402 



♦ KNOWLEDGE • 



[May 8, 1885. 



have been of some service ; but really the coirmon sense of the 

 theory seetna obvious. Jones and you may have as much 

 abstract riffht to hire a hansom as Smith and myself, but if we 

 enter it first, "precedence docs imply exclusion." — I. S. asks if any 

 reader will inform him how to kill Amphibia quickly for purposes 

 of dissection ? — C. M. Hakkord. My dear young friend, — Neither 

 1 nor any other human beinp; can tell you " how many birds there 

 are now existing in the world ! " I might just as well ask you to 

 give me an approximate estimate of the number of fish in the sea. 

 — Fred. Lob.mtz asks for a general formula, to give the curvature 

 which a wire should have when supported by its two ends from 

 points of different heights, in order that it may be exposed to the 

 minimum of stress from its own weight. — Hallvards. Yes, he is. 

 No doubt things have ajipeared, as you say, touching it a little more 

 nearly, but if you were in my place, and could see the reams of 

 violent and irrelevant correspondence which its admission entails, 

 you would rather wonder that it has not been stopped before than 

 that it has been permitted to go on so long. Viix'a acquint eundo. 



(Buv Jnbrntois' Column. 



We give here, week hy ifeet, a terse deserijjfion of such of the many 

 im^entions as xoe think may he of use to our readers. Where it is 

 possible, the number of the patent is q^wted, to enable those who 

 desire fuller information to procure the specification from the 

 Patent Ofice in Cursitor-street, Chancery -lane. We shall, gene- 

 rally speaking, confine ourselves to the more recent inventions ; hut 

 it often happens that an article comes under our notice ivhich, 

 although not quite novel, is ivorthy of mention for its utility and 

 ingenuity^ In such a ca^e we should not hesitate to refer our 

 readers to it. And while ive thus increase the interest of our pages, 

 we at the same time assist the inventors by giving greater pniblicity 

 to their inventions (Knowledge being a popular magazine) than 

 is accorded by the most excellent trade journals 



NEW SAW, &t 



the heavy fly-wheel may often prove of service. It will be seen 

 that the machine is worked by fast power, but a means for apply- 

 ing hand-power as an auxiliary or in lieu of foot-power is provided 

 on the left side. The saw will cut np to 4 in. square, and it is 

 stated, when worked by foot, 3 ft. Sin. of 1-in. mahogany can be 

 cut after the foot is taken off the treadle. Fret-cutting may be 

 done by a separate appliance, the upper arm being suspended 

 from the wall or ceiling, and only let down when wanted, thus 

 leaving the table clear for work of any size. Grooving can be 

 rapidly executed by a thick saw, and dowelling is done on the 

 adjustable table which is shown at the side of the machine, a 

 special appliance being fitted for holding the work and ensuring 

 uniformity. The machine is also adaptable for mitre-cutting, 

 common gilt moulding for picture-frames being cut clean and 

 without any shake. Holes up to 2 in. in diameter can be bored 

 with great rapidity. 



GARDEN-ENGINE. 



[Patented 1884.]— Mr. E. Newton, 



of Hitchin, has patented a hose-reel 



and garden-engine, the former of 



which, in place of wheels which do 



much harm to paths, kc, is provided 



Avith rollers moving more easily, and 



doing good each time they pass on 



the path in rolling it more solid. A 



lawn can be crossed without fear of 



making ruts, while in turning, a 



stationary roller is provided which 



does not cut in, like a wheel. The 



~ shape of the tub of the engine is such 



that when the handles are raised for driving, the water does not 



flow over the front (at top), but lightens the weight from handles 



as it goes forward. 



The syjihon arrangement is easily started by adding the hose- 

 piece, which, for watering carpet bedding, and beds of all kinds, 

 gives about the same force of water as from a can, doing away 

 with the general complaint of splashing the mould on to the plants 

 or of washing away the mould from the top roots of plants. 



It forms a useful machine when water is required temperate, as 

 it can be filled, and when anything feeding for plants is required 



[Patented in 1885.] — This tool, introduced by the Britannia Com- 

 pany, of Colchester, is adapted to the requirements of the majority 

 of wood-workers. The substitution of cog-wheels for the ordinary 

 band-saw is an advantage, in so far as it prevents slipping, while 



can be put in and drawn off to each plant as required, without 

 further trouble. 



For shrubs, &c., the hose can be lengthened, and the water flows 

 till exhausted. 



For small gardens the necessity for an ordinary garden roller is 

 dispensed with. 



The winter wheat acreage in the United States has been reduced 

 by 3,000,000 acres, the condition of the crop being 77 as against 96 

 of last April. 



