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APRIL 16, 1887. SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT, No. 589.

941S

HERBACEOUS ANV SHRUBBY CLEMATISES. Clematises may be used in various ways, but that invirgin's bower, is an interesting early kind. Its flowers,
wh ich we think they look best is creeping ove!' old which are white 01' greenish white, are produced in
THE great improveillents that have, within the last stumps or draping trees, which thtiy do very gracefully.
bunches, as may,be seen by the annexed illustration.
few years, taken place in our garden clematises, as well Many of them are also very effective overhanginglargeIt is cOluparatively hardy, hnd flowers freely in sheltered
as the introduction of new kinds, have deservedly raised bowlders in the rockery, such as we see in Battersea positions. In floral brightness, ho\\'e\'l'r, few equal C.
them to the foremost rank among hardy climbers. C. Park and in the new rockery at Kew. Old ruins, walls,montana var. granoiflora, a perfectly hardy sort, even
jackmanni may be seen almost everywhere, and used isolated heaps of brickwork, and old roois llIay aB be
in the most exposed situations, and one which produces
in all sorts of ways. In the neighborhood of London improved and beautified by these eharming climbers. such a profusion of large pure white flowers as to en­
especially hardly a garden worthy of the name is with- Among the most useful are C. )lammula, a native of tirely hide the foliage. It is.a native of Nepaul, and
blooms during the greater part of the summer.
C. viticella is another weU-known species, a native
of Spain and Italy, and one which has sweetly scented
flowers. Under cultivation it has become greatly im­
proved; its flowers, which are large, are reddish purpIe,
and there are double forms of it. It is not such a ram­
pant grower as C. montana, but when allowed to grow
unchecked on low trees 01' on rustic supports, it makes
a very effective plant. Others are virginiana, vitalba,
ligusticifolia, lanuginosa, florida, crispa, balearica� etc.
Clematises suitable for herbaceous borders or beas are
also very numerous, and when run over rustic supports,
such as the tops of small larches, they look truly
beautiful mixed with other plants. Most of them
flower �U through the summer months, and many are
useful In a cut state for wreaths, etc. Among these
may be mentioned C. rethusrefolia, a native of North­
ern Asia. Its flowers, as may be seen, are thim ble­
shaped, and produced iIi great profusion aU through
the summer months.
Being nearly white, they are shown off to advantage
by the pale green foliage. C. campaniflora bears a
profusion of pale purplish flowers, which are very orna­
mental. It is useful for copses, covering old stUlupS,
ahd it is also effective in mixed borders. It is a natIve
of Southern Europe, and flowers in summer. C.
viorna, t,he leather flower of the United .States, is a
pretty small flowered species, the sflpals of which are
thick and leathery and purplish in color. The variety
eoccinea is a native of Texas, and has only recently
been brought into notice. It is one of the prettiest of
the small flowered section; its sepals, which are leath­
ery, as in viorna, are vermilion on the outside and
yellow within. They last a considerable time in per­
fection after opening. In ruany places it has proved
quite hardy against a wall, and will doubtless be largely
grown when more plentiful. It takes some time to be­
come established, ano it must be treated carefully
during the first two or three years. A south wall, if it
can be had, will be found best for it, and the soil in
which it is planted should be deep and rich. C. pit­
C. lETHUSlEFOLIA. cheri, davidiana, tubulosa, stans, integrifolia, angusti­
C. GRAVEOLENS.
folia, baldwini, douglasi, frelllonti, ochroleuca, etc"
THE CLEMATIS. are aU worthy of notice. The shrubby kinds are easily
propagated by means of layers or cuttings made of the
young wood; the others should be increased by di­
out a plant of it. I have even seen it flourishing in Southern Europe, but as hardy and free as the wild C. vision and seeds, which should be sown as soon as
wi�dow boxes, and it is not at all unusual to see veran- vitalba. It looks wen on old rockwork or tree stumps, gathered. D.
das entirely covered with plants of it growing in small producing dtlDSe panicles of smaU white hawthorn
boxes. In the case of this clematis and its hybrids, scented flowers. C. crerulea, a near ally of C. flQrida,
good rich soil should be used unsparingly in the first introduced from Japan about 1834, has large pale violet DWARFS AND GIANTS.
instance, and a top-dressing of good manure should bfl flowers. It is the parent of many garden forms, both
added annually after ward, 01' at least when required. single and double, none of which surpasses the type in THE history of the variations in stature in France is
The general practice is to leave them unpruned until beauty. C. graveolens, here illustrated, is another a most complex one. At the epoch of the Roman inva­
spring, when they are merely cleared of dead wood, species with strongly scented flowers, which are pale sion, Gaul, according to Julius Cresar, was peopled by
leaving shoots on which there are fresh, healthy buds yellowish green; although not so ornamental as those three very distinct races. In the north and northwest

