Notes and News. 8g 



NO TES AND NE WS. 



Germanium is an addition to the list of known elementary sub- 

 stances, discovered by Dr. Clemens Winkler, a German chemist. 

 It exists in combination with silver and sulphur in arg-yrodite, a 

 new mineral. 



Coffee trees nearly seven feet in height, of rapid developmentand 

 very productive of berries, that resemble in appearance and flavor 

 those oi Arabia, are reported from West Africa. Experiments will 

 be made at once in its cultivation in favorable localites. 



At Yakutsh, Siberia, it is estimated that the ground is frozen to 

 a depth of over 600 feet. A well, was many years ago, sunk to a 

 depth of 382 feet, without penetrating the frozen ground. 



Reindeer hair and skin possess remarkable buoyancy, and when 

 the unshorn skin is used as a life belt, it has the advantage over 

 cork of warming the wearer while in the water. Suits of the 

 weight of a pound may keep a man from drowning, while it fur- 

 nishes greater protection from cold than oilskin or other materials. 



An electric machine takes the place of the old ruler in a Swiss 

 school for the punishment of pupils. 



A bluish green glow about the top of Mount Blanc, sometimes 

 visible till 10:30 p. M., has been observed by M. Zengler, who con- 

 cludes that it is due to the mingling of ice and carbonate of lime. 



It is estimated that not less than five hundred periodicals have 

 discontinued publication during the past year. Perhaps a third as 

 many more have been started in the same period. 



Canada is to have a new postal card design. 



The new U S. postal card is a decided improvement on the 

 older designs. 



Geo. F. Kunz, of New York, has promised to contribute to the 

 Scientist. His eminence as an authority on gems and minerals, 

 will render the contributions from his pen of value as u ell as en- 

 tertaining. 



Ventura County is still largely unexplored scientifically, says 

 the Pacific Science Mojithly. The same might be said of each of 

 our southern counties as well. 



The first brick house built south of Point Conception, is said to 

 be one in Old San Diego, built in 1856. 



Several years ago, several gentlemen in Old San Diego placed 

 a few bottles of honey under the eaves of adobe an house. Later 

 they desired to use it, but found the corks had been eaten away 

 and that all the honey had disappeared. They laid the theft to 

 the rats, who they supposed had extracted the liquid by dipping 

 their tails into the bottles. We would advise them to inquire of 

 the ants for the honey. 



