All these effects are obvious ; yet we cannot see 
their causes, nor fully understand them. All we 
can say is, they result from the varied nature of 
things. They show, however, that there is in the 
original germ of plants and animals, a principle 
which produces certain peculiarities greatly affect¬ 
ing, in many instances, their value for the purposes 
of man. This principle is not only manifested in 
the characteristics of different species, but exists 
more or less in varieties of the same species. We 
see its effect in the different kinds of wheat, and 
in other species of grain,—in varieties of peas, 
beans, apples, potatoes, tfcc.,—and in the peculiari¬ 
ties of the different varieties of the dog, the sheep, 
the hog, and other domestic animals. It is man’s 
business to study these peculiarities, and secure 
and apply them in those ways which will render 
them most subservient to his wants. 
Geological researches have proved that the hog 
is one of the most ancient of mammifferous ani¬ 
mals. His fossilized bones have been found in 
various places, associated with those of the mas¬ 
todon, diuotherium, a gigantic species of deer, and 
other animals long since extinct. An able zoologist 
(Martin) observes:—“Of the identity of these 
bones with those of the ordinary wild hog, all 
doubt has been removed by the most rigorous 
comparisons.” The same writer remarks :—“ It 
were useless to ask how it is that while the mam¬ 
moth and the mastodon, the urus, the huge red- 
deer, the gigantic cervus megaceros, hyaenas, 
enormous bears and powerful feline animals, have 
perished in times geologically recent, the wild hog 
continued it race. We cannot solve the mystery. 
It has escaped the fate of these animals—its 
contemporaries—whatever might have been the 
cause of their own annihilation, and though no 
1 inger a tenant of our Island [Britain,] it is spread 
throughout a great portion of Europe and Asia.” 
The hog is not a native of America. The 
South American peccary, though of the same 
order, belongs to a different genus. But in the 
uncultivated parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, 
the wild hog has existed from time immemorial, 
and no less than eight species are enumerated by 
naturalists as inhabiting those countries. 
The domestic hog was evidently derived from 
the wild, though it can hardly be supposed that 
any one species of the latter has been the parent 
of all the domestic breeds. On the contrary, the 
great diversity of characters which the domestica¬ 
ted animal presents in differeut countries, is prob¬ 
ably owing in a great degree to its affinity with 
various original stocks. Experiments have proved 
that the domestic hog is capable of breding with 
different wild species, and that a prolific offspring 
is the result. 
The subjugated animal is very different in his 
disposition and instincts, from his untamed 
ancestor. The common hog is as dependent as 
most other domestic animals. In his natural 
state, on the contrary, he is sagacious, bold, and 
independent. When of mature age, and in pos¬ 
session of all his faculties, he acknowledgdes no 
superior, and will not turn from his path for the 
proudest beast of the forest. Even the tiger and 
lion have found themselves unable to withstand 
his furious charge, and have been laid in the dust 
by wounds from his formidable tusks. 
But the domestic hog soon regains many of the 
primitive habits of the race, when allowed his 
liberty in situations where he can supply himself 
with food. The serai-wild character of the “woods- 
hog” of our southern and western States, shows 
this. Even in his ordinary bondage, he is by no 
means the stupid and senseless animal which 
some have imagined him. He frequently mani¬ 
fests considerable intelligence, and his intellect is 
capable of great development. Everybody has 
hoard of “ learned pigs,” which among other 
tricks would spell out various names by arranging 
the letters of the alphabet. Pigs may also be 
encouraged to defend themselves against other 
animals. We saw not long since, an advertise¬ 
ment of a “ fighting pig,” weighing forty pounds 
which was offered to be matched against ;uiy dog 
of any size. A more extraordinary instance of 
the education of this animal, is that of the “sport¬ 
ing pig,” described in Daniel’s Rural Sports.— 
This animal, a black sow called Slut, was actually 
broke to find and stand game, like a pointer dog. 
She was of the sort of swine which run in the 
New Forest, so called, where they chiefly obtain 
their support. She was trained by the brothers 
Toomer, game-keepers to Sir Henry Mildmav. 
After a few weeks’ trial, according to the statement, 
“she would retrieve birds that had ran as well as 
the best pointers, nay, her nose was superior to 
the best pointer her trainers ever possessed, and 
no two men in England had better.” She ap¬ 
peared to take great delight in hunting, and often 
went alone, the distance of seven miles, from the 
residence of one of the Toomcr’s to the other, “ as 
if to court being taken out shooting.” She lived 
till she was ten years old, and was then killed 
because she was suspected of having aided in the 
disappearance of sundry lambs. She had got fat 
and sluggish, and weighed 700 pounds. 
