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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



141 



Bodies of water, large or small, are regularly 

 convex, being part of a sphere of the same 

 magnitude with the earth : a vessel of water at 

 the centre of the globe, would run over through 

 the whole of its ascent to the surface ; as its 

 convexity would continually decrease while re- 

 ceding from the centre. One body of water 

 however small, will balance another however 

 large, which seems to be a hydraulic paradox. 

 Branches, creeks and rivers, are inclined planes, 

 and yet their velocity is not accelerated; the 

 resistance of the sides and bottom causes uni- 

 form motion: hence the water moves slowest 

 near the sides and bottom because of the greater 

 resistance. If a dam be thrown across a stream, 

 the water becomes refluent from one point to 

 another, until it reaches the height of the dam ; 

 the refluent point is then at rest. The velocity 

 of a stream is greatest where the bottom has 

 the greatest declivity, and where the velocity is 

 least, the breadth or depth is greatest : the same 

 quantity of water, however, must pass through 

 every part of a stream, deep or shallow, broad 

 or narrow in the same time ; otherwise some 

 parts of the channel would become dry : where 

 the channel is narrow the velocity is greatest, 

 and the reverse when wide and extended. — 

 Hence the momentum of moving waters in the 

 whole river at any particular section, is the 

 same. Rain water is the standard for compar- 

 ing the specific gravities of bodies ; a cubic foot 

 weighing 62 pounds avoirdupois : then as the 

 difference between the weight of any body in 

 air and water, is to its weight in air ; so is 62 

 pounds to the specific gravity of the body ; in 

 this way we may compare the specific gravities 

 of any number of bodies. The weights of bo- 

 dies of the same magnitude, are to each other 

 as their specific gravities ; the specific gravity 

 of gold is 19, viz: gold is 19 times heavier than 

 its bulk of rain water. The most brittle and 

 delicate substances, are embraced and protected 

 by water ; the thinnest glass or egg shell, bears 

 the greatest pressure, without being broken when 

 immersed in this fluid. It is yet a doubt with 

 the philosopher, whether water in its gross state, 

 enters directly into the composition of plants; 

 the probability is, that when it comes in contact 

 with their roots and leaves, they cause a decom- 

 position of this element, and after performing 

 the great work of elaboration, and evolving sap, 

 oil, mucilage, sugar and other secretions, these 

 principles again unite and form water. But of 

 this we know nothing, it is all doubt and con- 

 jecture ; we know, however, that water is ob- 

 tained from plants by pressure, excision, heat, 

 &c. which is proof positive that it is a compo- 

 nent part of vegetables. Galen. 



P. S. — Correct an error in the first number, 

 viz: for "5,500 species of plants," read 55,000 

 species of plants, and oblige G. 



For the Southern Planter. 

 TO PICKLE STURGEON. 



If you wish to make a round, take the back 

 bone out without cutting it in two, wash it and 

 lay it in salt water not very strong, that day and 

 night, the next day, put it in a strong brine ; the 

 third day, wash it, tie up the round with a cord, 

 then boil it until you can run a straw through 

 it ; then take out the large scales, and draw the 

 cord tighter ; if you find it is not salt enough, 

 set it on the end and sprinkle it with salt, let it 

 remain until the next day — whilst it is boiling, 

 skim ofT the oil ; when it is done, take all the 

 oil off the liquor and strain it : to two gallons 

 of liquor, put four table-spoonsful of allspice, two 

 table-spoonsful of pepper, two pods of red pep- 

 per, boil the spices in the liquor well ; if it re- 

 quires more salt, add it to your taste, then put 

 it in the vessel in which it is to remain when 

 cold, add half a gallon of strong vinegar and 

 put in the sturgeon. It will be fit for use in 

 twenty-four hours. 



We received the above from one of the best 

 housewives in Virginia, but our trial with it 

 was a total failure : we hope our friends may 

 have better luck. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 

 We have been not a little surprised lately at 

 receiving orders for articles upon the faith of our 

 having recommended them so highly, when in 

 truth we knew nothing more about them than 

 the person sending the order. We hope we are 

 not to be held responsible for every puff" and re- 

 commendation that may appear in the Planter. 

 We admit freely, statements on both sides of 

 any subject, and express our opinion when we 

 please; for any statement made upon our per- 

 sonal knowledge, we are of course responsible, 

 but no man in his senses will attempt to extend 

 the principle any farther. For instance, in the 

 last Planter " Exall & Brother" advertise and 

 describe, over their own signature, a threshing 

 machine, which we have never examined, and 

 immediately one gentleman writes to make fur- 

 ther inquiries about this machine, which, he 

 says, is so highly recommended by us. Again, 

 We announce ourselves the agents for Bom- 

 mer's method of making manure, and insert an 

 advertisement of Mr. Bommer's, over his own 

 name, describing its excellencies, &c. To this 

 we append a statement that we had understood 

 at the North, that Mr. Bommer was there con- 

 sidered a gentleman and a scholar, and that we 

 met with many who, without trying it had 



