to the faucet by a screw obtained from the plumbers, and there should be a delivery tube at the bottom. It is best to have two delivery faucets: one for filtered water, for strictly culinary and drinking uses; and another for supplies for sink purposes and for washing. A filter used only for water for culinary purposes will serve its end in most families for several months, and when it fails of satisfactory service it may be removed, the contents changed, and again put in its place. New York and Chicago was interrupted, and the lieved to attain a height of at least 100 feet. PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE IN AMERICA. Mr. Ridgway calls attention to the fact that the numerous small prairies which were common in the Wabash Basin at the time of its first settlement have become transformed into woodland, THE Boston Medical and Surgical Journal and that, owing to this gradual change of praipublishes a paper on "The Diseases and Dan- rie to forest, the actual area of forest in Wabash gers Incident to School Life," which was read and the adjoining counties in Illinois is greater by Dr. G. S. Stebbins, of Springfield, before the than fifty years ago. Extensive woods of oak District Medical Society, in April last. The and hickory more than eighty feet high, and with writer concludes with a suggestion that ventila-trunks nearly two feet through, are now growtion and sanitation should always be looked after ing on what was open prairie within the memby some one having sufficient knowledge to ena-ory of some of the present owners of the land. ble him to secure them, and determination to "This is interesting as a slight indication of the maintain them. There should therefore, he thinks, solution of the mystery which involves the oribe a medical inspector of schools appointed, whose gin of the prairies; while the rapidity with which duty should be to thoroughly examine every these new woods have sprung up shows that the school-house as often as once a month, for the reproduction of our failing forests can be accompurpose of obtaining exact information regard-plished in a shorter time than is generally suping their ventilation and general sanitary condi- posed, if proper consideration and attention can tion, and such officer should have the requisite only be given to the subject.” authority to order every nuisance to be abated at once, and to enforce all needed sanitary reguMETEOROLOGY FOR JULY, 1882. lations. To such an officer all cases of outbreak of contagious and infectious diseases, as scarlet the past month has been as follows: THE sum of my observations on the weather for fever, measles, diphtheria, etc., might be referred, so that he could at once institute measures to prevent their spread. A rigid quarantine of all pupils affected with contagious diseases is, the paper observes, of the utmost importance. Further, to this officer all parents should be referred, who seek for any modification of the rules of discipline in favor of their children on account of bodily weakness or mental infirmity, so that he might investigate such cases and report acDISPLAYS of the aurora have been frequent cordingly. Such an office as this, filled by a during the past month, and the one on the even- man clothed with the needful authority and powing of August 4th was of extraordinary brill- er, and who would thoroughly, conscientiously, iancy and beauty. Those of our readers who and fearlessly discharge his duty, would, the had the privilege of seeing the waving and writer thought, be of vastly more importance flashing lights reflected in the sea, as at Martha's than that of janitor, school-house agent, not to Vineyard and Cape Cod, will not soon forget say superintendent of schools. the novel and fascinating spectacle. If some plumber in the city would construct cheap and convenient filters, costing no more than a couple of dollars, on the plan suggested, he would confer a great service upon the poor people of the city and reap a rich pecuniary reward. THE AURORA. Some of our readers may not be aware that the present season is one during which these exhibitions of celestial fireworks are likely to be often repeated. The aurora has three distinct periods; the shortest being a half year, and the time of greatest frequency the equinoxes, of least frequency the solstices. The second period is of about eleven years, corresponding with that of the sun-spots. Auroras are most frequent at the time of most sun-spots, least so at the time of least sun-spots. The year 1882 is a year of most sun-spots, and hence it is a year of many The same thing happened in 1870. In 1877 occurred a period of least sun-spots and fewest auroras, and the same thing will happen in 1888. The third period is a cycle of five or six of the eleven-year periods; that is, every fifth or sixth period has more auroras than the intervening ones. Such periods occurred in 1728, 1780, and 1842. auroras. FOREST TREES IN THE WABASH VALLEY. Average Thermometer. At 7 A. M.. Lowest. Highest. Range. 