Volume 24 (1872) (424 pages)

June 22, 1872.] SCLENTIPIC PRESS) 387 §cientiFic Procress. Effects of Electricity on Milk, Ete. The 3fik Journal states that, in an address before the North Western Dairyman'’s Association, Mr. X. A. Willard stated tho following interesting facts: Mr. Andrew Cross, the celelrated English experimenter, considvred that the roots and leaves of plants were in opposite states of clectricity; somo of his cxperiments in this direction are very interesting. He cut two hranches from a rose tree. They were as nearly alike as possible with the same number of buds, and both oqually blown. An arrangement was made hy which a negativo current of clectricity was passed throuzh one, a positive eurrent throngh the other. In a few hours the negative rose drooped and died, hutthe positive continued its freshness for nearly a fortnight; tho rose itself became full blown and the huds expanded, and survived an nnnsual length of time. Again, he was able to keep milk sweet for three weeks in the hottest weather of sammer, by the application of a enrrent of positivo electricity. On ono ocension, he kept fishes under tho electrie action for three mouths, and at the end of that time they were seut to a friend, whose domestie know nothing of the experiment. Before tho eook dressed them, her master asked her whether she thonght thoy were fresh, as he had some douhts. She erligdh that sho was sure thoy wero fresh, iudecd, sho said, she would swear they were alive yesterday. When served at table, they appeared like ordinary tish, hut when the family attempted to eat them, they were found to be perfectly tasteless; the electrical action had taken away all the essential oil, leaving the fish unfit for food. However, the process is exceedingly useful for keeping fish, meats, cte., fresh and good for ten days or a fortnight. Now this is consistent with our observations and the facts known to every one in the habit of handling milk. When the condition of the atmosphere is in a negative electrical state, or shows a deficiency of positive electricity a state of weather whioh we designato as snltry, closc, muggy, and the like, there is always difficulty in keeping milk sound. Even in good, healthy milk, the }fungus germs common to all milk increase and multiply with great rapidity, producing the common lactie acid fermentation or souring of the fluid; bnt in caso fungi from decomposing auimal or vegotnble matter comes in contact with the milk, rapid decomposition takes placo, and we nave rotten milk, putrid odors, and floating curds. The exposing of snch curds to the atmosphero, as well as the mration of milk to improve its condition, are both philosophieal, becanse these minnte organisms of fungi are affected by the oxygen of tho air, which chocks their development and multiplication. The influence of olectrical action is a question entirely new to the dairy public, hut is one concerning which I think somo usefnl suggestions present themselves for our consideration. Wheu the electrical equilibrium is disturbed, or when the state of the atmosphere indicates a preponderance of negative electricity, we aro all made awaro of the fact by its depressing influences. At such times it is important that we take more than ordinary care in the handling of milk; that it be kept out of harmful odors; that attention be given to its wration, and such treatment be given it as sball be inimical to the growth and devclopment of the fungi. And again, the fact that milk may he kept sweet a long time in hot weather by electrical action will offer a very important suggestion to inventors in the preservation of milk, and perhaps to the improvement of cheese at the factories. I believe that we are only on the threshold of the cheese making art, and that as we become better acquainted with the laws of Nature and their application, great progress is yet to he made in every branch of dairy husbandry, Combustibility of Iron. Prof. Magnns of Berlin, with a viow to determining tho combustibility of iron, has devised for thatpurpose 4 magnet, to which iron filings readily attach themselves hike a beard, all radating from the poles in such a manner as to leave smallinterstices. On ignitiug these with an alcohol lamp, or gas burner, they continue to burn most brilliantly; and if the experimenter stands ou some elevation, like a step ladder, and wave the magnet, a most magnificeut rain of fireis produced. When this experiment was first performed in Berlin, it was received with applause by the king and court of Prussia, 1t is well known to physicists that a magnet of some strength may be made by placing a bar of iron or steelin the magnetic meridian, and striking it a few sharp blows with a hammer. If no magnet can be procured for the experiment, a bunch of cotton wool is saturated with alcohol, placed on some support, and the alcohol ignited. Some fine iron filings, placed on a sheot of paper, are allowed to fallin a fine stream on the burning mass, when they burn with brilliant scintillations, showing that iron is combustible, if only the supply of air is sufficient. Still more remarkable is tbe experiment showing that iron is more combustible than gunpowder. A mixture of fine iron filiugs and coarse gunpowder is thrown on a small quantity of burning alcohol. As the iron falls through the flame, it takes