C. CIRRHOSA.

undisturbed, They are sometime!< also cut down al­


together, and, I am told, with gooo results, but I have
not had sufficient, experience of this practice to recom­
mend it. Kinds possessing- a woody character will only
require the removal of the superfluous shoots annually.

lived the Belgii, or Cimbri, who were blonde and of a


tall stature. An examination of their skeletons, dis­
covered in recent times, shows that their skull was
elongated, . that is, that they were dolicocephalous.
The west and center of France were occupied by a
very numerous race, that of the Celts. 'fhese were
dark skinned, not very tall, and had a round head,
that is, they were brachycephalous. The mountain
dwellers of Auvergne have preserved the type of the
ancient Celtic race, and we find it likewise in Brittany.
At the �t}uth dwelt the Iberian race, which, according
to habitat, was divided into the Aquitani, Ligures,
and others. Of this race, the Basques of our time seem
to be the most direct descendants.
Long before the Roman invasion, in the period of
polished stone, that is to say, at aperiod that mayoe
dated back twenty-five or thirty centuries, Gaul already
contained several racp,s of men. Some of these not
only lived side by side, but allied themselves with each
other 'I'he recent discovery, by Mr. Thicullen, of a
wry large number of skeletons in a tumulu� at qr�cy­
en-Brie <Seine·et-Marne) has confirmed thIS oplDlOn.
An examination of these skeletons shows that they
belong to at least two races--one or great stature, hav­
C. CAMPANIFLORA. ing a dolicocephalous skull, and the other of llIedium
of some kinds, they are produced more plentifully, and
the fruits with their long feathery tails relllain until height, with a brachycephalous skull. A few of the
They flower on the current vear's wood, and an proper­ Novem bel'. skeletons, t.hrough their stature and the shape of the
ly placed shoots should be left so as to insure good C. graveolens is a free grower, ano does weil in any skulls, show awixture of these two races. At an epoch
young growth. Such sorts as C. graveoleus, C. mon­ partly sheltered spot. The leaves, which are triternate, llIore recent than that of the Roman invasion, Gaul
tana, C. cirrhosa, and others do weB in ordinary garden have a pretty glaucous sheen, not unlike that of C. was overrun by sevpral other peoples, such' as the
soi! of good' depth, hut we, n evertheless, find a top­ songarica 01' angustifolia. It was. introduced about 'I'eutons, the Helvetians, the HU lls, and the Moors.
dressing occasionally to be very beneficialtothe major­ 1844 by Captain Munro, when in India, but it is a,lso Later on caUle the Normans and the English, and eVflry
ity of them. found in Chinese Tartary. C. cirrhosa, the evergreen invasion of short duration b.ad its influence upon the

