Science and Invention.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 440, 1 September 1904, Page 7

Science and Invention.

NEW TYPE OF SUBMARINE BOAT. IT is stated that a new submarine boat has heen built at Goleta. for the use of sponge-fishers. It is described as being over three metres in length, and provided with three screws, that in the stern being used solely for propulsion, and those on the starboard and port respectively for steering purposes. The boat is encased in metal, and has an outer covering of wood as a protection against concussion. It is said to have proved highly satisfactory in its trial trips.

LENGTHENING THE USEFULNESS OF THE ELECRTIC GLOW-LAMP,

The filament in glow lamps gradually diminishes in diameter in consequence of the slow volatilisation of the carbon. A German firm introduces into the glass globe certain chemical compounds with a high boiling point; these, under the influence of the temperature in the lamp bulb, slowly give off vapours containing carbon, which is deposited on the filament, thus making up to a large extent for the loss referred to above, and keeping the resistance and also the brightness of the lamp more uniform throughout its useful life. WRITING UPON CLASS. There are many formuke for inks to be used for making announcement or title slides, writing on negatives, and labelling bottles. I have tried many, but there are none I like so much as the following, which comes, I believe, from France: —Alcohol loz., water shellac GOgr., borax 90gr., with sufficient dye (aniline) of the desired colour added to give it density. There is an art in mixing the above. First dissolve the shellac in the alcohol and the borax in the water, mix very gradually—almost drop by drop, and apply heat at once should a deposit be formed, and then add the aniline dye. The proportion of water should be such as to make the ink of a consistency as to flow easily from the pen; some workers, for example, use only 10 drains of water, for it is wonderful what a difference a few drops will make. PRE-HISTORIC MAN. Prehistoric remains of considerable interest have been unearthed in the rocky district of Paradon, inLe Gard, in the contents of two caves, one of which has been completely explored, while the other has still to yield up its contents. Extended on flat stones, several skeletons were found which, by the shape of their skulls, belonged to the dolichocephalic race known as the Cro-Magnon, which at the beginning of the Quaternary period were settled in Perigord, on the banks of the Vczere. Scattered human bones which had been subjected to the action of fire were also found. In the upper stratum of clay were found a quantity of articles made of silex, including two axes, lanceheads and needles ; various bone instruments, pieces of ornamental pottery, personal ornaments, and a piece of bone engraved with the still distinguishable head of some kind of deer. Similar discoveries, including lanceolated arrow r -heads and knives were made in th 9 lower clay stratum.

NEW TYPE OF RAILWAY ENGINE

The Lancashire and Yorkshire Bailway Company, in order more satisfactorily to cope with their heavy suburban trains, have just introduced th 6 first of an entirely new series of pdwerful tank locomotives. This engine, No. 404, is of large proportions, having precisely the same boiler dimensions as the eight-wheeled coupled goods engines introduced on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway some few months ago, and has been erected at the company's works at Horwich from the designs of Mr H. A. Hoy, the chief machanical engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bailway. The engine will, it is expected, give rapid ' accleration ' and at the same time maintain a high average speed. The cylinders are 19in. in diameter, with a stroke of 26in. The boiler has a total heating surface of 2,038.645q. ft. The leading and trading wheels are 3ft. 7 gin. in diameter, whilst the six coupled wheels are sft. Sin. in diameter. The bunker has a capacity of 3f tons of coal and 2,000 gallons of water, and an improved apparatus for taking in supplies of water from the track troughs whilst travelling in either direction is provided. The engine in working order weighs 77 tons 10 cwt. 1 qr.

LARGEST JfIOTOR IN THE WORLD. It is in the huge forests of Canada where the biggest motors in the world are seen. They have been specially designed by a Chicago inventor for hauling logs over snow and rough roads. One of these machines is capable of dragging a train of •200 tons weight of logs at a speed of twelve miles an hour. It is the only machine in existence that will draw a heavy load through 3ft. of snow and over stumps and logs a foot in height. It is of twenty-five tons and 200 horse-power. It travels on four runners, with a traction wheel in the centre weighing seven tons. The machinery is enclosed in a box-like affair, giving the motor a somewhat strange appearance as it makes its way along the forest roads.

T)<E ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THE SKIN.

The electrical resistance of the human body, according to M. S. Leduc in ' Com ptus Eendus,' is chiefly that of the skin, and this is dependent on its chemical composition—that is, on the nature and number of irons it contains. It does not depend on the degree of moisture, for on closing a circuit of low voltage—2 volts—the intensity of the current attains its maximum immediately and remains constant, in spite of the fact that prolonged contact with the wet electrode increases the moisture of the skin. Neither does it depend on the amount of blood flowing through the skin, since the electrolytic introduction of adrenalin does not increase the resistance, although it produces vaso-constriction. FORCING PLANTS By FIRE. A curious phenomenon connected with the forcing of flowers under somewhat exceptional circumstances was observed not long ago by if. J. Jolly. On the second of September last, a large fire broke out in the village of Chaussee-sur-Marne, between Chalons and Vitry-le-Francois, and destroyed a large part of the village. The fire, urged by the wind, spread as far as it was possible, and consumed the last houses on the side towards the country. It also attacked the neighbouring trees forming part of a large pear and apple orchard, and reduced the two first rows entirely to ashes. The three following rows, protected by the first, and the distance, remained standing, although considerably damaged and badly scorched. The injury done to the sixth row was naturally not so great. A goodly number of branches, nevertheless, were scorched and unable to resist the heat, while the remainder subsequently exhibited a peculiar phenomenon—viz., a second flowering. This began at the end of September, and in October all the branches of the trees, except those that had been

scorched, were covered with blossoms, as in she month -of, May, the ones most heavily laden, with flowers being those that had been most exposed to action of heat. That is not all. In another direction the fire had ceased in the vicinity of some lilac bushes., and these, as well as some plum trees, flowered anew, the lilacs in particular being covered with blossoms. The conflagration lasted but four hours at the most, and there is therefore nothing here that resembles an ordinary forcing. All the species that blossomed are those whose buds for the following year are formed in the month of August. Now the facts gathered by M. Jolly, an eye-witness, seem to show that it is. possible for a momentary but strong action of heat to produce a second flowering. Does this exert a local influence, a certain desiccation of the organs of the tree ? It is possible, and we have seen that a previous desiccation is necessary for forcing, just at it is, according to Geard, for the parthenogenetic developments of certain eggs. At all events, the fact might serve as - a starting-point for experiments from which might be derived practical hints for the forcing of fruits and flowers.