In subsequent numbers, we shall speak of the 
properties of various domestic breeds of swine, 
in connection with illustrations of some of those 
which are most highly esteemed. 
Roup in' Chickens. —This is a very detestable 
disease, being attended with a swelled head and a 
free discharge from the nose and mouth. About 
the best way to cure it in ordinary chickens, is to 
cut off their heads. In the case of the Shang¬ 
hai's, and other high priced birds which cost 20 
and 50 dollars each, this would be rather a sum¬ 
mary disposal of so Largo an amount; and it might 
be worth while to try for a cure. The Maine Far¬ 
mer says that the disease can be cured by wash¬ 
ing the eyes and nostrils clean, tliree times a day, 
with whiskey, keeping the fowls in a dry warm 
place, and feeding with mashed food. Whiskey 
may bo good for something after all. Thus saith 
the Prairie Farmer. 
Profanity is a disgraceful vico. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
drthrti aitii darkit, domestic foraig. jDJedmnk Jr % fa. 
HINTS ON PLANTING ORCHARDS. 
The annual time of 'planting trees has 
again nearly arrived, and a few practical 
hints on the subject, derived from trial, ex 
perience and observation, may not be out 
of season to those of your readers just about 
planting. 
Notwithstanding the endless variety of 
fruit, little attention has been bestowed, so 
far, in this section of the country, beyond 
the cultivation of the Apple, and it is prob¬ 
ably one of the most useful products of na¬ 
ture, especially in which the genius of man 
has had a hand in bringing to its present 
state of perfection. If we witness our po- 
mological exhibitions, it is surprising to no¬ 
tice the numerous varieties of this one par¬ 
ticular kind of fruit grown to perfection , in 
beauty, hue and color, shape or si/.o, and of 
inherent qualities—some sweet, some tart, 
so as to meet the approbation of all tastes 
and fancies. 
To behold a fine lot of well matured fruit, 
even in the recent state, is temptation. Its 
sight makes faces smile, its participation 
gladdens the heart, and makes morrv many 
a ruffled feeling of our rosy juveniles; 
whilst its susceptibility of application to a 
multitude of purposes, often contributes 
largely in completing bills of luxury to 
meet the most fastidious tastes of graver 
years 
A thing, therefore, that ministers to the 
happiness of our posterity, and so pleasant¬ 
ly to our personal comforts, and serves to 
contribute to the material substance of somo 
prudent old gentle fellow, who has had 
courage to plant orchards in by-gone years, 
and now reaps the benefits of his labors, is 
deserving of especial attention. 
Many a social family circle was formed 
in our early life around the time-honored 
fruit basket, which maternal care seldom 
failed to keep well replenished, with our 
then good cheer. What happy faces!—a 
picture with associations never to be erased. 
Yes, that basket soothed many a childish 
grief, and saved us from many a mischief. 
Every man who owns ground should 
tako this matter in consideration. Fruit is 
daily becoming more extensively used, and 
it is found subservient not only as a luxury, 
but actually ministers to our health, if prop¬ 
erly partaken with our food. 
Fino fruit is a charm of delight to ovory 
one, while in particular it causes a spell of 
triumphant pleasuso in the old to observe 
the products of their earlier labors. Not. 
unseldom, some of the fairest specimens of 
the season are carefully selected, by dainty 
hands, to some resorvo place of the house, 
for the purpose of gracing their hospitality 
on occasions when friends call to tete-a-tete 
with the pretty priostesses of our old neigh¬ 
bor. En passant, some of these specimens 
may be sent to our pomological exhibitions. 
—Berks and Schuylkill Journrl. 
FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 
Buying and selling Fruit Trees. —Pur¬ 
chasers somttimes get good trees from irre¬ 
sponsible itinerant dealors, who purchase 
good-looking trees whore they can got them 
cheapest, the quality of tho fruit they shall 
bear, al hough highly recommended, being 
rather uncertain for some years to come.— 
Tho Agrieultor gives a sample of the mode 
in which this kind of business is sometimes 
conducted. A lot of treos was purchased by 
a speculator, who bought at tho same time 
a quantity of fruit, for the purpose of show¬ 
ing the quality, certificates being in readi¬ 
ness to convince those who nover read agri¬ 
cultural papers, that the fruit grew on those 
identical treos ! 
