Volume 29 (1874) (428 pages)

July rx, 1874.) MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. My] SciENTIFIC {Proaress. Qzone—A New and Correct Method of Supply. The use of ozoneos a disinfectaut in hospital wards and pablic buildiogs has amply demonatrated its virtae as a purifier of air exhausted by hreathing or poisoned with emsnations from oorrnpt or decaying organic mattcr. The only bar to its more extended use bas hcen the lack ofasimple and trustworthy means of generating it, ssfely and soul oMbe by a process not involving soieutifio skill or costly materials. The latest means suggested certainly hears the palm for simplicity, cheapness, and acceasihility to all. It coosists simply in the exposure to atmospheric action of common phosphorus matcbes moistened hy water, the alleged result being the production of nitrite of ammonia and ozone—both active purifiere of air. Knowiog the efficiency of molstened phosphorous as 4 generator of ozone, the aothor of the matoh method, Mr. S. Beer, of New York, set out one day to procore a quantity of that substance to use in aweeteoing the atmosphere of a room whose musty smell had successfully resisted the power of ordinary disinfectants. Failing to find any phosphoras at the drug stores in his neighborhood, it occurred to Mr. Beer that possibly lucifer matches might furnish the needed element in a condition suited to his porpose. He tried them, dipping them into warm water for a few moments, then suspoading them in the obnoxious room. Their eflect was prompt and salutary; and tbereafter, hy contiuuiog their use, he wos able to enjoy “the Inxury of pure and refreshing air,’’ notwithstanding the room was inthe basement of an old cellarless house on made land, the air of which was further tainted by a quantity of moldy books and papers. In a paper lately read before tbe Polytechnic braoch of the American lostitute, Mr. Beer narrates a number of subsequent experiments with the same simple materisls, the success of which convineed him that he had made a veritable discovery of great importance. Touchiag the safety of the method he proposes, Mr. Beer is coufident that no overcharglog of the air with ozone or other injurious matter may be apprehended from the use of matches in the manner he deecribes. Boththe ozone and the nitrite of ammooia are generated slowly, and their force is swiftly spent hy comhination with the impurities tbey are intended toremove. It is ohyious that the supply of the purifying agents can he easily regulated by increasing or diminishing the oumber of active matches. Inthe room above meotioned, six bundles of matches were kept active—some near the ceiling, others near the floor—by daily watering. In another instance a single bunch is meotioned as having sufficed for quickly purifying the oir of a room in which several adults and children were lying sick, hut in this case the air was fanned against the motches while they were carried about the room, tbus hightening their activity. How long a match retains its ozonizing power, Mr. Beer does not say. Iu conclusion, Mr. Beer claims that, whatever inay be ssid of his theory of match’ action, the fact is indisputable that, in the nse of mstches as he suggests, we have a handy, wholeaome and inexpensive means of freeing our housea from noxious exhalationa and the long train of evils attending on the prevalence of bad air. The matter is easily tested and certainly well worth trying.— Scientific American, AUDIBLE Sarery Lamp.—An ingenions and efficieut apparatus for preventing explosions in collieries haa been invented by Mr. Aldis (manager) ond Messrs. Hvde Brothers (engineers), of the Seend Iron Worka. On one side of the flame of an ordinary safety lamp they affix a amall brass plate, which proteots from the flame & small brass rod, at the upper part o1 which is a smoll piece of fusible metal. In the presence of a dangerous accumulation of gas the fusible metal melts, detaches a brass rod, and releasea a aliding brasa esse, which falls over the flame and instantly extingoishes it. By the same action thia case falls upon the electric detent, aod an alarm is given throughout the whole workings, even to the pit’s mouth, if reqnired. The improved lampa are suspended from the roofa of the different workinga where the gaa would be supposed to accumulate; and the bells communicating with each other, all the bells in the colliery would simultaneously give an alarm upon the presence of a dsngerous quantity of gas. ‘Thua every man in the pit would have ample warniog of danger, and enfficient time to secure his property and make his escape.— London Mining Journal, Souxp.