273 



the last five years. Thus, from A. D. 1791 

 to A. D. 1795 was a warm period ; and 

 from A. D. 1796 to A. D. 1800 a cold one ; 

 and so it was conlinued, in each decade, 

 except that from A. D. 1806 to A. D. 1816, 

 up to the present time. These tables also 

 show that, from A. D. 1786 up to A. D. 

 1830, the temperature was gradually rising, 

 while from this last period it has been as 

 gradually falling, though in both epochs 

 the fluctuations in the decades have regu- 

 larly prevailed. 



Some writers attribute these changes to 

 the spots on the sun, while others cont:o- 

 vert the notion. The existence of these 

 spots is thought to increase the mean heat 

 of the summer, in our latitude, while it 

 adds also to the severity of the winters. On 

 the other hand, the absence of such spots 

 is said to make the seasons extreme, with- 

 out seriously diturbing the mean of the 

 year. In both cases, the result is supposed 

 to be produced by the influence of the 

 sun's rays on terrestrial magnetism, and its 

 consequent eflfect on the volume of the 

 trade winds and the amount of moisture. 

 This is the opinion of Mr Butler, an Amer- 

 ican, one of the latest investigators of the 

 laws of the weather. But it is not con- 

 curred in by M. Schvvabe, a distinguished 

 European meteoroligist, who made accu- 

 rate annual investigations, on this very sub- 

 ject, from A. D. 1826 to A. D. 1850. It 

 must be said, however, in favor of Mr. 

 Butler, that the magnetic action of this con- 

 tinent is more intense than that of Europe, 

 and that, in consequence, effects might be 

 traced here which were not observable in 

 the other hemisphere. But whatever may 

 be the cause, the fact seems indisputable, 

 that cold and hot periods of years follow 

 each other according to a determinate law, 

 which there is hope may yet be discovered, 

 The experience of the present year, as 

 compared with that of the five preceding 

 ones, certainly favors the idea that we are 

 entering on the colder half of the decade. 

 As fully does the expeiience of the last 

 twenty years favor the notion that the mean 

 temperature is decliniucr, and that we are 

 now in a cold cyle, which, to judge from 

 the past may continue twenty or thirty 

 years longer. — \_MassachuseUs Farmer. 



AMERICAN STAR PULVERIZER AND 



HARROW. 

 Mr. S. D. Tracy of Vernon, N. Y., has in- 

 vented an ngricnltural implement which he de- 



nominates as above. The object of it is to tho- 

 roughly pulverize lumpy soil, or greensward, 

 after being plowed, by the action of 4G wheels 

 in the shape of a star, that revolve as the ma- 

 chine is drawn along, cutting the earth into fine 

 particles, and mixing the soil in the most per- 

 fect manner. The weight of a two horse ma- 

 chine is much greater than that of a ccmm.on 

 harrow, while it does not require any more pow- 

 er to propel it, than it does to draw a harrow. 

 The cost for a double-team pulverizer will be 

 about $25, and for one for a single horse Si^l2 50. 

 They will last till the cast iron wheels are worn 

 out by ordinary use, and their liability to break 

 by coming in contact with stones is very slight. 

 As much ground can be pulverized in a day as 

 a common harrow will pass over, and do the 

 work much better. The inventor thinks that 

 this machine will supercede the use of common 

 harrows almost entirely. 



WM. W. JOHNSON'S EELLY CUTTING 

 MACHINE. 



NEW MODK OF CUTTING WAGON FELLIES, EITHER BY 

 HAND OR OTHER POWER. 



No machine for planing out wagon fellies of difle- 

 rent sizes and radius has ever been constructed to (op- 

 erate with such success as the one illustrated by the 

 above engraving. Mr. Johnson has just received the 

 exclusive right to his invention through the patent 

 agency of Messrs. Fowler and Wells, New York. 



The difficulties heretofore experienced in regulating 

 the radius of the curve of the felly, and at the same 

 time making the radius of the sweep of the jtlane to 

 correspond, are very ingeniously overcome. The 

 plane is also adjustable to the size and depth of tb 

 fielly to which it is desired to cut, in a very perfec 

 manner. A is the bed-piece, which supports the work- 

 ing parts of the machine; B is a stationary upright 

 guide-pin, upon which the huh turns which holds the 

 rod, C, passing into and adjustable within the tube, D, 

 the tube D. being made fast to the plane, F, as rep 

 resented. The fellv, I, is made fast to the felly-table, 

 G, which is also made adjustable with the center pin, 

 B, by means of the bar, J, sliding within a dove-tail 

 channel of the triangular fmme attached to the bed- 

 piece, G. A clutch.iipon the top of J holds it firmly 

 in place, except voluntarily moved and set by the gratf- 

 uated bar, J— C being graduated, the tube, O, is also 

 made adjustable as desired- 



Fellies for carriages are planed very rapidly by thi.s 

 machine, and the work is of good quality. The plane 

 may be moved by any power required; l)Ut the engra- 

 ving represents a band-plane. Most wagon makers 

 will use this kind for ordinary work, as i( may be 

 more easily constructed. Further inforuuition may be 

 obtained by addressing the inventor, at Cliflbrd, Pa. 



