THE FARMER AT HOME. 239 



springs, the water when it sinks through the surface, is speedily inter- 

 rupted by a retentive stratum, and there accumulating soon bursts 

 out into a spring, which ceases to flow a short period after the cause 

 w r hich gave it birth had ceased to operate ; but the water which 

 supplies constant springs sinks deeper into the earth, and accumulates 

 in rocky or gravelly strata, which become saturated with the fluid. 



LANTERN FLY. This very curious insect measures about three 

 inches and a half, from the tip of the front to that of the tail ; and 

 about five inches and a half from wing's end to wing's end, when 

 extended. The body is of a lengthened oval shape, roundish, and 

 divided into several rings. The wings are very large, of a yellow 

 color, elegantly varied with brown. The lower pair are decorated 

 by a very large eye-shaped spot on the middle of each, the border of 

 the spot being red, and the centre half red and white. The head or 

 lantern is a pale yellow with red stripes. This beautiful insect is a 

 native of Surinam, and during the night sheds so strong a phosphoric 

 splendor from its head or lantern, that it may be employed for a 

 candle or torch. It is said that three or four of them tied to the top 

 of a stick are frequently used by travellers for that purpose. A single 

 one gives light enough to enable a person to read. 



LAPIDARY. Is chiefly used for an artificer, who cuts precious 

 stones. Dealers in precious stones are rather styled jewellers. The 

 art of cutting these is of great antiquity. Various machines are 

 employed in cutting precious stones, according to their quality. The 

 diamond, which is extremely hard, is cut on a wheel of soft steel, 

 turned by a mill, with diamond dust, tempered with olive oil, which 

 also serves to polish it. The oriental ruby, sapphire, and topaz, are 

 cut on a copper wheel, with diamond dust tempered with olive oil, 

 and are polished on another copper wheel with tripoli and water. 

 Hyacinths, emeralds, amethysts, garnets, agates, and other stones, not 

 of inferior hardness, are cut on a leaden wheel with smalt and water, 

 and polished on a tin wheel with tripoli. The turquois, girasol, and 

 opal, are cut and polished on a wooden w r heel with tripoli. 



LARCH-TREE. The European Larch is one of the most valua- 

 ble exotics which has been introduced into Britain. In the north of 

 Scotland it has been grown to a great extent, cultivated with partic- 

 ular attention, and found to be one of the most profitable trees to the 

 planter, provided the land be well drained, but it will not succeed in 

 swampy situations. It grows with great rapidity, is subject to very 

 few accidents, transplants with little risk, and produces timber of 

 great excellence and value. The timber is used for shipbuilding, 

 bridges, dock-gates, and other purposes. The bark is nearly as valu- 

 able as that of oak for tanning, and the trunk, when tapped, yields 

 the Venetian turpentine. 



LARD. The melted fat of the hog is known under this name ; 

 it is much used for domestic purposes, in cookery, for ointments, and 



