IV. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

1. Contributions to Meteorology.- Mean results of Meteorological Observations made at St. Martin, Isle Jesus, Lower Canada, (nine miles west of Montreal,) for 1855, by CHARLES SMALLWOOD, M.D.— The geographical co-ordinates of the place are 45° 31′ N. Lat., and 73° 36′ W. Long. from Greenwich. Height above the level of the sea, 118 feet.

The readings of the barometer are corrected and reduced to 32° F. The whole of the means are obtained from three daily observations taken at 6 A. M., 2 P. M., and 10 P. M.

The mean height of the barometer in January was 29.926 inches, in February 29-400, in March 29-716, in April 29-847, in May 29-637, in June 29 757, in July 29-803, in August 29 862, in September 29.834, in October 29.695, in November 29.838, in December 29-429 inches.

The highest reading for the year was on the 8th of January and indicated 30 721 inches; the lowest reading was at 6 A. M. on the 10th of December, and was 28-689 inches; the yearly mean was 29-730, which was 0.059 more than the yearly mean of last year; the mean of the monthly range for the year was 1050 inches, which was 0.033 less than the range of 1854.

The atmospheric wave of November was marked by its usual fluctua tions; the highest crest was on the 9th day and indicated 30-265 inches; there were distinct troughs on the 1st, 7th, 16th, 23d, and 20th days, the lowest trough occurred at 4 A. M. on the 28th day, the ba rometer then stood at 28-997 inches; there was a very sudden rise of the barometer from midnight of the 23d of November till sunrise of the 24th day, of 0.521 inches, accompanied by a very high wind from the NW, which reached a velocity of 38.10 miles per hour. The thermometer fell 25° 0 for the same period.

Thermometer.-The mean temperature of the air by the standard thermometer, was in January 17° 88, in February 11°23, in March 24° 08, in April 40° 15, in May 56° 85, in June 62°-39, in July 72°-73, in August 64°.94, in September 58° 55, in October 46° 35, in November 31°.58, in December 20° 84. The highest reading of the maximum thermometer was on the 2nd of August, and was 97° 0; the lowest reading of the minimum thermometer was on the 7th of February, and was -33°9 (below zero). The mean temperature of the quarterly periods was, Winter 12° 15, Spring 40° 36, Summer 66°-68, Autumn 45° 49. The yearly mean was 42° 29, which was 0° 72 degree higher than the yearly mean of 1854; the mean of the yearly range was 61° 1, which was 1°15 higher than the mean range of 1854. The greatest monthly range was in February, and was 74°5, and the least monthly range was in October, and was 45o-6. The greatest intensity of the sun's rays was in July, and indicated 127° 2, the lowest point of terrestrial radiations was in February, and was -34°4 (below zero).

The mean humidity (saturation being 1.000) was, in January 897, in February 857, in March 815, in April 808, in May 743, in June 809, in July 757, in August 773, in September 803, in October 849, in November 884, in December 872. The yearly mean was 822, which was 018 plus of last year.

Rain fell on 98 days; it was raining 437 hours and 39 minutes : it was accompanied by thunder and lightning on 14 days. The amount of rain exceeded 1.438 inches the amount which fell in 1854. The amount which fell in January was 1436 inches, in February none, in March 0531, in April 4:194, in May 1756, in June 8-217, in July 2-351, in August 4:366, in September 3-471, in October 8-728, in November 3.923, in December 2.970 inches. Total amount 41.943

inches.

Snow fell on 42 days; it was snowing 312 hours 15 minutes, and amounted to 85-91 inches on the surface, which amount was less by 11:54 inches than the amount of snow which fell in 1854. The monthly fail was as follows: in January 20-10 inches, in February 15:00, in March 15-60, in April 4-34, in October 2·10, in November 8-34, in December 20-43 inches. The first snow of the winter 1855-6, fell on the 24th day of October; the whole amount of snow which fell during the winter 1854-5, was 77 91 inches; the present winter set in on the 22d day of December, ferry boats were crossing the day before on the St. Lawrence at Montreal. The first time the thermometer fell to zero was on the 17th of December: the first frost occurred on the 18th of August, and was also felt on the 23d, 27th, 28th, and 31st of the same month, which was very early, and did considerable damage to the crops; (the first frost of 1854 occurred on the 21st of September). The river Jesus was first crossed with loads on the 15th of December.

The amount of evaporation was measured regularly from the 1st of May to the 31st of October, and was discontinued owing to frosty nights. The amount of evaporation in May was 4-22 inches, in June 2·61, in July 319, in August 3-80, in September 304, and in October 1.40 inches, amounting to 18-26 inches, which was 3.24 inches less than the amount of last year for the same period.

