?52 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 





COUNTRY LORE 



CONDUCTED BY JAMES QUICK. 



New Vernier Microscope. — Messrs. John J. 

 •Griffin and Sons, Ltd., of Sardinia Street, W.C., 

 have lately introduced some more new pieces of 

 apparatus, which will be certain to supply a 

 desideratum in the various schools and colleges. 

 Among these may be mentioned a useful vernier 

 microscope for measuring lengths, etc. Along the 

 top of a perfectly rigid cast iron base run two parallel, 

 deeply cut grooves in which slides a substantially built 

 brass carriage, supporting a smaller carriage running 

 between parallel guides. Upon the smaller carriage, 

 the reading microscope is fixed. A thick brass strip 

 the entire length of the base, let in flush with the 

 top, is accurately graduated into half millimetres. 

 Readings can easily be obtained to ^ths mm., by 

 means of a vernier which is attached to the carriage 

 holding the microscope. This carriage is moved 



backwards or forwards by means of a fine adjustment 

 screw, as shown in the accompanying illustration. 



Wireless Telegraphy. — Mr. Marconi arrived 

 back in England from America towards the end of 

 last month by the " St. Paul," and when the vessel 

 had approached to within some sixty miles of the 

 Needles, wireless messages were commenced between 

 the two, and were repeated frequently as the vessel 

 approached land. The passengers on board therefore 

 had the unique opportunity of obtaining the current 

 news long before disembarking. The ship's com- 

 positor made good use of the occasion by printing, on 

 the spot, a miniature newspaper containing the news 

 received, and then selling the same at one dollar per 

 copy ; the receipts being handed over to the Sea- 

 men's Fund. It has been reported that the Marconi 

 Wireless Telegraph Company has been incorporated 

 in New York with a capital of ten million dollars, to 

 introduce and work Mr. Marconi's patents in America. 



J. F. N.- G. — The Editor cannot admit anonymous 

 communications in any part of Science-Gossip. 

 Please send name and address. 



Tulips and Orchids in Southern France. 



About the month of April, springing up in the 

 early corn and under the plum trees, may be 

 seen the first flowering tulips. The yellow Tulipa 

 sylvcslris comes first, a long, narrow bud opening 

 to a lovely yellow and scented flower. It is a 

 beautiful sight to see them thus in full bloom, all 

 wide and reflecting the sun's rays from their shining 

 petals ; just a little protected by their faint green 

 leaves. Thus they seem to gracefully arise among 

 the lightly sprouting corn, a contrast to the curious 

 bare brown twisted stems of the vines. About two 

 weeks later sprung up the great open red cups of the 

 Tulipa oculus-solis, shining like blood through the 

 sunlight. These flowers have a black centre, are 

 larger and with more spreading leaves. Mixed with 

 the yellow, in the shade of the branching, lichen- 

 clothed trees, tangled with ivy, wild vine, and 

 clematis, they form as fair a sight as flowers can give 

 us on a fresh spring day. Again, on the hills, in 

 the Cevennes, wild tulips blossom so high and thick 

 as to obstruct the view, and they are crushed under 

 foot by the shepherd or peasant in passing. 

 Earlier than the tulips are the daffodils, and 

 I do not know which are the lovelier. The 

 daffodils run simply wild, all in golden tufts and 

 groups. From a distance, one sees nothing but a 

 clear golden stretch, and the farmer's plough cutting 

 through the land catches their roots, nipping off the 

 beautiful dancing heads. The white narciss in the 

 broad meadows grow in great rising tufts. Jonquils 

 are under the great spreading elms on grassy 

 banks near the roadsides, while the blackthorn and 

 wild plum drop a shower of light petals on the 

 ground, exquisitely white as snow. Little white 

 delicately scented hyacinths also grow on the banks 

 of the river Lol, and above, over the stretching 

 vineyards, the star of Bethlehem opens wide in the 

 sun ; the starry blossoms of pure white, striped white 

 and green on the outer side. In tufts of grass are 

 the grape hyacinths, a dull blue, each flower a little 

 globe of honey for the bees. The meadows, marsh 

 land, ditches and open hillside, have a charm of 

 their own in the different orchid flowers. The 

 early purple orchis {Orchis mascula) decks the 

 meadows, while the green-winged meadow orchis 

 (Orchis mono) is found in the damp limestone 

 meadows. The sweet scented orchis (Gymnadoiiia 

 conopsea) rose-purple, with a quaint long spur, is 

 found on the hilly pastures. Some which I up- 

 rooted in bud, were carried home in moss, 

 where they flourished in pots, blooming well. 

 The meadow grasses are nearly all flowers by the end 

 of April. Orchis pyramidalis, a lovely rose pink, 

 flowers with the quaking grass and early budding moon 

 daisy. Along the roadsides, where during all winter 

 one has seen its broad freshly shining leaves, blossoms 

 forth Orchis hircina, a. brownish green flower, and 

 smelling. In the woods, butterfly orchis (Habenaria 

 bifolia), a lovely white scented orchis, springs up in 

 the damp mossy glades. 



(Miss) Hampson, London. 



