600 Sharpening Edgi-d Tools. [December, 



tlieir 98 sorts of Solidays blooming togetlier within one glance of 

 the eye ! 



Such are the ideas which we hope to realize in this Garden at no 

 distant day ; and the enterprise is worthy of the earnest co-operation 

 of all the lovers of science, and friends of human progress. 



Sharpening Edged Tools. — We translate the following from a 

 German scientific journal, for the benefit of our mechanics and agri- 

 cultural laborers : 



"It has long been known that the simplest method of sharpening a 

 razor is to put it for half an hour in water to which has been added 

 one-twentieth of its weight of muriatic or sulphuric acid, then light- 

 ly wipe it oif, and after a few hours set it on a hone. The acid here 

 supplies the place of a whetstone by corroding the whole surface 

 uniformly, so that nothing further but a smooth polish is necessary. 

 The process never injures good blades, while badly hardened ones 

 are frequently improved by it, although the cause of such improve- 

 ment remains unexplained. 



Of late, this process has been applied to many other cutting imple- 

 ments. The workman at the beginning of his noon-spell, or when 

 he leaves off in the evening, moistens the blades of his tools with wa- 

 ter acidified as above, the cost of which is almost nothing. This 

 saves the consumption of time and labor in whetting, which, moreover, 

 speedily wears out the blades. The mode of sharpening here indi- 

 cated, would be found especially advantageous for sickles and 

 scythes." 



To Promote Health in Cattle. — Mix occasionally one part of 

 salt with five or six parts of wood ashes, and give the mixture to dif- 

 ferent kinds of stock, summer and winter. It promotes their ape- 

 tite, and tends to keep them in a healthy condition. It is said to be 

 a remedy for bots in horses, murrain in cattle, and rot in sheep. 



Feed all animals regularly. They do not only look for their food 

 at the usual time, but the stomach indicates the want at the usual 

 period. Therefore feed morning, noon, and evening, as near the 

 same time as possible. 



