SCIENTIFIC ITEMS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2202, 4 July 1910, Page 7

SCIENTIFIC ITEMS.

MUSTARD BACTERIA. If a mustard pot be left open, as is wall known, the condiment a s mixed for use soon loses its piquancy. The reason is popularly supposed to be that the ‘'‘strength” is evaporated in the air, but scientific investigation has recently shown that the change is duo to two kinds of bacilli inhabiting the mustard. Fortunately they are aerobic, that is. they must have air ; consequently they are mot active if the mustard cup i« kept closed. NON-MAGNETIC SHIP. Recently there arrived at Falmouth from St. John’s the American nonmagnetic ship, owned and sent out by the Carnegie Institution at Washington. Named the Carnegie, she is now the only vessel of her kind in the world ; and she has begun a scientific work that will last at least for fifteen years and carry her through every ocean and to every maritime country. Her purpose is to assist seamen and scientists by adding to the data with regard to the problems of navigation and the allied sciences, in which respect there is yet much to be learned. The Carnegie is a remarkable product of scientific pervision. She is a brigantine of 600 tons burden, built entirely of the finest American timber, oak and pitch pine, and she has not an ounce of wrought iron, mild steel, or nickel in her composition. These are the metals which possess magnetism. Wherever it has become necessary to provide metal, manganese bronz« or manganese steel is used. MAKING MICROBES DO FARM WORK. Results of experiments in inoculating soil with nitrogen-fixing bacteria have been published. These, it is found, are retarded in development by the nitrates in the soil. The radio-bacteria, on the other hand, decompose nitrates, and liberate nitrogen, which is voi'aciously consumed by the azotobacteria. The results of the experiments show that inoculation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria increases the . crop and improves its quality, provided that care is taken to supply the carbohydrates, potash, and phosphoric acid which these bacteria require for their growth, and to neutralise the free acids of the soil by applying lime in liberal quantities. WALLS OF GLASS. Some enterprising French fruit growers have recently essayed the use of walls of glass instead of masonry, with quite interesting results. The results for pear trees was most excellent, the fruit grown on the north side of the wall being equal to that grown on the south side, and even smoother. The principal objection made to the glass wall is that it does not store up heat like a masonry wall, to keep the plants warm at night ; during the daytime the heat is nearly equal on both sides of the wall.