—In a paper on the duration of the sensation of sound, Prof. Mayer ssid that experiment proved that the residual aensation only occupied one five-hundredth of a second in the case of 40,000 vibrationa per aecond; but in the case of forty vibrations toa second, tbe residnol vibration was one-eleventh of a second. He concludes that the whole ear vibratea as one mass, and the durations of these oscillations of the whole ear are far too short to remain one-thirtieth of a second, He thinks that this explains our inability to distinguish the actual pitch of sound when that pitch exceeds certain well known limits, Facts and Fancies about Heat. Onr scientific contemporaries, upon whose knowledge we hang as lovingly as the infatusted and bliud Capid hangs upon the neck of Veuns, will persist in belittling our stupeodous glohe by iastituting comparisons of an odions character. Professor Proctor made us feel mnch smaller than a Liliputian gnat; and now Professor Langley, of tho Alleghany Observatory, cites usas the representative of coal and iron, before his glowing aud caloritio majesty, King Sol. The Professor says, in answer to the nestion, ‘*How hot is the ann?” tbat Sir denn Herschell and Father Secchi place it at at least 10,000,000 degrecs of Fahrenheit, while Sir William Thompson thinks it is something near thirty or forty times as hot as one of our hissting furnaces, which vaporizes a small portion of the iron it renders, while the aggregate amount of iron which annually passes out of the Pittsburg chimnoys in the vaporized state, may be estimated at 5,000 tons. This would appear to be a great waste, hut when we come to compare it with that of the great furnace of the sun, whose fire-grate area is reckoned uot in yards, hut in square miles, of which its surface includes 2,300,000,000,000, is a very small affuir. The learned gentleman then proceeds to show that, as a calenlation of the exact omount of heat given out from a furnace of known size can essily be made; s0, likewise, can we calculate accorately how long a given amount of coal willlsst. Comparing the sun to such a furnace, we ascertain the area; and adopting a proboble value for the rate of emission, it becomes a simple problem in practical engioeering to determine how loog a given quantity of coal would last if burned at its surface at the rate of combustion which would just maintain this known heat. A carefol computation hascd upon the above hypothesis shows that the entire cosl fields of Pennsylvania would keep up the actus] solar heat nol an entire second. The amount of fuel required to keep up the everlasting combustion that gives off the heat that even our little globe eojoys is inconceivable.—Coal and Iron Record, Tur Moon anp VEoETaTion.—A correspondent writes: ’‘It is a popular belief among the mass of farmers that the influence of the mcon has sn important bearing upon various young plants as they happen to come forth either in her light, as full moon, ete., orin her wane. This idea is ridiculed and entirely disbelieved by what are called the mest intelligent and scientific farmers. Is it not a fact that the light of the full moon on a young plant just come forth would have some eftect on it, different from tbe darkness which prevails in tbe moon's absence, and do not these tender plants reqoire extra sleep, as an infant does? And in the absence of it, does if not essentially change their chsracter and production?’ Wheu the moon is shining, the clouds are wholly or in a great part absent, and the effect of the absence of clouds becomes very evident when a thermometer is placed in the focus of 0 silvered mirror and turned towards the unclonded sky. The thermometer falls with great rapidity, its heat being radiated out into the abysses of space, which are estimated to have a temperature vastly helow the zero of our thermometric scale, When a cloud passes between the mirror and the sky, the thermometer rises rapidly, the loss of heat being interrupted. The clouds act like a woolen blanket, preventing the escape of heat, Now whst the thermometer is in this experiment, so in nature is the plant. On a moonlight (cloudless or partly clouded) night, it moy radiate s0 much heat that injury may arise to its tender organization, The Earl of Rosse’a great teleacope has detected the beat radiated by the moon, hnt it is an incredibly minute quantity, and can have no effect on vegetation.—Seientific American. NapPHTHALINE.—A receot Eoglish patent relates to the applicotion of naphthaline. 1. As a substitute for sulphur, wax, resin or other inflammable materiala used for dippiog or impregnating matches and firelightera. 2. As on addition to the phospborus paate in which the eods of wax aud other matches are dipped. 3. To increase the inflammability of candles, tapers, links and torches. 4. For burning in lamps in the form of a hollow candle, provided with an independent wick and douhle air current, the flame serving to melt the solid naphthaline to feed the wick. Naphthaline is a white crystallizable aubstance evolved by the distillation of bituminous coal. When crystallized it is a very delicate film, yielding to the gentlest touch, yet, under favorable circumstances, it compacts and is capable of coosiderable resistaoce. It has a pecnliar, faintly aromatic odor, not unlike narcissus; ia heavier than water, and is readily dissolved by naphtha. Frame.—W. Stein has published a criticism of Frankland’s statementa concerning the illuminating power of flames. Frankland, abandoning the old theory of incandescent carbon particles, auggests that the illuminating power of flamea is owing to very oondenaed vapors of hydrocarhons. The author of thia article brings forward a number of known facta in support of the old hypothesia. TELLURIOM.