The most prevalent wind, during the year was the west, the least so, the E-by-N; in the winter quarter the most prevalent wind was the NE by E, the least so, the E; in the spring quarter, the most prevalent wind was the W, and the least so, the NE-by-E; in the summer quarter, the most prevalent wind was the WSW, and the least so the S; in the autumn quarter, the most prevalent wind was the W, and the least so the S-by-W. The greatest velocity of the wind was from 2 to 3 P. M. on the 26th April, and was 49-64 miles per hour; the yearly mean of the maximum velocity was equal to 15:33 miles per hour. The yearly mean of the minimum velocity was 0.16 miles per hour. The quarterly means of the velocities are as follows: Winter mean maximum velocity 18-81 miles per hour, mean minimum velocity 0.00. Spring mean maximum velocity 21-20 miles per hour, mean minimum velocity 0.05 miles per hour. Summer mean maximum velocity 10-18 miles per hour, mean minimum velocity 0-25 miles per hour. Autumn mean maximum velocity 17.69 miles per hour, mean minimum velocity 0.36 miles per hour. November and December were more than usually windy, the total amount of miles traversed by the wind in November was 5794-10 miles, and of December 5952.20 miles.

Wild geese, Anser canadensis, were first seen here on the 22d of April, swallows, Hirundo rufa, were first seen on the 18th of April. The Rossignol (the harbinger of the Canadian spring) was first seen on the 9th of April. Frogs, were first heard on the 23d of April,

shad (Alosa) were first caught on the 31st of May, snipe were shot on the 30th of April. Lampyris corusca, (fire-flies,) were first seen on the 25th of June. Steamers were crossing between Ogdensburgh and Prescot on the 25th of March.

Crows did not winter here this year, they took their departure about the middle of November. Snow-birds were first seen on the 10th of November.

The Aurora Borealis was visible on 37 nights as follows:

January 2nd, 10 P. M. Lunar Halo, diam. 44° 4.-10th. Aurora borealis, arch of moderate brightness, dark segment at the horizon.—13th. Slight shock of an earthquake at 5 40 A. M. Barometer 29.280 inches. -31st. Lunar Halo at 7 40, diam. 72°.

February 5th. Three mock suns visible at sunrise.-11th, 10 P. M., faint auroral arch; dark segment at the horizon.-12th, 10 P. M., faint auroral arch, dark segment at the horizon.-21st. Lunar Halo at 7 P. M., diam. 38°. Zodiacal light very bright during the month.

March 8th, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light to the horizon.—9th, 9 P. M. Extended auroral arch of moderate brightness, dark segment at the horizon.-12th, 7 10 P. M. Streamers shooting up from the horizon uniting in a small circle or corona at the zenith; at 8 5, three distinct auroral arches stretching from E to W, of moderate brightness; 9 P. M., splendid curtain of auroral light of a yellowish-green color changing to a violet and exhibiting the varied hues of the rainbow; 10 P. M., the appearance vanished leaving a bright arch to the horizon. -18th, 10 P. M. Dark stratus at the horizon, auroral arch behind shooting up brilliant streamers.-19, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light, dark segment at the horizon. Zodiacal light bright.

April 9th, 10 P. M. A dark mass of stratus in the north, forming a black curtain, behind which is seen an auroral light of moderate brightness, shooting up beautiful streamers of varied colors.-12th, 10 P. M. Extended arch of auroral light of moderate brightness to the horizon.→ 15th, 10 P. M. Very faint auroral light at the horizon.-20th, 9 P. M. Dark segment at the horizon. Auroral arch of moderate brightness, frequent streamers. Corona at 11 A. M., diam. 21°.

May 1st, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light.-6th, 10 P. M. Auroral light of moderate brightness.-9th, 10 P. M. Faint aurora borealis.23d, Lunar Halo at 10 P. M., diam. 36°.—24th, 10 P. M. Auroral arch of moderate brightness, dark segment at the horizon. The eclipse of the moon was not visible here owing to cloudy weather.

June. No aurora was visible during this month. Lunar Halo on the 23d, diam. 41°.-24th, 10 P. M. Lunar Halo, diam. 47°.

July 7th, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light, dark segment at the horizon. -9th, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light to the horizon.-16th, 10 P. m. Very faint auroral light at the horizon.-23d, 10 P. M. Lunar Halo, diam. 38°.

August 5th, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light at the horizon.-10th, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light.-17th, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light.-23d, 10 P. M. Auroral arch of moderate brightness, dark segment at the horizon; 11 P. M., two distinct arches of bright auroral light, streamers from both arches intermingling, dark segment at the horizon.

Sept. 11th, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light at the horizon, a dark segment underneath; Meteor at 9:40 P. M., on the 11th day passing from

Algenib Pegasi to H. Antinoi, train like a rocket, noiseless.-13th, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light to the horizon.

October 3d, 10 P. M. Auroral light of moderate brightness, surmounting a dark bank of stratus clouds.-10th, 10 P. M. Very faint auroral light.-16th, 10 P. M. Very faint auroral light.-24th, 2 30 A. M. Lunar Halo, diam. 31°.

November 2nd. Faint auroral light at the horizon.-5th, 10 p. M. Dark segment at the horizon, surmounted by an arch of auroral light, 2° broad; another dark arch surmounted this arch, which was again surmounted by a bright auroral arch 4° broad; occasional streamers.19th, 10 P. M. Faint aurora to the horizon.-29th, 6.30 P. M. Dark segment at the horizon, surmounted by an arch of auroral light of moderate brightness, intercepted here and there by whitish clouds or patches of auroral light. At 7 30, faint auroral light to the horizon, dark segment had vanished.-30th, 10 P. M. Dark segment at the horizon

6° high, faint auroral light seen above it.

