842 TnAXS ACTIONS of the American Institute. 



The judixe said he expected that this machine conld he operated 

 by an eight liorse-poM'er engine, so as to plow at a inuch less rate 

 than the present cost of operating by horses or oxen, a thing 

 ■which the expensive British steam plows have thus far failed to 

 accomplish. 



Mr. J. K. Fisher, — I deny that the Britislr plows have proved a 

 failure. The published reports show that they do tlie work at a 

 greatly less cost per acre than is at present paid for the same work 

 done by horses. 



Judge Knapp. — Yes, but their great cost places them beyond tlie 

 reach of all except dukes, earls, etc. 



Mr. D. Blanchard. — It seems to me tliat when that plow moves it 

 will have a tendency to move the whole machine sideways, and thus 

 destroy its efficiency. Tlie plow lias a great leverage over the wheels, 

 and, if it is moved with a pressure of 400 pounds, it will exert a force 

 of several times that required to move the machine. 



Judge Knapp. — The weight of the machine is so great that it will 

 be almost impossible to move the wheels sideways. 



Mr. C. E. Emery entered into an able and elaborate calculation, 

 which went to show that the power stated b}^ Judge^ Knapp was 

 entirely below what would be requisite to operate the plow. 



Origin of the Various Alphabetical Forms. 

 Dr. J. J. Edwards delivered a somewhat elaborate addi'ess descrip- 

 tive of the manner in which the various letters of the different alpha- 

 bets originated. The paper could not be made clear without the aid 

 of engravings of the numerous drawings exhibited by the lecturer, 

 of which no copy has been furnished for this report. 



Adjourned. 



June 3, 1869. 



Prof. S. D. Tillman ia the chair. 

 The Chairman presented the following notes on applied science : 



Indigo. 

 M. Camille Kfrchlin has discovered that indigo is soluble in alka- 

 loid salts, and particulai'ly in the acetates and chlorides of aniline, 

 morphine, etc. 