—On the aide of a piece of arsenieal pyrites, Harmay observed a metallic anbstance between which and the pyrites were a few scalea resembling specular iron, but of a brownish color. The metallic-looking substance proved to be tellnrium, and the intermediate mineral a tellurium sulpharsenate. NeCHaNicaL Brocress Making Match-Sticks. The process of outting small, rouud sticks used for mstches is an interesting one, and in writing thia description we shall eodeavor to make it clear to tbe reader in as simple lanmage as possible. 1t mnst be borne in mind that makiag match-sticks is one branch of busioessa—applying the composition another. After the pine logs are rednced to plank, the next operation is to cut them into blocks four aud five inches iu length, by means of small cireular saws. Theyare then assorted by hoys, preparatory to being fastened to the great wheels, to be cut into match-sticks. Pine slsbs, obtained from the sawmills, to maoufacture blocks, are found to answer the purpose well, as the lomber in them is of the best quality. In thus utilizing the refose lumber there is great soving. Few people have a correct idea how match-sticks are made. Iu the first place, there is an immense wheel, 20 feet in diameter, with two six-feet faces or breasts, much resembling sn old-fashioned "‘ overshot’’ waterwheel, on which these blocks are fastened in rows by means of clamps or screws. The machioery is of such a powerful character that the frsme-work on which this ponderous wheel is hung, is composed of heavy oak timheis, 12 by 16 inches, resting on o solid stone foundation, 25 feet by 12, and 514 feet deep, laid in cement. The necessity for sucb a Srm foundstion will he readily seeo, when the reader is informed that tbis wheel makes 21 revolutions in a minute, snd most not vary a hair’s breadth in its motion, The face of the wheel being ‘loaded’? with blocks, the process of cutling the sticks is commenced, A reat, similar to an iron lathe, is placed in front of the breast of the wheel, which is moved right or left, on the lathe principle, by means of screws, etc., on which a uumber of small steel cutters, with holes like an eyelet, are fastened. These cutters are adjusted so as to face the blocks, and as the wheel revolves, eoob one cuts a splint out of the wood, and drops it below. There are 16 of these cutters, or punch-like chisels to esch wheel, and the number may be increased to 32, if necessary, The principle upon whicb tbe match-stick 13 made is the same as that used in olden time for making rake-teeth round, which consisted in driving a piece of wood througb a steel tool, having a hole in it with sharp edges, In this case the large revolving wheel scrves ns the propelling power, and forces the faces of the blocks, that are securely fastened to its outer surface, througb the small steel eyelet-like hole in the eud of tbe tool, and a splint is cut out almost with the rapidity of lightning, and dropped below. The machine is so perfectly adjusted, and works with such exact minuteness, thst it cuts 100 splints from every solid inch of timber—no more, no less. This fact has heeu demonstrated. The delicate cutting tools ore moved horizontally at right angles with the face of the wheel, by a screw which moves the row of cutters exactly the thickness of a-matchstick, from left to right, at each revolution of the large wheel. Each pair of cutters hosa section of blocks to pass through, six, eight to ten inches, as the esse may be, which, when performed, the tender, by the turn of a small wheel, brings them back to the starting point, sets the cutters by the turn of onother smal wheel, and they start again across the breast of the large wheel. Aa the rouod splints are cut out of the face of the block, it assumea o corrugated appearance, not unlike the face of an ordinary washhoard, and when the machine starts on the next cut, the projections, forming one-half of the splint, are cut out, thus alternaling the corrugations. The two machines thus in operation will cut 24 gross of aticks (7,200 to the gross), per minute, with 16 cutters to each, or, in the oggregate, 172,800 per minute, 10,368,000 per hour, or 103,680,000 per day of 10 houra. ° (To be continued.) Metaizic Fioors.—A method has been devised for renderiog floors in good degree fireproof, by employiug long, flat bars of tbin sheet metal, with a perpendicnlor flange turned on each edge. Other long, thin bars, which are curved or arched, aod riveted at or near the edges to the first-named strips, are placed edgewise vertically, one between each two, the connection being so arranged that the tops of the arches do not riae quite as high asthe tops of the first aet of bars. Narrower atripa are also arranged acrosa and riveted to the lower flaogea at suitable intervals apart, to serve as lath to hold the ceiling plaster to be applied to them, aa well as to brace them laterally. Similar strips are arranged across and riveted to the upper flanges, or wood pieces may be bolted on to receive and support the floor boarda. The outside flangea are built into and rest in the wall ,and other flanges may be applied, if desired, to the outside strip for letting into the wall. Fora floor of great length the bars are lapped and riveted.