170 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ February 27, 1868. 



weak spirit, since when dried it was impossible, from tbeir small size 

 and soft delicate structure, to examine tlieir forms with sufficient 

 precision. 



AMERICAN WELLS. 



We have seen tried at Levallois, near Paris, a simple, in- 

 genious, and expeditions method of finding water in the depths 

 of the earth, and bringing it to the surface. It consists in 

 striking vertically into the ground iron pipes, screwed to each 

 other, till they meet a spring, at the top of which a pump is 

 placed which sucks up the water. The process, which is simple, 

 is thus described : — 



The apparatus is comprised of a number of iron pipes about 

 8 feet 2 inches long and the diameter inside about 2 inches, the 

 sides about one-third of an inch thick, with a screw at each end, 

 external on one and internal on the other, so as to screw them 

 together, and thus to form one long tube the sides of which are 

 air-tight ; also an iron ram, a {Jirj- 1). of 8-Etone weight, for 

 driving the pipes into the ground, and a suction pump, h (firj. 2). 

 The pipe which should first be put into the ground to open the 

 ■way has a sharp, well-tempered steel point. Immediately above 

 this steel point, about 2 feet of the sides of the pipe is pierced 

 with a number of small holes for the purpose of letting the 

 ■water inside the tube. First the pipe is sunk in the groimd 

 about 18 inches deep, the same as a bar of iron or a stake, 

 then about 15 inches from the ground it is bound with a large 

 iron pedestal, c (jig. 1), strongly secured with bolts ; it is on 



Fig. 1. 

 this pedestal that the LIows of the ram are given to sink the 

 pipe into the ground. The ram is an iron cylinder about 

 8-Btone weight, with a round hole through the centre large 

 enough to admit of its passing up and down the tube, which 

 it surrounds, and rests on the pedestal ; at the upper end of 

 the tube there is an iron collar, d, to which two pulleys, r, are 

 fastened, and by means of cords attached to the ram it is drawn 

 up and let fall on the pedestal. 



Such is the apparatus that we have seen working at Levallois ; 

 each blow of the ram falling on the pedestal drove the pipe 

 about 2 inches into the ground ; after eight or ten blows it was 

 driven to the pedestal. Another pipe was then screwed on, the 

 pedestal was raised about 18 inches and the iron collar and 

 pulleys the same ; the ram then commenced to strike to such 

 an extent that in less than twenty-iive minutes the pipes were 

 driven more than 13 feet into the ground. A ball of lead 

 suspended by a cord was then put into the pipes ; by means of 

 this sounding line it was discovered that there was about 3 feet 



of water in the pipe; this quantity having been eonsideredi 

 sufficient, a small suction pump was screwed to the top of the 

 pipe, and after working it for a few seconds the water came 

 dirty and muddy at first, then clear and limpid like a spring. 



Such is the experiment that we saw at Levallois ; it took 

 place in the middle of a sand pit that was worked by a builder 

 named Doucet ; the ground appeared hard, with a clay bottom. 

 A similar experiment took place a few days previously not far 

 from there, upon the ground around the quarry. The pipes, at 

 least 2'.i feet long, had to pass through a bed of fJinty pebbles 

 about 13 feet thick; the experiment lasted three hours; the pipes 

 were then in their place, and the pump gave plenty of clear 

 fresh water. The pipes can be drawn out of the ground by 

 means of a simple wooden lever. 



This process and the apparatus for putting it into practice 

 are of American origin, and have been improved on by an 

 Englishman named Norton, who has a patent for it. A French- 

 man (Comte de la Fete) took an active part in the experiment. 



Having read this you will say to yourself, as we did after see- 

 ing the experiment. What is the use of this process, and in what 

 cases can it be applied ? The indisputable merit of this in- 

 vention is that in many instances water can be procured in a 

 few moments and at very little cost. In all alluvial ground, in 

 clayey or sandy soils, iron tubes can be put into the ground in 

 a few hours and American wells made. They are easily made 

 on low grounds and table lands. If steam tillage is one day 

 estabhshed in the world, as we think it will be, the Norton 

 pump will become an almost indispensable auxiliary to the 

 steam apparatus. In a word, we believe in the practical utility 

 of this operation, and have faith in this invention. — (French 

 Jotmtal of Ar/riculture.) 



PORTP.iVITS OF 



PLANTS, 

 FRUITS. 



FLOWERS, AND 



Triciiocentrum albo-purpubeum (Purple and White Tricho- 

 centrum). — A"(i(. onl., Orchidacea>. lAitii., Gynandria Monan- 

 dria. Native of the Eio Negro, in North Brazil. Petals ma- 

 roon brown, tipped with yellow ; lips white, with two purple 

 blotches at the base.— (Bo(. Mail., I. ,5088.) 



Begonia Sutheklanpi |Dr. Sutherland's Begonia). — Nat. 

 ord., Begoniaceip. Linn., Monacia Polyandria. Native of the 

 western mountains of Natal. Flowers coppery yellow. ,Stalks 

 and veins of leaves crimson. — (Ibid., t. f (3811.) 



Hypoxis elata (Tall Hypoxis). — Nat. ord., Hypoxidacea^. 

 Linn., Hexandria Monogynia. Native of Natal. Flowers 

 golden yellow.— (/(/a?., t. 5690.) 



Odontoglosscm Alexanpk.e, var. Teian.t; (Dr. Triana's 

 Princess of Wales's Odontoglossum.) — Nat. ord., Orchidaeea'. 

 Linn., Gynandria Monaudria. Native of the New Granadan 

 Andes, near Bogota, at elevations of 7000 or 8000 feet. Sepals 

 white, with one circular rosy spot in the centre ; petals white • 

 lip white, barred, and spotted with rose. — (Ibid., t. 5691.) 



Stapelia Plantii (Mr. Plant's Stapelia). — Nat. ord., Ascle- 

 piadace.-e. Linn., Pentandria Pentagynia. Native of Austra- 

 lia. Flowers purplish brown, barred transversely with yellow. 

 —(Ibid., t. 5092.) 



Hypericum patulcm (Spreading St. John's Wort). — Nat. 

 ord., Hypericinaee.Ti. Linn., Polyadelphia Polyandria. Native 

 of Japan. Flowers large, and bright yellow. — ilhid., t. 6QS3.) 



Pelargoniums. — " In i-.'/«;)C?'o)' wehavewhatis incur opinion 

 the premier flower of the season ; for in regard to its size, its 

 symmetry, its colouring, its outline, and its centre, it ap- 

 proaches as nearly as it seems possible to attain towards per- 

 fection, and it appears to have also the constitutional vigour 

 which is necessary to secure the full development of these 

 good qualities. The variety must be classed among the sal- 

 mony rose sorts — a group which contains many other kinds of 

 remarkable beauty. Itob Hoy is quite distinct in colour, being 

 one of the purplish rose group ; it also is a flower of first-class 

 properties, not so large as Emperor, but in regard to form and 

 colouring equally perfect. Both sorts have gained first-class 

 certificates at the hands of those lynx-eyed and severe critics— 

 the London censors of flowers, which is a sufficient indication 

 of their merits." — (Flori/t and Pomulogisi, 3 Series., i.,25.) 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



The Koyal Caledonian Horticultural Society is to hold 

 three Exhibitions in the Music Hall, George Street, Edinburgh, 

 during the present year. The first of these is to take place on 



