Science Siftings

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 10, 7 March 1907, Page 35

Science Siftings

By 'Volt*

First Cultivated Rose. It is said that the first cultivated rose was planted in Belgium in the year 1522. The damask rose was taken tci England from France in d 573, the moss rose ab0ut^.,1724 and the China rose 50 years latter. Concerning Watches. No watch keeps absolutely correct . time, and even the most trustworthy chronometers used in observa- - tories arid on board ship must be regulated according to tables - that are kept to fix the variations to which all timepieces are liable. "The 'Potato. The Spaniards met .with the potato in Peru, where it had long been cultivated by the natives, but it was well nigh a hundred before it was taken over to Europe. In 1557-'- we- hear of its being introduced into . Spain, while in the previous year Sir -Walter Raleigh , began to cultivate it in Ireland from seed which was taken over from North Carolina. TheXatest Skyscraper. Plans have been filed for the completion of a new,, building in Madison-avenue and Fourth-avenue, New York. They provide for the construction of a tower 74ft square, 48 storeys high, with a dome 657 ft above the pavement. II will be tire, loftiest building in the world, and its erection will cost £600,000.. Telephone in Pocket. ' A pocket telephone for police purposes is the most novel thing in telephony. It is said to be seen in daily use in Vienna, where every policeman on duty is provided with the necessary appliance. In every street of importance are special call-boxes, and a anian to communicate with his_ station has only to pull out his pocket apparatus and adjust it to the wire in the bcix. Artificial Sponges. . Artificial sponges are made in Germany by treating pure cellulose with zinc chloride. The product swells in water and on drying |b(eco.mes (tuand* But to prevent, this action alkalihatoids are used. A pasty mass is thus obtained, which, being treated with rock salt, is then placed in a mould. When removed, it appeals to be traversed by canals in all directions, and after having been washed in alcohol and water the sponge is ready for use. Town Falling into a Lake. The town 'of Travernola on the Lake of Iseo, which saw several of its streets sink into the lake a few months ago, is now seriously alarmed because expert geologists have just declared that every house and • street in the town will suffer a like fate because of the shifting clay on which the town is built. The authorities are trying to save the town by driving piles. v Strange Fish. A naturalist in Colorado claims to have discovered a species of fish which lives and flourishes in a' hot spring in a remote part of that country. How these creatures manage to exist in water almost hot enough! to» boil them is a mystery ._ The fish are described as being a light red color, about three inches long. They are shaped somewhat like a pike, with large mouth and bright prominent eyes". ' They move very slowly, having none ,of the swiftness and activity of ordinary fishes, which Is perhaps hardly to be wondered at. The naturalist had great difficulty in securing specimens. Hook and line were useless, as the fish were indifferent to bait, however tempting. Finally a small net was prc cured, and two of the fish captured. The spring is well known to the Indians of the locality, who regard "its waters are curative and hold the fish in superstitious awe, believing that from , them the water derives the -healing equalities.