1058 TeaiXsacttoxs of the American Institute. 



with tlie poles wliicli sustain the wire, l^o grading l)eing required in 

 this plan, it is claimed to be economical in passing over very uneven 

 ground. Such tramways, suitable for transporting fifty to one 

 hundred tons per day, supplied with the regular steam engine and 

 rolling stock, can be constructed in England at from $1,000 to $5,000 

 per mile. 



The Earliest Plant. 



Since the discovery of Eozoon in the Laurentine rocks of Canada, 

 the earliest animal organism known to have existed on our planet, 

 no geological observation has excited greater interest that the recent 

 detection of what appears to be the remains of a terrestial flora in 

 certain Swedish rocks of the Lower Cambrian age. These fossil 

 plants seem to be allied to the grasses and rushes of the present day. 

 They have been provisionally included in one species, under the 

 name of JEoj)hyton LinncBanum. According to our present paleonto- 

 logical knowledge, in point of antiquity the Eophyton holds the same 

 position in the flora that the Eozoon does.in the fauna. 



Machine for Plastering. 



Mr. John Aspden, of Orange, New Jersey,- exhibited a model of 

 his apparatus for plastering walls, ceilings etc. It consists of scaf- 

 folding, so built as to be capable of being widened or of being 

 increased in height according to the size of the room, and containing 

 a box at the top holding the mortar. The frame or scaflfolding runs , 

 upon rails laid upon the floor. In moving it causes, by a rope con- 

 nection, the box containing the mortar, to move on rails laid on the 

 top of the frame. This box contains a false bottom, which advances 

 outwardly as the box moves along and'pushes the mortar against the 

 wall. The mortar box is provided with a trowel. The machine is 

 constructed to plaster ceilings or side walls. Several objections were 

 urged against this machine, but were all answered by the inventor. 



Mr. Dudley Blanchard said : That first, the peculiar knack of 

 spreading mortar on laths, requires skillful oi:ieration ; and second, 

 there is not one ceiling in a thousand that is parallel with the floor, 

 and therefore this apparatus seems to be an impracticable machine. 

 It appears to answer for so small a number of places, that it would 

 hardly pay, even if done as well as by hand. 



Mr. C. E. Emery stated that after examining'the model, he thought 

 A perfect plastering machine can be made. A little exertion in this 



