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MAY 17. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
frrfpti iiitii tetofit. 
THE STRAWBERRY. 
The strawberry season is approaching, and 
we have a few words for our readers upon the 
management of that very popular fruit. Much 
has already been said and written about straw¬ 
berries, and any horticultural reader who is not 
familiar with at least the outlines of the sub¬ 
ject, must have read to little purpose. So im¬ 
portant has this branch of cultivation been 
considered, that several special treatises have 
been written with a view to furnish complete 
details of management. How fully these have 
covered the ground, it is not for us to say.— 
There are always, however, fresh hints to be 
thrown out, new varieties to be described, 
others discarded, that there will always be room 
for a few sentences more at the return of each 
season. No small fruit will more fully repay 
tl^fultivator for a little extra attention, and as 
it comes into use at an early season, in advance 
of all other fruits, it is regarded as a general 
favorite. 
We have never considered that so much spe¬ 
cial and particular treatment, as has been re¬ 
commended by several writers, was necessary 
to the successful cultivation of this fruit. A 
soil of ordinary fertility and of sufficiently open 
and porous character, such as a rich loam, rather 
sandy than clayey, will suitwell. The point is 
to have it thoroughly cultivated and quite free 
from weeds. The best method of planting, and 
indeed the only one now pursued by intelligent 
cultivators, is in rows about three feet apart, 
and the plants from eighteen inches to two feet 
apart in the row. Many suppose this too much 
space for small plants, but they soon spread, 
and if too closely planted, will bear small and 
indifferent fruit after the third year. It is 
recommended to renew the beds frequently, as 
often as every fourth year ; it is true that plants 
two years old are likely to produce larger fruit 
than at any future period, but where sufficient 
space is secured for the spread of the runners, 
the bed will last longer. 
Much has been given upon the subject of spe¬ 
cific manures for the strawberry ; prescriptions 
resembling those obtained from the physician, 
have been presented to the credulous amateur, 
more calculated to bewilder than to furnish 
clear directions upon a simple subject. A 
compost made of street refuse, decayed leaves, 
and barn-yard manure, will answer all useful 
purposes, though leached ashes has been found 
of great benefit on some soils, being calculated 
to keep the ground open and porous. Straw¬ 
berries may be planted at any time from the 
latter part of August till the beginning of Oc¬ 
tober. It is desirable to have the plants estab¬ 
lished before the frost sets in. Strong runners, 
planted in August and preserved from wilting, 
form vigorous plants and will bear the ensuing 
season. Many plantations are made in spring 
with success. For several reasons, we prefer 
fall planting, unless in the more northern lati¬ 
tudes, vhere the severity of the winter might 
injure plants not perfectly established. 
After several very lengthened and unnecessa¬ 
ry discussions upon the subject of fertilization 
and the comparative value of what are termed 
pistillate and staminate varieties of the straw¬ 
berry, it has been clearly established that fruit 
may be obtained without so much precise at¬ 
tention to the arrangement of male and female 
plants. The pollen produced on the stamens, or 
male organs, is decidedly necessary to the full 
development of fruit and seed. As most all 
flowers are furnished with more or less stamens, 
it generally occurs that fruit is developed, but 
it has been found that where the supply of pis¬ 
tillate, or female flowers, and staminate, or male, 
bore a proper proportion to each other, the yield 
of fruit was much greater than where the pro¬ 
portion was decidedly unequal. For the future 
there will be little room for such angry discus¬ 
sions as -were once indulged in upon this point. 
The vaiieties of strawberries are now so nu¬ 
merous that some experience is necessary to 
make a judicious selection. Those sorts which 
have been for some years in cultivation, and 
are now fully tested, may be most safely recom¬ 
mended for all general purposes. There are, 
however, many new and superior varieties of 
later introduction, the fruit of which has proved 
much finer than the older sorts. The only 
question is upon the hardiness or productive¬ 
ness of these insufficiently tested varieties. 
In various districts of the country different 
varieties are cultivated, which have been found 
to succeed best there, while these very varieties 
are not at all cultivated at a distance of a few 
hundred miles, and perhaps not even known.— 
On the contrary, there are leading sorts which 
are cultivated all over the Union with the best 
results. 
