NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



359 



the writer hopes, will claim for this communica- 

 tion an insertion in most of the papers of the Union, 

 that a remedy so cheap and simple may be fully 

 tested . — Richmond Whig. 



fHedjanics' ^Department, ^rts, $Ci, 



BEAUTIFUL SPECIMEN OF MECHAN- 

 ICAL SKILL. 



The foreign correspondent of the Tribune very 

 grapliically describes a beautiful specimen of artis- 

 tic skill in Russia, being a magnificent coffer, pre- 

 pared at the Emperor's command, as a present to 

 the Empress. It is a large box of ehony, the lop 

 and sides of which are ornamented with clusters of 

 fruit, of the natural size, all carved out of precious 

 stones, immense quantities of each having been cut 

 up in search of portions possessing the particular 

 flaws which serve to produce the effect of the seeds, 

 veins, and other natural peculiarities, which are 

 imitated with such perfect truthfulness. 



The writer remarks : Look at these purple 

 grapes, cut out of amethyst ; how exquisitely sha- 

 ded the rich luscious berries, paler underneath, and 

 seemingly covered with a soft bloom; it needs all 

 the reiterated asservations of the Russian Commis- 

 sioner to persuade us that all this shading is natu- 

 ral, and that no coloring process whatever has been 

 resorted to; these berries of the mountain ash, 

 carved out of coral; these plimis, formed of one of 

 the rarest and costliest stones, the onyx; these cher- 

 ries, through whose transparent skin the juice 

 seems starting; and these white and red currants, 

 every seed and vein showing through the transpa- 

 rent pulp, all of red and white cornelian ; these 

 pears of agate, whose mottled and sun-browned 

 rind might challenge competition with the finest 

 Bergamont, the ripest Duchess tliat ever hung on 

 sunniest espalier. All these fruits, except the 

 grapes, which are whole, are in semi-relief only, 

 and are seemingly embedded in the wood. The 

 leaves are of jasper, and are fully as wonderful as 

 the fruit — every little vein, withered spot, or slimy 

 traces of caterpillar, being rendered with scrupu- 

 lous accuracy. The rinrs and edges of the coffer 

 are richly carved, and cost altogether thirty thou- 

 sand dollars." 



NEW WINDOW SASH FASTENER. 



Mr. J. B. S. Hadaway, of Uxbridge, Norfolk 

 County, Mass., has invented and taken measures 

 to secure a patent for a very ingenious and beau- 

 tiful fastener for windows. Quite a number of 

 window fasteners have already been brought before 

 the public, but we have seen none like this: there 

 is a small box cast, with a neat short handle in it 

 attached to a small vibrating plate catch, and this 

 is put on the window sash, with the lever handle 

 at the inside and the catch acting on the window 

 frame (out of sight) to retain the window at any 

 point. A spring in the small box makes the 

 catch self-acting, so as to keep it in its proper 

 place and position, and all that has to be done is to 

 touch the small handle spoken of, wiieu it is de- 

 sired to shove the window up or draw it down, 

 when it becorires free and the window can be 

 moved. There is one thing about it, catch it 

 must; and moved out of place it cannot be, unless 

 a force is applied to the handle: it is a sure and 

 very neat fastener. — Scientific American. 



Perforation of a Leaden Water Cistern by 

 Insects. — At a recent meeting of the London 

 Chemical Society, an account was given by J. H. 

 Gilbert, of the depredations of an insect belonging 

 to the order Coleopera and genus Anabianca, on a 

 water-cistern that had been constructed of worm- 

 eaten wood lined with lead. In a little more than 

 three years the cistern proved to be leaky, and a 

 number of small perforations were found in the 

 metal lining, which on careful examination were 

 ascertained to have been produced by the above 

 named insect. Other instances were referred to in 

 which similar effects have been observed. — Ibid. 



We can not practice deceit without that de- 

 liberation of purpose which constitutes the very 

 essence of vice. 



Caiiics' Pi'partiucut. 



RAILROADS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Massachusetts has constructed 1,150 miles of 

 railroad, at a cost of $52,000,000; and the other 

 New England States have constructed 1,799 miles 

 more at a cost of $55,000,000. To these might 

 be added the Northern New York (or Ogdensburg) 

 Railroad, which is virtually a New England road, 

 making a total of about 3,000 miles of railroad, 

 constructed at a total cost of upwards of $110,000,- 

 000. 



The gross earnings in 1850, of all the railroads 

 in Massachusetts, and of those that are partly in 

 Massachusetts and partly in adjoining States, 

 were $6,903,328. The net earnings, during the 

 same time, were $3,480,347. The cost of these 

 roads was $53,264 ,000. The net income was there- 

 fore more than 6 per cent, on the total cost. 



The number of passengers transported over 

 these roads during the same time was 8,973,681, 

 which gives an average of 28,754 a day for 312 

 days. — Scientific American. 



MARVELLOUS REMEDY FOR BURNS. 



Let the patient dip the part which is burnt into 

 common washing fluid, letting it remain therein 

 ten or fifteen minutes ; if the burn is on any other 

 part of the body than the feet or hands, the fluid 

 may be applied with a piece of cloth rolled togeth- 

 er with a string tied around it — dip one end into 

 the fluid and apply freely on the burnt part. As 

 there are washing fluids in market that are too 

 weak, it rmay be well to add two ounces of pulver- 

 ized pearlash to one pint of fluid. The great ad- 

 vantage of this remedy is, it relieves the pain in- 

 stantaneously, and prevents the formation of blis- 

 ters. In burns by which the skin is taken off, so 

 that there is an open wound, the above remedy has 

 not been tried. In such * case caution should be 

 observed. I have used it several times in the 

 course of two years. 



VINEGAR ADULTERATIONS. 



A correspondent in the Newark Daily Adccrti- 

 scr makes the following statement — no doubt cor- 

 rect — in regard to adulterated vinegar, which is of 

 importance to housekeepers. He says — 



"Great pains are requsite in purchasing vinegar, 

 as it is now manufactured to a great extent through- 



