SCIENCE, MECHANICAL INVENTIONS, ETC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13453, 1 June 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

SCIENCE, MECHANICAL INVENTIONS, ETC.

TOBACCO AND BACTERIA. A new function has been discovered for " the all-pervading microbe in imparting flavour to tobacco. It lias been declared ' that the characteristic taste and smell of ' the leaf, the peculiar aroma which renders e it grateful to the smoker's palate, are clue entirely to the action of bacteria. The leaves when gathered are left for a certain time to dry and wither, after which they are stacked together to induce fermentation. It is in this process that the activities of 3 the microbe come into play, for millions of " these organisms are evolved, converting by their action the decaying mass into the "fragrant weed" of commerce. A German i bacteriologist, after diligent research, not 1 only discovered the secret of the transfor- ' mation, but succeeded in cultivating and j transplanting its microscopic agents, and , by introducing those taken from the finest 5 West Indian weed into a heap of poor German tobacco, actually converted it into a leaf of very high quality, which connoisseurs failed to trace to its lowly origin. In ( Florida, which has started tobacco culture ; on a large scale, and in one year exported i 160,000,000 of "Havana" cigars, a special , laboratory has been established for the in- - vestigation of the bacteria of tobacco. The ' question is asked whether they may not ' flourish on their leaves, and perhaps trans- ■ form common cabbage into a smoker's ideal. NOVEL USES OF PEAT. ' In Germany the uses to which peat has been put are many, and the consumption is constantly increasing. For bedding Yor stock only the second and third layers of peat are used. The blocks of peat are dried by air or in a kiln; they are then ' shredded by machinery, and then sieved, . after which the peat is compressed and packed in bales by means of slats of wood and iron wire. ( The amount of bedding necessary per head of cattle is one hundredweight per year of every hundredweight of tho animal's weight. Many sanitary and other advantages are derived from the use ot this kind of bedding. For fodder, only the top layer is used, which consists of moss and the fibres of partially-dried peat. Tne dried peat is then ground and sifted and mixed with molasses in the proportion of 20 to 26 of peat and 70 to 75 of molasses, obtained in the manufacture of sugar from beets. Tins product is guaranteed to contain 35 to 40 per cent, of sugar. This ft dder is used either alone or. mixed with other food, as corn, potatoes, etc. the peat in uus mixture counteracts the laxative effect of the molasses, and in the whole forms a wholesome food for horses, cattle, and swine; and as the acid of Ihe peat seems to neutralise the alkalies of the i molasses, the latter are rendered harmless, and the mixture has a sweeter taste than ; molasses alone. When due precaution is . taken, cue mixture keeps well. Horses fed < with this develop glossy coats, in ', appetite, and are free from colic. Neat ; cattle are said to become less subject to j "foot and'mouth disease," and in the case . of swine thus fed, that the unpleasant smell ( of butyric acid disappears from the f*y ] and disease generally diminishes. The ad- j dition of 4.4 pounds to the daily feed of ( milch cows is said to increase the daily . province of Hanover from 10,000 to 15,000 tons are used every year, while Germany , as a whole consumes 150,000 to 200,000 , tons. The value of peat for fuel is shown - bv the fact that it contains 54 per cent, -j of carbon against 50 per cent, in wood, 70 t in soft coal, and 83 in hard wood. The socalled "Torfmul,".or;turf dust, is sifted out j of peat and used for packing fruit, such as , tomatoes and other products, while "Mull,' a by-product of peat, is used in potash > works as a filter.

RAISING A SUNKEN SHIP BY COMPRESSED AIR. To turn a 12,000-ton steamship into a huge steel bubble by pumping her full of compressed air is a recent engineering feat. -The steamship Bavarian, of the Allan Line, ran on Wye Bock, 38 miles below Quebec, on the night of November 3, 1905, a few minutes before high tide. Almost every method known to wreckers for salving the vessel was tried and found wanting, and over £30,000 was spent in these efforts. Examination had shown that the Bavarians bottom amidships was in a very ragged condition. The holes were so large that it would be hopeless to try to pump the water out. Preparations 'were accordingly made to treat the holds as caissons, compressed air being used to force the water out through the opening in the bottom. Work was begun by the North American Wrecking Company on September 7, 1906, and the vessel was floated on November 16, 1906. Everything in regard to the operations was calculated with mathematical accuracy. The calculations for the buoyancy required, and at the points chosen, were most fortunate (states the Scientific American). It was necessary to timber solidly between decks above the several compartments that were to be used as caissons. The hatches were' closed by plating. Air locks were placed on the compartments which were to be treated as caissons. Every opening in the deck, scuppers, etc., was closed.

When the air was applied the water rapidly receded, and workmen were able to stop the rents in the bottom with temporary plating. In some of the holds, even, the leaks were not closed, and the vessel was floated without a bottom. Pressuremen, that remarkable class of men who make it their business to work in compressed air, and who are commonly known as " sand hogs,"' were brought from the Quebec Bridge, the caisson work of which had shortly been completed, or from New York, the superintendent of the work having for many years been engaged in com-pressed-air work about New York. A wooden tank of about 200 tons capacity was built directly between the engines, and the weight of the engines (180 tons) was carried by this tank. On the day of flotation about 25 tons of water were le.l't in the,tank. As- the vessel rose and the engines settled to their old level, blocking was put between the tank and the deck over it, and this water pumped out, the surplus lift of the tank being transferred to the vessel. The heavy tides of the St. Lawrence, although the centre of the vessel was flooded, lifted the end of the vessel, and the craft rose and fell with; high tide, so that the engines rose and fell, on some occasions 14 inches.

Air bags and tested barrels were used in the after bunkers. The boilers were blown out, and air was applied to the forward bunkers, they, too, being treated as caissons.

Several of the holes where the bottom was not so badly destroyed that it was necessary to treat them as caissons, were pumped out, 8-inch and 10-inch centrifugal pumps being used for this purpose. Owing to bad weather, the tugs, which had been lying alongside on November 16, the date set for flotation, had dropped down the river to a more sheltered position. As the tide rose the air compressors were set to work, and the full power of the plant used in forcing air into the holds of the ship. Suddenly there was a movement in the great vessel as she lifted herself from the rock, and a cheer went up from those on board. Five minutes later the Bavarian floated clear of Wye Rock in 60 feet of water, and was hauled to her anchors, which had been set off her port bow and quarter. After the first few minutes all apprehension that the vessel might turn turtle, or that the sir pressure would not hold the water back, was dispelled. The Bavarian floated on an almost even keel, and was shortly after towed by tugs to Quebec.