67.03 560 760 79.262 602 900 Second average 1 1 1 Found by adding the average evenings twice. The average barometer for the month was 20.957 inches; the lowest, 29.64, on the 1st, and the highest, 30.22, on the 31st, a range of .58 of an inch. The average for the last 10 Julys is 29.919; the lowest, 29.891, in 1881, and the highest, 29.957, in 1882, a range of .066 of an inch. The sum of the daily variations was 2.84 inches, an average daily movement of .092 of an inch. The average for the last 10 Julys is .089, with extremes of .061 and .118 in 1873 and 1879. The rainfall in July of those years was 2.88 and 3.37 inches. in 1876. The direction of the wind in the usual observa In an interesting paper published in the "Proceedings of the National Museum," Mr. Robert Ridgway gives the results of long and careful The face of the sky in 93 observations gave 63 observations made by himself and other natural- fair, 15 cloudy, 10 overcast, and 5 rainy. The ists upon the forest growth of Southern Indiana amount of rainfall was 3.20 inches. The average and Illinois. This region is of special interest, for the past 14 Julys has been 3.19 inches; the because here many of the peculiarly Southern lowest amount, 1.43, in 1874, and the highest, 6.85, trees, like the pecan, the water locust, the overcup oak, and the bald cypress, reach their Northern limits, and because this forest is hardly surpassed by any other in the number of species of which it is composed, and the magnificent development attained by many individuals. Nowhere in the whole of Eastern America have as many large specimens of as many species been recorded as Mr. Ridgway finds in the Lower Wabash Valley. Nearly all of our largest and most valuable broad-leaved trees are here found associated together; and in a single square mile of woods The occurrence of an aurora corresponds with seventy-five species of trees, nearly all of the first cess has been 38.1, and the southerly 20.1. a period of electric and magnetic disturbance. class, were detected by him, or nearly as many as season, giving an average of only 62.92°. The first week in July was unusually cool for the But During an aurora the telegraphic currents are grow on the whole European continent. By act- the closing week was unusually hot, especially the disturbed and magnetic needles restless. During ual measurement, thirty-four species are found six days from the 23d to the 28th, inclusive, giving the brilliant display on the night of April 16th to occasionally exceed 100 feet in height, while an average of 76.38°, and bringing the entire averof this year, telegraphic communication between seventeen others, although not measured, are be-age of the month 1.15° above the average for the tions gave an excess of 49 southerly and 53 westerly over the northerly and easterly, indicating approximately the average or prevailing direction of the month to be west 42° 45′ south, or nearly S. W. The average direction for the past 14 Julys has been west 27° 50' south. The westerly winds have uniformly prevailed, varying from 11 to 56 observations in excess of the easterly, while the southerly have prevailed over the northerly every year, with but a single exception, that of 1880, when the The average westerly exnortherly excess was 4. past 19 years. The same six days in Boston, as now find the journal from which we copied the ex- On the 28th the morning was smoothly overcast, the wind N. and somewhat cooler, but at 8.30 several claps of thunder were heard, without any lightning being observed, or signs of a shower, and in about 30 minutes .4 of an inch of rain fell, followed by a change of the wind to the S. W. and a peculiar MERCILESS LETTERS. Mr. Ruskin asks his steamy heat that was very oppressive. The long- friends to refrain from troubling him with unnecesheated earth seemed to breathe back in part the sary letters. There are a good many other distinsudden dash of rain into the atmosphere. The guished veterans who will echo for themselves the thermometer rose to 87° at 2 P. M., with an average wish he expresses. He says: 66 I venture to hint to through the day of 76°, or six and a half degrees friends who may at any time be anxious about me above that in Boston the same day, - a remarkable that the only trustworthy evidences of my health are fact, if correctly reported. In the afternoon the my writings, and that it is a prettier attention to an clouds again gathered, and, meeting from different old man to read what he wishes to say, and can say quarters, caused a severe tempest, with sharp light- without effort, than to require him to answer vexing ning, doing considerable damage in many places, questions on general subjects, or to add to his day's accompanied with heavy thunder and a brisk wind. appointed labor the burden of accidental and unThe rain fell in torrents, mingled with hail for two necessary correspondence." or three minutes, and in less than one hour there FRIENDLY ROBINS.-The Christian Register says: was a rainfall of 1.3 inches, most of it falling in Friendly acts of birds of different species to one an25 minutes, or less. The wind changed to nearly other have been rarely witnessed. Such an instance every point of the compass, but finally settled again has just been related by Mr. R. B. Forbes, of Milton. into the S. W., a quarter from which the wind "My mocking-bird," he says, "hangs under the blew a large part of the month, giving 44 observa- piazza, and near him is a robin's nest containing tions out of 93. We had rain, in nearly equal young birds. The parent birds seem to be busy amount, on the 1st, 5th, 13th, and 19th, in all these all day bringing worms to their young family. Twice 1.5 inches, and on the 28th 1.7; but coming so the robins have been seen to alight on the cage of rapidly, much of this ran off the surface, without the prisoner, and drop worms into his mouth, passaccomplishing the usual benefit. The season is ing by their own well-fed young. Were Longfellow perhaps still somewhat behind the average, but the here, I should invoke his aid in commemorating this late very warm weather is fast restoring the equilib- fact in rhyme." rium. NATICK, August 5, 1882. EDITORIAL NOTES. D. W. AN APPARENT CASE OF PLAGIARISM. Dr. R. H. Ward, one of the editors of the American Natu A NEW JAPANESE TEMPLE. - Near Kioto, in Japan, was burned last spring a temple which had stood nearly seven hundred years. It was erected by a priest named Meikei, who first introduced tea into Japan. Tea merchants of Kioto and Osaka have resolved to rebuild it in his honor. In parts of Japan where the culture of tea is now most prosperous, the plants were first brought there by Meikei. ATOMS. IT is stated that a single firm in Philadelphia last year manufactured and sold over 100 tons of Paris green