244 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. Fuller read an essay upon the culture of the peach. 

 Referred to the same committee. 



JVew subject. — The subject of the " Silkworm " was selected for 

 the next meeting. 

 Adjourned. 



February 10, 1862. 

 Mr. Edward Doughty in the chair. 



i'^RANKLINlTE STEEL CHILLED STEEL. 



Dr. Trimble, from the committee to which was referred Mr. 

 Selleck's plan for making horse shoes, stated that from certificates 

 which they had received, they were of opinion that it was a 

 valuable invention for keeping the shoes sharp and preventing 

 horses from slipping upon the pavement or ice. 



Mr. Collins exhibited one of F. F. Smith's patent cast steel 

 plows. These plows are manufactured by Collins & Co., 212 

 Water street, New York. They are cast by pouring steel into 

 iron moulds which chill the steel, thus giving it a harder and 

 smoother surface, causing it to wear better and to move through 

 the soil with less friction. Each section is cast of varied thick- 

 ness, giving the parts most exposed any desired thickness neces- 

 sary for good action and durability. 



Dr. Trimble inquired whether Messrs. Collins & Co., had tried 

 the Franklinite steel for plows ? 



Mr. Collins replied that they had not. 



Prof. Nash inquired whether the expense of the plow was much 

 increased over plate steel ? 



Mr. Collins replied that the cost was greater, but there is an 

 economy both in the greater durability and in the increased 

 amount of work which can be done from the saving in the draft j 

 for it perfectly scours itself even in the clinging soils of the west. 



Mr. Robinson. — I think it may not be of any advantage to 

 make the plates thicker in the parts exposed to wear; for if any 

 portion is so worn away as materially to change the original shape, 

 the plow may continue to drag along, but cannot do economical 

 plowing. There is no other difhculty about scouring steel plows 

 except that they wear through very soon. If a steel can be made so 

 hard that it shall be almost impossible to wear it through, whatever 

 the original cost of the plow, if it is anything within reason, it 



