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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, JULY 15,1882.
Written specially tor tbe Southern World.
COMETS.
The Phenomenon of their Tails—Why
Hew Ones are Constantly Discov
ered—(heir Origin and
Purpose.
The accepted opinion of a comet’s compo
sition is that it is an agglomeration of nebu
lous matter—that is, mass in a less condens
ed state, more gaseous or attenuated, than
is that of a planet. Some are of opinion
that they are bodies in a state of disintegra
tion. It wonld appear more reasonable to
regard them os bodies in a state of conden
sation giving an idea how this planet on
which we move and have a being began to
exist.
A comet’s tail is composed of very atten
uated substance; perhaps, made more so
than its immediate surface mass by solar
heat, as tbe body approaches it, to perihelion.
The theory of the tail as now understood
Intimates that the surface matter of the
comet is driven off and out into space by a
propulsive force on the near approach of
tiie body to the center of light and heat.
The propulsive force theory of the matter
driven oil* can be accepted as philosophical,
and yet the theory &f the foundation of the
tail rejected. What becomes of the matter
driven millions of miles out from the nu
cleus by this propulsive force? It is cer
tainly not lost. Absorption is hinted at.
How, or in what manner is it absorbed? No
theory of this process of absorption has
ever been presented, and how could the
matter be absorbed in the passage of peri
helion when the process of projection is at
work and increasing in power; for it is at
this point we wish to know what becomes
of the driven-off matter? We know that
the tail is projected at great lengths in oppo
site directions in a brief interval. In other
words the tail of a comet exactly reverses
its position in a few days in its passage of
the sun. What becomes of the luminous
particles driven off and always composing
its tail from the one point of opposition to
the other of this appendage? According
to the accepted opinion the tail is either
successively absorbed and driven out, or
swings around in front of the body as it
passes the sun.
The idea of absorption of the particles
must be rejected for obvious reasons, which
it is not essential to consider. There is
greater plausibility in the opinion that the
tail is projected to a greater length as it
swings around to suit the various positions
of its primary to the sun. But when we
come to analyze this swinging motion in a
curve of such dimensions os is required to
till the conditions of this theory in so brief
a time, we are almost as ready to accept the
idea of a constant new formation and as
constant a loss of the old one, as it. In
other words, the theory of a comet’s tail as,
at present understood, does not possess the
elements of clearness, nor is it supported by
such facts as remove all doubts from It.
In somo scientific suggestions fifteen years
ago, I presented the theory of the propulsive
force alluded to above; but though I had
never seen it urged in explanation of the
phenomenon before, I did not know who
originated it, nor do I now know. My faith
in it was greatly shaken last year by my
observations of comet C (1881.) I saw that
body early on the morning of June 23d,
1881, as it was coming up from the sun with
a tail in front of it as straight as a wedge.
This appeared so inconsistent that I began
to reason about it. My ideas were quickened
by information that I received from a friend,
who had not seen the comet nor heard of it,
except from me, and who asked me if I had
witnessed the southward movement of me
teors a night or two before tbe comet's ap
pearance. I immediately determined that
if those meteors belonged to the cometary
rings or drifts, in a few nights I would ob
serve a change in their direction of motion.
This I actually witnessed for a number of
nights in succession, and the meteors ap
peared in abundance.
When comet C(1881) was announced I
kept up a regular observation for the first
appearance of its meteors and their direction
of motion. I was not disappointed either.
The meteors were as readily distinguished
as the two bodies themselves. Those of
comet B were large, brilliant and sometimes
almost a transparent blood-red. Those of
comet C were smaller, pale-blue, and mostly
feathery or haze-like. The latter kind were
more numerous and sometimes hardly per
ceptible. 1 watched these from their first
appearance moving southward until they
had entirely reversed their course and
moved almost around the north from west
to east, and at last going down Into the west
after the flying comet.
Whatever bearing those meteors may have
on the solution of the problem of a comet’s
tail, the one thing clear to my conviction is
that they belong to the comets, and time
will prove the declaration I now make that
all these bodies of sufficiently attenuated
mass to support a tail are engirdled by large,
or extended volumes of this cosmical matter
whether gathered in space, or thrown off as
they near the sun, I claim of no importance
now to consider. But these facts in connec
tion with others that might be given, sug
gests a new theory of a comet's tail. The
substance we observe extended out from be
hind the body as it approaches the sun and
immediately in front of it as it passes our
luminary, undoubtedly, in considerable
amounts surrounds the comet. In space this
matter is invisible and is only rendered vis
ible by contact with the earth’s atmosphere,
when separated from a condensed mass. It
is hardly ever observed in the direct moon
light when it descends upon tbe earth. The
colors of the rain bow, the solar streamers
of the evening and morning twilights, the
red glare of the sun-set, and the gaudy glow
ing beauty of the clouds, are all illustra
tions of solar refraction. In the direct
light of the sun, darkness may ensue. In
tiie refracted rays, a glowing light may be
imparted to this substance. This refraction
may be produced by the passage of the
sun’s rays through the layers which sur
rounds the nucleus of the comet. In other
words as the body approaches the sun, its
envelop-layers may be so expanded as to
permit the passage of the solar rays modi
fied by the refraction which takes place so
as to render the thrown off substance im
mediately opposite the sun luminous, and
as the comet moves round the sun the tail
is exhibited in thevariousdirectionsaround
the whole volume, as it were, if this nebu
lous out-lay of extremely attenuated mass.