It may be conceded that Hovey’s Seedling is 
the general favorite, for we hear of it in all 
sections, producing good crops and fair fruit.— 
The fruit is large, the plants productive, and the 
flavor very good. Extraordinary reports have 
been furnished of the quantities of berries pro¬ 
duced per acre, but, as in most cases, these were 
calculated from the produce of a small space of 
only a few yards, we have never been disposed 
to place much reliance on the figures quoted. 
Of the popular varieties, in addition to Ho¬ 
vey’s Seedling, we may name Burr’s New Pine, 
Boston Pine, Longworth’s Prolific, Genesee, 
Moyamensing, Trollope’s Victoria, Ingram’s 
Prince of Wales, Walker’s Seedling, Jenny’s 
Seedling, McAvoy’s Superior, Pennsylvania, 
Black Prince, Triomphe de Gand, Monroe Scar¬ 
let, Bicton Pine (a white variety), Scott’s Seed¬ 
ling, and for fertilizing, the Large Early Scar¬ 
let. There are many fine varieties in addition 
to these, but we need not swell the list unne¬ 
cessarily. 
We would recommend our readers who have 
several distinct varieties in cultivation, to ob¬ 
serve the peculiarities in their character—note 
the comparative productiveness of each, the 
flavor, time of ripening, length of time in sea¬ 
son, &c., (fee., so that when at any period a 
question may arise on any of these points, actual 
experience may be brought to bear upon the 
question at issue. 
Let it be remembered that at the approach¬ 
ing Convention of the Pomological Society to 
be held in this city, all these questions will be 
fully debated, and we would remind our read¬ 
ers that they should inform themselves before¬ 
hand.—s. 
GARDEN VEGETABLES. 
As soon as crops appear above ground, the 
soil should be carefully stirred around them. 
This is one of the advantages derived from drill 
culture, and a very important one it is during 
dry seasons. The deeper the ground is loosen¬ 
ed, the better will it support vegetation ; the 1 
loose ground on the surface acts as a mulching, 
and prevents the rapid evaporation of the mois¬ 
ture from below. The air is also allowed un¬ 
impeded access to the roots, facilitating those 
electro - chemical changes upon which the 
growth of plants so much depends. The most 
useful implement for this operation is the Dutch 
or scuffle hoe ; in using it, there is no occasion 
to tread on the loose ground. Heavy summer 
showers more or less consolidate the surface of 
all soils ; surface stirring should therefore fol¬ 
low immediately after rains, and never allow 
weeds to gain sufficient headway to suggest the 
use of the hoe, but let the cleanliness and free¬ 
dom from weeds be a consequence of repeated 
surface cultivation. 
In planting Lima beans, guard against deep 
covering ; if the ground is prepared as previous¬ 
ly suggested, they may be simply pressed un¬ 
der the surface with the hand ; there is some¬ 
times no small difficulty in getting a good start, 
with this crop, in close soils. The principal 
sowings of parsnip, long beet and orange carrots, 
if not already down, should receive early atten¬ 
tion. 
Towards the end of the month, sow a few 
seeds of Walcheren cauliflower, to come in for 
fall and early winter use. 
Flat Dutch cabbage, and curled savory seed, 
should also be sown at once for winter crops. 
Celery should be sown for main crops; choose 
enriched, friable soil, and mulch lightly with 
manure, and water occasionally in dry weather. 
Young asparagus plantations should be mulch¬ 
ed between the rows, and an occasional water¬ 
ing with salt w r ater will be beneficial; two 
ounces of salt to a gallon of water will form a 
sufficiently strong solution. 
Sweet corn, summer squash and vegetable 
marrows, may be planted at intervals of two or 
three weeks, if a constant supply of tender veg¬ 
etables is anticipated. 
Peas, tomatoes, <fcc., may be hastened to ma¬ 
turity by pinching out the points of the plants ; 
checking growth will induce a tendency to 
early fruiting. 
In transplanting, always puddle the roots in 
a mortar of soil and water, unless the weather is 
dull and showery. 