— American Manufacturer, Private trials of a new steamhoat for use on the canala are now engrossing the attention of several eminent engineers. In this boat the old paddle-wheel and the screw are discarded, ands new method of propulsion ia used, in which the loss of power is reduced (it ig said) to a minimum, Fish Scale Ornaments. Amoog recent pateuts is that of E. aod J. Heubner, of Newark, who have invented certain new and usefal improvements in preparing fish scales for use in the arts, of which the following is a specification: The object of the iuvention is to atilize the scales of several varieties of fish, hitherto thrown away as useless, and prepare them for application in the arts, by producing articles of jewelry, artilicial flowers, and similsr ohjects. This invention coosists in the process of cleansing and purifying the scales, till the clear, horny sulstance or core of the ssme is obtained, which produces a new article of manufacture, which may be stamped into various orosmental shapes, aud dyed in all colora, for use in the arts. Large scales are tbe most advantageous, taken from fresh fish. Old scales cannot be used, as they lack elasticity and clesrness. The fresh scales are exposed for twenty-four bours to the action of pure salt water, for looseoiug aod partly separating the outer layera of organic matter. They are then transferred to distilled water, being placed every two or three hours in clean water, and washed therein five or six times, which renders the seales soft and olear. Each scale is then carefully rubbed with clean lioen rags, then passed throogh a press hoving a linen lining, so as to remove tbe moisture in the scales. The scales are finally plsced for ooe hour in alcohol, and again ribbed and pressed, when they are dry and have a perfectly clear appearonce, a motherof-pearl-like hne, and great elasticity and durability. Tbe scales are used in this prepared etate, or they may be dyed with auiline and other colors, iu the usual manner, to be stamped into various kinds of ornamental shspes, leaves and flowers, snd applied to the manufacture of jewelrv and artificisl] flowers, for embroidering and inlaying wood, and other uses in the arts. Steel Boilers. The assertion is made by the engineer of the Austrian state railway compaoy, Ir. Haswell, that, in order to obtain steel hoilers onswering all requirements, only correspondingly thick plates, and plates of the best moterial, witbout any addition—for otherwise the steel is not homogeoous—ought to he used; and they ought to be scrnpulously assorted according to the texture and the tensile strength. After boring or punching tbey should be carefully annealed, the riveting must be formed with great particularity, and the bending only with wooden hsmmers. That steel plates msnufactured in Austria are of excellent quality, Mr. Haswell says, is proven by the monuer in which boilers are there constructed; the box-front plate, down cover, and the sides of the tubes are only furnished with sn edge or border, while in Eoglsnd they are compelled to use angle iron for these connections. . Mr. Haswell is one of those who regard steel plates as preferable to iron plates, owing to tbe fact that they possess the ssme degrze of elasticity in all directions—from twelve to fifteen per cent.; iu iron plates, however, it is in the direction of the fibers, and about 15 per cent., but in a cross direction only five per ceut. If ooe proceeds in the right manner, says Hsswell, steel plates may be used with perfect safety. The hoiler manufacturer has the advantsge that he finds less plates to throw aside, and the railways will have more carefully constructed, strooger, and, in the end, cheaper boilers. Lacquer.—It haa been generally sopposed that the beauty of Japan lacquer work was dne to ingredients derived from unknown plants, und that the aecret was confined to the Oriental workmen. MReeently, however, in Holland, objects of art have beeu produced, lacquered and covered with mother-of-pearl, in pieces fac similes of those madeinJapan. The lacquer used is prepared from the hardest varietiea of gum copal, principally that of Zanzihar, which ia colored black with India ink. The articles are covered with several layers of thia substance, upon which, while still wet, or rather pasty, the mother-of-pearl is inlaid. Dryiog in a furnace follows, another coat of lacqner is applied, then more drying and smoothing with pounce, ‘These operations are repeated until the aurfaces are perfectly united and smooth, when a final polish isgiven with tripolii—The Engineer. Coatinc Merazs.—An invention has been patented, the object of which ia to coat metal plates without immersing them in o bath, or otherwise requiring a large quantity of the coating metal to he kept in a molten state. Rollers are employed to apply the coatiog metal to the surface of the plate, and the molten coating metal is supplied little by little to the rollers aa it is required. Ina similar way flux is applied to the plates, and the use of batha of flux is avoided. Prnnonnera.— A new method of making metallic penholders consists in making tbe barrel part and the internal tube or binder from one piece of sheet metal. A blank of a T shape, or provided at ita head with wing pieces, is cut from sheet metal, aud the said wing piecea by a series of processes are folded flat or nearly so upon the blank. The blank is next raised into a trongh form and afterwards into a cylindrical form, The barrel part and internal tube or hinder are thug made from one piece of metal.