© 1887 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC


�IENTIFIC AMERICAN St:JPPLEMENT, No. 589. A�IL 18, 18�'t.
original inhabitants. Notwithstanding the time that and never was over inches in heigh't He was per­
�9 The J'ows can be about one-eighth of an inch apart,
has elapsed since these invasions, we still find their fect1y weIl formed; his head was weIl proportioned; and therefore in a space ten inches square nearly'
influence at the present day wben we endeavor to his eyes were beautiful and full of fire; his features elements can,be placed. The plate is then warmed
800
determine tbe origin vf tbe various groups of inbabit­ were handsome, and his,physiognomy was intellectual carefully so as n9t to crack, and a mixture of beeswax
ants of a region. In Brittany, for example, we still and pOl'trayed the gayety, politeness, and refinement and resin, which melts more easily tban shellac, is then
meet witb the two principal races of Gaul, witb tbeir of his mind. He was straight and weIl formed, and his poured on the plate to a depth ofbalf an inch, to hold
weIl marked allthropological cbaracters. On tbe waste knees, legs, and feet were of the exact proportions of the elements in place. A frame of wbod is made around
lands of tbe center we find tbe Celts. Tbeir aspect is those of a weIl built and vigorous man. lf we take a the back of the plate, with a ring screwed to the center,
characteristic, and tbey I}re designated in tbe country mean between these two extremes, the giant Winckel­ so that the whole can be .hung up w�th the zinc and
as Menoz-inhabitants of tbe mountains of Menez. At meler (8% ft.) and the dwarf B6rulawsky (29 in.), it will copper elements beIm\-. When required for use, lower
other points, principally in tbe valleys, we find tbe be seen that it is 5% ft., and the difference in the so as to dip the tips of the elements into a pan of water,
Cymric type. This type has been especially weil pre­ heights is 6b- ft. It is to be remal'ked that thitl higher and haug up again. The space between the elements
served in the greatest purity in certain communes Illean approaches that of the stature of Frenchmen. being T\ in. will hold a drop of water which �will not
wbose inbabitants ally tbemselves only with eacb It has seemed to us of interest to figure, compal'atively, evaporate for possibly an hour. 'l'hus the battery i:s in
other. Upon tbe northern coast the race is very fine, the proportional height of these two extreme specimens operation in a minute, and is perfectl insulated by the l
and differs in every respect from tbe races of tbe center. of man's stature. The portrait of the dwarf Borulaw­ glass and cement. This is the form have used; but
It seems to have originated from the invasions of peo­ sky was taken from a print of the period, and that of the strips might better be soldered face to face along
pIes from the north of Europe. Most of the inhabit­ Winckelmeler from a recent photograph. Near these one edge, cut up, and then upened."
ants of the country are a product of the crossing of two are placed figures of a newly·bol'n child of a mean
these, three typical races. height of inches an infantry soldier 5 ft. in height,
18
When a region presents several types of individuals, a man of medium J neigbt (5% ft.), and a cuirassier 6 ft. A CATALOGUE containing brief notices of many im­
we are almost always certain to find in the uplands of in height. This engraving g�ves the different varia­ portant scientific papers heretofore published in the
the less fertile parts the autochthonous race, either tions in human stature.-La Nature. SUPPLEMENT, may be had gratis at this office.
pure or more or less crossed, while the descendants of
the invading race are met with in the plains and val­
leys, where the fertility is greater. Very frequently, THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER AT CRARAE T:::J3[ EI
in fact, the stature of the population is less on tne QUARRY.
table lands than it is on the plains, and this is explained
by' hereditary influences, and the influence of fet:· A BLUEBOOK has been published containing the re­ Scientific American Supplement.
tjUty, both of which, in this case, conspire to the same port of Coloni'll A. Ford, her Majesty's inspector of ex­
enQ. plosiveR, on the circumstances attending the explosion PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
'l'he· Extremes 01 Human Stature.-In the most at Crarae Quarry, Loch Fyne, on September 25, last
diverse populations, we now and then meet with indi- year. It will be remembered that a large party went Terms of Subscription, $5 a year.
viduals wliose stature varies greatly from the mean, on a steamer to see the effect of some blasting opera!
being greater, as in giants, or less, as in dwarfs. Tera- tions in the quarry, and that after the explosion they
Sent by mai!, postage prepaid, to subscribers in any
tology, or the study of monsters, finds no satisfactory visited the spot. Many of them wereseized with faint­
part of the U nited States or Canada. Six dollars a
explanation' of the causes of great variations such as ness, six were dead when rescued, one died afterward,
year, sent, prepaid, to any foreign country.
these. It is interesting to compare the stature of the and five were conveyed to the infirmary a.t Greenock,
IRrgast giants with that of the smallest dwarfs, as from where they recovered. Colonel Ford gives, in minute
such a comparison we can determine the extreme sta· detail, the gases which must have escaped after the ex­
. plosion of All the back numbers of T HE SUPPLEMENT, from the
ture of the human species. pounds of gunpowder, and describes
13,000 commencement, January can be had. Price,
1, 1876,
10cents each.

