THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Mat 1, 1865. 



464 



OIL FOR WATCHES. 



120 feet when entire ; it is 276 feet high. The Indians tell of a much 

 larger tree, which I did not see. 



There seems no danger of the speedy extinction of the speeies, as it 

 is now known in quite a number of localities ; and, contrary to the 

 popular notion, there are immense numbers of younger trees of all 

 sizes, from the seedling up to the largest. There has "been much 

 nonsense and error published regarding them. 



I have no doubt of the true generic relations. I think that no one 

 who is familiar with both species in situ would separate them generi- 

 cally from the Sequoia semper vir ens, also abundant in this State, and 

 fully as restricted in its distribution ; nor do I think the names of 

 WeUingtonia and Washingtonia would be insisted on with such zeal, were 

 it not for seed-dealers and plant-collectors. I may remark that the 

 seed-collectors on this coast have created endless confusion by naming 

 species, more for profit than from any honest conviction that they were 

 new species. 



I enclose a photograph, by Watkins, of the " Grizzly Giant," the 

 largest tree in the " Maipura Grove " of Sequoias. It is a very charac- 

 teristic tree, and is about eighty-seven feet in circumference, at three 

 feet from the ground. During the past summer some five photographs 

 have been taken of the " Calaveras " big trees, the first-discovered grove. 



OIL FOR WATCHES* 



BY DAVID MEEK. 



It is quite superfluous to say that it is of the greatest importance that 

 the oil used in a watch should be good. The disadvantages attending 

 the use of bad oil are so many and so great, that after once the watch- 

 maker has experienced them, they leave an impression on his mind 

 which is quite indelible. What, then, characterises good watch-oil ? 

 Good oil does not dry up readily. Although this is not so serious a 

 matter to the watchmaker as the oil getting gummy, it is nevertheless 

 more serious for the watch : in the former case, the watchmaker feels 

 the disadvantage ; in the latter, the watch is the chief sufferer. Another 

 property of good oil is, that it remains in the countersinks. Some oils 

 seem to be of such a searching nature, that they are found to spread 

 considerably after being applied to the watch. This generally happens 

 With very thin oils ; and although it is not a serious evil, seeing it does 

 not entirely leave the pivot, still there are disadvantages connected with 

 it which render the oil that remains in the sink to be preferred. Some 



* Abstract of a paper read before the Edinburgh Horological Society, Jan. 13, 

 1864. 