fire and burns with its characteristic color and scintillations. The gunpowder falls through tho flame without taking firc, and lies quietly in the bottom of the saucer notil the alcohol is nearly consnmed, and the flamo is brought into contact with it, when it flashes, showing that it was the powder, not the iron, that passed through tho flame without taking fire, ; The influences which the minuto size of tho particles, by which a largo surface is eaposed to the air, has on the eombustibility of a substanco is well illustrated in pyromorphic iron. If the oxide of iron be rednced, by passing over ita cnrreut of hydrogen, the heat employed being less than that of boiling mercury, the utetallic iron is left in such a fine state of subdivision us to take fire spontanvously when allowed to fall through the air, Light and Radiant Heat. In a recent lecture on the “Identity of Light and Radinnt Heat,’’ Professor Tyndall suid that heat is somctimes associnted with ordinary matter, through which it creeps by the process of conduction; at other times it is not associated with inatter but flies through space from the sun, entangled with beams of light, with great velocity, aud is then called ‘radiant heat.” When tho comhined solar heam falls on hodies, heat is developed only as light is absorhed, and the amouut of tho former is an exact equivalent for the amouut of tho latter. A rod ribbon held in the red part of the spectrnm appears of a brilliant red color; when held in the yellow, green, blue, or violet bands it looks black, A green ribhon looks green in the green portion, but black in all other parts of the spectrum. The red rihbon is not heated by the red rays, noris the greeu ono by the green rays; but when placcd whero they look black they aro warmed by the rays falling on them, because they absorh these rays and wherever there is absorption thero is increase of teniperature. Black absorbs all rays, or hecauso all rays are ahsorbed the suhstauce is black; and if a hlack ribbon he carricd from the blne end of tho spec. jt trum toward the red, it would grow warmer as it advanced, and become warmest of all quite beyond the red, where nothing is to he seen hy the oyo. Past tho portiou of the spectrum competent to excite vision, rays exist which, measnred by the force they are capable of exerting, are a thousand times more powerful than the lumiuous ones, as indicated by the movements of the needle of a galvanometer whon all visible rays aro cut off. Radiant heat is reflected from planc surfaces, just like light; also from eurved mirrors, by which it may be bronghttoa focus. It behaves liko light also with leuses. Moreover, a ray of heat may he divided, as a ray of light, into two —the ordinary and extraordinary rays, by means of a crystal of Iceland spar. Waves of radiant heat vibrate transversely, polarization having no meaning with respect to longitudinal vibrations. The lectnrer conelnded that the thing called radiant heat was part and parcel of the radiations from luminous bodies. At the other end of the spectrum, heyond the violet rays, there were some feeblo rays of radiant heat; but in tho short range of the visihie spectrum lay all that wealth of color which is the chief source of beauty in nature andin art, Ifhe wero to be asked how the light came to be thus composed, and how it is that external nature so sifts this light as to givo to the flowers of the field and tho leaves of the forest trees their wealth of beauty, and how it comes to pass that we bave a sense of the beautiful which has grown up in the midst of these agencies, and how it is that man derives perfectiou and elevatiou of mind from the eontemplation of this heauty, he would answer that the cause must be left for philosophers to discover. He thought that, if successful at all, they wonld be able to give only an approximate solution, and that tho real root of the matter would forevor lie beyond them.— The Week. The Agassiz Expedition. Few scientifit investigations of late years have attracted so mnch interest, as the ono in which professor Agassiz is now engaged. Though thereis perhaps little or nothing of pecuniary value expected to come out of the explorations lin progress by this party, the sum of human kuowledge will no doubt be largely inereased by the facts which they will bring out from districts and depths, which have heretoforo been enveloped in profound obscurity. Ono of tho questions which will be stndied, will be tho depth to which light penctrates the ocean. It has heretofore been held that the extent of penetration was very limited, and that the greater depths were in absolute darkness. Professor Agassiz believes differently, and will pursuo the study with apparatus of the party’s own inventiou. The latest news from the expedition is nnder date of March 18th, from off Sandy Point, Patagonia, ’ Agassiz’s glacial theory has already received final verification by the realizatiou of his prediction, thatiu tho Southern hemisphere tbere would bo found traces of 1 glacial movement northward from the Sonth Pole. He found near Mount Aymonderratic boulders polished, scratched, and grooved, all tending to prove the passage of a sheet of ice in a northward direction over this portion of the conntry. An important discovery was also made by Count Pourtales that many of the Patagonian mountains