July rx, 1874.) MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. My] SciENTIFIC {Proaress. Qzone—A New and Correct Method of Supply. The use of ozoneos a disinfectaut in hospital wards and pablic buildiogs has amply demonatrated its virtae as a purifier of air exhausted by hreathing or poisoned with emsnations from oorrnpt or decaying organic mattcr. The only bar to its more extended use bas hcen the lack ofasimple and trustworthy means of generating it, ssfely and soul oMbe by a process not involving soieutifio skill or costly materials. The latest means suggested certainly hears the palm for simplicity, cheapness, and acceasihility to all. It coosists simply in the exposure to atmospheric action of common phosphorus matcbes moistened hy water, the alleged result being the production of nitrite of ammonia and ozone—both active purifiere of air. Knowiog the efficiency of molstened phosphorous as 4 generator of ozone, the aothor of the matoh method, Mr. S. Beer, of New York, set out one day to procore a quantity of that substance to use in aweeteoing the atmosphere of a room whose musty smell had successfully resisted the power of ordinary disinfectants. Failing to find any phosphoras at the drug stores in his neighborhood, it occurred to Mr. Beer that possibly lucifer matches might furnish the needed element in a condition suited to his porpose. He tried them, dipping them into warm water for a few moments, then suspoading them in the obnoxious room. Their eflect was prompt and salutary; and tbereafter, hy contiuuiog their use, he wos able to enjoy “the Inxury of pure and refreshing air,’’ notwithstanding the room was inthe basement of an old cellarless house on made land, the air of which was further tainted by a quantity of moldy books and papers. In a paper lately read before tbe Polytechnic braoch of the American lostitute, Mr. Beer narrates a number of subsequent experiments with the same simple materisls, the success of which convineed him that he had made a veritable discovery of great importance. Touchiag the safety of the method he proposes, Mr. Beer is coufident that no overcharglog of the air with ozone or other injurious matter may be apprehended from the use of matches in the manner he deecribes. Boththe ozone and the nitrite of ammooia are generated slowly, and their force is swiftly spent hy comhination with the impurities tbey are intended toremove. It is ohyious that the supply of the purifying agents can he easily regulated by increasing or diminishing the oumber of active matches. Inthe room above meotioned, six bundles of matches were kept active—some near the ceiling, others near the floor—by daily watering. In another instance a single bunch is meotioned as having sufficed for quickly purifying the oir of a room in which several adults and children were lying sick, hut in this case the air was fanned against the motches while they were carried about the room, tbus hightening their activity. How long a match retains its ozonizing power, Mr. Beer does not say. Iu conclusion, Mr. Beer claims that, whatever inay be ssid of his theory of match’ action, the fact is indisputable that, in the nse of mstches as he suggests, we have a handy, wholeaome and inexpensive means of freeing our housea from noxious exhalationa and the long train of evils attending on the prevalence of bad air. The matter is easily tested and certainly well worth trying.— Scientific American, AUDIBLE Sarery Lamp.—An ingenions and efficieut apparatus for preventing explosions in collieries haa been invented by Mr. Aldis (manager) ond Messrs. Hvde Brothers (engineers), of the Seend Iron Worka. On one side of the flame of an ordinary safety lamp they affix a amall brass plate, which proteots from the flame & small brass rod, at the upper part o1 which is a smoll piece of fusible metal. In the presence of a dangerous accumulation of gas the fusible metal melts, detaches a brass rod, and releasea a aliding brasa esse, which falls over the flame and instantly extingoishes it. By the same action thia case falls upon the electric detent, aod an alarm is given throughout the whole workings, even to the pit’s mouth, if reqnired. The improved lampa are suspended from the roofa of the different workinga where the gaa would be supposed to accumulate; and the bells communicating with each other, all the bells in the colliery would simultaneously give an alarm upon the presence of a dsngerous quantity of gas. ‘Thua every man in the pit would have ample warniog of danger, and enfficient time to secure his property and make his escape.— London Mining Journal, Souxp.