Strawberries. —Hoe between the rows, and 
cover with a mulching, either of straw, tan 
bark or short grass; anything that will keep 
the fruit clean ; a thorough watering will be of 
great use after the first flowers are set to fruit. 
Gooseberries. —Mildew may be prevented, 
by watering with soapsuds, over the branches. 
A radical cure for this pest may be formed by 
mixing a peck of lime, and a pound of sulphur, 
in 10 gallons of water; let it stand and settle. 
A pint, in four gallons of water, syringed over 
the bushes when the fruit is forming, will keep 
them clean ; cover the ground with manure, and 
spread a small quantity of salt over it, to keep 
as much moisture as possible about the roots. 
Grapes. —Rub off all superfluous shoots as 
soon as the strongest can be ascertained. In 
consequence of the extreme severity of the win¬ 
ter, much of the young wood is killed. Y’oung 
vines, that ripened their wood imperfectly last 
season, are most likely to suffer in this way.— 
Such shoots require to be cut back to sound and 
healthy parts. Even though only injured slight¬ 
ly, they require cutting down, as such unhealthy 
shoots spread disease over the whole plant.— 
Horticulturist. 
CULTIVATION OP BULBS. 
Bulbs of nearly every description flourish in 
rooms with less care than most other plants.— 
In planting hyacinths, the pots should be filled 
with light rich soil, and the bulbs should be 
planted so shallow that nearly half the bulb 
shall stand above the soil; place the pots in the 
open air, and cover them six or eight inches 
with rotten bark. During spring, take them 
out as they are wanted to bring into flower, and 
set them in the windows of a warm room, where 
they will be exposed to the sun. When the 
leaves begin to decay, after flowering, give them 
no water; when the leaves are dead, take the 
bulbs out of the soil, and lay them in an airy 
situation for planting. When grown in water- 
glasses—by far the prettiest manner of culti¬ 
vating this beautiful flower—they require to be 
placed in an airy, light situation, and the water 
must b® changed every three or four days. — 
Home Journal. 
Dwarf Dahlias may be produced by bending 
down the stems while young, and keeping 
them in the required position with pegs. When 
cultivated in this manner they grow into large 
masses, and produce a fine effect. 
SEASONABLE HINTS. 
Ixsects on Rose-bushes and Shrubbery.— 
To destroy the slug and green fly on rose-bushes 
and other delicate shrubbery, the following so¬ 
lution has been found effectual, viz., one pound 
of whale-oil soap to ten gallons of water, ap¬ 
plied with a garden syringe. Care should be 
used that the solution is not too strong, as in 
that case .it will injure the foliage of tender 
shrubs or young shoots. 
Garden Pruning. —Grape-vines that have not 
already been pruned, should be attended to first, 
the present season — and nothing will repay a 
judicious pruning better. The crop will be 
larger, and the flavor of-the grape much im¬ 
proved. Currants and gooseberries should be 
pruned rather close, in order to get perfect fruit. 
Deciduous ornamental trees, shrubs, and roses, 
should now be pruned. Ornamental trees only 
require the decaying and irregular branches to 
be cut away. With few exceptions, deciduous 
shrubs and roses require annual pruning. 
i Management of Hot-Beds and Small Fruits. 
—Plants that have been brought forward in hot¬ 
beds may soon be transplanted to the open 
ground—such as early cucumbers, melons, cab¬ 
bages, cauliflowers, lettuce, radishes, etc.; but 
they must be watched and protected from all 
cold. Clean out the strawberry beds, the cur¬ 
rants, and raspberries. Stick down cuttings, 
plentifully, of such fruits as you wish to propa¬ 
gate. The cherry cutting will grow, if put 
down in a moist and shady spot. 