are extinct volcanoes, it having been hitherto claimed that none existed in the South American continent except on the line of the Andes. Among the curiosities of science noted are immeuse quantities of kelp, or macrocystic pyrisera, the largest known algn, which grows about these cousts in from six to twenty fathous of water in vast beds which warn the imariner to avoid the danyerous neighborhood. Its stems grow to be of immense length, having been estimated at from seven hundred to one thousand feet, thus probably constituting the most clongated of all organized beings, and dwarfing in comparison the redwoud of California or tho eucalyptus of Anstralia, Ono day in the upen sea they passed patches of tlouting sea-weed with large sca lious lying on them, apparently navigating in that manner with much satisfaction, The Professor expects to reach San Francisco in time to attuud the National Convention of Scientists which meets in this city in Angust noxt, to which hody he will make an official report of what he has sven and learned on the trip. Sensation in PrLanas.—M. Figuer believes that a plant has the sensation of pleasure and of pain. Cold, for instance, he says, affects it painfully. We see it contract, or, so to speak, shiver nnder a sudden or violent depressiou of temperature. An abnormal elevation of temperature evidently causes it to sutfer, for in luuny vegetahles, wheu the heat is excessive, tho leaves droop on tho stalk, fold themselves together and wither ; when the cool of evening comes, the leaves straighten, and the plant resumes a serene and undisturbod appearanec. Drought causes cvident suffering to plants, for when they are watered after a prolonged drought they show signs ot satisfaction. The sensitive plant, tonched by the finger, or only visited hy a current of uuwelcome air, folds its petals and contractsitsclf. ‘fhe botuuist Desfontaines saw one which he was conveying in a carriage fold its leaves while the vebicle was in motion and expand them when it stopped —a proof that it was the motion that disturbed Sensation in plants is of the same kind as in animals, since electricity kills and crushes them as it docs animals, Plants may he alse put to sleep by washing them in opium dissolved in water, and hydrocyanie acid destroys their vitality as quickly as it does that of auimals. MECHANICAL (Broaress Faults in the Plans of Dwellings. How frequently it happens that in the most elogant honses there is often to be met, somewhere, a waut of comfort or accommodation ! The hallis either too wide or too narrow; the stairs communicate to close to the hall door, or have the leading flight too long, making the asceut tiresome. This latter is a serious fault, and yet one thatis too general. The parlors, which aro always laid out with great attention to effective appearance, are seldom really comfortahlo. There is no room for furnitnre unless tho cabinet maker manufactures articles to fit the spaces left to his care. Many a sofa or piano has to intrude ou a window—nay sometimes to block a doorway—while spacious openings are left for sliding doors, in order to give an appearance of extent by throwing the front and rear parlors into one. The invasion on the space properly iutended for furniture has become so ‘‘fashionahle’’ of late days, that it has compelled theintroduction of many little trifling articles whieh ratber tend to take from the dignity of the chief rooms of a pretentious dwelling, and make of it a mere “baby-house,”’ bnt hke everything that custom has iuured us to we derive pleasnro from these miniature comforts, just as we becomo satisfied with the nutshell stateroom on a steamship to which we are coufined. But it is in the plan of the chamber story that the most uncomfortable arraugements are to bo found. As for instance, their is either no space for the proper location of a bed, or it must beso placed as to suhject the ocenpaut to a strong draft of air aud its unfortunate eonsequences. The toilet table, the bnrean, the mirrer aro all or some one of them without a fit location. The windows are all injudiciously placed, ox the chimney so iuconvenient as to be worse than useless. ‘The door opens awkwardly from the placiug of a chair or table hebind it, or perhaps when open it exposes the room uupleasantly. Wardrobes are cither wanting, or if preseut, are away from the wiudow, so as to be dark and otherwise incouvenient. Theso are hut a few of the serious faults of our modern dwellings—faults whicb might have beeu avoided if the necessary room for furuiture had been taken into eonsideration duriug the composition of the plan, and if the artistic effect strained at in the exterior had not been permitted to crowd out the comforts of the interior. He isa sensible mau, indeed, who weighs well the wants of his honsehold, and lets external display occupy a secondary place in his plannings. The comfort of his inner home is more yalnable and more lastiug to him than the passing praise which an architecturcsque pa peaianee might call forth from the outer world. How few there are who build understandingly! The architect prodnces his design, and it is canvassed as to its merits and demerits, but always witb a view to “appearances.” “This will he a fine room, pleasing in all respects,” is a common remark, but the necessities which we have mentioned convince