GEL 



GEO 



differ with the ohjpot in view. The 

 sagging of the head of the gate may 

 be in part remedied by making tlie 

 uppertimber very wide near the hinge 

 and narrower to the head. 



GATHERING. A common term 

 for an abscess or tumour. 



GATHERING FRUIT. The pres- 

 ervation of fruits for winter use and 

 transportation obliges the orchardist 

 to take great care that in gathering 

 they are not bruised. The hand is 

 the most ready and certain means of 

 doing this ; but there are several ef- 

 fective implements. One of the sim- 

 plest consists of a disk of thin wood 

 set around with wooden teeth, about 

 four mches long, the enclosure hav- 

 ing a diameter of eight or ten inches ; 

 to this is attached a long handle 

 which fits at a considerable angle ; so 

 that, when the gatherer is used, the 

 surface of the disk is nearly horizontal. 

 The fruit is collected by reaching out 

 the handle until the disk is brought 

 under, then raising it so that the stem 

 passes between two of the teeth ; by 

 these the fruit is to be drawn off: it 

 then rests on the disk, and is brought 

 to the ground without any injury. 

 Such an implement may pull six or 

 eight apples each time before being 

 lowered, and is a very expeditious 

 means of collecting fruits. It can be 

 made on the farm in a very short 

 time. 



GAVELKIND. The practice of 

 dividing real estate equally among 

 all the children of the family. 



GAUGING. Ascertainingthecapa- 

 city of barrels, &c., by a gauging rod. 



GAULT. Certain clays and marls 

 lying under the upper green sand in 

 England. 



GEAR, GEARING. Harness, 

 tackle. The apparatus of wheels in 

 a machine. 



GEHLENITE. A mineral, con- 

 sisting of iron, silica, alumina, and 

 lime. It consists of small gray or 

 yellow crystals. 



G E I N E. The same as humus, 

 geic acid, ulmin, humic acid. See 

 Humus. 



GELATIN. That species of ani- 

 mal matter which forms jelly with 

 322 



water when cold. Isinglass, ghie, 

 and size are representatives of this 

 body in different states of purity. It 

 abounds in skin, membranes, horns, 

 and bones, but requires long boiling, 

 at a high temperature, for its extrac- 

 tion. A very dilute solution is pre- 

 cipitated by infusion of galls, the prod- 

 uct being leather. 



Gelatin is not capable of itself to 

 sustain life. Its composition is C13 

 IIio N3 O5, by Mulder. When moist, 

 it runs into the putrefactive decay, 

 yielding a fetid odour, carbonic acid, 

 water, and ammonia. It is a power- 

 ful ammoniacal manure in this state, 

 and is best economized in composts. 

 Unboiled bones owe some part of 

 their effects to the decay of their gel- 

 atin, which is present to the extent 

 of thirty per cent. 



GELDING. A castrated animal. 

 The act of castrating. The most 

 projper seasons are either the early 

 spring months or those of the au- 

 tumn. 



GEMMA. A bud. Hence gemmip- 

 arous, bearing buds, or parts capa- 

 ble of development. 



GENA. In zoology, the cheek, or 

 part of the face between the eye and 

 mouth. 



GENER.A.TION, EQUIVOCAL or 

 SPONTANEOUS. Being produced 

 without known parents. Originating 

 without apparent seed or germs. 



GENESEE OIL. A petroleum 

 found floating on some of the waters 

 of Western New-York, Ohio, Ken- 

 tucky, &c. 



GENICULATE. Bent at a sharp 

 angle, like the flexed knee. 



GENTIAN. A genus of highly or- 

 namental plants ; the roots of some 

 afford line bitters, especially the Gen- 

 tiana lutea of Switzerland. 



GENUS. Plural, Gcjiera. In nat- 

 ural history, a distinct but lesser 

 family of plants or animals which is 

 grouped under one general name, and 

 contains distinct species. 



GEODES. Mineral masses having 

 a hollow centre. 



GEODESY (from yri, the earth, and 

 Jrtiu, I divide). The measurement 

 of the earth's surface. 



