AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
31 
I 860 ] 
Alkendi, a learned man, wrote on shadows, 
A. D., 1579, also a treatise on Dials, called 
Sciolherica. Mention is made, also, of a Turkish 
savan, Mustapha ben Ali, who wrote a book in 
1533, on the same subject. Upon the revival of 
learning in Europe, 
this science received 
increased attention; 
and, during the 15th 
and 16 th centuries, 
treatises were written 
and new styles of in¬ 
struments invented, 
almost without num¬ 
ber. But, as lamps are 
not needed after sun¬ 
rise, so, when clocks 
were invented, dials 
went gradually out of 
general use. Yet, as 
clocks would often 
get out of order, and 
needed regulating by 
some correct standard 
of time, dials were still found serviceable. They 
were also favorite embellishments of pleasure- 
grounds, because of the beauty with which they 
might be constructed, and the interesting associ¬ 
ations time invested them with. Accordingly, we 
find that they have continued to be used to the 
present day, in all parts of Europe, and they are 
now being introduced more and more into the 
gardens and lawns of our own country. On be¬ 
holding one of these classic registrars of time, 
in an English garden, Montgomery wrote “The 
Dial,” of which the following is the first verse: 
“ This shadow on the dial’s face, 
That steals from day to day, 
With slow, unseen, unceasing pace, 
Moments, and months, and years away j 
This shadow, which, In every dime, 
Since light and motion first began, 
Hath held its course sublime— 
What is it ?—Mortal man ! 
It is the scythe of time: 
—A shadow only to the eye ; 
Yet, in its calm career, 
It levels all beneath the sky; 
And still, through each succeeding year, 
Right onward, with resistless power, 
Its stroke shall darken every hour, 
Till nature’s race be run, 
And Time’s last shadow shall eclipse the sun.” 
The -practical working of the more common sun¬ 
dials may be explained thus: A circular or semi¬ 
circular plane surface is first provided, from one 
to two feet in diameter, more or less. A rod is 
supported over it, lying north and south, but with 
the north end elevated so that it shall lie parallel 
with the earth’s axis; 
that is, the north end 
raised as many degrees 
from a horizontal posi¬ 
tion, as the instrument is 
located north of the 
earth’s equator in de¬ 
grees of latitude. In 
latitude 45° for example, 
the north end would of 
course be elevated 45 de¬ 
grees, or just half way 
between horizontal and 
perpendicular. Instead 
of a rod on a support, a 
metallic plate is general¬ 
ly used, having the up¬ 
per (northern) point pro- Fig. 6. 
jesting a little way. The 
plane is marked off with lines where the shadow 
of the point falls at different hours of the day. 
Suh-divisions of half and quarter hours, and 
sometimes minutes, are also made. A plate 
makes the shadow from its upper edge more 
distinct than if only a small rod were used. 
We have taken pains to collect and engrave a 
few of the finest patterns of Dials which we could 
obtain. We hardly advise our readers, Jew or 
Gentile, to copy in their pleasure-grounds the ba- 
con-dial, above shown,—as a matter of taste, 
they might do better—still it is worth the 
while to keep a picture of it, as a curiosity. 
Fig. 2 represents a simple, plain style, suitable 
for any body or any place. It might be cut out of 
granite or other stone; or, if made of pine or ce¬ 
dar, and well painted, it would last for many 
years. It will be understood that there is upon 
the top of each of the upright shafts represented, 
a horizontal plate marked with hour lines upon 
which the shadow 
from the indicator falls 
at the several hours. 
Fig. 3 is a pattern 
devised by the emi¬ 
nent sculptor, Thom. 
It was first exhibited 
in this country, at the 
Fair of the American 
Institute in 1842, and 
was highly commend¬ 
ed by the critics. It 
needs to stand upon 
an elevated terrace, 
or plinth of cut stone, 
to appear to the 
best advantage. 
Fig. 4 is another good 
style. It has a solid 
look, yet is relieved of stiffness by the wreath 
entwined about the upper portion of the shaft. 
Fig. 5 is perhaps the most perfect design we 
have to present. We are indebted for it to the 
kindness of Mr. C. M. Hovey, of Boston. If 
some of our city manufacturers of ornamental 
iron-work should make castings of this beautiful 
pattern, it would undoubtedly meet the wants of 
many amateurs. 
Fig. 6 is a sketch of the Dial standing in the 
grounds of the late Mr. Downing, at the time of 
his death. A genial and appreciative writer, (Mr. 
Clarence Cook,) in giving a description of Mr. 