the proprietor that he overlooked the points that go to make it comfortahle, and he and his honsehold now unite iu blaming the architect fur want of furethoughtin the creetion of so pretty yet so very nncoinfortable a house. Doors shonld always slide. This mode is far superior to hanging on hiuges, as the opening of a sliding door dues not interfere with the regulation of furniture in anapartiment, and the sliding is so simple, and easily acted on, that it prosents great udvantages over the old fushioned door, which it will doubtless yet supersede, At present it costs more than hanging, but if it beeamo general, the sliding mode would be cheaper down to a figure that would hring it within the reach of all. A partition wall need never be over six inches thick to give room for sliding doors, In fact, in small houses, a four inch partition may be made available for this purposo by using iuch plunk, in four inch breadths, for tle iuclesing of the door. Sliding doors for wardrobes and closets would often prove more desirable; they do not impede the hght as hinges often do. Above all thiugs attention should he given to the accommodutieu of bedsteads, chambers, and at the same timo secnren fitting place for the toilet. Light and ventilation are great objects in slecping rooms, for on these depend the health of the occupant. As regards the ventilatiou of a house, the object is more easily accomplished hy means of a cupola over the stair chamber. Ail the rooms can be ventilated by this means in the coldest daysin winter or during the prevalenco of a sterm withont opening a window to admit an, The heat of the basement faruace under the hall, where it should he placed, would aid in the complete ventilation of the house in winter, A fan, worked hy a sinall calorie engine in an air chamher under the hall, wonld effect thorough ventilation in the summer season, Attention to these and a hundred other things which go to make a comfortable house should he the aim of hint who would he successful; and of all things, he should never fetter bis architect’s etforts with considerations of external display at the expense of internal convenience, comfort and happiness.—Piltsburgh Iegister. [Translated for the Press.] Important Advance in Paper-Making. The Arbeilgeber descrihes under this heading, an invention of a German chemist, Ungerer, in manufacturing paper from wood. In changing the wood into its fibres in a mechanical way, much power is demanded; and, moreover, the material must also be ground up, wherehy it loses much in durability. Hence, fora number of years repeated attempts have becn made to effect this in a chemical way by many persons, notably, Adamson, Keegan, Deininger, Broad, Sinclair, and Tessié du Mothay. Only the two last have met with practical suecess. The method of Siuclair has heen introduced in several places, and produces a better and cheaper material than before obtainable, a little cheaper than Mothay’s. All theso processes demand the nse of very high pressures—up to 14 atmospheres—with the aetion of strong soda solntion. The weak points are the high pressure and the necessity that the material must still be ground, and therefore injured more or less. But Ungerer seerus to haye overcome beth difficulties. He uses a pressure of only 5 to 6 atmospheres, one-half the amount of soda, and only one-fifth theamonnt of chlorine. The following table gives a comparativo view of heth metbods for prodnciug 1,000 kilogrammes of dried bleached material : UNGE?RR. SINCLAR, 2,250 kilo. wood. 2,256 kilo. wo a, 212 soda. 562" sodu. 128 ** chemicals, 750 ‘ coal. 900 "* coal, 250 ° chlorido of 60 " chloride of lime. lime. There seems to be some mistake in regard to the respective amounts of coal. Sinclair using ouly 750 kilo. for his much greater steam pressure; while Ungerer nses 900, The importanco of theso inveutions is easily understood from the statement that the cost of producing the wood material is redueed nearly one-third by the methods of Sinclair and Tessié du Mothay, and fully ono-half by that of Ungerer. This has such au effect, that Belgian factories are able to depress considcrahle the prices on the Rhine, notwithstauding the import duty of 2 florins. A large company has been formed in Vienna, to introduce the process of Tessié du Mothay ; another for Ungerer’s method; and a third for a third patent. The claims of supe over other methods (especially those of Sinelair, dn Mothay, etc.) made by Ungerer, are:—1. Simplicity and cheapness of method; 2. Less stcam pressure ; 3. Less soda and chloride of lime; 4. Nearly complete regainiug of the soda (98 per ceut, against 70); 5. Economy in power, there being no grinding ; 6. Greater strength of manufactured material. Frreproor Burinrnes.—If yon will have wood floors and stairs, lay a flooring of the thickest sheet iron over the joists, and your wood upon that and sheath your stairs with the same material. A floor willnot bnrn without a supply of air nnder it, Throw a dry board upon a flat pavement, and kindle it as it liesif you ean. Prevent drafts, aud, though there will be fires, no honses will he consumed. Sramine Horn.—Horn may be stained hy being immersed ina solution of nitrate of silver, aud then exposing it to sunlight. Or it may be steeped in a hot dilute solution of bicromate of potash, and then in a decoction of logwood,