December 5th, 10 P. M. Faint auroral light.-7th, 11 P. M. Bright arch of auroral light very low, horizon bright.-13th, 7 P. M. Faint aurora borealis.-30th, 8 P. M. Dark segment at the horizon surmounted by an auroral arch of moderate brightness. Zodiacal Light very bright during the month.

Electrical state of the atmosphere.-The atmosphere has afforded almost daily indications of electricity, varying in kind and intensity. I have been able from some years of careful observations, to draw the following inferences.

1st. The electricity of the atmosphere, in serene or windy weather, not accompanied by rain or snow, gives for the most part indications of a positive or vitreous character.

2nd. That during the storms of summer, accompanied by thunder and lightning, the electricity varies in character; it is not unusual to see the electrometer charged and changing its kind from negative to positive and vice versa, several times in a minutes. Rain falling, generally fixes the kind of electricity, which is in that case mostly negative in character.

3d. Storms in winter accompanied by snow, when the crystals are of a perfect form, is always accompanied by indications of electricity of a negative character and high intensity, but whenever the crystals are imperfect, or are shapeless masses of ice presenting no crystalline form, then the electrometers indicate electricity of a positive character, and of very feeble intensity.

The most perfect form of snow crystal is hexagonal, varying from 0-10 to 0-12 of an inch in diameter, the various angles are beautifully defined if examined immediately, but if allowed to remain for ever so short a time, the points or angles get rounded, and the crystal loses its primitive form and appearance and it is then difficult to define its shape, I have never seen the hexagonal crystal and its compounds present, without strong indications of negative electricity.

Ozone. The observations on the amount of ozone are still continued twice daily. I see no reason to suppose the amount has any connexion with the amount of electricity indicated in the atmosphere. St. Martin, Isle Jesus, C. E., Jan. 24, 1856. SECOND SERIES, Vol. XXI, No. 62.-March, 1856.

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2. On Papyrus, Bonapartea, and other plants which can furnish Fibre for Paper Pulp; by Chevalier DE CLAUSSEN, (Proc. Brit. Assoc., 1855; Athen., 1457.)—The paper-makers are in want of a material to replace rags in the manufacture of paper, and I have therefore turned my attention to this subject, the result of which I will communicate to the Association. To make this matter more comprehensible I will explain what the paper-makers want. They require a cheap material, with a strong fibre, easily bleached, and of which an unlimited supply may be obtained. I will now enumerate a few of the different substances which I have examined for the purpose of discovering a proper substitute for rags. Rags containing about 50 per cent of vegetable fibre mixed with wool or silk are regarded by the paper. makers as useless to them, and several thousand tons are yearly burned in the manufacture of prussiate of potash. By a simple process which consists in boiling these rags in caustic alkali, the animal fibre is dissolved, and the vegetable fibre is available for the manufacture of white paper pulp. Surat, or Jute, the inner bark of Corchorus indicus, produces a paper pulp of inferior quality bleached with difficulty. Agave, Phormium tenax, and banana or plantain fibre (Manilla hemp), are not only expensive, but it is nearly impossible to bleach them. The banana leaves contain 40 per cent of fibre. Flax would be suitable to replace rags in paper manufacture, but the high price and scarcity of it, caused partly by the war, and partly by the injudicious way in which it is cultivated, prevents that. Six tons of flax straw are required to produce one ton of flax fibre, and by the present mode of treatment all the woody part is lost. By my process the bulk of the flax straw is lessened by partial cleaning before retting, whereby about 50 to 60 per cent of shoves (a most valuable cattle food) are saved, and the cost of the fibre reduced.

By the foregoing it will be seen that the flax plant only produces from 12 to 15 per cent of paper pulp. All that I have said about flax is applicable to hemp, which produces 25 per cent of paper pulp. Nettles produce 25 per cent of a very beautiful and easily bleached fibre. Palm leaves contain 30 to 40 per cent fibre, but are not easily bleached. The Bromeliaceæ contain 25 to 40 per cent fibre. Bonapartea juncoidea contains 35 per cent of the most beautiful vegetable fibre known; it could be used not only for paper pulp, but for all kinds of manufactures in which flax, cotton, silk, or wool are employed. It appears that this plant exists in large quantities in Australia, and it is most desirable that some of our large manufacturers should import a quantity of it. The plant wants no other preparation than cutting, drying, and compressing like hay. The bleaching and finishing may be done here. Ferns give 20 to 25 per cent fibre, not easily bleached. Equisetum from 15 to 20 per cent inferior fibre, easily bleached. The inner bark of the lime-tree (Tilia) gives a fibre easily bleached, but not very strong. Althea and many Malvacea produce from 15 to 20 per cent paper pulp. Stalks of beans, peas, hops, buckwheat, potatoes, heather, broom, and many other plants contain from 10 to 20 per cent of fibre, but their extraction and bleaching present difficulties which will probably prevent their use. The straws of the Cereales cannot be converted into white paper pulp after they have ripened the grain,