VOl.. XII. NO. 8. 



AND HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



61 



IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN MAGNETISM. 



Professor Kiel, of Jena, has made some im- 

 portant discoveries and improvements in the qual- 

 ity and use of the magnet. At a late meeting of 

 the Royal Society, the professor was introduced 

 for thepurpose of presenting to the notice of the 

 fellows some of his improved magnets, of a very 

 superior power, as well as explaining their efficacy 

 in the cure of nervous diseases, anil to which they 

 have been very extensively and successfully ap- 

 plied by Dr. K. on the continent. It is evident, 

 from the very far superior degree of power pos- 

 sessed by Dr. Kiel's magnet, that he adopts some 

 mode of accumulating an intensity of magnetic 

 force, superior to any method known or adopted 

 by English philosophers. A small lyre-shaped 

 magnet, of which he is possessed, weighing but 

 5 lbs. is capable of sustaining a weight varying 

 from 100 to 130 lbs., according to the state of the 

 atmosphere ; magnetism as well as electricity be- 

 ing greatly modified by atmospherical influence. 

 This magnet is also possessed of the very singular 

 properties of inducing chemical action, in redden- 

 ing vegetable blues, accelerating crystallization, &c. 

 But the most surprising point connected with these 

 magnets is their singular efficacy discovered by the 

 professor in the cure of diseases connected with the 

 nervous system, as in neuralgia, cephalgia, &c, 

 and in alleviating the worst symptoms of tic do- 

 loureux, epilepsy, paralysis, rheumatism, gout, 

 spasm, &c. In these complaints the most imme- 

 diate relief is obtained ; and (says Mr. Booth the 

 lecturer on chemistry) "from various instances of 

 its efficacy in trials which I saw made at a public- 

 infirmary, I feel convinced that this discovery of 

 a new branch of the healing art must shortly rank 

 as a new era in the history of medicine." 



FIRE PROOF CEMENT. 



The French cement for the roofs of houses, to 

 preserve the wood and protect it from fire, is made 

 in the following manner : 



Take as much lime as is usual in making a pot 

 full of whitewash, and let it be mixed in a pail of 

 water. In this put two and a half pounds of brown 

 sugar; and three pounds of fine salt; mix them 

 well together, and the cement is completed. A lit- 

 tle lampblack, yellow ochre, coloring commodity, 

 may be introduced in changing the color of the ce- 

 ment, to please the fancy of those who use it. It 

 liasbeen used with success, and been recommend- 

 ed particularly as a protection against fire. Small 

 sparks of fire that frequently lodge on the roofs of 

 houses, are prevented by this cement from burning 

 the shingles. — So cheap and valuable a precaution 

 against the destructive element ought not to pass 

 untried. Those who wish to be better satisfied 

 of its utility can easily make the experiment, by 

 using on a small temporary building — or it may be 

 tried by shingles put together for the purpose, and 

 then exposed to the fire. — Railroad Journal. 



HINTS TO HOUSEWIVES. 



As far as it is possible, have bits of bread eaten 

 vip before they become hard. Spread those that 

 are not eaten, and let them dry, to be pounded for 

 puddings, or soaked for brewis. Brewis is made 

 of crusts aud dry pieces of bread, soaked a good 

 while in hot milk, mashed up, and salted, and 

 buttered like toast. Above all, do not let crusts 

 accumulate in such quantities that they cannot be 

 used. With proper care there is no need of losing 

 a particle of bread, even in the hottest weather. 



When ivory handled knives turn yellow, rub 

 them with nice sand paper, or emery ; it will take 

 oil' I he spots, and restore their whiteness. 



\\ ht'ii a carpet is faded, I have been told that 

 it may be restored, in a great measure, (provided 

 there he no grease in it,) by being dipped into 

 strong salt aud water. I never tried this; but I 

 know that silk pocket handkerchiefs, and deep 

 blue factory cotton will not fade, if dipped into 

 salt and water while new. 



Tortoise shell and horn combs last much longer 

 for having oil rubbed into them once in a while. 



Spots in furniture may usually be cleansed by 

 rubbing them quick and hard, with a flannel wet 

 with the same thing which took out the color ; if 

 rum, wet the cloth with rum, &c. The very best 

 restorative for defaced varnished furniture, is rot- 

 ten stone pulverized, and rubbed on with linseed 

 oil. 



Sal volatile, or hartshorn, will restore colors 

 taken out by acid. It may be dropped upon any 

 garment without doing harm. 



Spirits of turpentine, is good to take grease 

 spots out of woollen cloth ; to take spots of paint, 

 &c. from mahogany furniture ; and to cleanse 

 white kid gloves. Cockroaches, and all vermin, 

 have an aversion to spirits of turpentine. 



Lamps will have a less disagreeable smell if you 

 dip your wick yarn in strong hot vinegar and 

 dry it. 



Clean a brass kettle, before using it for cooking, 

 with salt aud vinegar. — Mrs. Child's Frugal House- 

 wife. 



From the Old Colony Press. 

