224 
SCIENCE. 
of the wood has long been known, its liability to •winter-kill’ 
and its irregular, crooked growth has prevented its being 
planted for timber.” 
Much space is also given in this report to the subject 
of Fungi on living plants, which are more disastrous 
to crops than the ravages of insects. These forms include 
rusts, smuts, mildews, rots, blights, etc., the rust alone 
on wheat taking from the former more than all the tax 
collectors, and creating such losses as to frighten cul 
tivators from their business. Professor Burrill regrets that 
the study of Fungi receives so little attention in this country, 
and says the number of American botanists who have pub- 
lished original accounts of the development of any fungous 
species may be counted on the fingers of one hand. As 
much practical importance and scientific interest is attached 
to such a study, we trust many botanists may in the future 
give more of their time to original investigations in this 
direction. 
MICROSCOPY. 
The America)i Monthly Microscopical Journal 
for October, describes a warm stage for the Micros- 
cope, by Professor E. H. Bartley. It has the advan- 
tage of being so simple that it can be constructed at 
home with a tew inexpensive materials. We once saw 
this apparatus shown by the inventor at the New York 
Microscopical Society, and considered it a success. 
Simple forms of mechanical figures are described by 
Mr. J. Sullivant. 
Professor C. C. Merriman’s interesting paper on the 
microscopical collections made by him in Florida, occu- 
pies nine pages of this number. 
We regret that Mr. Frederick Habirshaw’s “ Catalogue 
of the Diatomacece ” will be delayed in the publication 
for the want of sufficient promise of patronage. This 
may arise from many not understanding the nature of 
the work or its construction. If the editor of the Amer- 
ican Monthly Microscopical Journal, who has the 
matter in hand, would print a sample page in his journal, 
it might remove such a difficulty. We believe we have 
heard the author himself state that the book in question 
would be useless to those not having a full library of 
works on the subject, so as to avail themselves of the 
ample references he makes to the published literature of 
the subject. 
The demand for such a work must be very limited ; on 
the other hand a condensation of all this literature would 
be very welcome. A comprehensive work on the diato- 
maceas, well illustrated, is much wanted and if issued in 
monthly parts, at a moderate price, would command a 
fair sale both at home and abroad. 
Mr. Habirshaw appears to have the material for such 
a work in his possession, and he has given ample proof 
of his literary ability to undertake the task. 
We think ten dollars would be better invested in a 
work such as we suggest, than five dollars in an index to 
a scattered literature, which the purchaser can never 
hope to possess. 
PHYSICAL NOTES. 
Observation Made on a Group of Rays in the Solar 
Spectrum. — L. Thollon figures and describes a group of 
four rays, situate in the Orange. Two of these rays be- 
long to Iron, their wave-lengths being respectively 59761 
and 5974'6. The other two are Telluric, and their wave- 
lengths are 5976'35 and 5974'36. 
Cause of the Variations of the Fixed Points of 
Thermometers. — J. M. Crafts cites some experiments 
which reduce to nothing, or almost so, the part play- 
ed by pressure in the permanent elevation of the zero- 
point. The glass blown at the lamp and exposed for a long 
time to the action of heat diminishes in volume by means of 
some internal change, and it is not demonstrated that pres- 
sure plays any part whatever in the phenomenon. The par- 
ticles of glass which have been removed asunder whilst it 
was being blown do not return immediately to their normal 
position at a lower temperature ; we observe disturbances 
for some time, and finally the glass may remain for a long 
time in a state of tension at the ordinary temperature. The 
action of heat at a given temperature (eg., 355°), giving a 
greater mobility to the particles, favors their return to the 
normal position, and gives scope to a contraction. But 
the glass, when cooling from this latter temperature retains 
a part of the displacement peculiar to 355°. On heating 
again to a lower temperature (e.g., 300°) a new decrease of 
volume is produced, so that a very slow cooling, which pro- 
duces successively all these effects upon the particles of 
glass, must ensure the greatest stability. 
Rapid Alcoholic Fermentation. — In order to effect 
rapid fermentation for the destruction of the sugar contain- 
ed in wines, J. Bouissngault suggests that the sample be 
mixed with water and yeast, and placed in connection with 
an exhausting syringe, reduces the pressure, and thus which 
eliminates the alcohol as fast as formed. The fermentation, 
not being checked by its presence, goes on till all the sugar 
is decomposed. 
Inconveniences, from a Physiological Point of View, 
of the Substitution of Amyi.ic Alcohol for Ether in 
Stas’s Process for the Detection of Morphine. — As 
amylic alcohol, even in very small doses, produces in ani- 
mals systoms closely resembling narcotism, and as it is not 
readily removed from the cadaveric extract, physiological 
experimentation in confirmation of the chemical reactions of 
morphine is rendered untrustworthy . — Cornpes Rendus. 
Influence of the Galvanic Current on Bacteria F. 
Cohn and B. Mendelsohn carried out their experiments 
to verify the assertion of Schiel, that the galvanic current 
prevented the development of Bacteria. The results were 
that a feeble current from one pair of elements had 
no perceptible effect ; a current from two elements ren- 
dered the solution inactive at the positive pole ; a current 
from five, continued for twenty-four hours, completely ster- 
ilized the whole solution, and deprived it of its power to 
infect another solution. The solution at the positive pole 
was first affected ; with the stronger current the liquid be- 
came acid at the positive and alkaline at the negative pole. 
The induction current had no perceptible effect on the Bac- 
teria. — Jour. Chem. Soc. 
Effect of Age on the Quality of Iron. — Previous 
tests have shown that iron, subject to even fifty years of use 
and exposure, is not perceptibly changed in quality, either in 
strength or elasticity. Professor Thurston recently tested 
the remains of the Fairmount Suspension Bridge, which 
had been in use forty years, and found the iron in no man 
ner deteriorated. 
Phosphorescent Lighting. — Dr. Phipson takes Sul- 
phide of Barium, or some other substance which is rendered 
phosphorescent by the solar rays, and encloses it in a 
Geissler tube, through which he passes a constant electric 
current of a feeble but regular intensity. He claims to ob- 
tain in this manner a uniform and agreeable light, at a 
lower cost than that of gas. 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
Sugar Analysis — A Description of the Methods 
used in Estimating the Constituents. By 
M. Benjamin, Ph. B. New York. 1880. 
To those who desire a concise and practical guide to 
this subject, Dr. Benjamin’s essay, published in pamphlet 
form with twenty illustrations, will perhaps be more ser- 
viceable than a more elaborate work. The essential facts 
for a general comprehension of the subject have been 
judiciously arranged. 
