28 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



THE LIGHT OF FIRE-FLIES 



The nature of the light emitted by fire- 

 flies has been the subject of speculation 

 for many years, and it has generally been 

 described as phosphorescent. An article 

 in Nature for November 23, 1911, from 

 which the following notes are abstracted, 

 gives results of experiments in testing the 

 light given by fire-flies, by means of 

 photographic plates. 



The investigators who carried out the 

 experiments, state that they observed the 

 beautiful green fluorescence of the light 

 emitted by an insect of the genus Luciola, 

 of the family Malacodermidae, and were 

 led to enquire whether the light was of 

 the nature of the X-rays produced in the 

 Crookes tube. 



An enquiry was instituted to see how 

 this light aft'ected photographic plates, 

 especially when media of several sorts 

 were interposed between the plates and the 

 source of light. The media tried were 

 wood, dark-brown leather, flesh (mutton) 

 and black paper. After several trials, it 

 was found that the plates were affected 

 after exposure for two hours through flesh 

 and black paper, and three hours through 

 leather and wood. 



The trials showed further that, as far as 

 its effect on photographic plates is con- 

 cerned, insect light is similar in intensity 

 to lamplight, but it also has the important 

 characteristic that this intensity is not va- 

 ried, even when objects opaque to ordinary 

 light are interposed between the insect and 

 the plate. This light is intercepted by 

 glass, in which respect also it differs from 

 ordinary light. 



It is concluded that the light of the fire- 

 fly experimented with is not phosphores- 

 cent. It may, on the other hand, be pre- 

 mature to conclude that the light rays 

 emitted by the insect are the same as 

 X-rays, but it may safely be asserted that 

 they are similar to the X-rays and the 

 ultra violet light, in that they render certain 

 opaque media transparent, and are inter- 

 cepted by glass. — Agricultural Nezvs. 



The Cucuyo of Cuba may be of the 

 genus Luciola, for the beautiful green 

 fluorescence noted is marked in the Cucuyo. 

 The light emitted by this insect is dazzling 

 and brightens or dims as it is held in the 

 hand. — Editor The Cuba Review. 



Senator Gonzalo Perez of Havana is the 

 author of a bill which is intended to be 

 used in bringing about the much desired 

 immigration of laborers to Cuba. His plan 

 is to provide for a voluntary contribution 

 from planters to be used in subsidizing the 

 steamship conipanies who shall bring im- 

 migrants and their families for a low rate, 

 and to aid these failles after a year's 

 residence in Cuba. 



TO PURIFY DRINKING WATER 



The use of chloride of lime for rendering 

 water free from infection, and fit for 

 drinking is thus described in the Journal 

 of the Royal .Iriiiy Medical Corps, 1911, 

 p. .50. 



(1) Take a spoonful of chloride of lime, 

 containing about one-third available chlo- 

 rine, and remove the excess of powder by 

 rolling a pencil or other round object along 

 the top, of the spoon, or by flattening it 

 with a penknife blade, so that the excess 

 will be squeezed off. 



(2) Dissolve the teaspoonful of chloride 

 of lime in a cupful of water, making sure 

 that all lumps are thoroughly broken up, 

 and to it, in any convenient receptacle, add 

 three more cupfuls of water. 



(3) Stir up the mixture, allow to stand 

 for a few seconds in order to let any 

 particles settle (this stock solution if kept 

 in a tightly-stoppered bottle may be used 

 for four or five days), and add one tea- 

 spoonful of this milky stock solution to 2 

 gallons of the water to be purified, in a 

 pail or other receptacle. Stir thoroughly 

 in order that the weak chlorine solution 

 will come into contact with all the bacteria, 

 and allow to stand for ten minutes. This 

 will give approximately one-half part of 

 free chlorine to a million parts of water, 

 and will effectually destroy all typhoid and 

 colon bacilli, or other dysentery-producing 

 bacilli in the water. The water will be 

 without taste or odor, and the trace of 

 free chlorine added rapidly disappears. — - 

 Agricultural Mezvs. 



PITCH PINE EXPORTATIONS 



Exports of pine from all gulf ports to 

 Cuba for six months ending June 30th in 

 square feet : 



1912 

 y4,3."34,079 



1911 

 oS,.589,219 



1910 

 74,014,163 



Cuban shipment since January 1, 1912, 

 totals 51,566,429 feet, four million less than 

 a year ago, and seventeen million less than 

 for the same period in 1910. Of this quan- 

 tity 23,351,798 feet was to Havana, which 

 maintains the customary proportion, but 

 Havana shipment of the last few weeks 

 has been light. — Gulf Coast Record. 



GILTNERBROS.,Emmence,Ky.,U.S.A. 



Dealers and breeders of 

 Kentucky Stallions, Mares 

 and Jacks. 



Hereford, Shorthorn, Hoi- 

 stein and Jersey bulls. Well 

 broken mules in car lots for 

 sugar planters. 

 Export Trade a Specialty. 



Prices named on animals 

 delivered anywhere in the 

 world. Write xts your wants. 



