244 



The Galvanic Plant and Tree Protector. 



Vol. VII. 



an egg. In winter this will answer all the 

 purposes of cookery, and even for table will 

 be sweeter than much that finds its way 

 there. J. P. Kirtland. 



Rockport, October 14th, 1842. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



The Galvanic Plant and Tree Protector. 



Messrs. Editors, — If you have seen the 

 Galvanic plant and tree Protector, or are in 

 possession of a more minute description of 

 it than has appeared in our late papers, 

 you would confer a favour, by giving the 

 necessary directions to a mechanic to make 

 it, and giving the public his address. 



A Subscriber &, lover of fruit. 



Dec. 21st, 1842. 



We have caused one of the Protectors to 

 be made for the inspection of our friends, 

 and it may be examined at our office. It is 

 neatly constructed by a first-rate workman, 

 Mr. W. H. Orr, No. 344, Market street, 

 Philadelphia, who is ready to supply them 

 of the following size and price, viz: 6 inches 

 diameter at top, 4 J inches diameter at bot- 

 tom, 4 inches deep. — Price 37£ cents. 



In the "Gardener's Magazine," for April, 

 1841, conducted by J. C. Loudon, and pub- 

 lished in London, there is a particular ac- 

 count of this very curious contrivance, con 

 tained in a letter from the inventor to Arthur 

 Aikin, Esq , Secretary of the Society of Arts, 

 from whence we copy the following inte- 

 resting particulars. Mr. Walker says, "I 

 have had these Protectors in use in my own 

 garden for twelve months, and can assure 

 you that, although during that period, plants 

 on all sides have suffered from the ravages 

 of the molluscs, not a plant has been in- 

 jured that has had the protection of the gal- 

 vanic circle. The annexed drawing and 



description will exhibit the apparatus, and 

 explain its operation. It consists of a some- 

 what conical ring of zinc, of the following 

 dimensions, viz: 6 inches in diameter at top, 

 4| inches at bottom, and 4 inches in height. 

 The top edge is flanged off, say half an inch, 

 and cut into zigzag or Vandyke points. Im- 

 mediately under this flange, a ring of thin 

 copper is neatly fitted, being exactly of the 

 taper with the zinc ring, and one inch broad, 

 forming a copper hoop around the zinc; this 

 copper ring is fixed in its place by means of 

 a dot of solder, in three or four places. Such 

 is the apparatus, and its operation is thus : 

 the bottom of the zinc ring being pressed 

 into the soil until the copper ring is about 

 an inch and a half above the surface of the 

 earth, the molluscse, &c, may crawl up the 

 zinc with impunity, but on coming in con- 

 tact with the copper, will receive a galvanic 

 shock, and immediately turn away or fall to 

 the ground. I have repeatedly watched them, 

 and have observed they were extremely cau- 

 tious in approaching a second time. In fixing 

 the Galvanic protector, care must be taken 

 to enclose within it the rods which are re- 

 quired for the support of the plants; other- 

 wise the molluscse would find a ready way 

 to the plant by them. The apparatus acts in 

 wet or dry weather, and is therefore always 

 in action. Its appearance when in use, is 

 like a vandyked flower-pot, and its cheap- 

 ness, neatness, utility and durability must 

 ensure its general adoption. 



" 1 believe the same principle may be ap- 

 plied to walls, «fec, for the protection of 

 fruit trees; straps of zinc and copper being 

 placed in contact with the tree and along 

 the wall ; in this arrangement the copper 

 might be made to clip over or embrace the 

 edge of the zinc." 



Thus far Mr. Walker. Mr. Loudon goes 

 on to say; "The sensation of galvanism is 

 produced by placing in contact plates of zinc 

 alternating with plates of copper, and a piece 

 of moistened cloth between each. Now, if 

 a snail or slug be placed on a plate of zinc, 

 to which a narrow plate or strip of copper is 

 fixed near the edge, and the zinc turned over 

 it so as to form a rim of zinc, copper and zinc, 

 it creeps unmolested on its surface, until it 

 touches the rim where the copper is, when 

 it receives a galvanic shock — its moist, soft 

 body, acting as the moistened cloth — and im- 

 mediately recoils, twisting itself back, and 

 rarely ventures a second time to touch the 

 copper. To protect a plant or crop, then, it 

 is only necessary to have a zinc plate of suf- 

 ficient length to surround it, of five or six 

 inches broad, with a strip of copper one inch 

 broad, riveted to the upper part of the strip 

 of zinc, and the zinc turned over it so as to 