The Garden. — Plants requiring support 
should be provided with a stick, to which they 
should be suitably attached or fastened ; the 
sticks should be fix,ed firmly in the ground, and 
the stems should be tied to each stick neatly, 
in two or three places. Evergreens may now 
be removed, such as laurels, laurustinus, Portu¬ 
gal laurels, cistuses, arbutus, magnolias, pyra- 
canthas, etc. Auriculas may be propagated by 
slipping off their suckers and off-shoots. Car¬ 
nation and polyanthus — also, perennial and 
biennial seeds may be sown. Where any peren¬ 
nial or biennial fibrous-rooted flowers are want¬ 
ed, transplant them with a good ball of earth 
attached to each. Care should be taken of 
hyacinths, tulips, ranunculuses, and anemones, 
preparatory to their blooming. Auriculas, hya¬ 
cinths, etc., which may be in pots, should be 
placed in a sheltered spot, during heavy rains 
or winds.— Home Journal. 
The Garden. —No land pays a higher rate of 
interest than the humble, despised garden.— 
The quantity of vegetables which it can be 
made to produce, almost exceeds belief; and 
farmers may well open their eyes, when told 
that under good management two acres of a 
garden will be more profitable than twenty 
acres of a farm, as usually conducted. In the 
vicinity of cities, the raising of vegetables for 
market is conducted on a large scale, and is 
very lucrative, and even the poor man can, by 
his ow'n labors at odd times, secure an abun¬ 
dance of food for his family, which is as good as 
money saved, as well as earned. 
f mitts tic f cflumug. 
CAKES, CRACKERS, ETC. 
Eds. Rural : —Please accept a few excellent 
recipes which may be found worthy of the no¬ 
tice of your lady readers : 
Crackers. —Three cups water, butter, 2 
teaspoonfuls cream-tartar, 1 of soda, tablespoon 
of salt. Mix the flour and butter together, put 
the soda and cream-tartar in the water, then 
mix all together. Make the dough as hard as 
you can without pounding. Roll thin ; bake in 
a quick oven. 
Cookies. —Cup butter, 1 of sour cream, 2 oz. 
sugar, 2 eggs, teaspoon soda, nutmeg to the 
taste; roll, then bake in a quick oven. 
Biscuits. —Take a quart dish one-half full of 
cream, the other half butter-milk, teaspoon 
rounding full of soda, tablespoon salt; mix just 
hard enough to roll out; bake in a quick oven. 
Baked Indian Pudding. —Have a quart of 
boiling milk, stir in meal while boiling, make 
it thick, have a pan ready greased, put cold 
milk in to make it thin like * atter, one handful 
flour, five eggs well bea'en. Sweeten with 
sugar or molasses as yon like, cinnamon and 
spice to taste, little salt; oake slow two hours.— 
Cohocton, Steubea Co., N. Y. Kate. 
Crackers. — 1 cup of lard, 3 cups of water, 
2 teaspoonfuls cream-tartar, 1 teaspoonful sale- 
ratus, 1 teaspoonful salt. Mix the lard thor¬ 
oughly with flour ; then add water ; knead them 
hard, and knead the dough until it becomes 
smooth. Bake in a quick oven. 
Plain Fruit Cake. —One loaf bread, % cup 
butter, 134 do. sugar, do. molasses, do. 
butter-milk, }J> do. currants, 1 do. raisins, do. 
citron, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoonful saleratus. Season 
to taste ; brandy if you choose.— Farmer’s 
Daughter, East Bloomfield. 
Sausage Meat — Horu to Keep Fresh. — Pack 
the meat in stone jars until nearly full, then fill 
the jar up with melted lard ; cover with a linen 
cloth, then tie a brown paper over the top.— D. 
J. W., Skaneateles, N. Y. 
Cakes to Fry. — 3 eggs, 4 tablespoons of sugar, 
2 do. butter, 2 do. cream, teaspoon saleratus % a 
i cup sour butter milk ; mix in flour sufficient to 
roll out.— e. w. 