All the back volumes of T HE !;:;UPPLEMENT can like


wise be supplied. Two volumes are issued yearly.
Price of eacn volume, $2.50 stitched in paper, 01' $ . 50 3
bound in stiff covers.

COMBINED RATEs.-One copy of ScIENTIFIC AMERl­


CAN and one copy of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLE­
MENT, one year, postpaid, $7.00.
A liberal discount to bookselJers, news agents, and
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MUNN &, CO •• Publishers.
361 Broadway, New York, N. Y.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.
P�GIC
I.
BOTANY.-Herbaceous and Sbrnbby Clematlses.-Tbe varlous
flowering plants of tbis genus descrlbed.-5 illustraions.............. !H13
IL CHEMISl'RY.-Genesis lot the Elements.-Revlew of Prof.
Crookes' speculatlons.-The modiflcatlon of MendelejeJl". law.­
Protyle the antecedent of hydrogen and aU elements.-l illustra-
tlon ..... ............................... ...... ..... ......................... IHll
Oxalic Acid for the Separation of Varlous Metals.-By C. J.uc·
Kow.-The qUHontir.ative separation oM:netals in Rnalysis.-Interest·
iDJl: 8upplemer.t to Classen's resesl'ches ............ .. . .... 9410
. . . . . . . . . &.,

IH. ENGINEERING.-Hooped Crltnk Axles. London and Brighton


Railway.-A balanced boop for strengtbeningcrank welds, possess·
ing strength independent. ofits weld.-2 illustrations . ................ 9{02
I
1!1�:;l<ie:��1in�J:r:;;r':.St �'l,� 'l��� W'ln����"c���;Vy'1An%i�fe:.�
Dimensions and det.ails of construction.-2 ill ustrations ..... ..... ... 94(Xi
Rotation IndicatOl'.-lnll'enious apparatus, depending for its
readings on the centrifugtlol force imparted to a rolumn of air.-5
illustrations .................. .. ........... ............ . ..... ....... . . ... 9403
The Hydrophone.-An apparatu8 for detecting leaks in water
mo,ins by microphony.-1 illustration . ........... .. .... .... ........... 94(N �

IV. MEDICINE AN/) PHYSIOJ.OUY.-The Eliology and Cure of


Asthma.-By EnwlN J. KUH, M.D.-Dust inhRlation as the cause
of colds and sg'gravator of ast.hma.-lts treatment by galvano·
cautery."-Probabilities of the success of the operation ..... .... ." 9412
H

