1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



21 



pasture during this summer and fall, with a num- When there are collected in one place large quan- 

 ber of other colts, on Pettick's Island, in Boston titles of electricity, il" there are conductors, or a 

 harbor, was brought over to Quincv Point in tow chain of conductors to convey it away, it passes off 

 of a boat, on one of the coldest days of last week, siknthj, without any sensible eti'ect. If there are 

 She was then led behind a wagon," (it being even- no conductors, it accumulates imtil it becomes ex- 

 ing and the night quite dark) when siie liroke away cessive in quantity, it darts oft' through the air, or 

 and started for the I'oint. Alter hunting for her any substance which lies in its way, often domg irre- 

 an hour without success, the searcli was given up, parable uijury. Splendid and appalling as these re- 

 and it was supposed she had taken to the water, suhs sometimes are, they are imitated precisely, but 

 and on account of the wind and strong current harmlessly, by the apparatus of the lecturer. AVhen 

 which was then running hke a mill stream, it was it darts to the earth it always chooses the best con- 

 supposed she was carried out to sea. Bui the next dudors in its path. 



day, on going over to the island, she was found The process by which electricity is accumulated 

 quietly feeding with her companions. Considering in the thunder storm, is, as has been said, by the 

 the distance, which is more than a mile from the rapid condensation of vapor. We do not, it is true, 

 m;un land, and that it requires large leeway and always have thunder and lightning when clouds 

 hard rowing for a boat to bring up to the island, form in the sky. It is only when the black, weU- 

 also that the night was cold and stormy, it may be defined clouds rise in the north-west, that the Jluid 

 recorded as a case of singular sagacity a'nd cunning, forms faster than it can escape. 

 Truly this was a pursuit of "companions mider dif-< Now when a cloud becomes excessively charged 



ficultics." — Transciipt. 



For tlie New England Farmer. 



ELECTEICITY vs. LIGHTNING RODS. 



with the ftuid, it must be at the expense of some 

 surrounding cloud or locality, and it generally hap- 

 pens that this cloud or locahty is nearest the one 

 that is tilled. Now as the air is a perfect non-con- 

 ductor, the quick passage of the ftuid from one 

 cloud to another is easily aftbrded by the moisture 



Mr. Editok:— As there have been so many ai- contained in the air, or through some sul)stance up- 

 ticles in your pai)er upon the erection and construe-' on the earth. Ihus it often happens that the fiuid 

 tion of lightning rods, that another upon that sub- is seen to pass from a cloud to the earth and then 

 ject would only appear to add to the vast pile of to another cloud. Or, sometimes the spot upon 

 false o|)iiiions and ideas, which are so prevalent up-: the earth has less than its natural share. It m "s 

 on such a subject, I would not, were I able, put passage m either the above instances, any body lies 

 ■ • • • -ou^ which, instead "^ its way, it will be struck, and receive mjury in 



forth any long and elaborate opinion 



of demonstrating any fact or problem, would only 



confuse the mmd of the reader. 



But there are a few facts and principles, which I 

 think have never been mserted in the many com- 

 munications, that are absolutely necessary to be im- 

 derstood with to insure safety from lightning. That 



proportion to its ability to conduct it away. Then 

 the only means by which we can avoid its eftects is 

 to place as perfect conductors in its cii'cuit as pos- 

 sible. 



Granting the above facts to be true, wliich I think 

 no one will dispute, the pliilosophj and utility of 



the reasons for my simple directions" may be more j lightning rods are evident. But to explain how 

 clearly seen, let us examine a few of the most prom- they may, in my opinion, aftbrd that protection de- 

 inent 'features of electricity, the causes which pro-!sirable, is the object of this article. That they are 

 duce it, as we see it displayed m the thunder storm, seldom if ever erected philosophically, is, 1 think, 

 or the tempest, and lastly, some of the best means' true. If one part of them is as it should be, there is 

 ■ ■ ■ ■ .... . j^j^yjjyg something around or about them to utterly 



destroy their utilitj-. The rod should always be of 

 square iron, about one-hdf inch ; it should pass 

 through glass insulated, not fastened with iron 

 spikes, but with wooden brackets, painted, and nailed 

 with copper. They should be of sulhcient size to ad- 

 mit the rod to pass through them freely. The points 

 of the rod should be plated with silver to prevent them 

 from corroding, and the ends instead of beuig hnked 

 should be screwed together, after the manner of 

 joining steam })ipes, that the ends may touch one 



to avoid tlie many dangers to wliich it constantly 

 exposes us. 



The various phenomena which are to be classed 

 under the head of electricity, and of which thunder 

 and hghtning are one, are very imperfectly under- 

 stood. Some facts, and the principles explaining 

 them, have been thoroughly investigated — but oth- 

 ers balile all human eftbrts. There is a certain 

 something, called by philosophers electric ftuid, 

 which is naturally diffused over all bodies. It is in 

 the chair on which I sit, in the table, the paper, my 



hand — in a word, in every thiiig. In its natural another. The loot should be of copper, or some 

 state, it is equally and generally difl"used, jjroducing metal not easy to corrode, and placed in a well, or 

 no sensible effects. But there are cerUiin causes perpetually moist place. I think one rod upon any 

 which collect it. When it is thus accumulated in' ordinary house would be suihcicnt. They should 

 one place, or upon one body, it produces very strik- project above the house in proj)ortion to the size of 

 ing results. Among the processes by which the the house. A rod, placed upon a house in the man- 



electric ftuid is accumulated and thus prepared to 

 produce these sensiljle eftects, one of tiie princii)a 

 is, the rapid condensation of va])or. This nii^ht bi 



ner I have just described, will, I think, protect iL 



And just as lar as one dcjiarts from this manner, in 



iust that i)r()i)orti(m will the cfHciencv of the rod be 

 •; • , ' S /. .1 .. 'I'l „.i :., 



shown by a simple electrical experiment, which I impaired; and for these I'easons. '1 he rod is con- 

 have not time or space to relate. One of the most|stantly surrounded by an electric current during a 

 prominent features of electricity is, that some sul)-| tliuudcr storm or shower. If, in the travels of the 

 stances afford it easy passage over them, while oth-Lshower, it hajjpensthat a cloud positively electrified 

 ers do not. The former we call conductors, the lat-i approaches tlie house, very likely some spot around 

 ter non-conductors; metals and water are conduct- it is negligently charged, or has less than its natur- 

 ors, almost all other substances are non-conductors. I al share, then that in the former darts to the latter 



