1118 
Coneys Bynamometeiv-Poreign Agricultural NeWs. 
lower hook to balance. Ascertain the number of 
pounds upon the lower hook requisite to balance the 
one pound: The beam used by Mr. Cone required 32 
pounds on the weight hook to balance ohe at the small 
end. HF .1 the lower hook to the clevis of the plow, 
and the earn to the upper hook. The small end runs 
out upon the land side, at right angles to the plow. 
From the small end of the beam bring a wire near to 
the handle of the plow; attach to this wire the upper 
end or hook of a common spiral balance, and make the 
Dther end of the balance fast to the plow. The spiral 
balance becomes the index to the force reqvAred to move 
the plow. Thus if the index of the balance marks 14 
pounds, then the force exerted on Cone’s scale would 
be 14 X 32 = 448 pounds. 
You perceive at a glance, that the principle is per¬ 
fect. It brings the index directly under the eye of the 
plowman, and it is easy of application to any other 
subject, when it is desirable to ascertain the force ne¬ 
cessary to move a ponderous body. 
In applying it to a plow, it should be so constructed 
as to work perpendicularly instead of horizontally. 
This could be done by having a guide made fast to the 
beam, in which the beam of the Dynamometer should 
play. The balance could then be made fast to the 
upper slat or round of the plow, and be more conveni¬ 
ent for observation; besides it would not be affected 
by any inequalities on the surface of the ground. 
Unless some person takes up the subject, I fear we 
shall not have a uniform scale. I wrote to Mr. Ells¬ 
worth, the Commissioner of Patents, asking him to 
give the dimensions, and then we should have it uni¬ 
form throughout the Union. If no other person does 
it, I will prepare one by the first of February. 
Sincerely yours, T. C. PETERS. 
Darien , N. Y., Dec. 1842. 
We are much obliged to Mr. Peters for 
his clear description of the above invention 
of a new Dynamometer, which we have no 
doubt is the most simple and exact yet con¬ 
structed. We would have gladly accompa¬ 
nied the description with an engraving of the 
drawing, but could not get it ready in time. 
As we passed through Batavia, on our tvay 
here, last month, Ambrose Stevens, Esq. 
gave us a verbal description of the same in¬ 
vention. We wish some of our ingenious 
mechanics, after reading Mr. Peters’ letter, 
would send us a model, or at least a com¬ 
plete drawing of this Dynamometer, together 
with any improvements which they could 
suggest. 
In the London Farmer’s Magazine for No¬ 
vember, we find Mr. Clyburn, of Uley, has 
improved the old Dynamometer, by adding a 
recorder, to determine the draught of the 
plow, which is thus described : 
“ It consists of a sheet of paper, wound on a cylinder, 
which revolves as the plow proceeds. This sheet un¬ 
winds, and being marked by a pencil attached to the 
index of the instrument, carries away on it an irregu¬ 
lar line, which represents all the variations in the 
draught of the implement. 
“ After two or any other number of implements have 
been successively tried, the Dynamometer may be de¬ 
tached, and the paper, on being unwound, will be 
found to have marked on it a series of lines, each cor¬ 
responding to its own implement, and expressive of its 
draught. A comparison of these lines will determine 
which of the implements was lightest, and which was 
heaviest in this particular.” 
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 
The late arrivals from Europe have brought us our 
regular files of Journals and Magazines, for November 
and December, and we make a hurried condensation 
of a few of the articles. 
Draining.— In the London Farmer’s Magazine for 
November, Mr. Rutley, in a speech before the Maid¬ 
stone Farmer’s Club, states that he cheapens draining, 
and saves half the expense of tiles, by digging the 
drains twice the usual depth, but double the usual dis¬ 
tance apart. His reasoning is, that the descent of the 
water from the centre to the drains in both cases is the 
same; and he finds his method safer, and equally, if 
not more effectual, than the one formerly practised) 
even in stiff clay soils. 
Loss of Ammonia' by use of Lime. Salt and Lime 
for killing Seeds of Weeds.—A writer on manures, 
in the West Briton, contends that if unbleached wood 
ashes or quick lime is mixed with dung, it drives off 
the ammoniacal vapor which is contained in it. 
As ammonia is the most fertilizing part of manure, 
and especially necessary to perfect the seeds of plants, 
it cannot be too much guarded and preserved. Those 
farmers who have been in the habit of mixing un¬ 
slacked lime with their manure, will now see that they 
have committed a great error, and subjected them¬ 
selves to a heavy loss. 
The same writer asserts, that four gallons of salt, 
and eight gallons of lime, mixed with two loads of 
weeds, are sufficient to kill all the seed in them. 
American Pork, Hams, and Lard. —A corres¬ 
pondent in the Liverpool Albion affirms, that lie finds 
American pork, recently imported there, sweeter and 
better than English; he also states that American 
hams, sent down the Ohio, via New-Orleans, are equal 
to the famous Westphalia. For the former he is 
charged 6d. per lb., for the latter he paid 9 d. ; the 
Westphalia ham being 50 per cent, higher than the 
American. He attributes the superiority of the Ame¬ 
rican pork to its being fatted on Indian corn. 
We know from our own taste, that Ohio hams, par¬ 
ticularly those cured at the best packing houses in 
Cincinnati, such as Mr. Neff’s, for example, are equal 
to the best European ; and as for pork, we never eat 
anything which possessed more sweetness than the 
well-fatted American. 
Lard. —The above writer also highly praises and 
recommends to the English to use it in frying fish. 
We are surprised to hear that they never practised this 
delicate method of cooking fish before ! 
A great hue and cry has been got up against cheap 
American provisions, by those opposed to their intro¬ 
duction, in order to prejudice the British public against 
them; but they will not succeed. When our meats of 
all kinds, beef, mutton, and pork, are properly fed and 
cured, they are equal to any in the world; and now 
that British duties are reduced upon them, we shall 
look for a large exportation, and a great increase of 
wealth from this source to our country. 
Chemical Laboratory. —Earl Ducie has intro¬ 
duced a chemical laboratory into the farm house of his 
example farm, as one of its permanent fixtures; not 
only for the purpose of analysing soils, but also to 
assist in manufacturing and testing the qualities of 
different manures. 
Farmer’s Clubs. —In the December number of the 
London Fanner’s Magazine, we find a proposition foi 
