SIDELIGHTS ON SCIENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 55, 11 April 1914, Page 5

SIDELIGHTS ON SCIENCE.

NEW GASOLENE SUBSTITUTE. Professor Vernon Boys has recently invented a new substitute for gasolene. He heats a heavy waste oil in contact with steam at 600deg Fahrenheit. The steam thus carbureted is then passed through a series of nickel rods in heated tubes. This causes a reaction between the steam and oil, which leads to the liberation of hydrogen. The hydrogen combines with the oil, and transforms the latter into a light spirit suitable, for use iu gasolene engines. Forty per cent, of the oil is recovered as motor spirit, and the remaining products are said to be commercially useful. In view of the comparatively limited supply of waste oil, Professor Boys's method seems of more curious than practical interest, although the time is not far distant when even limited supplies of gasolene substitutes may assume importance.

RAPID FALL OF PETROLEUM

LEVEL,

A recent article in *'Engineering" is of somewhat panicky tone over the rapid waning of the world's supply of petroleum. The enormous increase in the consumption of petroleum -products-is shown by the fact that while at the beginning of the century the oil wells touched" 1100 feet in depth, now the average level of the oil has fallen to 2000 feet. "America, by reckless expenditure of Ker resources, has increased her annual output to 200,000,000 barrels, yet the demand for oil for special purposes has become so great that the rise in price is considerable —so great, indeed, that competition with coal for ordinary purposes has become impossible.'' The United States Bureau of Mines has already issued a warning and urged improved methods.

with mildew. British Queen has given j some very good flowers, but I am afraid ; that the growth is too slender and j twiggy to make a good garden plant, i The stems are not strong enough to ! hold the flowers erect. It is of very j continuous blooming habit, and unless j severely disbudded the flowers come undersized. !

A rose that was very pleasing in j early summer- is Mile, de la Valetta, a j china-tea rose; the flowers have not | much shape after the bud stage is j passed, but the colour —coppery-red, f yellow, and crimson—is very telling. It is somewhat after Comtesse de Cayla but more brilliant, possibly it will' be more continuous in bloom when well established. Sunburst gave some very pleasing flowers, as did also Entente Cordiale, the H.T. —cream-white, large and full. The pernettiana of the same name may possibly be» admired for its colour, but the flowers are much too ! loose and thin. I feel sure that the new i varieties mentioned as promising will j improve on further acquaintance and j become garden favourites.