—In a paper on the duration of the sensation of sound, Prof. Mayer ssid that experiment proved that the residual aensation only occupied one five-hundredth of a second in the case of 40,000 vibrationa per aecond; but in the case of forty vibrations toa second, tbe residnol vibration was one-eleventh of a second. He concludes that the whole ear vibratea as one mass, and the durations of these oscillations of the whole ear are far too short to remain one-thirtieth of a second, He thinks that this explains our inability to distinguish the actual pitch of sound when that pitch exceeds certain well known limits, Facts and Fancies about Heat. Onr scientific contemporaries, upon whose knowledge we hang as lovingly as the infatusted and bliud Capid hangs upon the neck of Veuns, will persist in belittling our stupeodous glohe by iastituting comparisons of an odions character. Professor Proctor made us feel mnch smaller than a Liliputian gnat; and now Professor Langley, of tho Alleghany Observatory, cites usas the representative of coal and iron, before his glowing aud caloritio majesty, King Sol. The Professor says, in answer to the nestion, ‘*How hot is the ann?” tbat Sir denn Herschell and Father Secchi place it at at least 10,000,000 degrecs of Fahrenheit, while Sir William Thompson thinks it is something near thirty or forty times as hot as one of our hissting furnaces, which vaporizes a small portion of the iron it renders, while the aggregate amount of iron which annually passes out of the Pittsburg chimnoys in the vaporized state, may be estimated at 5,000 tons. This would appear to be a great waste, hut when we come to compare it with that of the great furnace of the sun, whose fire-grate area is reckoned uot in yards, hut in square miles, of which its surface includes 2,300,000,000,000, is a very small affuir. The learned gentleman then proceeds to show that, as a calenlation of the exact omount of heat given out from a furnace of known size can essily be made; s0, likewise, can we calculate accorately how long a given amount of coal willlsst. Comparing the sun to such a furnace, we ascertain the area; and adopting a proboble value for the rate of emission, it becomes a simple problem in practical engioeering to determine how loog a given quantity of coal would last if burned at its surface at the rate of combustion which would just maintain this known heat. A carefol computation hascd upon the above hypothesis shows that the entire cosl fields of Pennsylvania would keep up the actus] solar heat nol an entire second. The amount of fuel required to keep up the everlasting combustion that gives off the heat that even our little globe eojoys is inconceivable.—Coal and Iron Record, Tur Moon anp VEoETaTion.—A correspondent writes: ’‘It is a popular belief among the mass of farmers that the influence of the mcon has sn important bearing upon various young plants as they happen to come forth either in her light, as full moon, ete., orin her wane. This idea is ridiculed and entirely disbelieved by what are called the mest intelligent and scientific farmers. Is it not a fact that the light of the full moon on a young plant just come forth would have some eftect on it, different from tbe darkness which prevails in tbe moon's absence, and do not these tender plants reqoire extra sleep, as an infant does? And in the absence of it, does if not essentially change their chsracter and production?’ Wheu the moon is shining, the clouds are wholly or in a great part absent, and the effect of the absence of clouds becomes very evident when a thermometer is placed in the focus of 0 silvered mirror and turned towards the unclonded sky. The thermometer falls with great rapidity, its heat being radiated out into the abysses of space, which are estimated to have a temperature vastly helow the zero of our thermometric scale, When a cloud passes between the mirror and the sky, the thermometer rises rapidly, the loss of heat being interrupted. The clouds act like a woolen blanket, preventing the escape of heat, Now whst the thermometer is in this experiment, so in nature is the plant. On a moonlight (cloudless or partly clouded) night, it moy radiate s0 much heat that injury may arise to its tender organization, The Earl of Rosse’a great teleacope has detected the beat radiated by the moon, hnt it is an incredibly minute quantity, and can have no effect on vegetation.—Seientific American. NapPHTHALINE.—A receot Eoglish patent relates to the applicotion of naphthaline. 1. As a substitute for sulphur, wax, resin or other inflammable materiala used for dippiog or impregnating matches and firelightera. 2. As on addition to the phospborus paate in which the eods of wax aud other matches are dipped. 3. To increase the inflammability of candles, tapers, links and torches. 4. For burning in lamps in the form of a hollow candle, provided with an independent wick and douhle air current, the flame serving to melt the solid naphthaline to feed the wick. Naphthaline is a white crystallizable aubstance evolved by the distillation of bituminous coal. When crystallized it is a very delicate film, yielding to the gentlest touch, yet, under favorable circumstances, it compacts and is capable of coosiderable resistaoce. It has a pecnliar, faintly aromatic odor, not unlike narcissus; ia heavier than water, and is readily dissolved by naphtha. Frame.—W. Stein has published a criticism of Frankland’s statementa concerning the illuminating power of flames. Frankland, abandoning the old theory of incandescent carbon particles, auggests that the illuminating power of flamea is owing to very oondenaed vapors of hydrocarhons. The author of thia article brings forward a number of known facta in support of the old hypothesia. TELLURIOM.—On the aide of a piece of arsenieal pyrites, Harmay observed a metallic anbstance between which and the pyrites were a few scalea resembling specular iron, but of a brownish color. The metallic-looking substance proved to be tellnrium, and the intermediate mineral a tellurium sulpharsenate. NeCHaNicaL Brocress Making Match-Sticks.