June 22, 1872.] SCLENTIPIC PRESS) 387 §cientiFic Procress. Effects of Electricity on Milk, Ete. The 3fik Journal states that, in an address before the North Western Dairyman'’s Association, Mr. X. A. Willard stated tho following interesting facts: Mr. Andrew Cross, the celelrated English experimenter, considvred that the roots and leaves of plants were in opposite states of clectricity; somo of his cxperiments in this direction are very interesting. He cut two hranches from a rose tree. They were as nearly alike as possible with the same number of buds, and both oqually blown. An arrangement was made hy which a negativo current of clectricity was passed throuzh one, a positive eurrent throngh the other. In a few hours the negative rose drooped and died, hutthe positive continued its freshness for nearly a fortnight; tho rose itself became full blown and the huds expanded, and survived an nnnsual length of time. Again, he was able to keep milk sweet for three weeks in the hottest weather of sammer, by the application of a enrrent of positivo electricity. On ono ocension, he kept fishes under tho electrie action for three mouths, and at the end of that time they were seut to a friend, whose domestie know nothing of the experiment. Before tho eook dressed them, her master asked her whether she thonght thoy were fresh, as he had some douhts. She erligdh that sho was sure thoy wero fresh, iudecd, sho said, she would swear they were alive yesterday. When served at table, they appeared like ordinary tish, hut when the family attempted to eat them, they were found to be perfectly tasteless; the electrical action had taken away all the essential oil, leaving the fish unfit for food. However, the process is exceedingly useful for keeping fish, meats, cte., fresh and good for ten days or a fortnight. Now this is consistent with our observations and the facts known to every one in the habit of handling milk. When the condition of the atmosphere is in a negative electrical state, or shows a deficiency of positive electricity a state of weather whioh we designato as snltry, closc, muggy, and the like, there is always difficulty in keeping milk sound. Even in good, healthy milk, the }fungus germs common to all milk increase and multiply with great rapidity, producing the common lactie acid fermentation or souring of the fluid; bnt in caso fungi from decomposing auimal or vegotnble matter comes in contact with the milk, rapid decomposition takes placo, and we nave rotten milk, putrid odors, and floating curds. The exposing of snch curds to the atmosphero, as well as the mration of milk to improve its condition, are both philosophieal, becanse these minnte organisms of fungi are affected by the oxygen of tho air, which chocks their development and multiplication. The influence of olectrical action is a question entirely new to the dairy public, hut is one concerning which I think somo usefnl suggestions present themselves for our consideration. Wheu the electrical equilibrium is disturbed, or when the state of the atmosphere indicates a preponderance of negative electricity, we aro all made awaro of the fact by its depressing influences. At such times it is important that we take more than ordinary care in the handling of milk; that it be kept out of harmful odors; that attention be given to its wration, and such treatment be given it as sball be inimical to the growth and devclopment of the fungi. And again, the fact that milk may he kept sweet a long time in hot weather by electrical action will offer a very important suggestion to inventors in the preservation of milk, and perhaps to the improvement of cheese at the factories. I believe that we are only on the threshold of the cheese making art, and that as we become better acquainted with the laws of Nature and their application, great progress is yet to he made in every branch of dairy husbandry, Combustibility of Iron. Prof. Magnns of Berlin, with a viow to determining tho combustibility of iron, has devised for thatpurpose 4 magnet, to which iron filings readily attach themselves hike a beard, all radating from the poles in such a manner as to leave smallinterstices. On ignitiug these with an alcohol lamp, or gas burner, they continue to burn most brilliantly; and if the experimenter stands ou some elevation, like a step ladder, and wave the magnet, a most magnificeut rain of fireis produced. When this experiment was first performed in Berlin, it was received with applause by the king and court of Prussia, 1t is well known to physicists that a magnet of some strength may be made by placing a bar of iron or steelin the magnetic meridian, and striking it a few sharp blows with a hammer. If no magnet can be procured for the experiment, a bunch of cotton wool is saturated with alcohol, placed on some support, and the alcohol ignited. Some fine iron filings, placed on a sheot of paper, are allowed to fallin a fine stream on the burning mass, when they burn with brilliant scintillations, showing that iron is combustible, if only the supply of air is sufficient. Still more remarkable is tbe experiment showing that iron is more combustible than gunpowder. A mixture of fine iron filiugs and coarse gunpowder is thrown on a small quantity of burning alcohol. As the iron falls through the flame, it takes fire and burns