1S37] 



FARMERS' REGIK'i KU. 



181 



vorof Ihe <ralvanic majrnet. Mr. SI ad e inquires, 

 '• lias Mr. Ivilc.hie's lu.iiriict been so coiislructcd 

 as Id irive a llivoralile trial to this principle ?"'* 

 Mr. Davenport ini!.)rn\s me tliat eacli increase in 

 (lie number ol" wires lias been aiteuJed with un 

 increase of power. 



Conclusions. 



1. It appears then, from the. facts stated above, 

 that electro-magnetism is quite adecjuate to the 

 generation of rotary motion. 



2. That it is not necessary to employ perma- 

 nent magnets in any part of the construction, and 

 that electro-magnets are far preferable, not only 

 lor the moving, but for the stationary parts of the 

 machine. 



3. That the power generated by electro-mag- 

 netism may be indefinitely prolonged, since, for 

 exhausted acids, and corroded metals, fresh acids 

 and battciies, kept always in readiness, may be 

 substituted, even without stopping the movement. 



4. That the power may be increased beyond 

 any limit hitherto attained, and probably beyond 

 any which can be with certainty assigned — since, 

 by increasing all the members of the apparatus, 

 due referaiice being had to the relative proportion- 

 ate weight, size, and form ol the fixed and move- 

 able parts — to the length of the insulated wires 

 and the manner of winding them — and to the pro- 

 per size and construction of the battery, as well as 

 to the nature and strength of the acid or other 

 exciting aiienf, and the manner of connecting the 

 battery Vv'ith the machine, it would appear certain, 

 that the power must be increased in some ratio 

 which experience must ascertain. 



5. As electro-magnetism has been experimen- 

 tally proved to be sufficient to raise and sustain 

 several thousands of pounds, no reason can be dis- 

 covered why, when the acting surliices are, b}^ 

 skilful mechanism, brought as near as possible, 

 without contact, the continued exertion of the 

 power should not uenerate a continued rotary 

 movement, of a degree of energy inli^rior indeed 

 to that exerted in actual contact, but etill nearly 

 approximating to it. 



6. As the power can be generated cheaply and 

 certainly — as it can be continued indefinitely — as 

 it has been very greatly increased by very simple 

 means — as we have no knowledge of its limit, and 

 may thereibre presume on an indefinite augmenia- 

 tion of its energy, it is much to be desired that 

 the investigation should be prosecuted with zeal, 

 aided by correct scientific knowledge, by mechanical 

 skill and by ample funds. It may thereibre be 

 reasonably hoped, that science and art, the hand- 

 maids of discover}', will both receive from this in- 

 teresting research, a liberal reward. 



Science has thus most unexpectedly, placed in 

 our hands a new power of great but unknown en- 

 ergy. 



It does not evoke the winds from their caverns ; 

 nor give wings to water by the urgency of heat ; 

 nor drive to exhaustion the muscular power of 

 animals ; nor operate by complicated mechaniam; 

 nor accumulate hydraulic force by damming the 



vexed torrents ; nor summon any other form of 

 gravitating force ; but, by the sim|)lest means — 

 the mere contact of metallic surfaces ol' small ex- 

 tent, will) feeble chemical agents — a power every 

 where dillused through nature, but generally con- 

 cealed from our senses, is mysteriously evolved, 

 and by circulation in insulated wires, it is still 

 more mysteriously augmented, a thousand and a 

 thousand Ibid, until it breaks forth with incredible 

 energy ; there is no appreciable interval between 

 its first evolution and its lull maturity, and the in- 

 fant starts up a giant. 



Nothing since the discovery of gravitation and 

 of the structure of the celestial systems, is so won- 

 derful as the power evolved by galvanism ; 

 whether we contemplate it in the muscular con- 

 vulsions of animals, the chemical decompositions, 

 the solar brightness of the galvanic light, the dis- 

 sipating consuming heat, and, more than all, in 

 the magnetic energy, which leaves far behind all 

 previous artificial accumulations of this power, 

 and reveals, as there is full reason to believe, the 

 •rrand secret of terrestrial magnetism itself. 



B. S. 



New Haven, March 31, 1837. 



* Tfiis question I am not able to answer, as I have 

 not seen any account of the apparatus or of the exper- 

 iment, but only of the result. 



From the New England Farmer. 



REMARKS OX SILK CULTURE AKD MANUFAC- 

 TURKS. 



I send you some few notes relative to silk and 

 its culture, and the sugar-beet. The progress 

 making in both these branches in France and 

 other countries at the present day, offers new en- 

 couragement. By continued perseverance, which 

 is one of the most distinguishing traits of the 

 American character, we have the assurance of 

 success, and in the end it is expected that these 

 two branches will constitute to the northern and 

 m.iddle states of the Union, a mine of inexhaust- 

 ible wealth. 



The production of food and of clothing, are the 

 two most important sources of wealth to a nation. 

 Silk and sugar-beet are the two all-engrossing topics 

 which have engaged the attention of the French 

 nation of the present day, as 1 am assured by a 

 letter of a very late date, fi-om the most authen- 

 tic source in that country. The stock of the Chi- 

 nese mulberry is exhausted in the vicinity of Paris, 

 and its priae has risen to more than double what 

 it was last year. Such has been the increased 

 demand and reputation of this plant of late ; and 

 even the seed of the white mulberry commands 

 at Paris, a price of 60 li"ancs a pound. Of these 

 liicls I am very lately assured by the Chevalier 

 Soulanfre Bodin, whom I consider the best autho- 

 I'ily in France. 



Italy is advancing, though now in the rear, if 

 we may believe all accounts. Aided as they are 

 by the exertions of M. Bonafoux, they must ad- 

 vance in time. The silk culture, by the aid of 

 the present enlightened Pacha, is also, from all 

 accounts, making considerable advances inEgypt. 



I shall endeavor to prove that the com|'arative 

 high price of labor in America, oflers no discour- 

 agement. The zeal and enterprise of our people 

 will enable them to overcome all obstacles; the 

 difference in the price of labor must be measured 

 according to the amount of labor performed, and 

 the talent and ingenuity which are brought into 

 action. 



