AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS AND RURAL ECONOMY. 49 



of vertical curved springs attached by their lower ends to the bottom of the case. The eggs 

 are slipped in between the springs, which hold them firm yet gently, preventing them from 

 coming in contact or being broken by any ordinary concussion. 



Uncertainty of Preserving Eecords in Walls or Foundations of Buildings. 



It is a common practice to place the coins of the time, newspapers, and other documents or 

 records, in sealed vessels under the foundation-stones, or in some marked situation in the walls 

 of new public or otherwise important buildings. At a meeting of the American Philosophical 

 Society in April last, Dr. Boye" stated that, "On recently opening the corner-stone of the 

 High School building of Philadelphia, erected fifteen and a half years ago, in order to de- 

 posit its contents in the new building about to be erected, the papers, coins, &c, which had 

 been deposited in a sealed glass jar, were found to be in a perfectly decayed and corroded 

 condition, and saturated with water." Dr. Boye" states, that after a careful examination, he 

 is satisfied that the water must have got in from the outside by infiltration — first through the 

 mortar into the cavity, and afterwards from this through the sealing-wax with which the 

 glass-stopper was secured. The corner-stone consisted of a block of blue marble, in which 

 a rectangular excavation had been made, which was closed at the top by a marble slab sunk 

 down into the stone, and secured by common mortar. The lime used appears to have acted 

 upon and corroded the sealing-wax. The corrosion of the coins is ascribed to the sulphur 

 in the glue or sizing in the paper. — Proceed. Amer. Phil. Soc. 



Improved Faucet. 



Among the patents recently issued was one to Charles Cleveland, of Ashfield, Connecticut, 

 for improvement in faucets, which will be of no small value to the public. They may be 

 used in all cases to which an ordinary faucet is applicable, and also, by turning the spigot 

 to a proper position, a ventiduct is opened ; through which, in consequence of the peculiar 

 formation of the aqueduct, air is admitted at the same time that the fluid passes through 

 the aqueduct, thus adapting it to the drawing of fluids from vessels which are perfectly air- 

 tight; a matter of no little consequence in case of burning fluids, high wines, &c. ; while it 

 will be found of still greater value for drawing fermented and effervescing fluids, such as 

 beer, mineral waters, and the like. 



Frictionless Washing Machine. 



In this invention of Mr. King, the inventor claims that it involves "no rubbing rollers, 

 dashers, or pounders, to wear out the clothing, but a simple cylinder, constructed to apply 

 steam beneath the suds and clothing, and out over them, whether the cylinder rotates or is 

 stationary." The articles to be washed are put into the cylinder, the lower half of which 

 contains suds, and the upper half steam, which latter has a constant escape at the top, 

 raising the clothes under treatment into the upper half of the cylinder. As the cylinder is 

 occasionally turned over, the articles have their position changed, being alternately in suds 

 and steam. The steam accomplishes just what the washerwoman performs with her hands : 

 it opens the fibres of the fabrics, and allows the alkaline matter of the suds to neutralize the 

 oily or vegetable particles which hold the dirt to the goods ; the dirt then rinses off without 

 rubbing, and the continuous steam escape carries off all volatile matter. 



Improved Helve Fastener for Axes. 



A simple and ingenious contrivance for fastening helves to axes has been recently pa- 

 tented by H. A. and J. Bill, of Willimantic, Connecticut. The socket in the axe-head is 

 made narrower in the central part, the side of the socket next the edge being convex. The 

 opposite side of the socket is made straight, or nearly so, and the end of the helve is made 

 to fit the socket on the side next the edge, space being left on the opposite side for a wedge- 

 key. The extreme end of the helve is wider than the central part of the socket ; but it can 

 just be passed through when the wedge is out. After the helve is entered into the socket, 

 the wedge is driven home, after which, unless the wedge is removed, the axe cannot be sepa- 

 rated without absolutely tearing it off the end of the helve. 



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