Immediately in the neighborhood of the
nucleus there is undoubtedly greater den
sity or unity of particles, but the whole
volume is much more illuminated than we
are apt to imagine from observation.
Towards the outer boundary the particles
are, perhaps, thousands of miles apart, so
that at a distance of a few millions of miles
the earth might pass through the whole
mass without our being conscious of it un
less the fact were suggested by the phenom
enal increase of meteors in our atmosphere
at the time, Our planet unquestionably
touches the meteoric peripheries of both
comets B and C (1881). When comet A (1882)
was announced I trusted its distance to the
earth would be such as to justify observa
tion for a further corroboration of my
opinion of the meteoric out lay that I held
attended these wonderful creations of outer-
space; but its distance was too great to re
veal any thing certainly to those who had
not made the test under more favorable
conditions. I witnessed its meteors, which
I had called the attention of a friend to,
and after their appearance, I pointed to him
the course they would probably take in
April and May. Though, as compared with
those of comets B and C (1881), comet A’s
meteors were not so numerous, their direc
tion of motion was easily made out night
after night as it changed from northeast to
northwest around under the pole. Sup
posing the new* theory of the comet’s tail
to be correct, as it approaches the sun it
would appear to throw off the luminous
substance behind It, or out from it, accord
ing to position, very rapidly, due to the in
creasing margin of expanded layers about
the nucleus, so that a wider, longer and bet
ter defined tail would be presented than
when the layers were more condensed at a
greater distance from the sun.
The phenomenon of the flashes up and
down the luminous streams, attributed to
electrical causes at the nucleus, could be
explained by excitement among the layers
Incident to the work of condensation and
expansion going on there, instantly shut
ting off and letting on the light of refrac
tion in the agitation of the surface mass
that must ensue from solar disturbance.
The phenomena of the beards and horns of
comets, might be due to deflection of re
fraction. This , is explained by supposing
an interruption of the passage of direct re?
fraction by more solid or condensed sub
stance in opposite layers. The fan tailed
comets present a strong argument in favor
of this theory and this phenomenon is
easily explained by supposing a fluid of
this attenuated matter surrounding the
body and that some parts of its envelop-
layers are in a greater stage of condensation
than other parts, so as not so readily submit
to a passage of solar refraction. Assuming
the natural deflections from a direct passage
from these causes; streamers at different
angles, according to the position of impact
of solar rays, might, and I have but little
doubt, do result in this way.
But this article has extended beyond the
limit I intended, and I must defer the most
important consideration connected with the
subject to a future time. Geo. R. Cathir.
Ashville, Ala.
Growlwg Oranges by Express.
A correspondent of the Express Gazette, as
we learn from the Orange Counts/ Reporter
says: “An association is to be formed exclu
sively of expressmen, representing 1,000
shares, each share to be assessed $1 per month
for five years, excepting for tbe first month,
when $1 per share will be added to defray
the expenses of printing, postage, etc. No
more than five shares to be issued to one
person, the money thus raised to be invested
in property in the State of Florida, suitable
to the culture of oranges, as the board may
select, tbe purchase to be made at the expi
ration of the first year. Property to tbe value
of $50,000 to be purchased, paying (12,000
down, balance to be paid yearly, or semi-
yearly, as tbe board shall decide; (10,000 to
be held as a reserve fund for paying taxes,
salaries, interest, etc.; the proceeds from the
products to be used in making improve
ments. No permanent organization will be
effected until the close of the first year, then
all who have their money invested will be
anxious to sec the society succeed. The
officers then elected will be the same as is
usully chosen to govern similar bodies.
Stockholders will be notified in sufficient
time before the election, so that all may
have a voice. The collecting of assessments
and all other necessary labor, will be per
formed for the first year by one person known
as secretary, who will receive and immedi
ately deposit tlio amounts from each share,
With some reliable bank, subject only to the
order of the board of officers to be chosen as
mentioned. The said secretary will have
published in the Express Gazette each month,
a statement from said bank, to the effect that
the amounts so received by him were depos
ited.
The amount invested will not be so large
but most any employe can take one share at
least, others the full limit. It will be a volu
ble investment if but one-half can be real
ized that is assured. Persons desiring to
join the. association will please send their
name aiid address, and also the amounts for
the shares desired, to R. W. Wales, Secreta
ry, Toledo, Ohio, who will issue temporary
certificates for each share, to be replaced
with others signed by the officers to be elect
ed at the expiration of the first year. This
is open to all express employes, and as there
is a large number ready to take the shares, it
will be advisable to apply at once.