V. MlCROSCOPY.-Orienting Objeots in Pal'alline.-An extremely


Simple and practical method for mounUng objects.-Illlustration .. IH11
VI. MISCE L LA N KO US.-Dwarfs and Glants.-The extremes of human
VARIATIONS IN HUMAN STATURE. statnre.-l illustration ................. ....................... ........... 9414
The Cause of the Disaste. at Crarae Quarrles.-The olliclal re­
port of the dtsaster; ca"bonic oxide the prObable cause of tbe loss
of life.. ............ ............................... ............... ...... IH14
If we are to believe ancient writers, a large number the symptoms which were developed in the injured VII. N A VAl, ENGINIl:ERING.'-Fifty Years Progress in Naval Archi­
of giants and giantesses have reached statures that are persons. Probably, Colonel Ford says, the mischief tecture.-An interesting review of this sllbject.-By Mr.RQBEHT
DUNCAN of Port Glasgow, ScotIRnd. ..... ........ ................. ... . 9400
extraordinary, even for this class .o! persons. Pliny was done by the carbonic oxide, of which 468 pounds New Naval Vessels Authorized.-Tabular and descriptive stat.e·
speaks of a giant named Gabara, who was 9�4" ft. in were generated by the explosion-an amount wnich, at
ment of tbe prospective additions to the U.- S. Navy ; displacement..,
battery, and speed ...,. ......... .................... ...... . .... ....... 9.JOO
height, and two other giants, Posio and Secundilla, the ordinary teIlJcperature and pressure, would occupy The RattlesnRke.-The first of this new clRss of ve.sels wlth bigh
b i e t
who were half a foot taller. 'l'he young female giant­ a space of 6,333 {jubic feet. This would be sufficient to t�� ����i��efa1r.al �N ��m"fo s��n��.� .���. .���S'..�:��.�. �.����:� IH39
ess cited by Garopius was, according to him, 10tt ft. in vitiate one nundred times as many cubic feet of air, r l a v
ve��:1.:.1 Rr��r�����.��.���� .������:����.���: ����.�� . �.� �.�� � !W19
height. According to Lecat, there was once a Scotch but in the presence of carbonic anhydride-of which VIII. ORDNANCE.-Steel Guns. Gun Metal, Gunpowder. etc.-By G.
.•

giant who was 12M ft. in height; but it seems probable 3 , 575 pOTmds were generated-it would render 1,266,&00 W. SUMNER, Commander U . S. N.-An intereRtinllreview of the re-
that the heights attributed to these various giants are cu bic feet fatal to human life. A very small proportion t a n a in h b
�;;\������8 �av1��t:ifi�; �F :Jh ��i�� f� t�e � s l hi s,� t������
greatly exaggerated. On the contrary, we can consider of that gas in the presence of carbonic anhydride ren­ gunpowder discussed .............................................. " ...... 940(
statements of heights of from 8 M to 8% ft. as authentie. ders the air fatal. Symptoms. however, agree with IX. PHYSiCS.--A Word on Baseballistlcs.-By O. E. MICHAELIS.
In 1755, there was exhibited at Rouen a giant 8%, ft. those attributed to poisoning by carbonio anhydride, Captain of Ordnance, U. S. A.-'1'he curving 01 baseballs consld­
ered from a scientiflc stand point ; a popular explanation of the
in height. A Swedish peasant mentioned by Buffon and the blood of one of the deceased was so liquid after phenomenon.-l iIlubtration ..................... .......... .. . . . ... . .. 9404
was 8% ft. in height, and this, too, was the stature of death that it flowed through the coffin. It is to be re­ X. TECHNWAL ART.-Princlples and Practice of Ornamental De­
slgn.-By LEWIS FOREMAN DAY.--The .econd lecture of this In­
the Finnish giant Cujanus; and the King of Prussia, gretted, Colonel Ford says, that no opportunity of ex­ teres�ing series j the distribution of ornamental design considered.
Frederick William, had a guard of nearly the same amining the blood of any of the deceased was afforded, 5 illustratIOns ............. ........ .. .. ... ........ ... ... . . ... ......... IHOB

