212 Improvement in Axles — Hints to Farmers — Plant Trees. Vol. XI. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Improvement in Axles. 



I have believed that an advantage would 

 result from calling the attention of your 

 numerous readers, to an improvement in 

 AXLES, which has recently been invented, 

 and which in my humble opinion, is likely 

 to form a new era in wagon, and carriage 

 making. The inventor, Isaac Slack, of 

 Avondale, Chester county, Pa., has secured 

 the invention by letters patent; and al- 

 though from the very liberal views of some, 

 we might infer that they would disapprove 

 this course, — yet the decided advantages 

 likely to result from the improvement, and 

 the circumstances under which the disco- 

 very was made, render in the view of his 

 friends, an ample apology for this course. 



I will here briefly refer the reader to some 

 of the advantages claimed by the inventor 

 for this construction. And although there 

 is here and there a chance individual, 

 who, from prejudice, or from other motives, 

 very difficult to appreciate, will strenuously 

 oppose the introduction of this improvement 

 — yet I firmly believe, that every man who 

 has fairly examined it, is in candour com- 

 pelled to yield the validity of these preten- 

 sions. 



1st. The friction is much lessened. The 

 axles revolve with the wheels; each wheel 

 having its separate axle or spindle extend- 

 ing to the centre of the machine ; thus the 

 leverage of the spindles is equal to half the 

 length of the ordinary axle, or about two 

 and a half feet, instead of six to twelve 

 inches, as is generally the case. So that 

 by this contrivance, the hind, or friction on 

 the spindles, occasioned by sideling ground, 

 or side motion, is diminished to less than 

 one sixth part of that exerted in the com 

 mon hub. 



2nd. The noise and waste of oil, occa 

 sioned by the play of wheels hung by the 

 usual method, is entirely avoided ; for by 

 this improvement, they may at all times be 

 kept free, yet so tight as to make no noise 

 in running. 



3rd. All dust or sand is effectually ex- 

 cluded from the boxes. 



4th. A wagon constructed on this plan, 

 may be oiled at any time, whether loaded or 

 empty, by the simple process of pouring it in 

 from a can. 



5th. The oil having no access to the out 

 end of the hub, a disagreeable collection of 

 grease and dirt is avoided, and a neat and 

 graceful finish introduced in its stead. 



6th. The hub is of cast iron, and subject 

 to no friction, and is therefore almost im- 

 perishable. The mortices may be made 



larger and the spokes driven tighter, than 

 can be done in wooden ones ; and the tenons 

 of the spokes are eflectually protected from 

 the oil ; thus making a stronger, and much 

 more lasting wheel. 



These are undoubted advantages, which 

 combine in this new construction, to form a 

 compact, simple, neat, and durable machine. 

 1 will here add for the satisfaction of any 

 reader feeling an interest in this matter, 

 that several carriages and wagons of differ- 

 ent weights, are in use, and being made by 

 the inventor in his vicinity; and a reference 

 to which will I trust satisfy any one that the 

 above is in no wise too highly wrought. 



A Friend to Improvement. 



Chester co., Pa., Feb. 4, 1847. 



Hints to Farmers. — The farmer's life is 

 shunned by many because it seems one of 

 mindless drudgery. It ought not so to be. 

 If our farmers would study and reflect more, 

 they might do less hard labour, and yet ac- 

 complish more in the course of a year. Ten 

 hours' work in summer, and eight in winter, 

 ought, with good management, to give any 

 man a good living. He who works so hard 

 that he cannot read or reflect after the la- 

 bours of the day are over, because of fatigue, 

 does not plan wisely. Let no man shun 

 work when work is to be done ; delve, delve, 

 forever, is not the end of man's life. The 

 farmer's evenings should be devoted to men- 

 tal acquirement and rational enjoyment. To 

 sup and tumble into bed is a hog's fashion, 

 and highly injurious to health. But let a 

 farmer have about him the choicest works 

 of his own auxiliary avocations; let these 

 form the subject of study and conversations 

 at least two evenings in a week, while the 

 newspaper, the newest and oldest volume, 

 each have their allotted seasons. Two or 

 three dollars, contributed by each family 

 in a neighbourhood or district, would go a 

 great way in the purchase of standard books 

 at modern prices. These are but hints 

 which each reader will modify as his judg- 

 ment shall suggest. I plead only for the 

 essential thing of making home pleasant, 

 and its hours of relaxation, hours of instruc- 

 tion also. H. Greely. 



Plant Trees. — Plant trees everywhere, 

 we say : let them shade our streets, and 

 grow wherever there is room for them. 

 Especially plant them in the country, where 

 open fields will admit, and be sure that in 

 the end they will surprise the planter by 

 their growth whilst he and his cliiklren are 

 sleeping! In evidence of this, let us quote 

 an anecdote to the purpose. It is related of 

 a farmer in Long Island, that he planted an 