Market Peach Orchards. —Treos may 
bo placed within 12 feet of each other, if 
they are kept proporly shortened in. It is 
perfectly useless to allow' the long, naked 
arms to extend out from the trunk, so as to 
require more room than this. The com¬ 
monly rccommondod practice, of clipping 
off a part of each yoarling shoot, is too slow 
a process for a large orchard, and when 
alone relied on, commonly proves quito in¬ 
sufficient, being imperfectly or only occa¬ 
sionally performed. To keep the heads 
sufficiently compact, it will bo found best to 
mako a wholesale work of it, and remove 
the ends of the branches of several years’ 
growth—but taking care always to cut off 
at a side branch, so as not to mako a dead 
stump. 
Dwarf Pears — May bo trainod at half 
standards, that is, with clear stems about 
two feet high, for market culture, on all 
soils but thoso liablo to become very soft 
by excess of moisture. On such soils they 
aro apt to bend over by wind, or by tho 
weight of heavy crops, in consequence of 
tho shortness of tho quince roots on which 
they grow. Where this difficulty oxists, it 
is better to allow tho branchos to cover the 
whole stem, forming full pyramids. — The 
Country Gentleman. 
Horticultural Society.— Annual Meeting .— 
The Annual Meeting of the Horticultural Society 
of the Valley of the Genesee, for the election of 
Officers, hearing the Annual Reports, and for 
other important business, will be held in the Law 
Library Room, in Corinthian Hall, on Saturday, 
the 5th day of February next, at 2 o’clock P. M. 
of that day. An Exhibition of Winter Fruit will 
take place on the same day, at the same room— 
the Hall to be open tor that pur]H>so at 10 o’clock 
in the forenoon. 
Great Growth of Grapes. —Wo find the 
following in tho Ontario Timos, signed, II. 
C. Lucas i— “ On tho 5th day of May last, 
I engrafted two scions of tho Spanish Chor- 
ry into a stock about two inches in diametor, 
which liavo grown fifty-throe feot of top.” 
llathor a thrifty growth, that. 
POISONS AND ANTIDOTES. 
It not unfrequently happens that serious 
and distressing results aro occasioned by tho 
accidental employment of p >ison, and it oc¬ 
curred to us that we might possibly do a 
service to somo of our readeas by present¬ 
ing them with a brief and compendious list 
of the more common poisons and the reme¬ 
dies for them, most likely to be close at 
hand. 
Acids —These cause great heat, and sen¬ 
sation of burning pain, from the mouth 
down to tho stomach. Remedies, magnesia, 
soda, pearlash or soap, dissolved in water; 
then use stomach pump or emetics. 
Alkalies —Best remedy is vinegar. 
Ammonia —Remedy, lemon juice or vine¬ 
gar, afterwards milk and water or tlax seed 
tea. 
Alcohol —First cleanso out tho stomach, 
by an emetic, then dash cold water on the 
head, and give ammonia (spirits of harts¬ 
horn.) 
Arsenic —Remedies, in the first place 
ovacuato tho stomach, then give the white 
of eggs, lime water or chalk and water, 
charcoal and tho preparations of iron, par¬ 
ticularly hydrate. 
Lead —White lead and sugar of lead. 
Remedies, alum, cathartic, such as castor 
oil and epsom salts, especially. 
Charcoal —In poisons by carbonic gas, 
remove tho patient to open air, dash cold 
water on tho head and body, and stimulato 
nostrils and lungs by hartshorn, at the same 
time rubbing the chest briskly. 
Corrosive Sublimate —Give white of eggs 
freshly mixed with water, or give wheat 
Hour and water, or soap and water freely. 
Creosote —White of eggs and the emetics. 
Belladonna, or JYight Henbane —Give 
emetics and then plenty of vinegar and 
water or lemonade. 
Mushrooms, ivhen poisonous —Give emetics 
, and then plenty of vinegar and water, with 
doses of ether if handy. 
JVitrate of Silver, (lunar caustic) give a 
strong solution of common salt and then 
emetics. 
Opium —First give a strong emetic of 
mustard and water, then strong coffee and 
acid drinks, dash cold water on tho head. 
Laudanum —Same as opium. 
JYux Vomica —First emetics, then brandy. 
Oxalic Acid —Frequently mistaken for 
epsom salts. Remedies, chalk, magnesia, 
or soap and water, and other soothing 
drinks. 
