Science Notes.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1263, 15 December 1920, Page 2

Science Notes.

THE CANADIAN FARMER. ' . "To look at the advertisements of any English motor journal one would think that dukes were more plentiful than farmers—but Henry Ford knew better long ago." This is taken from an article in a Sunday paper. The author of that article had been writing about farmers. He said that a census of motor-cars in the province of Ontario showed that farmers owned 37,758 passenger machines! A HARD SUBSTANCE. "MSB if aluminium oxide be vitrified at a temperature below its temperature of fusion, a product of great density and, hardness is obtained possessing properties peculiarly favourable to the manufacture of many tools. This process is now employed for the production of "drawing-stones" for the yurpose of the finest metal wire drawing. The degree of hardness of this : substance resembles that of sapphire and it exhibits uncommonly little sign of wear and tear after use. WASHING CARPETS ELECTRICALLY. A newly-developed electrical carpet washer makes possible the washing of carpets without taking them off the floor. I>Jo water touches the rue or carpet. Instead, a warm "sudsy" cleaning compound is scrubbed down, to the bottom of, the nap so as .to clean every fibre thoroughly and take out all dirt or grit. Two brushes, made of soft, yielding rubber, are oscillated by an electric motor 500 times a minute, thus, the maker de-! flares, duplicating the scrubbing mo-, tion of the human hand. The soap compound which is used by the carpet washer is said to contain no harm- " ful chemicals or animal fats. v. A COAL-SAVING DEVICE. S Out of Germany comes an interest- ] iug coal-saving device intended for the economical housewife who is anxious to make her coal supply deliver tie last bit of heat which it contains. The ashes from the kitchen range are placed in a sifter, and the device is cranked after the manner of an ice- ' cream freezer. The ashes are reduced to small pieces and fall down through the screening and into a lower holder, while pieces of good coal are retained in the upper compartment, ready for use. As the device is practically air- ! tight, no ashes or dust can escape J from it to effect an unwelcome dc- ) coration of the most immaculate ' kitchen. A CO-OPERATIVE TRUCK LINE. Convinced that the time is now ripe for extending the usefulness of the truck in the field of short-haul transportation, eighty men representing business interests in Chicago and cities within a radius of fifty mites west have formed what is believed to be the first co-operative motor truck ; freight line in the United States. The I truck line is giving a freight service much speedier than is possible by lany other form or transportation. This is true, especially with shipments of IeBS than carload lots. Frequently freight is placed in the hands of

■—■■■•■■ ■"" .■"" "" -"~ **..' l.!_ihi .t manufacturers within a few hours r from time of shipment, whereas if o consigned by other carriers it might be days in transit. A terminal station ;, or depot, similar to those maintained n \ by railroads, has been established in r, the heart of Chicago's shipping disg; trict. This building is a large one ? ; with 25,000 square feet of floor space s \ All trucks load and unload at shlpi ping platforms arranged in station t ► order, il [ ; TREASURE FROM THE OCEAN. I .' The ocean is indeed an indefinite 'i treasure house of living gold in the ![ diverse flora and fauna which it coni tains. Some time ago the French I' scientist, M. A. Chatelier, made a study of the marine plants capable of being used as a source of cellulose and paper. More recently M. P. G-loess , has shown in the Bulletin of the f Oceanographic Institute that such j plants can be used in general for fertilisers and as sources of nitrogen, potassium, phosphate, oleomargarine, etc. He also treats of the from which cellulose and paper fekh be made with a by-product of o Lfwrtilirer containing both nitrogen and' potassium. He next speaks of the red algae of Florideae from which agar-agar is. extracted. But the largest part of his article is devoted to the brown algae from which the foodstuff algir.e can be extracted, while both this and the alginates can be used in industry for various purposes as a mordant. SMALL FOUR-SEATERS IN DEMAND. It was almost remarkable to note how many visitors to the Olympia Show in London were in quest of small-powered four-seated cars, delivery of which could be obtained inside a reasonable period (says the "Field.") In the past the low-powered four-seater, gave trouble because sooner or later it was overloaded for its suspension if not its engine, and in self-defence often a two-seater body was the only one standardised. The altered financial situation and the influx of new motorists has affected that vitally. The first compels the four- J seated body because a two-seater, /is J$ t useless as a utility car, and the second ~/"''■ ' also because the new owner seldom | takes kindly to a two-seater body. ' Often one hears the remark in a regretful tone, "Oh! it is only a twoseater," and the pair pass on. The progress of design and construction really has supplied an answer to the demand, for small-capacity engines now capable of developing very considerable engine power. The 10-12 h.p. four-seater of to-day is a better puller and a lighter affair than that of „ 1914, and well able to take four passengers anywhere that a motor-car may travel. The range in price of these, cars is from £2lO to'£9oo, a difference remarkable enough to invite criticism. Out of 45 cars, 15 sell at £4OO or less, 16 at between £SOO and £4OO, and eight at between £6OO and £SOO.