for the destruction of the potato-beetle and cotton-worm. mirrors, measuring 45 by 52 feet, and weighing from 1200 to 1600 pounds. TAN-BARK, ground, compressed, and put up in half-barrel packages, promises to become an important American export to Europe. MR. JAMES S. HORTON, of Rehoboth, well known as a successful farmer and an owner of premium stock, has a very fine pair of twin oxen, seven years old, that weigh 4300 pounds. A CORRESPONDENT at the West suggests that the explosion of dynamite in the track of the cyclones that so often devastate that region might check them, just as a cannon-ball breaks up waterspouts at sea. He mentions incidentally that the forward motion of the Des Moines cyclone was only twelve miles an hour, though the circular motion was a hundred miles in the same time. DURING the intense heated term the last of July, the rays of the sun were so powerful as to explode and set on fire an iron can of bisulphide of carbon, which was being carted through the streets of Boston. The dray was set on fire, and the services of the fire department were required to quench the flames. THE Moniteur de la Flotte describes a proposal for placing passing ships in communication with existing submarine cables. The projector would float buoys with the necessary connecting wires and apparatus at intervals of a day's journey along the line of the cable, each numbered and properly lighted at night and he considers that the plan presents but few difficulties, and would obviate much anxiety and many dangers. THE Channel Tunnel works at Dover are being continued, it is stated, with very satisfactory results. The total length of the heading is now stated to be considerably above 2000 yards. CANES and umbrellas with an ear-trumpet ingeniously fixed in the handles are now sold in New York at $25 each. AT the Milan Exhibition a "vino solido" was introduced. It was in the form of a paste, which, when dissolved in a glass of water, was said to yield instantly a generous wine, of good appearance and bouquet. THE Proprietary Article Dealers' Association, of the United States, estimate that their trade have spent $100,000,000 in advertising, the last twenty years. NEW experiments have been made by M. Richet with a view to ascertaining the minimum fatal dose of the principal alkaline chlorides (of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cæsium) on animals. The animals selected were small guinea pigs, and the substances were injected under the skin. M. Richet finds no relation between the atomic weight of the alkali metals and their physiological activity. LITERARY NOTES. The Treatment of Common Accidents and Diseases, by Dawson W. Turner, D. C. L., of Liverpool, England, is a most convenient and valuable little book, giving complete and, what is of greater importance, clear and common-sense directions for the treatment of common accidents and diseases, when no physician is at hand. It is especially adapted for the use of captains of vessels which carry no surgeon. Price 50 cents. A. Williams & Co. For sale by ralist, informs us that the extract in our last number on "The Microscope in the Detection of Forgery," credited to Mr. John Rogers (taken by us from an English exchange), is an abstract of his remarks on the same subject in the President's Address on Practical Uses of the Microscope before the American Society of Microscopy, August 19, 1879. The lecture was printed in full the next morning in the local (Buffalo) SOME experiments have been made by M. Depapers, and distributed in England as well as this caux, on the effect of the electric light on the colors country. It was afterward published in a permanent of cloths and paintings, etc. The colors were exform, and the marked copy sent us by Dr. Ward posed for 1500 hours, under thin glasses to the action shows that the paragraphs quoted are not only a of an arc light at a distance of 150 cm. (about 60 close and intentional abstract of his address, but that inches), and under these conditions the effect of the they are given largely in the same words and phrases. Dr. Ward's statements were based on more than twenty years of experience and original working in AN English mechanic has invented a horseshoe J. B. Lippincott & Co. have published an interesting little a field which was then new and practically unoccu- composed of three thicknesses of cowhide com- volume by Otis P. Manson, M. D., on Sulphate of Quinine. pied; and his address, so far as we can learn, was pressed into a steel mould and subjected to a chem-It comprises a full history of the drug, with very complete experiments on its therapeutical qualities, and physicians will find the first effort, certainly the first successful one, to ical preparation. It will last longer than the com-it of great interest. Received by Estes & Lauriat. direct the attention of the scientific world to this mon shoe, weighs only one fourth as much, does not We have received from Geo. P. Rowell & Co., Advertising branch of work and to make it generally useful. If split the hoofs, requires no calks, and is very elastic. Mr. Rogers had given Dr. Ward any credit, we IMMENSE MIRRORS. - There have been set up think we could not have overlooked it. We cannot in the Grand Opera House at Paris a number of House Drainage and Sanitary Plumbing, by Wm. P. Gerhard, of Newport, is reprinted from the fourth annual report of the Rhode Island State Board of Health, and gives a very full electric light was found to be similar to that of sun-account of the various modern arrangements for drainage and plumbing, with a great deal of information regarding them, light, but only one fourth as great. which will be of interest to every owner of buildings. Agents, New York, the American Newspaper Directory for 1882, containing a full list of all periodicals published in the country, together with their circulation, and other information regarding them. |