60 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



Correct Labels. 



IN the report of premiums awarded at a late exhibition at the Royal Botanic Gardens, 

 London, we were gratified at seeing certificates awarded for "correct labels." This is a 

 matter worthy the attention of our horticultural societies. Let certificates, or honorable 

 mention, or a small premium, be given to the gardener or nurseryman whose labels are cor- 

 rectly spelled. There is great room for improvement in this respect ; in catalogues also, as 

 a general rule, the blunders are frequent and ridiculous. Phil. Florist. 



Improved Joints for Gas and Water Pipes. 



THE great inconvenience to the public in all largely populated cities and towns, arising 

 from the continual stoppage of the highways, by the laying or repairing of the gas and 

 water mains, will, we are happy to observe, at no distant day, be greatly mitigated, and, 

 indeed, to a great extent, removed. This important desideratum is effected by a valuable 

 improvement in forming the joints of iron pipes, recently introduced and patented in Eng- 

 land, and possessing numerous advantages over the common pocket-joint, secured with junk 

 and lead. The plan consists in casting the pipes of equal diameter from end to end, in lay- 

 ing which they merely abut against each other. About an inch from each end, a bevelled 

 flange or feather is cast round the outer circumference, forming an angular ring, and when 

 two pipes are brought end to end, a piece of web, or gasket, woven for the purpose, is satu- 

 rated with red or white lead, or other applicable unctuous matter, and drawn twice round 

 the space formed by the two projecting rings. Over this an iron collar, cast in two pieces, 

 and having grooves to admit the projecting rings, is fitted and screwed up by bolts and nuts 

 through lugs, forming a perfectly air-tight joint. At a glance it may be seen that numerous 

 advantages must result from the application of this plan by all the gas and water com- 

 panies ; perhaps the greatest and most obvious of which to the public, from its general 

 adoption, will be the saving of time in laying the mains and branches, and the avoidance of 

 the greater part of the nuisance occasioned by such works under the present system, and 

 inherently combining with it a great economy and saving of cost to the companies. This is 

 effected, in the first place, by less excavation being required ; man-holes will not be neces- 

 sary to enable the men to get at the joints, and the operation is rapidly completed without 

 the danger and nuisance of fires in the streets for melting lead, and by the employment of at 

 most only one-third the labor required under the present system ; while, instead of skilled 

 workmen, any laborer who never before saw a joint may be taught in five minutes effect- 

 ively to screw up the joints. The lead used under the present plan may be taken on an 

 average at eighty-four pounds to a ton of main pipe, showing a saving in lead alone of from 

 15s. to 16s. per ton. A still further advantage and saving is effected by the superiority of 

 the joint, forming almost an entire prevention of leakage and waste ; for, while there is every 

 facility secured for expansion and contraction, the perfection of the joint remains unim- 

 paired. This manner of connecting pipes has equal applicability for the conveyance of steam 

 for breweries, distilleries, dyehouses, conservatories, hothouses, and in all situations where 

 the safe conveyance of fluids is a desideratum ; and may safely call attention to its great 

 simplicity and efficiency, its capability of supplying a great public good, and removing many 

 public annoyances. 



On the Manufacture of Terra Cotta. 



THE manufacture of terra cotta, a comparatively new branch of business in the United 

 States, is conducted in New York, at the principal establishment, that of Mr. Young's, as 

 follows : The material used by Mr. Young is one part New Jersey clay, an article well 

 known by all the potters in the Middle and New England States ; and Long Island clay, 

 one part, and sand from Rockaway Beach, one part ; which are ground together in a common 

 tub-mill, with one horse attached to a sweep, like the common brick-clay mill, or old- 

 fashioned cider-mill. 



