There are important differences in the quality of the virgin pine-wood of Michigan and the second-growth pine of Massachusetts. As shown by Mr. E. K. Lake, of Lansing, the virgin pine from Michigan is tough, and breaks splintering for three or four inches, while the second-growth wood from Massachusetts is more brittle and less fibrous, and breaks off short and even. The difference is ascribed to the more rapid vegetation, following the more direct exposure to the light, of the Massachusetts second growth; and also to the more perfect maturity of the Michigan pine—the specimen exhibited having been eighty years old when it was utilized, while the Massachusetts pine was cut at the age of forty years.
Dr. George Harley, F. R. S., has made an investigation which reveals abundant evidence to prove that although man, during his evolution from barbarism to civilization, has increased in strength and stature and in longevity, on the other hand, his power of recovery from the effects of bodily hurt has materially deteriorated.
The existence and persistence of exclusively local customs—that is, of customs prevailing in a single village, without extending to those immediately around it—is a phenomenon for which explanation is still wanting. An instance of the kind has been marked at Wurzen, on the borders of Carniola, where, whenever there is a baptism, the nurse, on leaving the house to go to the church, takes a loaf of bread with her, and gives it to the first person whom the party meets. It is understood that the person to whom it is offered must take it whether he wants it or not. The custom is said to be symbolical, and to be intended to make the child charitable. But why has it been preserved here so long, while no other village has it?
A practicable method of promoting forest growth is advocated by Mr. L. D. Watkins, of Michigan, by covering the waste places on the farm with trees. Besides making the land of use and being commercially valuable, they would serve a good immediate purpose as screens. The author recommends the common locust for steep hill-sides, where nothing else can be grown; black-walnut and white oak for such spots as may be fertile; and cedar and tamarack (larch) for damp, springy place.
The reports of the British Meteorological Office show that the mean rainfall for the whole of the British Islands during 1887 was only 25·8 inches, whereas the mean for the twenty-two years from 1866 to 1887 was 35·3 inches. Thus there was a deficiency over the whole area of the country of nearly 10 inches, or 27 per cent.
Dr. Thorne Thorne has called attention to the gradual decline of small-pox in England during the past fifty years. In the five years from 1838 to 1842, the deaths from this disease amounted to 57·2 per hundred thousand living, while in 1880-'84 the death rate had sunk to 6·5 per hundred thousand. It is believed that vaccination has not only had a direct influence in causing this marvelous reduction in the number of victims to small-pox, but has also had a tendency to make the children of vaccinated parents less liable to the disease.
Prof. M. N. Bogdanoff, an eminent Russian zoölogist, died at St. Petersburg, March 16th. He was the author of several works, relative to the animal life of different parts of Russia, in one of which he treated in detail the present geographical distribution of animals in connection with the soil and climate of the country during the Post-Pliocene period. His "Birds of the Caucasus" is the authority on that subject. In 1885 he began the publication of what was to have been his chief work, the "Ornithology of Russia." Only the first part of it has been issued. He was also the author of popular zoölogical sketches, published in a periodical.
V. N. Mainoff, an eminent Russian ethnographer, has recently died. He was best known for his studies of the Mordvinians, their anthropological features and customs. He also prepared a Finnish grammar, and was compiling a Finnish and Russian dictionary.
James Johonnot, a well-known laborer in education and author of educational books, died June 18th, at Tapton Springs, Florida, aged sixty-five years. His work in education was begun when he was eighteen years old, and was continued as teacher and institute instructor till 1885, and as author as long as his health permitted. Among his educational works, many of which were drawn from science, and in effect were first steps in it, are the "Principles and Practice of Teaching," the "Geographical Reader," the "Natural History Series of Instructive Reading Books," six in number; "How we Live," an elementary physiology; the "Historical Series of Instructive Reading Books," seven in number; and the "Sentence and Word-Book."
Mr. Henry Pryer, an authority on Japanese entomology and ornithology, died at Yokohama, February 17th. He was an old resident in Japan, and spent most of his time in business pursuits, while he also made a name in science.
Prof. R. D. Irving, of the United States Geological Survey, died May 30th, in the forty-second year of his age. He had charge of the surveys in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
