282 



Hydraulic Ram. 



Vol. XI. 



this accounts for the carbonic acid being able 

 to change the vegetable fibre, while starch 

 remains unchanged, carbonic acid being less 

 powerfiil than sulphuric acid. 



In the sugar-cane, corn-stalk, sugar-maple, 

 &c., the vital action prodtices sugar. Not 

 so, however, in the linden and many other 

 shade trees. In these, if sugar, or any other 

 saccharine substance be produced, it is, as I 

 have before said, by a chemical action, in 

 this case in opposition to the vital action. 

 This does not take place when the vital ac- 

 tion is in full force. In the diseased plants, 

 or plants whose vital force is deficient, the 

 carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen, that 

 are absorbed by the plant, and which should 

 go to the formation of vegetable fibre and 

 starch, are changed by the chemical action 

 into a saccharine substance, or sugar. We 

 have striking instances of this in the pheno- 

 mena of honey-dew. With the sap full of 

 sugar is it strange that the insects are at- 

 tracted by a tree which offers them such a 

 feast of sweet things 1 



The question, then, arises. How may the 

 vital force be restored or prevented from suf- 

 fering this deterioration ? I answer, by neu- 

 tralizing the carbonic acid, and thus deprive 

 it of its power. This may be done by the 

 application of alkalies or alkaline substances ? 

 There are a great many of these, and which 

 can be had at a great many different prices. 

 As I cannot mention them all in a communi- 

 cation like this, I will speak of perhaps but 

 one of the cheapest of them, and its mode of 

 application, as a guide to the use of all others. 

 When the tree gets into full leaf, take the 

 salt lye of the soap makers, and mix it with 

 w^ater in such strength as to enable the solu- 

 tion to bear an egg; then add fresh water 

 equal in quantity to your solution. Apply 

 with a long-haired whitewash brush to the 

 larger limbs and the stem of the tree — wash 

 them well, and then take a large syringe 

 and throw the preparation on the leaves of 

 the tree as high as you can. If circumstances 

 will permit, it would be well to sprinkle the 

 ground with the preparation above where it 

 is supposed the roots of the tree may be — 

 aking care not to put too mucli in one placee, 

 particularly near the foot of the tree. 



I have recommended this mode of prepar- 

 ing, because the solution must not be too 

 strong, as it might endanger the life of the 

 tree. Indeed, if a tree be very valuable, 

 great care should be exercised not to apply 

 too much at one time, even of the prepa- 

 ration mentioned above. At intervals of 

 every two weeks the operation might be re- 

 peated if the insects attack or still infest the 

 tree. In the latter part of summer, if the 

 season be such that much carbonic acid it- 



formed, it may be necessary to repeat the 

 operation many times, particularly if, as just 

 mentioned, the tree is very valuable, and 

 you are afraid to apply too much at one time 

 for fear of injuring it. 



Strong soapsuds is another valuable alka- 

 line substance, and may be used pretty freely, 

 care being taken not to use it too freely. 



Fruit trees under like circumstances may 

 be treated, in like manner, with great benefit. 



In the hope that this article may be useful 

 in preventing the mutilation and loss of the 

 shade-trees, and in getting rid of the un- 

 sightly insects, I remain the public's humble 

 servant. Chkmico. 



Wilkesbarre, Pa., March 21, 1847. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Hydraulic Ram. 



A NUMBER of articles having appeared in 

 your journal on the Hydraulic Ram, (see vol. 

 9, p. 59; vol. 10, p. 228, 289, 297, and vol. 

 11, p. 217, 247, and 249,) and feeling inte- 

 rested in the subject, and being engaged in 

 the manufacture of the ram, and having given 

 its history some attention, I have thought 

 that a few remarks upon the subject might 

 prove interesting to your readers, who seem 

 to be fully aware of the value of this simple 

 and effective machine for raising water. 



The first ram we have any account of, is 

 noticed in a letter from the maker, John 

 Whitehurst, to Dr. Franklin, dated March 

 16th, 1775. This machine was put up at 

 Aulton, Cheshire, England, in 1772 ; but was 

 not self-acting, as the one now in use. 



The invention of the self-acting ram is 

 due to Pierre Francois Montgolfier, a French 

 paper maker, in 1796. 



This machine was much like the one now 

 in general use, extremely simple and effec- 

 tive. He patented several improvements on 

 it in 1816, in England. First in employing 

 two stop valves instead of one ; (see cut, let- 

 ter F, page 294.) Second, a snifting valve, 

 to supply air as it became exhausted from 

 the air-vessel, (c). Third, a particular form 

 and arrangement of the air-vessel. Fourth, 

 two plans for double acting rams, or such as 

 are employed to raise pure, by a driving 

 power of impure or foul water. Fifth, the 

 addition of a suction pipe to raise water from 

 a lower level than that of the ram ; as from a 

 .-■hallow well. Sixth, an arrangement by 

 which it is applied for blowing furnaces, &c., 

 in place of the bellows. 



In 1797 Matthew Bolton, (ofthe firm ofBol- 

 ton and Watts,) of Soho, England, took out 

 patents, firt^t, for the self acting ram ; second, 

 the addition of an air-vessel ; third, a suction 

 ram; fourth, a double ram, having one or two 

 air-vessels; fiflh, two syphon rams, one deli- 