Downing’s place shortly after his decease, speaks 
thus of his dial: “ In passing along the path 
which we have entered, you catch a glimpse 
through the trees of the little sun-dial, with its 
motto, “Horas non numero nisi serenas ,” (1 num¬ 
ber none but sunny hours,) and few others ever 
passed over this happy place. When I first saw 
this dial, the ice was on the ground, and a little 
hillock of snow upon the top of the pillar, pre¬ 
vented the sun from recording the hours. I 
brushed away the snow to find the time. Mr. D. 
was with me, and, I remember, told me about 
some ancient dial he had seen abroad. This 
morning, the first snow is on the dial and on his 
grave.” 
Fig. 7 is a very good style, which we found 
in cast-iron, at Janes, Beebe & Co's in this city. 
Painted white, or any soft tint, and then sanded, 
to represent stone, it would have an excellent ef¬ 
fect. It needs a cap of marble or other stone, to 
which the metallic dial-plate can be adjusted. 
This and all the patterns we have given, need to 
be set on a solid foundation of stone laid in mor¬ 
tar three feet below ground. 
It is quite customary to engrave some motto 
or other inscription on the dial-plate. Of these, 
we give a few examples. The one adopted by 
Mr. Downing, and given above, is an ancient and 
very appropriate one. A neighbor and personal 
friend of Mr. Downing, sends us the following: 
“ Pereunt, et imputantur ,"—which may be freely 
rendered, “ The hours are passing away, and are 
reckoned against us.” 
Here is another common one, and not very sig¬ 
nificant : “ Time rides upon the dial’s point.” 
A neighbor and friend contributes the follow¬ 
ing, copied from a dial in his own grounds,— 
“ Occasio calva post," which we suppose means 
that “ Opportunity lost is irrecoverable.” Or it 
may be done into the familiar exhortation: 
“ Take time by the forelock.” A wag once 
standing by this dial-pillar and reading the rather 
blind motto, translated it thus : An ipology for a 
calf-post! 
Dr. Henry Bowditch, of Boston, being about to 
set an antique sun-dial, sent to the poet, John G. 
Whittier, a request for a suitable inscription. 
The poet returned the following gem : 
With warning hand I mark Time’s rapid flight, 
From life’s glad morning to its solemn night. 
But through the dear God’s love I also show 
There’s light above me, by the shade below. 
But without pursuing this subject any further, 
at present, we conclude by requesting any of our 
readers who may have good mottoes in their pos¬ 
session, to send them to us for future publication. 
--*-<— -■»— ■ »-- 
Making Home Attractive—A very Intj 
portant Suggestion. 
[In the multitude of subscription letters arriving at this 
season, there very often comes an added postscript, con¬ 
veying an important thought, or a private woid of ap¬ 
proval and encouragement from some unknown reader, 
to which we attach far more value than to the money en¬ 
closure. From among many such we select the one be¬ 
low. The first part is printed not so much to gratify our 
own feelings, as to place it where we can ourselves see 
it often, as a thing to be aimed at, rather than one yet at¬ 
tained. We could not have described so well the charac¬ 
ter we would desire to have the Agriculturist merit.—The 
second part we print in emphatic type, hoping thus to im¬ 
press its important truth more strongly upon the atten 
tion and memory of every parent.] 
To the Editor of the American Agriculturist • 
“In forwarding my subscription for 1860, and 
that of a relative to whom I wish the paper sent, 
I can not forbear expressing the satisfaction with 
which I have read the Agriculturist. I admire: 1st. 
Its candor, good sense, and genial spirit—2nd. Its 
steady, keen, and often amusing war with hum- 
buggery—3d. Its broad views of agricultural in¬ 
terests—4th. Its illustrative engravings, at once 
beautiful, instructive, and calculated to allure 
to its pages I he attention of the young, and of 
the anti-book farmers; the pictures are capital 
halt to the good reading—5th. Its high moral tone. 
An undevout agriculturist, like an “undevout 
astronomer is mad but unhappily, editors, like 
other men, are sometimes shy of expressing their 
opinion on the right side. 1 have been pleas'd 
to observe the spirit of the Agriculturist in this 
respect.—6th. Its arrangements for instructing, 
as well as amusing the children, helping them to 
understand how, with moderate means, a home 
can be made neat, comfortable, and attractive..” 
“There is one thing I would be glad to see marc 
parents understand, namely, that when they spend 
money judiciously to improve and adorn the house, 
and the ground around it, they are in effect paying 
their children a premium.to slay at home, as much 
as possible, to enjoy it; but that when they spend 
money unnecessarily in fine clothing and jewelry foi 
their children, they arc paying them a premium It, 
spend their time away from home, that is, in those 
places where they can attract the most attention, end 
make the most display. 
With the best wishes for the continued pros 
perity of the Agriculturist, Vary cordially yours 
Willimantic, Conn. Samukl G. Wii.ubu." 
■-• •- ' -»-«■- 
Conversation, however light., should neve 
approach in the least to the confines of impurity 
