220 TRANSACTIONS OP THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



barn in New Hampshire, which melted the points of new con- 

 ductors, and apparently dissipated the fluid so as to prevent 

 damage, though the barn appeared to be filled with the fluid. 



The temple at Jerusalem stood ten centuries without being 

 injured. But this building had a great deal of metal about it, 

 and perhaps conductors for water that carried the electricity from 

 the roof to the ground. Yet we have many instances in this 

 country where buildings have been struck that were fully pro- 

 vided with lightning-rods. This may be owing to bad construc- 

 tion of the rods. In the case of a great explosion, like the one 

 in New Hampshire, it is not likely that a single rod could convey 

 all the charge to the ground. H a rod was full of points along 

 its length, it would serve to dissipate the charge ; and a square 

 rod is better than a round one. 



The Secretary. — This question of lightning was started to 

 gather facts showing how to save the farmer's barns from destruc- 

 tion, which are much more likely to be destroyed than any other 

 building, and the loss is much greater. 



Adrian Bergen, of Long Island, related one case of a barn 

 apparently saved by the conductor. The force of the shock was 

 so great that a man in the barn was knocked down. The rod 

 was a small, round one, fastened to the barn by wooden supports. 

 After the explosion, a hole was found at the foot of the rod. 



Mr. Lyon thinks the community does not sufficiently appreciate 

 this question — how to protect farm buildings. The underwri- 

 ters offer a premium to ship owners to put conductors upon 

 vessels, yet there is not one in a hundred provided. 



Mr. Carpenter — The farmers in my section have no faith in 

 lightning rods, because the proportion of barns that have been 

 struck with rods upon them, is greater than those without con- 

 ductors. 



The subject was further discussed without eliciting any very 

 important facts, and will be continued, probably with the same 

 result. 



GRAPE CULTURE. 



Letter from Ira Smith, dated 



Peoria, 111., August 16, 1860. 



I have a hundred Catawba grape vines, which I cultivate on 

 poles the usual way. Having all my grapes destroyed last 

 spring by a late frost, and being desirous to increase the number 