with its characteristic color and scintillations. The gunpowder falls through tho flame without taking firc, and lies quietly in the bottom of the saucer notil the alcohol is nearly consnmed, and the flamo is brought into contact with it, when it flashes, showing that it was the powder, not the iron, that passed through tho flame without taking fire, ; The influences which the minuto size of tho particles, by which a largo surface is eaposed to the air, has on the eombustibility of a substanco is well illustrated in pyromorphic iron. If the oxide of iron be rednced, by passing over ita cnrreut of hydrogen, the heat employed being less than that of boiling mercury, the utetallic iron is left in such a fine state of subdivision us to take fire spontanvously when allowed to fall through the air, Light and Radiant Heat. In a recent lecture on the “Identity of Light and Radinnt Heat,’’ Professor Tyndall suid that heat is somctimes associnted with ordinary matter, through which it creeps by the process of conduction; at other times it is not associated with inatter but flies through space from the sun, entangled with beams of light, with great velocity, aud is then called ‘radiant heat.” When tho comhined solar heam falls on hodies, heat is developed only as light is absorhed, and the amouut of tho former is an exact equivalent for the amouut of tho latter. A rod ribbon held in the red part of the spectrnm appears of a brilliant red color; when held in the yellow, green, blue, or violet bands it looks black, A green ribhon looks green in the green portion, but black in all other parts of the spectrum. The red rihbon is not heated by the red rays, noris the greeu ono by the green rays; but when placcd whero they look black they aro warmed by the rays falling on them, because they absorh these rays and wherever there is absorption thero is increase of teniperature. Black absorbs all rays, or hecauso all rays are ahsorbed the suhstauce is black; and if a hlack ribbon he carricd from the blne end of tho spec. jt trum toward the red, it would grow warmer as it advanced, and become warmest of all quite beyond the red, where nothing is to he seen hy the oyo. Past tho portiou of the spectrum competent to excite vision, rays exist which, measnred by the force they are capable of exerting, are a thousand times more powerful than the lumiuous ones, as indicated by the movements of the needle of a galvanometer whon all visible rays aro cut off. Radiant heat is reflected from planc surfaces, just like light; also from eurved mirrors, by which it may be bronghttoa focus. It behaves liko light also with leuses. Moreover, a ray of heat may he divided, as a ray of light, into two —the ordinary and extraordinary rays, by means of a crystal of Iceland spar. Waves of radiant heat vibrate transversely, polarization having no meaning with respect to longitudinal vibrations. The lectnrer conelnded that the thing called radiant heat was part and parcel of the radiations from luminous bodies. At the other end of the spectrum, heyond the violet rays, there were some feeblo rays of radiant heat; but in tho short range of the visihie spectrum lay all that wealth of color which is the chief source of beauty in nature andin art, Ifhe wero to be asked how the light came to be thus composed, and how it is that external nature so sifts this light as to givo to the flowers of the field and tho leaves of the forest trees their wealth of beauty, and how it comes to pass that we bave a sense of the beautiful which has grown up in the midst of these agencies, and how it is that man derives perfectiou and elevatiou of mind from the eontemplation of this heauty, he would answer that the cause must be left for philosophers to discover. He thought that, if successful at all, they wonld be able to give only an approximate solution, and that tho real root of the matter would forevor lie beyond them.— The Week. The Agassiz Expedition. Few scientifit investigations of late years have attracted so mnch interest, as the ono in which professor Agassiz is now engaged. Though thereis perhaps little or nothing of pecuniary value expected to come out of the explorations lin progress by this party, the sum of human kuowledge will no doubt be largely inereased by the facts which they will bring out from districts and depths, which have heretoforo been enveloped in profound obscurity. Ono of tho questions which will be stndied, will be tho depth to which light penctrates the ocean. It has heretofore been held that the extent of penetration was very limited, and that the greater depths were in absolute darkness. Professor Agassiz believes differently, and will pursuo the study with apparatus of the party’s own inventiou. The latest news from the expedition is nnder date of March 18th, from off Sandy Point, Patagonia, ’ Agassiz’s glacial theory has already received final verification by the realizatiou of his prediction, thatiu tho Southern hemisphere tbere would bo found traces of 1 glacial movement northward from the Sonth Pole. He found near Mount Aymonderratic boulders polished, scratched, and grooved, all tending to prove the passage of a sheet of ice in a northward direction over this portion of the conntry. An important discovery was also made by Count Pourtales that many of the Patagonian mountains are extinct volcanoes, it having been hitherto claimed that none existed in the South American continent except on the line of the

