Scientific and Useful.

Western Star, Issue 1182, 3 September 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Scientific and Useful.

AETIFICFAL CLOUDS. ‘ Artificial clouds for the protection of vines from frost were produced in a vineyard at Pagny on the Franco-German frontier during iho night of May 13. About 3 A.M., when the theremometer had gone down to-I° - 5 G., tho signal was given to ignite liquid tar, which had been poured into tin boxes, and pieces of solid tar which had been placed in the ground near tho vines, i Large clouds of smoke quickly enveloped the vineyard. The fires lasted for" about two hours, but tho smoke did not clear oil till a considerable time after. The object of the experiment was completely gained, as not one young shoot was destroyed by the frost. THU BOTUNDITV OB THE EABTH. In a recent paper to the Helvetic Society of Natural Science, Professor Dufour, of Merges, calls attention to the deformation of images on large sheets of still water through the rou’ cfeess of the earth. Instead of appearing equal to tho object, the image is sometimes so compressed in the vertical direction ns to ihe almost unrecognisable. Such is the case with the church-tower of Montreux (on the Lake of Geneva) as seen from Morges. One may see the same thing in images of distant, ships and their sails, tho eye being near tho water-surface. After looking for a moment (M. Dufour says), one perceives the roundness of the earth distinctly ns that of a ball held in the hand. LIGHTNING PHOTOS. WANTED. The Council of the Royal Meteorological Society are desirous of obtaining a collection of photographs of lightning flashes, and they would esteem it a favour if anyone who cs n assist will send -them copies of any photographs of flashes already taken, or will endeavour to take photographs. The Council say that the photography of lightning does not present any particular difficulties. If a rapid plate and an ordinary rapid doublet with full aperture be left uncovered at night during a thunderstorm for a short time, flashing of lightning will after tho development be found in some cases to have impressed themselves upon the plate. The only difficulty is the uncertainty whether any particular flash will happen to have been in the field of view. The Council hope that now the thunderstorm season is approaching, many photographers may be found willing to take up this interesting branch of their art. WILD GEESE KILLED BT LIGHTNING. R, Burch, who resides on Rock Creek, north of town, informs us that during tho storm of April 29, as he and his family were watching the clouds, a flock of geese passed near the house. As ho was looking at them there came a vivid flash of lightning, which seemed to pass right through the flock of geese, and the next moment the flock seemed to. be thrown into confusion, uttered the shrillest cries of alarm, and six of their number were seen falling to the ground. They had been killed by the lightning flash Mr Burch had noticed. He went and picked up the dead geese, which he found to be fat and plump, without a mark to show where the lighting had struck them. He had a feast of roast goose the next day. This is the first instance on record, we believe, of geese being struck by lightning while flying, and it is generally supposed that they are safe from the destroying bolt of Jove. Chico. (Cal.) Chronicle.

ELECT3IOITY AS CHEAP AS GAS. The New Electric Light Syndicate (Limited), of 2a West Street, Finsbury Pavement, are now temporarily exhibiting, through the courtesy of Messrs Marchant Singer & Co., StMaryAxe (pending the fittingup of permanent premises), their primary battery for lighting houses, churches, clubs, shops, offices, &c., without a dynamo or engine-power. The battery will be hired at a nominal rental. A brilliant and steady light is maintained for 120 hours without attention. This can be used in 5 days or in 120 days, just as required. The price to be charged the public can be fixed as low as gas at 4s 6d. The battery will bo re-charged, as required, by a company, so the risk of domestics dealing with it is not incurred. It can be made of any candle-power, and can be placed in a cellar or shed, and one to feed 50 lamps will occupy only 7ft. by 3Aft. by Sift. The negative pole is iron or copper, the positive is zinc, the depolariser is a plate of oxide of lead, and the exciting fluid is a caustic alkali. NATUEAL GAS IN WAYNE COUNTY, NEW YOEK. Natural gas was discovered at North Eose, N. Y., on May 11. For several weeks workmen have been employed there boring an artesian well. They did not have the least idea of finding natural gas. When the workmen were preparing to quit the well at night, the land about the mouth of the well was thought to be giving way. To see down into the wel[, a lighted candle was lowered a few feet into the well. An explosion followed, and a great flame of fire burst out of the mouth of the well. Several men who were standing near watching the operation were thrown violently to the ground. Their hair and whiskers were singed. The flame shot into the air over ten feet, and in less than half an hour increased to seventeen feet, with a diameter of four inches at the bottom. When darkness came, the flames could be seen for miles away, and hundreds of farmers thought the village of North Eose was burning, and drove long distances to help the villagers. The flame has continued steadily, and seems to increase in volume each hour. The citizens propose formiug companies for boring wells for gas. Wells will be begun at once in Wolcott and Clyde and Lyons.— Scientific American. SINGULA E NESTING-MACE OE LINNETS. It may be interesting to some of your readers (says a correspondent of Nature, writing from North Shields), to know of the recurrence of a strange freak on the part of a pair of linnets. Last year they selected as the scene of their nest-building and other parental operations the interior of a Maltese water-bottle, bung against a brick wall at the back of the house of Captain G. Wood, and in a sort of half yard, half garden. The bottle is of porous ware, 10 inches high, 7 inches wide at its broadest part, which is mid-way between the bottom of the neck and the base, and having an upright constructed neck G inches long and only l;j inches in diameter on the inside. In this singular receptacle ♦lie birds contentedly built, laid their eggs, and successfully reared their brood. This year, strange to say, the same pair, or o e identically like them, have returned to the old haunt, deftly repaired and slightly added to the old nest, laid their eggs, and now have a vigorons progeny of five or six unfledged youngsters. How the birds came, in the first instance, to select such a shelter, seeing that they could only pass in and out with folded wings, and by a sort of dart, and that to enter the neck from within in this way must have been a task of considerable skill and no little difficulty, is a mystery ; but that they should have retained such a happy memory of their first sojourn as to lead them to their old quar--1 torp, is more interesting still.