Prussic Acid —When there is time, admin¬ 
ister chlorine in the sbapo of soda or lime. 
Hot brandy and water. Hartshorn and 
turpentine also useful. 
Snake Bites, —Apply immediately 
strong hartshorn, a|id take it internally, al¬ 
so givo sweet oil and stimulants freely—ap¬ 
ply a ligature tight above tho part bitten, 
and then apply a cupping glass. 
Tartar Emetic —Give large doses of tea 
made of gails, Peruvian bark, or white oak 
bark. 
Tobacco —First an emetic, then astringent 
tea. then stimulants. 
Verdigris —Plenty of white of egg and 
water. 
White Vitriol —Give the patient plenty of 
milk and water. 
In almost all cases of poisoning, emetics 
are highly useful, and of those, one of tho 
very best, because most prompt and ready, 
is the common mustard Hour or powder, a 
tea-spoonful of which, stirred up in warm 
water, may be given every five or ten min- 
tes. until free vomiting can bo obtained. 
Emetics and warm demulcent drinks, such 
as milk and water, flax seod or slippery elm 
tea, chalk water, &c., should be administer¬ 
ed without delay r . The subsequent manage¬ 
ment of the case will of course be left to a 
physician.— Hartford Times. 
IRISH BUTTER—HOW PREPARED. 
We have already noticed tho sale at auc¬ 
tion in Boston, of a lot of Irish butter. In 
reference to tho article a Boston paper 
says : 
“ Tho choice Irish butter which finds a 
market at Cork, is said to bo the best but¬ 
ter in the world. It cost the present sea¬ 
son there SOs per cwt., equal to about twen¬ 
ty cents per pound. This butter is packed 
in tubs containing 66 to 70 lbs. each. The 
quantity of salt used in tho making is about 
one pound of salt to ten or clovon pounds 
of butter ; the buttermilk well worked out 
of the butter without using tho hand too 
much. Caro is taken to pack it as closely 
as possible. Space is left at tho top of the 
cask for pickle, and at the port of exporta¬ 
tion the pickle is added, with one or two 
pounds of salt additional to each cask, to 
keep tho pickle at full strength. 
Spanish Fritters. —Cut tho soft part of 
baker’s bread in slices of a quarter of an 
inch thick, and of any form you choose. 
Tako a pint of milk or cream, three well- 
beaten oggs, half a teaspoonful of nutmeg 
and cinnamon mixed, three drops of the es¬ 
sence of lemon, and sugar to the taste. 
When they have absorbed as much of the 
milk as they will, take them out before they 
got too soft, and fry them of a nice light 
brown on both sides. They may bo served 
with or without sweet sauce. 
Turkeys. —If young, tho legs will bo 
black and smooth, tho eyes lively, and the 
feet pliable. If old, tho eyes will be sunken 
and the foot dry. 
Hens. —If the comb and logs are rough, 
they aro old. If smooth and limber, they 
are young. 
LIST OF PATENT CLAIMS 
ISSUED FROM THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 
For the week ending January 18, 1853. 
Robert W. Andrews, of Stafford, Conn., for im¬ 
provement in operating the t,reddles of looms. 
Chas. L. Bander, of Cleveland, O., for improve¬ 
ment in bedstead fastenings. 
Dexter H. Chamberlain, of Boston, Mass., as¬ 
signor to Cyrus G. Howard, of same place, for im¬ 
provements in machinery for reducing metal bars. 
Jos. Contner, of Milroy, Pa., for improvement 
in saddle trees. 
Geo. and David Cook, of New-Haven, Conn., 
for improvement in driving circular saws, &c. 
Edward Everett, of Lawrence, Mass., and Sam. 
T. Thomas, of Lowell, Mass., for improvement in 
harness boards for Jacquered looms. 
James S. Hogeland, of Lafayette, Ind., for im¬ 
provement in wool condensers. 
Jno. Griffiths, of Philadelphia, Pa., for improve¬ 
ment in screw cutting dies. 
Jno. L. Kingsley, of New York, N. Y., for im¬ 
provements in compounds for stereotype plates. 
Jeremiah P. Smith, of Hummelstown, Pa., for 
improvement in corn shellers. 
Jos. W. Webb, of Aurora, N. Y., assignor to 
Benj. Gould, of same place, for improvement in 
valves of rotary steam engines. 
Samuel and Wm. H. Witherow, of Gettysburgh, 
Pa., assignor to Samuel Witherow, of same place, 
for improvement in seed planters. 