Andes. Among the curiosities of science noted are immeuse quantities of kelp, or macrocystic pyrisera, the largest known algn, which grows about these cousts in from six to twenty fathous of water in vast beds which warn the imariner to avoid the danyerous neighborhood. Its stems grow to be of immense length, having been estimated at from seven hundred to one thousand feet, thus probably constituting the most clongated of all organized beings, and dwarfing in comparison the redwoud of California or tho eucalyptus of Anstralia, Ono day in the upen sea they passed patches of tlouting sea-weed with large sca lious lying on them, apparently navigating in that manner with much satisfaction, The Professor expects to reach San Francisco in time to attuud the National Convention of Scientists which meets in this city in Angust noxt, to which hody he will make an official report of what he has sven and learned on the trip. Sensation in PrLanas.—M. Figuer believes that a plant has the sensation of pleasure and of pain. Cold, for instance, he says, affects it painfully. We see it contract, or, so to speak, shiver nnder a sudden or violent depressiou of temperature. An abnormal elevation of temperature evidently causes it to sutfer, for in luuny vegetahles, wheu the heat is excessive, tho leaves droop on tho stalk, fold themselves together and wither ; when the cool of evening comes, the leaves straighten, and the plant resumes a serene and undisturbod appearanec. Drought causes cvident suffering to plants, for when they are watered after a prolonged drought they show signs ot satisfaction. The sensitive plant, tonched by the finger, or only visited hy a current of uuwelcome air, folds its petals and contractsitsclf. ‘fhe botuuist Desfontaines saw one which he was conveying in a carriage fold its leaves while the vebicle was in motion and expand them when it stopped —a proof that it was the motion that disturbed Sensation in plants is of the same kind as in animals, since electricity kills and crushes them as it docs animals, Plants may he alse put to sleep by washing them in opium dissolved in water, and hydrocyanie acid destroys their vitality as quickly as it does that of auimals. MECHANICAL (Broaress Faults in the Plans of Dwellings. How frequently it happens that in the most elogant honses there is often to be met, somewhere, a waut of comfort or accommodation ! The hallis either too wide or too narrow; the stairs communicate to close to the hall door, or have the leading flight too long, making the asceut tiresome. This latter is a serious fault, and yet one thatis too general. The parlors, which aro always laid out with great attention to effective appearance, are seldom really comfortahlo. There is no room for furnitnre unless tho cabinet maker manufactures articles to fit the spaces left to his care. Many a sofa or piano has to intrude ou a window—nay sometimes to block a doorway—while spacious openings are left for sliding doors, in order to give an appearance of extent by throwing the front and rear parlors into one. The invasion on the space properly iutended for furniture has become so ‘‘fashionahle’’ of late days, that it has compelled theintroduction of many little trifling articles whieh ratber tend to take from the dignity of the chief rooms of a pretentious dwelling, and make of it a mere “baby-house,”’ bnt hke everything that custom has iuured us to we derive pleasnro from these miniature comforts, just as we becomo satisfied with the nutshell stateroom on a steamship to which we are coufined. But it is in the plan of the chamber story that the most uncomfortable arraugements are to bo found. As for instance, their is either no space for the proper location of a bed, or it must beso placed as to suhject the ocenpaut to a strong draft of air aud its unfortunate eonsequences. The toilet table, the bnrean, the mirrer aro all or some one of them without a fit location. The windows are all injudiciously placed, ox the chimney so iuconvenient as to be worse than useless. ‘The door opens awkwardly from the placiug of a chair or table hebind it, or perhaps when open it exposes the room uupleasantly. Wardrobes are cither wanting, or if preseut, are away from the wiudow, so as to be dark and otherwise incouvenient. Theso are hut a few of the serious faults of our modern dwellings—faults whicb might have beeu avoided if the necessary room for furuiture had been taken into eonsideration duriug the composition of the plan, and if the artistic effect strained at in the exterior had not been permitted to crowd out the comforts of the interior. He isa sensible mau, indeed, who weighs well the wants of his honsehold, and lets external display occupy a secondary place in his plannings. The comfort of his inner home is more yalnable and more lastiug to him than the passing praise which an architecturcsque pa peaianee might call forth from the outer world. How few there are who build understandingly! The architect prodnces his design, and it is canvassed as to its merits and demerits, but always witb a view to “appearances.” “This will he a fine room, pleasing in all respects,” is a common remark, but the necessities which we have mentioned convince the proprietor