96 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
Polishes,— The following is said to be a very 
effective polish :— Dissolve four ounces of orange 
shellac in one quart of ninety-flve per cent, alco- 
hol, and wheu the shellac is dissolved add one 
quart of linseed oil and one pint of turpentine. 
Mix the ingredients, and when thoroughly incor- 
porated add four ounces of sulphuric ether and 
the same quantity of liquor ammonia. Stir well 
before using, and apply with a cloth or spouge, 
rubbing the surface to which it is applied till the 
polish appears. 
Glue-Pot.— There are a great maiiy times 
when a glue-pot in the house is a " weJ l-spring 
of pleasure," and is an economical investment, 
especially when one of the kind here des<,'ribed: 
Buy at a tin-shop one small tin cup, costing five 
cents, and a larger one, costing about ton, in 
which the smaller one can be set; live or six 
cents' worth of glue will meiid a great many 
broken articles, or will fasten the things that 
have becom(i unglued. Put the glue in the small 
cup with a little water; put boiling water in the 
larger one, and set the glue-pot in it; in a short 
time the glue will melt and be ready for use. 
To Remove Rusted Bolts.— The most effec- 
tual inuans for the removal of bolts that have 
rusted in, without breaking them, is the liberal 
application of petroleum. Care must he t;i.k(Mi 
that the petroleum shall reach the rusted pa rts, 
aiid some time must be allowed to give it a, 
chance to penetrate beneath and soften the layer 
of rust before the attempt to remove the bolt is 
made. Bolts and studs on which the nuts are 
fixed with rust are broken off through impa- 
tience. In most cases a small funnel built round 
a stud or bolt end on the nut with a little clay, 
and partly filled with any of the searching petro- 
leum oils, and left fora few hours, will enable the 
bolt or n ut to bo moved. 
Distempering- Ceiling's.— Give the ceilings a 
eoar c<)m|)()sed of soft soap, lime, putty, and size. 
The quantities to be used of each ingredient en- 
tirely depend on the finish of the (jeilijig; some 
are nauch more absorbent than others. The soft 
soap prevents the dry plaster absorbing the color 
too quickly, '^o that a clean, even surface may be 
obtained with the finishing coat. If the workmn u 
is not a practiced hand, he may be successful in 
laying an even coat of distemper; and even if Ix' 
should succeed, if his ceiling is gray-finishnd, 
the sand will probably spoil the distemper. A 
remedy for this would be to cover the ceiling 
with lining paper and distemper on the paper, 
but experience is here also required in hanging 
the papei'. Very little size is required for dis- 
temper—just sufficient to cause the color to ad- 
here firmly. 
Frosting Leaves.— Alum frosting for leaves 
is both simple and harmless. Dissolve alum in 
boiling water, in proportion of a pound to a 
quart. Pour it into a deep vessel, and as the so- 
luti(^n cools, the alum will be precipitated. Choose 
light sprays, and hang them with the steins up- 
wards on cords stretched across the toi» of the 
vessel, so that they do not touch the bottom'; the 
stalks will attract the alum in the pi-ocess of 
crystallization like the threads of sugar-candy. 
The warmer the solution Avhen the sprayK are 
put in, the smaller will be the crystals attached 
to them, but care must be taken that it be not hot 
enough to destroy the leaves or fronds; and if 
there be berries, like holly, it must be hardly 
lukewarm. The same solution warmed again 
will do two or three times. If the sprays are 
frosted some days before being requii'ed, they 
ntust hp kept in a warm, dry atmosphere. 
Ilctfs aitfi Queries. 
In continuing this depaUment, which has been 1^-^nd of 
so mucli vahie, we vvonid remind our leaders who wish for 
information on any of the arts and sciences, that they are 
cordially invited to make their wants known through this 
column, and those of them who can furnish accurate 
answers to questions asked are requested to send in replies. 
Doubtless many of our subscribers may know of methods, 
processes, or devices that maybe better or more suitable lor 
the particular c?se in question than anything generally 
known, and it is this t eason that induces us to keep this de- 
partment open for a medium, where an interchange of ideas 
and practices may be made to the advantage ot all our 
readers. Correspondents will please send their full address 
when forwarding their communications — either questions or 
answer.s — not for publicaiion, unless expressly so stated, but 
so that we may know where to find the wiiterif desirable. 
Communications should be sent in on or before the first of 
each month previous to publication, to insure insertion in 
next issue. 
Answers. 
26. Matilda Newark, N. J.— There were many 
curious myths and superstitions believed in by 
the ancients regarding trees, flowers and shrubs, 
and it is uot surprising thaf many of the heathen 
gods were honored by having some of the finer 
trees dedicated to them. The following is an in- 
complete list of such dedications: 
Flowers and Trees. 
I. Dedicated to heathen gods— 
The Cornel Cherry Tree to Apollo. 
" Cvpress " Pluto. 
" Laurel " Apollo. 
" Myrtle " Venus. 
"Oak " Jupiter. 
"Olive " Minerva. 
" Pine Cone " Assyrian Temples. 
" Vine " Bacchus. 
II. Dedicated to saints— 
The Eose to Mary Magdalene. 
III. National emblems— 
The Linden (Lime) to Prussia. 
Kose " England. 
" Shamrock " Ireland. 
IV. Symbols- 
The Box, Holly, and Ivy, the Resurrection. 
" Cedar Faithful. 
" Olive Peace. 
" Orange Blossom Virginity. 
" Pa.lm Victory. 
" Vine Christ our life. 
" Yew Tree Death, 
V. Funeral Plants.— The laurel, oak, olive, myr- 
th\ rosemary, cvpress, and amaranth, 
The.iuice of the fir tree (turpentine) used to be 
mixed by the Greeks with new wine to make it 
k""n : hence fixed on the Thyrsus (a pole wreathed 
wath ivy) as one of the symbols of the god Bac- 
chus. 
A modern Greek legend invests the holm oak 
with a very bad reputatiou. When the crucifixion 
was about to take place, all the trees met to- 