ittVrlrtnm SMk frr THE IIJVEireoR OF THE T BAIL - 
dgnyaim wr, Kobe™ L.Si.vem was one of tie projectors 
"= and original stockholders of the Camden and 
LIST OP PATENTS, Amboy Railroad. He was sent to England as 
issued from the United states Patent office for the the agent of the Company, to examine into the 
week ending April 29 , 1856. working of the system, and to contract for rails 
m. T ,, . IT' . .. and machinery. At that time the fish-bellied 
Thos. J. Alexander, Westerville, O.. improvement m saw- ■ <• , r _ 
ing machines. rail was m use. lhis form Mr. Stevens deemed 
LIST OP PATENTS, 
week ending April 29 , 1856. working of the system, and to contract for rails 
m. T ,, . IT' . .. and machinery. At that time the fish-bellied 
Thos. J. Alexander, Westerville, 0.. improvement m saw- . _ r ^ 
ing machines. rail was in use. JLliis form Mr. Stevens deemed 
chfin OC cabit P hoof s te ’ Wilmington > DeL > improvement ia in many respects objectionable ; and he set 
Henry N. Baker, Union, N. Y. , improvement in electro- about devising a form that would be better, and 
m Edward^BaptiafHobSen^N. J., improved pen and pen- more eas Y of manufacture. He concluded that 
oil case. the form T would answer the purpose ; and that 
difng'harveatersT" LexingtoD ’S’ ™P™vementJn era- ifc migbt be rolled> f or mucb less than tbe fisb _ 
Asa W. Cady, Sullivan, N. Y., improved method of ex- bellied form was then costing, 
cavatingand moving earth. xr • i i ., , . , , 
Wm. Dawson, Huntington, Conn., improvement in cigar devised a plan for rolling it ) which plan 
machines. h e proposed to the iron manufacturer with 
Elisha P. Moulton, Baltimore, Md., improvement m door r J . 
fasteners. whom he was negotiating for the iron for his 
Wm. Dawson, Huntington, Conn., improvement in cigar devised a plan for rolling it; which plan 
machines. h e proposed to the iron manufacturer with 
fasteners. whom he was negotiating for the iron for his 
planters 6 ' Randall > Rockfor<1 > Ilk » improvement in corn Company. The manufacturer was unwilling to 
Benjamin T. Roney, Philadelphia, Pa., improvement in test the plan, alledging that it would involve 
ha johnB. C R U o t Srooklyn, improved rotary steam engines, considerable expense, and that the result was 
Bradford Rowe, Albany, improved wrench. uncertain. Mr. Stevens, not inclined to give 
gle machine/ 103 ’ Greencastle ’ Inck ’ improvement in shin- up point, asked what would be the loss in 
planters'^ ^ opk * ns ’ Cincinnati, improvement in hand seed case of failure. He was told it would be four 
F W. H.’Hovey, Springfield Mass., new method of attach- to bve hundred pounds. In reply to this he- 
ing harvester cutter blades to the sickle bar. offered to advance that amount, to be credited 
John SI. Dearborn, Boston, improvement in the construe- . 
tion of scaffolds. to the company in case of the adoption of his 
Y E joint"bodied^uggies l0SeS Wkeeler ’ CedarvilIe > plan, and to be held for whatever expenses 
W. H. Hovey, Springfield Mass., new method of attach- to hundred pounds. In reply to this he 
g harvester cutter blades to the sickle bar. offered to advance that amount, to be credited 
John SI. Dearborn, Boston, improvement in the construe- . 
on of scaffolds. to the company in case of the adoption of his 
Et joint'bodied bug<de"s° SeS H ’ WIieeler > Cedarville > plan, and to be held for whatever expenses 
Salem T. Lamb, New Washington, Ind., automatic rake might be incurred in the trial, if the plan 
f0r Wm': Lyon and Chas. W. Dickinson, Newark, N. J., im- sbould not succeed. His offer was accepted; 
provement in dry gas meters. and a foreman with a sufficient number of men 
com e she Z lle r rs MatherS ’ Morgantown ’ Va ” improvement in were placed under his direction. 
John Mclnnes, Braintree, Mass., improvement in print- The first trial had a result that might have 
ing woolen and other fabrics. ,._ , .. . , , -. 
s. F. Stanton, Manchester, N. Y., improvement in breech discouiaged a less resolute inventor, and caused 
loading fire arms. 