The process of outting small, rouud sticks used for mstches is an interesting one, and in writing thia description we shall eodeavor to make it clear to tbe reader in as simple lanmage as possible. 1t mnst be borne in mind that makiag match-sticks is one branch of busioessa—applying the composition another. After the pine logs are rednced to plank, the next operation is to cut them into blocks four aud five inches iu length, by means of small cireular saws. Theyare then assorted by hoys, preparatory to being fastened to the great wheels, to be cut into match-sticks. Pine slsbs, obtained from the sawmills, to maoufacture blocks, are found to answer the purpose well, as the lomber in them is of the best quality. In thus utilizing the refose lumber there is great soving. Few people have a correct idea how match-sticks are made. Iu the first place, there is an immense wheel, 20 feet in diameter, with two six-feet faces or breasts, much resembling sn old-fashioned "‘ overshot’’ waterwheel, on which these blocks are fastened in rows by means of clamps or screws. The machioery is of such a powerful character that the frsme-work on which this ponderous wheel is hung, is composed of heavy oak timheis, 12 by 16 inches, resting on o solid stone foundation, 25 feet by 12, and 514 feet deep, laid in cement. The necessity for sucb a Srm foundstion will he readily seeo, when the reader is informed that tbis wheel makes 21 revolutions in a minute, snd most not vary a hair’s breadth in its motion, The face of the wheel being ‘loaded’? with blocks, the process of cutling the sticks is commenced, A reat, similar to an iron lathe, is placed in front of the breast of the wheel, which is moved right or left, on the lathe principle, by means of screws, etc., on which a uumber of small steel cutters, with holes like an eyelet, are fastened. These cutters are adjusted so as to face the blocks, and as the wheel revolves, eoob one cuts a splint out of the wood, and drops it below. There are 16 of these cutters, or punch-like chisels to esch wheel, and the number may be increased to 32, if necessary, The principle upon whicb tbe match-stick 13 made is the same as that used in olden time for making rake-teeth round, which consisted in driving a piece of wood througb a steel tool, having a hole in it with sharp edges, In this case the large revolving wheel scrves ns the propelling power, and forces the faces of the blocks, that are securely fastened to its outer surface, througb the small steel eyelet-like hole in the eud of tbe tool, and a splint is cut out almost with the rapidity of lightning, and dropped below. The machine is so perfectly adjusted, and works with such exact minuteness, thst it cuts 100 splints from every solid inch of timber—no more, no less. This fact has heeu demonstrated. The delicate cutting tools ore moved horizontally at right angles with the face of the wheel, by a screw which moves the row of cutters exactly the thickness of a-matchstick, from left to right, at each revolution of the large wheel. Each pair of cutters hosa section of blocks to pass through, six, eight to ten inches, as the esse may be, which, when performed, the tender, by the turn of a small wheel, brings them back to the starting point, sets the cutters by the turn of onother smal wheel, and they start again across the breast of the large wheel. Aa the rouod splints are cut out of the face of the block, it assumea o corrugated appearance, not unlike the face of an ordinary washhoard, and when the machine starts on the next cut, the projections, forming one-half of the splint, are cut out, thus alternaling the corrugations. The two machines thus in operation will cut 24 gross of aticks (7,200 to the gross), per minute, with 16 cutters to each, or, in the oggregate, 172,800 per minute, 10,368,000 per hour, or 103,680,000 per day of 10 houra. ° (To be continued.) Metaizic Fioors.—A method has been devised for renderiog floors in good degree fireproof, by employiug long, flat bars of tbin sheet metal, with a perpendicnlor flange turned on each edge. Other long, thin bars, which are curved or arched, aod riveted at or near the edges to the first-named strips, are placed edgewise vertically, one between each two, the connection being so arranged that the tops of the arches do not riae quite as high asthe tops of the first aet of bars. Narrower atripa are also arranged acrosa and riveted to the lower flaogea at suitable intervals apart, to serve as lath to hold the ceiling plaster to be applied to them, aa well as to brace them laterally. Similar strips are arranged across and riveted to the upper flanges, or wood pieces may be bolted on to receive and support the floor boarda. The outside flangea are built into and rest in the wall ,and other flanges may be applied, if desired, to the outside strip for letting into the wall. Fora floor of great length the bars are lapped and riveted.