WATER RAMS FOR FIRE ENGINES. 
Messrs. Editors :—When the fact is ad¬ 
mitted that tho water ram is capable of 
raising a given proportion of water to any 
reasonable height, it would seem to me, 
good reason to conclude that with a suffi¬ 
cient full, a large supply of water and a 
huge ram, by contracting the discharge pipo, 
as in the fire engine, it might be made to 
serve as a substitute therefor. If the ram 
can force water to the height of two or 
three hundred feet, the power is there, and 
I lack the knowledge to understand why it 
cannot be mado to operate. Would not a 
ram with a six inch supply pipe cost less 
than a fire engine and out last two ? 
s- s. L. 
Remarks. —Our readers will remember 
an articlo which appeared in the last vol¬ 
ume on this subject, but owing to tho above 
letter being mislaid, the discussion was not 
concluded. We owe this apology to our 
correspondent, to whom wo would say in 
reply:—It is true tho water ram is able 
with a good fall, to raise a proportion of 
of the water to tho height named, but the 
amount raised will be, as compared with 
the wholo, in inverso ratio to the elevation 
of the discharge pipe above the fountain 
head. The water being forced into the air 
chamber, compresses the air until it becomes 
the projecting force, which causes the water 
to find vent in the discharge pipe. This 
force is sufficient to causo a discharge of the 
water at the terminus of the pipe, but has 
no power to force it beyond. If tho end of 
the discharge pipe could bo situated over 
the building, the water as it run out would 
fall upon and quench it, but if tho fire was 
ono foot above tho highest point of tho pipe, 
the compressed air in tho chamber of the 
water ram has not force enough to commu¬ 
nicate sufficient momontum to,tho water to 
causo it to overcomo that distance. To 
convey that momentum, requires the quick 
operation of a briskly worked force pump, 
as constructed in a powerful engine. 
A water ram with a six inch supply pipe 
would only discharge its proportionate 
amount of water, which would bo subject 
to tho same law as governs tho small ma¬ 
chine in common use. Increasing the size 
would not increase its power to project the 
water beyond the pipe, as the air only com¬ 
municates motion enough to enablo tho 
wator to fall gently, as it is discharged. It 
is a miniature stream constantly supplied, 
without tho power to leap from its bed to 
extinguish a neighboring conflagration and 
the only effect of putting in a pipo having 
a smaller calibre than ono through which 
the water comes from tho machine, would 
bo in effect, building a dam to restrain a 
portion of tho water without increasing the 
velocity of what runs over the dam and es¬ 
capes. 
Whether as largo a machino as our cor¬ 
respondent contemplates would cost loss 
than a first class engine wo aro unable to 
say, but in our opinion would not; neither 
would it be much more durable, and lacks 
i the convenience of being readily moved 
whero most needed. + 
IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTER FIRKINS, 
Butter firkins, as at prosont eoastructed, 
require to bo sawn horizontally throughthe 
centre, or the head removed, in. order toob- 
tain the butter, which is liable to bo injured 
from the consequent exposure to the air.— 
As an improvement on tho above, a new 
method has been invented by Daniel Min- 
thorn, of Watertown, N. Y., who has takes 
measures to- securo- a patent.. 1 ho ffvkin, is 
imvdio to consist ot two parts,.which are con-. 
nectod together by moans of a taper flange 
nn the core ot tho ono, which fits into a cor¬ 
responding recess cut inside the edge of the 
other, the two parts being kept firmly to¬ 
gether with hooks or any other suitablo 
fastening. The great advantage of a firkin 
of this description is. that small quantities 
of butter can bo taken out when required, 
and the firkin afterwards closed air-tight’ 
which renders it superior to those of the or¬ 
dinary construction for family use; more¬ 
over. the firkin can be used repeatedly for 
the same purpose until completely worn 
out.— Sci. American. 
IMPROVED BOOT CRIMP. 
William Faus, of Buekhorn, Pa., has ta¬ 
ken measures to socure a patent for im¬ 
provements in the above. Those improve¬ 
ments consist in the employment of two 6ets 
ot clamps, one set ol a double wedge or 
conical shape, for stretching tho corners of 
tho leather, when the ^toot is fixed for crimp¬ 
ing, ami the other for stretching tho entire 
surface. Tho operation of crimping is per¬ 
formed by a removable lever, which is like¬ 
wise an improvement, as by tho ordinary 
plan this levor is stationary, so that tho 
boot, after being partly crimped or shaped, 
must be taken off and finished by hand. In 
this itnprovod apparatus the crimping lever 
is attached to the table by a pin. so that it 
can bo removed after the crimping has been 
dope, and another substituted in its place. 