 A FARMER'S LIFE 



— We should think, must he one of happiness. 

 Could our friends amongst that class look in upon 

 us, and witness the " doings" of a printing-office, 

 they would thank their stars that they pursued a 

 different calling. If there is any time when we 

 are inclined to indulge feelings of envy, it is when 

 we get loose from our confined and sedentary la- 

 bors, after twelve or fourteen hours digging among 

 the type, and sally forth to observe what is passing 

 around us. It is then as we compare the healthy 

 looks of the Farmer with the ghostlike appearance 

 of our brethren of the ink and types ; — see the 

 fruits of his industry ripening before us and ob- 

 serve the looks of good nature and happiness shin- 

 ing through every feature, as he gazes upon the 

 growth of that which his hands planted ; and hears 

 the voice of health and joy, and plenty, from his 

 farm house ; we are almost led to believe that the 

 good things of this life are not equally distrib- 

 uted. 



It is the truth that mankind are not half sensi- 

 ble euough of the farmer's situation, in regard to 

 happiness, over every other class in the commu- 

 nity. While the merchant, mechanic, and the 

 professional men, are harrassed with care and anx- 

 iety, the farmer's mind is as free aud clear as the 

 air that meets him when he goes to his field. 

 After the labors of the day are over, the husband- 

 man can retire to his home and enjoy the " luxury 

 of rest." Not so with the man of business : he 

 only exchanges perplexing toil for anxious reflec- 

 tiou ; and while the ' lord of the soil,' is dreaming 

 of fat oxen and agricultural prizes, his eyes are 

 unclosed and his mind is upon the stretch in an 

 endeavor to invent means of taking up notes at the 

 bank, or some such equally unpleasant cogita- 

 tion. 



Wheat Harvest. Our farmers have begun to 

 harvest their wheat ; and they have seldom had 

 so bountiful a crop as at present. Oats are also 

 excellent, but Indian corn is very backward and 

 unpromising. A large amount of hay has been 

 cut among us this year, aud cured in most excel- 

 lent order. — Maine Farmer. 



Great Yield. Mr. John Beaver of New Paltz. 

 Ulster county, while harvesting his crop of wheat 

 recently, had the curiosity to count the number 

 of stalks produced by a single grain. — The result 

 was twenty-six stalks from one grain, the short- 

 est of which were 3 feet 9 inches, and the remain- 

 der averaged 5 feet 9 inches in length. The head 

 of each stalk yielded on an average CO grains, and 

 the product of a single kernel was fifteen hundred 

 and sixty ! The variety was what is called the 

 " crate wheat." The whole field yielded in a like 

 proportion. — Pough. Int. and Rep. 



The Crops. One of the Editors of this paper 

 recently passed through the principal Cotton 

 growing counties of the State, and the Crops were 

 of the most promising description. The Corn crop 

 is already made, and is a bountiful one. The late 

 heavy rains have no doubt proved rather injurious 

 to the fodder. The Cotton looks remarkably well, 

 and should the remainder of the season prove any 

 ivn\ s favorable, will yield a handsome remunera- 

 tion to the labors of the Agriculturist. 



We understand that the crops in the Lower 

 Counties and the vicinity of the city are also in 

 a promising condition. — Savannah Georgian. 



The crop of rye the present season, in this viciu- 

 ity, is uncommonly full of the ergot or spur. This 

 is an active poison, of which fact every one ought 

 to be aware. The rye of this year's growth may, 

 perhaps, be as good, or even better for distilling 

 than usual, as it will yield more deleterious matter 

 than if it were pure. But those who consult the 

 health of their families will do well to cleanse the 

 rye which they grind for family use from the ergot 

 — and such as neglect to do so, ought not to be 

 surprised if severe sickness and death should enter 

 their dwellings, in consequence of this neglect. — 

 Keene Sentinel. 



Knapp's Cork Mattresses. We have seen a cer- 

 tificate of three gentlemen, who witnessed the ex- 

 periment made with Knapp's Cork Mattress on 

 Saturday last. The certificate states that the ex- 

 periment was entirely satisfactory. The mattress 

 weighed twenty-six pounds, and sustained a man 

 from Fort Independence to Long wharf. Though 

 the sea was considerably agitated, the person on 

 the Mattress sailed faster than the boat that accom- 

 panied him, and without wetting his head. 



An experiment was made with the same mat- 

 tress at the swimming-school on Charles river, a 

 day or two since, and was equally satisfactory. 

 Our informant states that three persons lay upon 

 it, and as many others as could conveniently sur- 

 round it endeavored to press it into the water with- 

 out succeeding. 



If these things are so (and we have no reason 

 to doubt the accuracy of our information) the 

 value of the grated cork mattress will be inestima- 

 ble. — Bost. Courier. 



The charter of Saco Bank expired in Oct. 1831, 

 and all bills not presented for payment, by the 1st 

 of Oct. next, will be excluded, as the property will 

 be divided among the stockholders. Remember 

 this who have bills on this Bank. 