— American Manufacturer, Private trials of a new steamhoat for use on the canala are now engrossing the attention of several eminent engineers. In this boat the old paddle-wheel and the screw are discarded, ands new method of propulsion ia used, in which the loss of power is reduced (it ig said) to a minimum, Fish Scale Ornaments. Amoog recent pateuts is that of E. aod J. Heubner, of Newark, who have invented certain new and usefal improvements in preparing fish scales for use in the arts, of which the following is a specification: The object of the iuvention is to atilize the scales of several varieties of fish, hitherto thrown away as useless, and prepare them for application in the arts, by producing articles of jewelry, artilicial flowers, and similsr ohjects. This invention coosists in the process of cleansing and purifying the scales, till the clear, horny sulstance or core of the ssme is obtained, which produces a new article of manufacture, which may be stamped into various orosmental shapes, aud dyed in all colora, for use in the arts. Large scales are tbe most advantageous, taken from fresh fish. Old scales cannot be used, as they lack elasticity and clesrness. The fresh scales are exposed for twenty-four bours to the action of pure salt water, for looseoiug aod partly separating the outer layera of organic matter. They are then transferred to distilled water, being placed every two or three hours in clean water, and washed therein five or six times, which renders the seales soft and olear. Each scale is then carefully rubbed with clean lioen rags, then passed throogh a press hoving a linen lining, so as to remove tbe moisture in the scales. The scales are finally plsced for ooe hour in alcohol, and again ribbed and pressed, when they are dry and have a perfectly clear appearonce, a motherof-pearl-like hne, and great elasticity and durability. Tbe scales are used in this prepared etate, or they may be dyed with auiline and other colors, iu the usual manner, to be stamped into various kinds of ornamental shspes, leaves and flowers, snd applied to the manufacture of jewelrv and artificisl] flowers, for embroidering and inlaying wood, and other uses in the arts. Steel Boilers. The assertion is made by the engineer of the Austrian state railway compaoy, Ir. Haswell, that, in order to obtain steel hoilers onswering all requirements, only correspondingly thick plates, and plates of the best moterial, witbout any addition—for otherwise the steel is not homogeoous—ought to he used; and they ought to be scrnpulously assorted according to the texture and the tensile strength. After boring or punching tbey should be carefully annealed, the riveting must be formed with great particularity, and the bending only with wooden hsmmers. That steel plates msnufactured in Austria are of excellent quality, Mr. Haswell says, is proven by the monuer in which boilers are there constructed; the box-front plate, down cover, and the sides of the tubes are only furnished with sn edge or border, while in Eoglsnd they are compelled to use angle iron for these connections. . Mr. Haswell is one of those who regard steel plates as preferable to iron plates, owing to tbe fact that they possess the ssme degrze of elasticity in all directions—from twelve to fifteen per cent.; iu iron plates, however, it is in the direction of the fibers, and about 15 per cent., but in a cross direction only five per ceut. If ooe proceeds in the right manner, says Hsswell, steel plates may be used with perfect safety. The hoiler manufacturer has the advantsge that he finds less plates to throw aside, and the railways will have more carefully constructed, strooger, and, in the end, cheaper boilers. Lacquer.—It haa been generally sopposed that the beauty of Japan lacquer work was dne to ingredients derived from unknown plants, und that the aecret was confined to the Oriental workmen. MReeently, however, in Holland, objects of art have beeu produced, lacquered and covered with mother-of-pearl, in pieces fac similes of those madeinJapan. The lacquer used is prepared from the hardest varietiea of gum copal, principally that of Zanzihar, which ia colored black with India ink. The articles are covered with several layers of thia substance, upon which, while still wet, or rather pasty, the mother-of-pearl is inlaid. Dryiog in a furnace follows, another coat of lacqner is applied, then more drying and smoothing with pounce, ‘These operations are repeated until the aurfaces are perfectly united and smooth, when a final polish isgiven with tripolii—The Engineer. Coatinc Merazs.—An invention has been patented, the object of which ia to coat metal plates without immersing them in o bath, or otherwise requiring a large quantity of the coating metal to he kept in a molten state. Rollers are employed to apply the coatiog metal to the surface of the plate, and the molten coating metal is supplied little by little to the rollers aa it is required. Ina similar way flux is applied to the plates, and the use of batha of flux is avoided. Prnnonnera.— A new method of making metallic penholders consists in making tbe barrel part and the internal tube or binder from one piece of sheet metal. A blank of a T shape, or provided at ita head with wing pieces, is cut from sheet metal, aud the said wing piecea by a series of processes are folded flat or nearly so upon the blank. The blank is next raised into a trongh form and afterwards into a cylindrical form, The barrel part and internal tube or hinder are thug made from one piece of metal.