12 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



been filed or made bright after hardening, 

 changes to a reddish orange color. This 

 is the temper for cutting-tools ; but if a 

 spring temper is required, it is heated over 

 the charcoal till the color approaches a 

 blue : or rather blue, inclining to red. In 

 either case, when the steel is brought to 

 show these colors, it is to be plunged in 

 oil, — common lamp or linseed oil, — which 

 will not affect the color. If the steel is 

 to be rendered soft for turning or cutting, 

 it must be heated to a full red, and left to 

 cool in partially ignited charcoal; in this 

 way it may be made so soft as to be cut 

 or turned into shape as easily as copper, 

 or even common pewter. But the most 

 curious and peculiar process is that of 

 welding. In welding iron, a white heat 

 is indispensible, as every body knows: 

 but not so with cast steel. When the 

 steel is to be welded to iron, neither are to 

 be heated above a full cherry red. The 

 two parts are to be previously lashed or 

 griped together, and in that condition, 

 heated : they have then only to be im- 

 mersed in calcined borax ; or to have the 

 prepared borax (borate of soda) sprinkled 

 over the joint, and are ready to adhere by 

 being hammered together. The borax 

 for this purpose, is to be prepared by being 

 previously heated to a full red, and kept 

 heated till it becomes a soft white powder 

 like flower. What the chemical effect of 

 the calcined borax on the metallic surfaces 

 is, is not perfectly understood farther than 

 that its affinity for oxygen is such as to 

 deprive the jointed surfaces of any portion 

 of oxygen which might prevent a ready 

 union of the surfaces. When small pieces 

 of steel are to be welded, they are to be 

 heated to the full cherry red, and immersed 

 in the calcined borax, and are then ham- 

 mered together. The most extraordinary 

 point in this process is the fact that if the 

 steel is but a little overheated, it will im- 

 mediately crack into fragments ; but by a 

 shifted process, and with the use of borax, 

 the cracks and defects may be healed and 

 rendered sound and solid. We have wit- 

 nessed the fact, that by a judicious ma- 

 nagement, a fine tempered cutting edge of 

 cast steel may be bent, warped and ham- 

 mered, and its shape materially changed 3 



without breaking, or affecting the temper. 

 More may be said on this subject in a fu- 

 ture number ; but we close for the present 

 with a remark that, even Anderson & Co., 

 the celebrated manufacturers of cast steel, 

 are evidently unacquainted with all the 

 merits of its peculiar properties. — Scientific 

 American. 



TERRIFYING RATS. 



Dissolve a dwt. of phosphorus in one- 

 fourth of a gill of olive oil, which may be 

 done by applying a gentle heat, and what- 

 ever substance is smeared with this com- 

 pound, will appear luminous for several 

 hours. It is said that if a live rat be 

 coated over with this minous oil, and then 

 set at liberty, all the rats in the vicinity 

 will immediately absquatulate to parts 

 unknown, and never return. 



From the S. C. Temperance Advocate. 



NEWBERRY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Report of the Committee on the Horse. 



There is no subject among the animal 

 creation, that can more justly claim the 

 attention of every man, than that noble 

 and useful animal, the horse. There are 

 a great number of animals under the con- 

 trol of man ; on reflection we must say, 

 that the excellent and noble horse, un- 

 questionably, is the most serviceable. — 

 How often do we see him the sole depen- 

 dance of the poor farmer and his family. 

 Trace him in all conditions, you will find 

 him faithful, affectionate and no less use- 

 ful. For the quick communications by 

 posts, and stages, even with the most re- 

 mote parts of the Union, we are indebted 

 in a great measure to the horse. Even 

 our happy republican government has been 

 established, protected and defended by the 

 means and aid of this noble animal. Re- 

 flect for a moment, and you cannot help 

 but see, how battles have been won, ty- 

 rants dethroned and liberty sustained, by 

 j the aid of this noble animal. How often 

 j are we conveyed in safety at night, amidst 

 I difficulties, dangers and unfamiliar roads. 