height. Thegiant GilHi, of Trent, in the, Tyrol, was as this would have furnished clear evidence as to which XI. . TECHNOLOGY.-Amaleur Smith's Work.-A most Interestlr.g
description ofthe manipula-tive details of blacksmithing, the tools.
over 834 ft. in height, and this was the stature of one of the poisonous gases which flowed out from the in­ ll ll t
of the guards of the Duke of Brunswick. We ha ve terspaces of the quarry and gradually vitiated the air �:f3�f���;V�����S����)��rr�����..j ���:. �� ..�.� .�����..��.�:. .��� U405
Recovery of Sulphurous Acid.-The Beparation of sulphurous
recently given a portrait of the Greek giant Amanab, * actually caused the deaths. Colonel Ford expressly re­ a r n i 941
C.j,t� ����:�u�� �f°k"��i c��f�� �i�t"or:;r��}dl����� ��;;tem 1
and, previous to this, one of the Chinese giant Chang. lieves any one from blame for the fatal result. of chain manufacture recently introduced in France; strength
whose height was 8%" ft. The giant Winckelmeler,t of the new chains ........................... .. .. ...... ........ .... ....... 940ä
The Welsbach Incandescent Gas J,amp.-The remarkable resnlts
who is now exhibiting at Paris, and who is 8% ft. in
A SIMPLE FORM OF WA'l'ER BATTERY. attalned by thls burner; It8 constructlon. "nd fo rmation of the
height, may be taken, then, as an example of the mautle.-l illustration .. . ..... .. . . ... . ...... .... . ... . . . . . .... .. .. .. . ..... . IH05
highest stature reached in the human species. :t: At the PROF. ROWLAND, in Silliman's JOU1'1Wl for Febru­
opposite extremity, we find a large number of dwarfs ary writes: .. For some time I have had in use in my
cited as having been less than 20 inches in height. h
lab ratory a most simple, convenient, and cheap form
Some of these are said to have been but 16 or even 12
inches; but such dwarfs have been b u t monsters with
atrophied legs or with a curved spine, or children whose
of water battery, whose design has been in.one of my
note books for at least fifteen years. It bas proved so
useful that I give below a d'�scription for the use of
PATENTS.
Me88rB.
In connection with thc SclentUlc Amerlcan, MUNN "
lievelopment had been arrested and whom their show­ other physicists. Strips of zillc and copper, each two Co. are solicitors 01 American and Foreign Patente, have had 42 years'
men aged by some years. The famous General Tom inches wide, are iSoldered together along their edges so experience, and now have the largest establishment in the world. }-atenl8
Thumb was an example, as are likewise the Royal as to make a combined strip of a little less than four are obtained on the best terms.
Midgets, recently exhibited at Paris, and the little inches wide, allowing for the overlapping. It is �hen
A special notice is made in the Sclentltlc Amerlcan of all inven·
Princess Paulina. But if, in the long list of dwarfs of cut by shears into pieces about one-fourth of an mch
whom a description has been preserved, we search for wide, each composed of half :,dnc and half copper. � tions patented throngh this Agency, with the name and residence of the
the smallest, even after it had reached an adult age, plate of glass, very thick and a foot or less square, IS
Patentee. By the immense circulation thus given, pnhl1c attention is di­
rected to the merits 01 the new patent, and eales or introdnction orten
and one that at the same time possessed a normal con­ heated and coated with shellac ahout an eighth of an
formation, we shall find one especially that merits par­ inch thick. The strips of copper and zinc are bent into
easily effected.
Any person who has made a new discovery or invention can asccrtain,
ticular attention. We refer to the celebrated dwarf the shape of the letter U, with the branches about one­
Borulawsky, who was bo1'I) in and died in
1789 1837, fourth'o! an inch apart, and are hea ted and stuck to the Iree of charge, whether a patent can prohahly be obtained, hy writing to

shellac in rows, the soldered portion being fixed in the MUNN & Co.
We also send lree onr Hand Book ahout the Patent LawB, Patent�
shellac, and the two branches standing up in the air,
• SUPPLEMENT, No. 570, p. 9104. CllvClltB, Trllde Marks, their costs, and how procured. Addre88
so that the zi nc of one piece comes within one-sixteenth
t SUPPLEllENT, No. 582, p. IJ.'102.
of an inch of the copper of the .next one. A row of ten Mono.1e «0" 861 Broadway, New York.
. � John Middleton (born 1578)I commonly clilled the Child 01 Haie, was
Branch OfllCe, � and 624 F St Washington, D. Co
� It. in heig ht.-Haydn, Dictwna'l'?/
_ of Datu; inches long wiJI thus contain a bout thirty elements. ••

© 1887 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

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