The clamps aro made to work in slots cut 
through tho above-named lever, by means 
of set screws, which operate exclusively on 
their corresponding set of clamps. All, 
theiefoie, that is required to be done for 
crimping tho boot is to attach the leather to 
the clamps and press the lever between a 
pair of wooden jaws four or five times, mo¬ 
ving tho screws and clumps outwards as tho 
lover is operated .—Scientific American. 
VARNISH FOR IRON WORK. 
Locksmiths and others working at the 
forgo aro accustomed to blacken the articles 
intended for railroads by making them red 
hot and burning on them some linseed oil. 
I bis plan, which is practised to improve the 
appearance ot the articles, and to protect 
them from rusting, is not economical nor 
always succe*sful; it fails whon the combus¬ 
tion of the oil has been too great. 
.By the following process a varnish is made 
without tho above disadvantages, and which 
gives to articles a bettor appearance : 
Dissolve, in about 2 lbs. of tar oil, some¬ 
thing moro than half a pound of asphaltum 
and a like quantity of pounded rosin ; tho 
mixing is performed hot in an iron kettle, 
care being taken to prevent any contact 
with tho flame. When cold the varnish is 
poured into a vessel and kept for use._ 
These varnishes aro for out-door wood and 
iron work, not for japanning, leather, or 
cloth. Oil varnishes aro usod for patent 
leather; and copal for japanning metal. 
Imfroved Carriage Hub. —In order to 
j securo tho axle more effectually than has 
l hitherto been dono, on the wheel, a now im- 
1 provement has been invented by John Olios, 
of Philadelphia, who has taken measures to 
secure a patent. For this purposo two 
tubes, ono inside the other, aro let into tho 
eye of tho hub, and the end of the axle is 
mado of a suitablo shapo to play freely 
within tho inner one, but is prevented from 
working out by means of a collar and screw 
box, which aro fitted on to tho outer tubo. 
I ho objects effected by this arrangement 
aro, first, that of shifting tho bearing of tho 
axle to all parts of tho inner circumference 
of tho intermediate casing, which is accord¬ 
ingly mado movablo, and in tho second place 
that of securing tho wheel firmly on tho 
axlo as well as preventing the oil from flow¬ 
ing anywhere oxcept to that part of the axlo 
inside the hub. 
New Fluid Lamp.— -A fluid lamp has 
been inventod within a few days, which, the 
Boston papers say, is perfectly safe, even if 
broken. It is entirely original and quite 
simplo in construction, and will cost but lit¬ 
tle more than ordinary glass lamps. Whon 
tho bowl of the lamp, which is glass, is 
formed, bofore it is “closed up,” a burnish¬ 
ed brass globe or vessel is inserted, and tho 
glass is formed up around it. Tho tubes of 
tho lamp aro thus fastened to this brazen 
globe, instead of being tixod to the glass, as 
in the ordinary lamp. Thus, a beautiful 
article is made, tho glass of which may be 
broken to atoms, and yet not a drop of fluid 
spilled. The yellow brass, burnished to a 
dazzling brilliancy, shows with groat effect 
through the glass case that surrounds it, 
giving additional beauty to the lamp, which 
combines all the neatnesss and security of 
tho metallic lamp. 
Cutting Barrel Heads. —A machine of 
the above description has been lately invent¬ 
ed by Franklin Fruit, of Jefferson City, Mo., 
who has taken measures to secure a patent. 
Barrel heads are formed of several pieces, 
and these often vary in thickness, honce 
causing some difficulties in tho process of 
chucking. The inventor lias ovorcome this 
obstacle by using a chuck of a peculiar de¬ 
scription. It is made of two circular discs 
with a series of centres placed in a ei.rcular 
form. Each centre is provided with a spi¬ 
ral spring, so that it can yield to accommo¬ 
date the different thickness of tho wood.— 
All persons engaged in this groat branch of 
manufacture will understand that tho chuck 
can be employed i» conjunction with the 
usual shaping aa<l bevelling apparatus.— 
Sci. American.. 
A manufacturer in W urtomburg has in¬ 
vented a mode of applying a surface coating 
to sheet-iron, which enables it to tako freely 
tho nvrjk of a slate-pencil. It is said to be 
much lighter, and much less liable to inju¬ 
ry, than common slate. 
