Popular Science Monthly 



421 



this or any other country. Had it been 

 allowed to remain at rest after the disease 

 had shown itself in the great crack extend- 

 ing about two-thirds of the distance from 

 the lip to the top, being stopped by the 

 somewhat thicker metal of the word 

 "Philadelphia," as shown in the illustra- 

 tion, the new and more dangerous crack 

 running diagonally around the Bell from 

 the letter "P" in Philadelphia to beyond 

 the letter "Y" in "Liberty" would probably 

 not have occurred. It was not observed 

 until after the bell had made a number of 

 journeys over the country-. 



It is not at all astonishing, therefore, 

 that our venerable Liberty Bell, having 

 passed through the melting pot three 

 times, and having been doctored by 

 amateurs in metals, should still have 

 symptoms of its old disease. 



Steel, too, becomes fatigued after long 

 usage and loses its strength. This is par- 

 ticularly true of steel parts that are sub- 

 ject to frequent vibrations and shocks. In 

 time the metal changes, its crystalline 

 form alters and it becomes diseased or 

 rotten, and breaks. This is especially true 

 of poorly made steel, but it is also true of 

 some of the best. 



Modern metallurg\- has discovered cer- 

 tain elements similar to a tonic which can 

 be added to steel, which offset the tendency 

 to fatigue. One of these is vanadium. 

 When only 1/20 of one per cent is put into 

 steel, the metal becomes so benefited that 

 it is called anti-fatigue steel. 



Transplanting Palm Trees Without 

 Sacrificing Their Foliage 



IT is almost impossible for even a lettuce 

 slip to be removed from the spot where 

 it has taken root without a consequent 

 drooping and period of suspended growth. 

 But nowadays, great palm trees are up- 

 rooted and carried hundreds of miles from 

 their native soil and climate with scarcely 

 a wilted leaf. 



The secret of the success of transplanting 

 such trees lies in the preliminary work. 

 This is begun fully six months before the 

 time for the moving of the tree. First the 

 roots are dug around and carefully cut, and 

 the plant is side-boxed. Three inches are 

 allowed between the balls of roots and the 

 boxing. This space is next filled with 

 earth, which is well tamped down. Thus 

 the tree is made to stand in the box in 

 w*hich it is to be moved, without lifting it 

 from the ground. Here it remains during 

 the six months of preparation. It is 

 thoroughly mulched and given 

 the best of care so as to induce 

 a^plentiful side growth of roots. 

 At the end of the six months 

 it may be lifted and shipped. 

 It will show no signs of fatigue 

 at the end of its journey, how- 

 ever far it may travel. 



The palm is lifted and shipped without disturbing the roots, for they have been growing in the 

 shipping box for six months in the richest mulch to prepare them for the journey 



