Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net. [Illustration] SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. 613 NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1, 1887. Scientific American Supplement. Vol. XXIV., No. 613. Scientific American established 1845 Scientific American Supplement, $5 a year. Scientific American and Supplement, $7 a year. * * * * * TABLE OF CONTENTS. I. BIOGRAPHY.--Dr. Morell Mackenzie.--Biographical note and portrait of the great English laryngologist--the physician of the Prussian Crown Prince.--1 illustration. 9794 II. BOTANY.--Soudan Coffee.--The _Parkia biglobosa_.--Its properties and appearance, with analyses of its beans.--8 illustrations. 9797 Wisconsin Cranberry Culture.--The great cranberry crop of Wisconsin.--The Indian pickers and details of the cultivation. 9796 III. CHEMISTRY.--Analysis of Kola Nut.--A new article adapted as a substitute for cocoa and chocolate to military and other dietaries.--Its use by the French and German governments. 9785 Carbonic Acid in the Air.--By THOMAS C. VAN NUYS and BENJAMIN F. ADAMS, Jr.--The results of eighteen analyses of air by Van Nuys apparatus. 9785 The Crimson Line of Phosphorescent Alumina.--Note on Prof. Crooke's recent investigation of the anomalies of the oxide of aluminum as regards its spectrum. 9784 IV. ELECTRICITY.--Electric Time.--By M. LITTMANN.--An abstruse research into a natural electric standard of time.--The results and necessary formulae. 9793 New Method of Maintaining the Vibration of a Pendulum.--Ingenious magneto-electric method of maintaining the swinging of a pendulum. 9794 The Part that Electricity Plays in Crystallization.--C. Decharme's investigations into this much debated question.--The results of his work described.--3 illustrations. 9793 V. ENGINEERING.--A New Type of Railway Car.--A car with lateral passageways, adapted for use in Africa--2 illustrations. 9792 Centrifugal Pumps at Mare Island Navy Yard, California.--By H.R. CORNELIUS.--The great pumps for the Mare Island dry docks.--Their capacity and practical working. 9792 Foundations of the Central Viaduct of Cleveland, O.--Details of the foundations of this viaduct, probably the largest of its kind ever constructed. 9792