Pliny Thayer, Lansingburg, N. Y., improvement in reap¬ 
ing machines. 
a less wealthy one to be denied further privi¬ 
leges in the mill. The rail would not come out 
Alex. Underwood, German Flats, N.Y., improvement in straight, but persisted in winding round the 
friction matches. r ° 
C. P. s. Ward well, Lake Village, N. H., improved box roller. A second trial, in which the grooves 
openers. . . . „ were tapered so as to allow the rail to get out 
Frederick Newbury, Albany, improvement in fire arms. _ l c 
E. L. Pratt, Philadelphia, Pa., new method of paring easily, was tolerably successful; and, after a 
aP T! e T. Whitaker, St. Charles, Ill, improved self-rakers for few alterations, the invention of the T rail was 
harvesters.®*- jess**- complete; and the order was given for rails of 
Samuel Witt and G. W. Albaugh, Greencastle, Pa, im- ,, . , ,, • ._ x xr 
proved corn planters. that * orm - Tbis account was gwen by Mr. 
harvesters.®*- »»»■:•. complete; and the order was given for rails of 
Samuel Witt and G. W. Albaugh, Greencastle, Pa, im- ,, . , ,, • .__ i. xr 
proved corn planters. that * orm - Tbis account was given by Mr. 
S. W^ Wood, Washington, D. C, improvement in pro- Stevens himself to a friend of ours who inquir- 
pf aIu. Ketchum, assignor to E. B. Olcott, New York city, ed of him as to the truth of the current report 
new method of cleaning knives. that he was the inventor of this form of rail.— 
A. H. Brown, assignor to Tingley and V eile, Albany, 
improved lathe. Railroad Advocate. 
S. W. Lowe, Philadelphia, assignor to J. M. Beck, Har- -*-•>- 
risburgh, improvement in embossing and printing. A NEW BRANCH OF INDUSTRY. 
John Reily, Heart Prairie, Wis, improvement in har- _ 
vester fingers. 
designs. Works for the prosecution of an entirely new 
Nicholas Muller, New York city, improvement in clock branch of industry have been opened near Bir- 
case fronts. , r , „ 
-•>- mingham, England, viz : the manufacture of 
THE LIGHTNING ROD.—LYON’S. architectural decorations and adjuncto in basalt. 
The ragstone of the neighborhood is melted and 
Our Franklin drew lightning from the C ast in hot molds, and cornices, door-heads, and 
heavens, and left to America and to the world other arch itectural enrichments are produced,of 
the noble bequest of his science, the Lightning a yery lasfcing qiiality . When cast in cold 
Rod. His wisdom was always practical, and months> a glassy lava , known as obsidian, is 
none more so than in that Conductor of Light- produce d_an interesting fact in a geological 
mng for the protection of property and of life. point of yieyr . 
To deny its utility is folly; to doubt its pro- Furnaces have a i so been erected for the re- 
tecting power, is to trifle with the laws by c b lc {q on 0 f gold quartz by direct fusion, accord- 
which God directs and manages the most subtle ing to a newly pate nted process. The quartz 
of elements. - g brs (. crus bed moderately small, then calcined 
The spring is fully upon us again. “ The or roasted> and afterward fused with a mixture 
Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the of fluorspar> ii me , an d oxide of iron, which 
Highest gave his voice.” That voice has been liqui f y i ng agents combine with the silica and 
heard. Already has the lightning fallen upon render t]ie matrix perfectly fluid, and capable 
a barn in a neighboring village, and consumed of being cast into 
iron molds—forming orna- 
it with its contents. Ihe season has come for men t a l bricks, or blocks of lasting quality and 
the erection of conductors of this mighty ele- grea t beauty.— Sdedfid. 
