1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



487 



paragrele, throuofhout that country, would not be 

 less than five millions of dollars. 



Conpiderable ditlcrcnce of opinion exists as to 

 the method by which the paragrclc produces irs ef- 

 fects. A commonly received theory, based on the 

 supposition that hail is produced by a congelation 

 of the drops of water, in very elevated strata of the 

 atmosphere, is, that the hail-rod, by attractinp^and 

 detaininir these vapors in a lower stratum than that, 

 in which freezing takes place, prevents its forma- 

 tion. But as hail-storms are generally accom- 

 panied by thunder and lightning, an American 

 wrUer has suggested that the paragrele acts by ab- 

 stracting the superabundance of electricity from 

 highly charged clouds. The formation of hail, ac- 

 cording to this writer, takes place only when, by 

 the sudden passage of the electric fluid through the 

 cloud, a portion of the water is decomposed, and 

 returns into its original gaseous state, the heat ab- 

 stracted (by the change from a liquid to an aeri- 

 form state,) from the neighboring particles (or 

 clouds?) is so great as to convert, them into ice, 

 when they descend in the form of hail. The de- 

 composition of a single cubic inch of water, accord- 

 ing to the tables of Bwt, will reduce the tempera- 

 ture of 5,6 1 pounds of water from 72 degs. to 32 

 degs., the freezing point of Fahrenheit. The de- 

 composition of water by the electric spark is now a 

 well known fact, but the peculiar manner in which 

 electricity acts upon the clouds, or the exact man- 

 ner in which they must be situated, in order that 

 hail shall be produced, does not yet appear to us to 

 be ciearly demonstrated. That, however, the 

 electric fluid is a necessary agent in the production 

 of hail in summer, we can scarcely doubt; and 

 the claims of the paragrele or hail-rod appear so 

 well established, that we do not hesitate to recom- 

 mend strongly the use of so valuable a means of 

 protection in all parts of the Union liable to fre- 

 quent or destructive hail storms. 



Newburgh, N. Y., July 15, 1837. 



From tlie Farmer and Gardener. 

 smith's lime-spueader. 



We have before noticed the invention of a ma- 

 chine for spreading lime, by our ingenious fellow- 

 citizen, Francis H. Smith, Esq., and revert to it 

 again in consequence of the repeated applications 

 that have, of late, been made to us for information 

 as to its efficiency and cost. To speak then, first, 

 of its efficiency. There is no doubt in our mind, 

 and we believe there is none in the mind of any 

 person who has seen it in operation, but that it is 

 a most useful machine — one that is eminently cal- 

 culated to promote the object for which it is intend- 

 ed, and that it not only economises time, but does 

 the work better than it can possibly be done by 

 hand. 



One of the most desirable things aimed at in 

 hming, is the equal distribution of the mineral 

 over every part of the field, and this, it must be 

 admitted by all candid persons, cannot be effected 

 by shovel-spreading, as with all the care and pre- 

 caution that may be taken, inequality Avill ensue 

 in despite of the best directed efforts, 



yfgain, it is almost impossible, by such spread- 

 ing, to regulate the quantify sown oil the acre, 

 and hence disappointments oi^en occur to the mor- 

 tification and cost of farmers. 



The injurious efllects, too, of the old method of 



spreading, upon the lungs and eyes of those en- 

 gaged in such work, have always been subjects of 

 regret, if they have not restricted the use of this 

 generous agent in the fertilization of the soil. 



We are happy to say, that one and all of these 

 objections have been completely obviated by Mr, 

 Smith's machine, and that by it the following re- 

 sults are produced. 



1. Owing to the beautiful and nice mathema- 

 tical arrangement of the several parts of this ma- 

 chine, it is perfectly practicable to distribute any 

 given quantity of lime evenly and equally over 

 every part of the field ; such is the equality of 

 the operation that the ground after the work is 

 done is covered with as much nicety as if the dis- 

 tribution had been effected by patient laborers 

 fi-om hand-sieves. 



2. By the substitution of difl^erent cog-wheels, 

 the machine may be so regulated as to spread 50, 

 75, 100 or 150 bushels of lime upon the acre, as 

 may best suit the views of the farmer ; and any 

 of these quantities may be distributed with the 

 greatest nicety and exactitude. 



3. From the peculiar construction of the ma- 

 chinery, no disagreeable effects result to the work- 

 men while engaged in their labor, as but little dust 

 arises, and that whicli does, is left behind by tlie 

 cart, so that the laborers are not at all incommo- 

 ded thereby. 



The above advantages we have pointed out, 

 will, we are sure, be considered as important de- 

 siderata by all intelligent farmers ; but indepen- 

 dent of these, there is another of great moment. 

 We allude to the superior despatch with which 

 the work can be done. Two hands with a cart 

 and horse, can spread an acre an hour, v.'ith per- 

 fect ease. 



The reader, we hope, will be able to compre- 

 hend the principle and construction of the spreader 

 on perusing the following description. 



It is a neatly made cart, adapted to either one or 

 two horses. In the bottom of if, about a foot in 

 the rear of the axle, a hopper is formed, within 

 which two rollers, reaching from side to side, re- 

 volve by means of' cog-gearing, moved by a cog- 

 wheel located upon one of the hubs. The rol- 

 lers are made of iron, one of which is fluted to 

 the depth of about three-fourths of an inch ; the 

 other is smooth, one of these rollers is borne up- 

 wards by a spring, which is of great strength, but 

 which is so constructed as to give way, or recede 

 back whenever a stone too hard to be crushed 

 presents itself for passage between the rollers. 

 This is an object of great value, as it not only pro- 

 vides against a stoppage of the machinery, and 

 consequently saves time, but preserves the ma- 

 chinery itself from injury. 



The machinery is simple; easily kept in order, 

 and may be repaired by any common country 

 smith. 



It is calculated for spreading lime, either dry or 

 wet, (stone or shell,) ashes, marl, or ground bones. 



When not used as a lime-spreader, by fitting in 

 a slide, which also accompanies the cart, it may 

 be used for all other farm or market purposes. 



The price of the cart, together with its ma- 

 chinery, includinsr the two cylinders for dry and 

 xcet lime, is SHOj a sum which should not be 

 considered an object with any agriculturist who 

 has a farm of a hundred acres or more to lime, as 

 it would pay for itself in a single season in the 



