SCIENCE AND INVENTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 2923, 12 September 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

SCIENCE AND INVENTION.

Very considerable interest attaches (says the London Daily Chronicle') “ nitra- to tho trials of “ nitragin,” gin/* which arc now being made

at Wobum and elsewhere. In the recently-published Journal of tlm Royal Agricultural Society appears an article on tho subject from tho pen of Dr Voolcker, which will be read with much interest. It will be remembered that early this year Dr Nobbe, cf Tharand, Saxony, succeeded in producing on a commercial scale fairly pure cultures of tho minute organisms, which, as HelUiegtl long since pointed out, occur in the nodules ou tho roots of leguminous plants, and are tho active agents which bring the free nitrogen of tho atmosphere into action for tho nourishment of tho plant 5 tho name “ nitragin ” given to tho now preparation is intended to indicate this fact. Dr Nobbe has ‘ succeeded by pure cultivation in isolating seventeen varieties of those bacteria. No microscropic difference is perceptible between those varieties in most cases, but it is found that in their behaviour to plants they show marked differences. Thus the bacteria from pea nodules does not appear to act at all for clover, whilst the bacteria from clover has no appreciable action on peas. It is found that tho organisms of nearly-related kinds can replace one another to a certain extent, but those belonging to widely-separ-ated families practically cease to have any effect on the supply of nitrogen. Tho “ nitragin ” is supplied in bottles at about half-a-crown each; one of these is said to be suilicient to inoculate about half an acre of land. Two methods of using it are suggested. Itmayboeithcrdilutod with a little water and tho seed to be treated, sprinkled with tho solution obtained, or it is mixed with more water and the solution used to moisten about GGIb of soil, letting tho mixture dry in tho air, and then sowing it regularly over the land, burying to the depth of about three inches. .Experiments are now being tried in several places in Germany, as well as at Woburn, and in tho North of England by Dr Somerville. Those will be watched with the greatest interest by practical agriculturists, as it is evident almost unlimited possibilities in the way of introducing nitrogen to tho crops may result. One very important point to bo determined will bo whether the organisms, when once applied, will continue to act, or will gradually die out and need to he replaced.

We recorded lately that experiments made to test tho effect of Routgen the rays ou bacteria bad given bontgen negative results. Two other bays experimenters, MM. Dorterand and Genoud, have, however, bacteria, in a recent communication to the Comptes liendus, arrived at a different result. They have investigated the effect of the rays on tubercuoulosis, and although yet incomplete, their experiments seem to point to tho rays as a possible remedy for this dreaded disease. Eight guinea-pigs were inoculated with the virus of tuberculosis, three of which were exposed for an hour daily for some three weeks to tho influence of the Routgen radiations, tho other five being left untreated. In these latter the usual effects of tho virus were produced, but those exposed to tho rays exhibited no ill effects whatever, and are stated to have increased in weight.

Geological specimens brought horn© recently from tho Antarctic A region by a Norwegian exsoutk plorer have been analysed, polar and found to contain microcontinent. len© granite, with garnets and tourmaline and mica schists. As these have rarely been seen in an ocean island, the conclusion is that a continent exists around the South Pole.

There exists at present upon Mauritius Island a gigantic land turtle a belonging to Mr Antelme, gigantic who received it in May, 1895, turtle, from the Six Islands, or Egmont Islands, located in the Indian Ocean to the north-east of Madagascar. The length of the animal’s top shell is 4ft. 4in., anji it weighs 628 lbs. To turn it over requires the united strength of several men.

A method of mummyfying the dead by absorption of humidity and mummy- gasos after the body is i*vino placed in tho coffin has been the devised by an Italian named dead. Yercelloni. The body seems to be preserved as if in life, except that the colour is tho yellowish copper tint peculiar to Egyptian mummies. A very similar method was some years ago elaborately‘presented to tho public by a projected American company, but we are not aware that tho scheme obtained such appreciation as warranted its being proceeded with.

An electro-magnetic crane has proved itself very convenient at Woola wich Arsenal in lifting and magnetic carryiugshotandshell,which, lifter, owing to their peculiar shape, are . somewhat difficult to handle, their removal formerly occupying much time and trouble. The electromagnet is a solid forging, with a concavecurved base so as to fit to the projectiles. The wire of the coils round the magnet is mechanically protected by heavy brass. flanges and stays. The current used varies from three to four amperes at 26 to 30 volts. The switchboard is on the counter-weights at the back of the crane.