The only objection we see to this project is
the great number of persons who are to be
come interested and the small amount of in
dividual investments. It would be better
for five to ten men to combine in such a ven
ture, and let each one represent a larger pe
cuniary interest. This would keep the ob
ject aimed at more conspicuously in the
minds of the parties Interested, In fact, make
it the aim and object of their efforts. They
would keep the project better in band, and
would know at all times the exact condition
of their venture. By employing a reliable
and competent man to take charge of their
purchase, and give their trees constant at
tention, there would be no danger of failure,
and the results certainly would be altogether
satisfactory. By this plan, not only express-
men, but railroad men, postal clerks, all
sorts of men who work for salaries, could
have a savings bank of their own, owned and
controlled by themselves, which would not
only accumulate a compound Interest, but
would double up the principal invested every
year from the time it was fairly inaugurated.
There is no 8tate in the union which offers
such inducements for this sort of co-opera
tive effort as Florida does to-day. By small
combinations more can be Accomplished
than by individual effort. Men of salaries
can save their surplus and put it where it
will secure a competence to them and their
families in a few years. A mechanic who is
thrifty and prudent can make a five-acre
grove while he is following his avocation in
the North. Railroad and expressmen can,
by prudence, do the same thing, and in a few
years their five-acre grove will bring them
an income of a thousand dollars a year.
Where and in what else can they secure so
much for so little.
Our lives should be like the days, more
beautiful in the evening, or like the spring,
aglow with promise, and like autumn, rich
with golden sheaves, when good works and
deeds have rlpehed in the field.
JforiiittUttiinl jHwartnwit.
Yellow Lupine.
Editor Southern World—I notice that
your correspondent. A. G. Jordan, July 1st,
enquires after yellow lupines. I have culti
vated both the yellow and the white lupine
in this vicinity, and found them greatly in
ferior to our well-known Southern field or
stock peas. The lupine does not climb or
run, being in growth similar to the whip
poorwill pea, viz: bunch or bush. Compar
ing tbe two together, I would not give a
bushel of the peas for five bushels of the lu
pine ; in fact, the lupine is not worth plant
ing in this climate. In this connection I
will venture to state that no country is
blessed with a greater number of shading
and soiling plants than tbe Southern States.
Besides some twenty or more varieties of the
stock or field peas, which I consider one of
the most important productions of the
South; we also have the annual clovers—
such as California or Spotted Medick, Crim
son Annual and Sweet Melilotus; also the
perennial clovers, to wit: Kentucky Red,
Saplin, Aisike, White Dutch and Lucerne or
Alfalfa.
The peas to be sown late in spring, tbe an
nual clovers early in fall, and the perennial
in either fall or spring. The Crimson annu
al mentioned above, is also known as Italian
(tre/olim incarnatum), and is ono of the most
valuable hay plants we have and a truly
magnificent sight when in bloom. Planting
of this should begin in August, when the
weather is not too dry.
Beg pardon for taking up so much of your
space, I only intended to advise your readers
not to invest in lupines.
Mark W. Johnson.
Talk about Bermuda Gram.
Clarksville, Tennessee.
Editor Southern World—My communica
tion, in which Bermuda grass was mentioned
unfavorably, lias been noticed by more than
one of your correspondents, one of which
states that I evidently knew nothing about
Bermuda grass. I confess that my knowl
edge upon the subject is limited, and has
been obtained from others. My information
coming from those who claimed to have con
tended with it extensively in Virginia and
Alabama. I have had several years experi
ence witli clover, orchard grass, Red-Top
and Timothy, and have endeavored to gain
a general knowledge of other grasses adapted
to this climate. My investigation of Ber
muda grass led to the conclusion already ex
pressed. Is it possible that so many persons
who have had practical experience with this
grass, with whom I have talked, have judged
of It erroneously, and that it is yet to prove
a great blessing to the South? Verily “ the
stone which tiie builders rejected has be
come the head of the corner I”
If Bermuda grass can bo kept within
bounds and furnishes the rich pasturage,
which several of your correspondents assert,
then much of the uplands in the South,
which are at present worthless for naught
else, could be made remunerative if set with
it. There is a small patch of this grass
which I see very frequently, but it has never
exceeded three or four inches in heighth and
has never presented a luxuriant appearance.
This, however, may be from the fact that
the soil is very poor. I seek for further in
formation and shall be pleased to find that
my conclusions as to the nature of Bermuda
is erroneous.
Will you give us information as to its
propagation, cultivation, etc.? Where are
the roots to be procured? How must the
soil be prepared? What quantity of roots
required per acre? What is the price, per
bushel, for the roots? When is the season,
in this latitude, for sowing it?
Our wheat crop has been harvested and the
yield is above the average. Oats are looking
well and, with a few days of dry weather, a
large crop, for this locality, will be saved.
Corn was retarded somewhat by the cold
weather in May, but it is now in fine condi
tion, and an excessive crop is confidently
anticipated. Tobacco, which is the chief
product of the country surrounding Clarks
ville, has been greatly favored, and the pros
pect for a big crop are very flattering. We
have been blessed with refreshing showers,
seasonable rains and fine growing weather
during the month.
We have the finest climate in the world,
with soil as productive as can be found in
the South and West; yet Middle Tennesse
is neglected and immigration seeks the West
and Southwest where glittering wealth la
offered by the rich railroad corporations
whose interest It is to distribute to the world