146 The West American Scientist. 



New York, Chicago and St. Louis are rivals for the honor of 

 the next great World's Exposition, which will commemorate the 

 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. 



Wm. C. Strong, in Garden and Forest, favors transplanting 

 evergreen trees in August instead of in spring. The latter method 

 is often unsatisfactory. 



A new powder has been invented in Europe, which in firing gives 

 out but a slight vapor and hardly any report. Troops furnished 

 with this smokeless and noiseless powder executed all movements 

 with ease without annoyance of obscuring clouds of smoke. 



A schooner recently picked up in the Atlantic ocean what 

 resembled a chunk of grease floating in the water. It proved to 

 be ambergris, worth thirty dollars an ounce. The mass weighed 

 about fifty pounds. 



Watches are now being made to run by electricity, that re- 

 quire no attention for a year after starting. 



Typewriters will soon be placed on the market so small that 

 one can carry one in his vest pocket without inconvenience. They 

 will do as good work as the large and expensive machines, it is 

 claimed, and will cost less than $2.50. 



A young man in Virginia is reported to be absolute proof 

 against electricity. 



Henry Shaw, of St. Louis, founder of the Shaw Botanic 

 Garde n, died recently at his home. The Agave Shawii, of San 

 Diego, was named for him by his friend Dr. Engelmann. 



The publishers of St. Nicholas announce that that popular 

 childrens' magazine is to be enlarged, beginning with the new 

 volume, which opens with November, 1889, anc ^ tna ^ a new an d 

 clearer type will be adopted. 'Four important serial stories by 

 four well-known American authors will be given during the com- 

 ing year, 



During the coming volume The Century is to have an illus- 

 trated series of articles on the French Salons of the seventeenth 

 and eighteenth centuries, including pen portraits of many of the 

 leaders and a detailed account of the organization and composi- 

 tion of several historical salons. A great number of interesting 

 portraits will be given with the series. 



The Italian Admiralty have recently caused to be carried out 

 a number of experiments with a view of testing the comparative 

 merits of castor oil and olive oil for lubricating purposes on board 

 ship. From the results obtained they have given orders that 

 henceforth all exposed parts of machinery are to be lubricated 

 exclusively with castor oil, while mineral oils are to be used for 

 cylinder and similar lubrications. 



Persons who have been experimenting as to the comparative 

 value of trees in different localities are inclined to the opinion that 

 the willow and the Norway spruce are the most valuable. varieties 

 for planting on the vast plains of the west for protection of crops 

 and houses against destructive winds, 