that he overlooked the points that go to make it comfortahle, and he and his honsehold now unite iu blaming the architect fur want of furethoughtin the creetion of so pretty yet so very nncoinfortable a house. Doors shonld always slide. This mode is far superior to hanging on hiuges, as the opening of a sliding door dues not interfere with the regulation of furniture in anapartiment, and the sliding is so simple, and easily acted on, that it prosents great udvantages over the old fushioned door, which it will doubtless yet supersede, At present it costs more than hanging, but if it beeamo general, the sliding mode would be cheaper down to a figure that would hring it within the reach of all. A partition wall need never be over six inches thick to give room for sliding doors, In fact, in small houses, a four inch partition may be made available for this purposo by using iuch plunk, in four inch breadths, for tle iuclesing of the door. Sliding doors for wardrobes and closets would often prove more desirable; they do not impede the hght as hinges often do. Above all thiugs attention should he given to the accommodutieu of bedsteads, chambers, and at the same timo secnren fitting place for the toilet. Light and ventilation are great objects in slecping rooms, for on these depend the health of the occupant. As regards the ventilatiou of a house, the object is more easily accomplished hy means of a cupola over the stair chamber. Ail the rooms can be ventilated by this means in the coldest daysin winter or during the prevalenco of a sterm withont opening a window to admit an, The heat of the basement faruace under the hall, where it should he placed, would aid in the complete ventilation of the house in winter, A fan, worked hy a sinall calorie engine in an air chamher under the hall, wonld effect thorough ventilation in the summer season, Attention to these and a hundred other things which go to make a comfortable house should he the aim of hint who would he successful; and of all things, he should never fetter bis architect’s etforts with considerations of external display at the expense of internal convenience, comfort and happiness.—Piltsburgh Iegister. [Translated for the Press.] Important Advance in Paper-Making. The Arbeilgeber descrihes under this heading, an invention of a German chemist, Ungerer, in manufacturing paper from wood. In changing the wood into its fibres in a mechanical way, much power is demanded; and, moreover, the material must also be ground up, wherehy it loses much in durability. Hence, fora number of years repeated attempts have becn made to effect this in a chemical way by many persons, notably, Adamson, Keegan, Deininger, Broad, Sinclair, and Tessié du Mothay. Only the two last have met with practical suecess. The method of Siuclair has heen introduced in several places, and produces a better and cheaper material than before obtainable, a little cheaper than Mothay’s. All theso processes demand the nse of very high pressures—up to 14 atmospheres—with the aetion of strong soda solntion. The weak points are the high pressure and the necessity that the material must still be ground, and therefore injured more or less. But Ungerer seerus to haye overcome beth difficulties. He uses a pressure of only 5 to 6 atmospheres, one-half the amount of soda, and only one-fifth theamonnt of chlorine. The following table gives a comparativo view of heth metbods for prodnciug 1,000 kilogrammes of dried bleached material : UNGE?RR. SINCLAR, 2,250 kilo. wood. 2,256 kilo. wo a, 212 soda. 562" sodu. 128 ** chemicals, 750 ‘ coal. 900 "* coal, 250 ° chlorido of 60 " chloride of lime. lime. There seems to be some mistake in regard to the respective amounts of coal. Sinclair using ouly 750 kilo. for his much greater steam pressure; while Ungerer nses 900, The importanco of theso inveutions is easily understood from the statement that the cost of producing the wood material is redueed nearly one-third by the methods of Sinclair and Tessié du Mothay, and fully ono-half by that of Ungerer. This has such au effect, that Belgian factories are able to depress considcrahle the prices on the Rhine, notwithstauding the import duty of 2 florins. A large company has been formed in Vienna, to introduce the process of Tessié du Mothay ; another for Ungerer’s method; and a third for a third patent. The claims of supe over other methods (especially those of Sinelair, dn Mothay, etc.) made by Ungerer, are:—1. Simplicity and cheapness of method; 2. Less stcam pressure ; 3. Less soda and chloride of lime; 4. Nearly complete regainiug of the soda (98 per ceut, against 70); 5. Economy in power, there being no grinding ; 6. Greater strength of manufactured material. Frreproor Burinrnes.—If yon will have wood floors and stairs, lay a flooring of the thickest sheet iron over the joists, and your wood upon that and sheath your stairs with the same material. A floor willnot bnrn without a supply of air nnder it, Throw a dry board upon a flat pavement, and kindle it as it liesif you ean. Prevent drafts, aud, though there will be fires, no honses will he consumed. Sramine Horn.—Horn may be stained hy being immersed ina solution of nitrate of silver, aud then exposing it to sunlight. Or it may be steeped in a hot dilute solution of bicromate of potash, and then in a decoction of logwood,