ment, where the protection has not already_ 9 ^_ • 
been secured. Preparing Patent Leather. —The process 
The popular instrument before the public, is f 0 n 0W ed in France for glazing leather, is to work 
“Lyon’s Copper Lightning Conductor, the pa- j n t 0 the skin, with appropriate tools, three or 
tent for which is possessed by Messrs. Brittan f ouv successive coating of drying varish, made 
& Edmonds. Their advertisement is before the by boiling ii nse ed oil with white lead and lith- 
people, and an agent belongs to our city, lhis aV g e , in the proportion of one pound of each of 
lightning rod is attainable. Its claims are the ^ be latter to one gallon of the former, and add¬ 
following. j Dg a portion of chalk or ochre—each coating 
Copper is a far better conductor than iron be j n g thoroughly dried before the application of 
and is less oxydizable, and the surface may be tbe next i vory b j ac k i s then substituted for 
much increased writhout a corresponding in- (q ie cba lk or ochre, the varnish slightly thinned 
crease of weight, so that the expense is not spirits of turpentine, and five additional 
great. The parts of the rod are connected in app li cat i 0 ns made in the same manner as he- 
the best manner, so as to equal a continuous f 01 . 6j excep t that it is put on thin and without 
rod. The insulation is the completest known be j n g -worked in. The leather is rubbed down 
thus preventing the electric fluid from leaving -with pummice stone powder, and then varnish- 
the rod for the building. It is stable and firm, ed and p i ace d in a room at 90 degrees, out of 
so that the part which rises above the building tbe way of dust . The last varnish is prepared 
and which some had feared would be unstable, by bo iii n g 1 ^ fo. 0 f asphalt with 10 lbs. of the 
is made strong and safe, not exposed to change dl . ying 0 n used j n the first step of the process, 
from the ordinary action of the elements. l his and tfien stirring in 5 lbs. copal varnish and 10 
conductor has a handsome appearance. The turpentine. It must have a month’s age be- 
decorations towards the summit are various and f ore ^ b j. f or use _ 
fine, suited to different tastes. -- 
When compared with the co ..mon iron light- Telegraphing on the Continent. —The In¬ 
ning rod it is cheap because of its great con- ternational Electric Telegraph Company flashed 
ducting pow r er and durability. Indeed, I am 26,430 messages in the last six months of 1855, 
now thinking of exchanging my iron rod for a nd paid a dividend of 7 per cent. This looks 
this copper conductor. like business. The Queen’s speech, 701 words, 
Those who expect the desired protection to was sent to Amsterdam by Varley’s apparatus 
their buildings, attainable by the lightning rod, a nd printed in twenty minutes and a half, the 
should see that it passes upwards to the ade- total length of wire and submarine cable being 
quate height above any prominent objects on 107 leagues. The clerk_ was a girl of eighteen, 
their houses, and that it is earned into the earth and she transmitted nearly thirty-five words a 
following. 
Copper is a far better conductor than iron 
so as to reach permanent moisture. 
minute, the quickest dispatch yet recorded of 
To know the laws by which matter is gov- the instrument. Two words had to be corrected 
erned on our earth, is wisdom. The great and by interchange of signals, and all within the 
perfect Creator has framed those laws for intel- time stated. 
ligent minds to apprehend and to act. in consis- Bonelli’s method of signalising from one train, 
tency with them, that we may avail ourselves or between two trains while in motion, has been 
of the benefits of his infinite bounty. 
tried successfully on the Paris and St. Cloud 
railway. Parties in the respective trains talked 
by telegraph with each other while speeding 
Platinizing Glass, Porcelain and Pottery. — by telegraph with each other while speeding 
The following method is given by a German along or with the office. 
artist:—A solution of platinum in aqua-regia is ----- 
evaporated to dryness, at a gentle heat, so that Naphthalizing Gas. —Among the many pa- 
the residue appears reddish-yellow, and not tents for naphthalizing gas, is that in which the 
brown, and is immediately dissolved in an equal heat of the burning jet is communicated by 
weight of strong alcohol. Eight parts of the metal to a vessel containing a hydrocarbon.— 
solution are poured into five parts oil of laven- The gas, in passing through the vessel, takes 
der, forming a clear brown liquid, containing -with it a portion of the hydrocarbon, passes into 
platinum as protochloride. This solution is a sphere over the jet, where it is heated, and 
brushed upon the aiticie to be platinized, and then passes out at the jet. It is supposed to 
after drying burned in under a muffle. Glass yield a whiter light. 
and pottery are heated to a low rednesss ; por- -#■- 
celain to a bright red heat. After cooling, the Five mechanical powers are recognized in 
j articles are rubbed with cotton and prepared treaties on Natural Philosophy, but three of 
' chalk.— Selected. them involve the same principle. 
JVU'WV 
