Proceedikgs of the PoLYTECiiyic Association. 841 



made to flood certain holes, lie concludes that th.e dog^3 -wonhl not, in 

 some cases, burrow so deeply and so straight down M-Ith any other 

 object than to obtain water. Such holes show signs of being con- 

 stanrly resorted to bj the dogs, and do nut luive the a[)[)earance of 

 being lived in by a family. 



Mr. J. Iv. Fisher. — The late Mr. Fitz drank no water, tea, coffee 

 or otlier liquid. l\n-lvins used to say that if we did not eat isalt wo 

 "Would not be required to drink water. 



Professsor Pliin. — I>read cnntaiiis a good deal of free moisture, 

 and, besides this, every pound of perfectly dry bread contains over 

 liidf a pound of water in chemical comlnnation with carlxjn. 



Dr. I). I). Farmelee. — Does any one here know anything about 

 these holes ? It seems to me that we have not sulMcient data to 

 guide us in a discussion of the question. I cannot lind out whether 

 these holes are ten feet or thirty feet deep. Moreover, in what kind 

 of soil are they dug? If the dogs dig through the sand to a stratum 

 of clay at a depth of a few feet, they can probably And water very 

 readily. 



Steam Plow. 



Judge Knapp, of Illinois, exhibited and exjdained a novel kin<l of 

 steam plow, wliicli was intended to be used on the lai'ge lields of tlie 

 M'est, and the cost of wliich it was hoped would be such as to bring 

 it witliin the reach of every extensive farmer. 



In this apparatus tlie engine is pdaced upon a strong horizontal 

 framework, furnished with four wheels, designed to support, l»ut not 

 propel, the machine. The plow is made double ended, or M'ith two 

 shares pointed in opposite directions, and is carried by the outer end 

 of a rearwardly projecting arm. This arm is pi\'oted to tlie frame, 

 and is worked l)_y suitable mcclianism connected with the engine in 

 sucii manner that the plow will be moved to and fro in the arc of a 

 circle, cutting a furrow at each movement in eitlun- direction. Dur- 

 ing a short I'ui'row between the turning of each iV.rrov.^ and the suc- 

 ceeding one, the a[)])aratus is moved forward the requisite width of 

 the furrow by means of knee-jointed legs provided at tlie sides of the 

 frame, and recei\-ing an intermittent movement from suitable 

 mechanism, driven lilce that which o])erates the plow, from iho 

 engine arranged upon the frame. Tlie ingenuity and originality 

 shown in the general design of the aj)})aratus were commended, but 

 the discussion was generally op])osed to the inventor's claim with 

 regard to the practical value of the machine. 



