SCIENCE and INVENTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16567, 16 June 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

SCIENCE and INVENTIONS.

fLASH LAMPS.

Pocket, flash lamps »re generally supplied in metal cases, for the sake of durability. This' always involves a certain amount of electrical leakage between the dry battery and the case. . In order to remedy this defect and increase the life of the battery, it should be removed from the- case whenever practicable and left out for as long as possible. Cardboard cases, or those mado of papier mache, are more satisfactory from the point .of view of leakage, though less durable.

ELECTRICITY MOM TEE WIND. Tho electrical engineering department of the State Agricultural College of Manhattan, Kan., is at present engaged in conducting a series of experiments with a view to improving the prevailing methods of generating electricity from windmill power. In the present tests the generator is mounted on the head of the mill and geared directly to the source of power, instead of being belted to the mill at its base, as is usually the practice. The main need at present seems to be a mill that requires a lower wind velocity to start than those now available) since the latter are idle for long periods at a stretch, and therefore necessitate the employment of large storage batteries.

ELECTRICAL SUNSHINE FOR FARMS Among numerous efforts toward intensive cultivation of land and increased productivity of crops in England, perhaps none is more interesting than the subsidised experiment in growing cereals and other field crops with the assistance of overhead electric current. The experiments with electrical discharge as affecting agriculture will be supervised, and the results tabulated by Professor V. H. Blackman, professor of plant" physiology and pathology at South Kensington, a special grant having been made by the

Lieutenant McCubbin last year tackled three German Fokkers. Two flod, but the third, in charge of Immelmann,. accepted the challenge, and, after a fierce conflict in the air, was killed by the bouth African. Immelmann had the reputation of being one of the most daring of berman aviators, and had previously successfully taken .part in several'air combats. Lieutenant McCubbin was awarded the D.S.O. for his exploit. Now 20 years of age he returned to his native town ot Johannesburg last March. He is still suffering from the wounds received during his great engagement, and is receiving daily . medical attention 'at the Johannesburg Hospital. N ' ' -T. Brittain, Photo.

Development Commissioners for this research work, which is to be carried out at Huntington Court Farm, near Heroford. Professor Blackman is reported to have said that the purpose of the experiments "-is to, carry to a larger scale the successful work which has been done during the last few years near Dumfries, where in 1916 an increase of about 50 per cent, in grain and 86 per cent, in straw was obtained on oats as a result from overhead electrical discharge. This was on . a small scale— acre only. At Huntington Court Farm we shall experiment with 40 or 50 acres of cereal and other field crops." ATTENTION TO BRAKES. Few things are more prolific of accidents than poorly operating brakes, but like so many other things ft is a case of out of sight, out of mind, and no thought is given to the brakes of a car until something happens, regardless of. any indications of defects or poor adjustment that may have gone before. That positive action is desirable to control such conditions is indicated by remarks made by a member at a recent meeting of the Society of Automobile Engineers. He said: "If I were a police commissioner I should like to enforce one law, and that is thisAn inspector should be able to go on any car, provided the road is dry, and, say, of asphalt or good macadam, cement or brick, and make a brake test going at; say, 20 miles per hour and within certain limits, and if the car does not stop, he should have as much right to take the driver into the as for breaking the speed limit. If that were done there would be fewer accidents. I think we should advocate it as leading to a solution of some of the automobile accidents. The headway between the automobiles is much less than it used to be, and people are so accustomed to them that they have become more careless. I think we ought to help the police authorities in their problem."

MONOPLANE WITH STEAM MOTOR.

John Wilson, of Hutchinson, Kans., is reported to have finished a steam-driven monoplane. The machine is claimed to be the only steam rotary motored monoplane in the United States. The designer has studied this type of engine for more than ten years. He built nine other engines before ,this — tenth—one satisfied Him. TTTe machine was set up in a local factory. Ho has the machine almost ready for exhibition at the Kansas State Fair, and after the fair, during which time he will test it, he expects to be able to pilot the machine on its first flight. The machine, 'continues Aviation, is 25ft long, with a stream-line body, tapering from 3ft in diameter at the front, to a point. It is made of well-seasoned spruce, guyed with stout steel guying wire, and the body covered with sheet aluminium. The body has a hood of heavy hammered copper.-The planes are 35ft wide, and have a wing surface of 240 square feet. The machine weighs 8501b, and has a lifting capacity of 12001b at 30 miles per hour. The ' weight includes machine, motor, passengers, and fuel, and it is claimed for the monoplane that it can make 90 miles an . hour. _ A steering mechanism, having a three-in-one movement, is a part of the equipment, and the tail planes, rudder, ana elevator are of the inverse curve type. The wheels are stream-like, made of solid metal, and fitted. with pneumatic tyre*. The engine, which with its p generator weighs *. but ,3001b, was designed by Jobs Wilign, ~