SEPT. 13. MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
anti (State. 
HINTS FOR THE SEASON. 
Wi have struggled through an unusually dry 
summer, which succeeded one of the most se¬ 
vere winters we have experienced for many 
years. To Meteorologists, and those who gen¬ 
erally pride themselves in the faculty of antici¬ 
pation, this was of course a source of no sur¬ 
prise. The horticulturist, however, frequently 
marvelled that no rain was sent to save his lan¬ 
guishing trees and crops. Yet all is not 
lost. Many late planted fruit and ornamental 
trees have failed to withstand the demand upon 
their stored up matter and have perished, to be 
replaced, it is hoped, with others by their per¬ 
severing planters. 
Those who intend to plant extensively next 
month should not wait till the last moment; 
the eleventh hour is almost at hand, while the 
ground is still unprepared. Many suppose that 
all that is necessary is to dig a hole and plant 
the tree, regardless of the condition of the sur¬ 
rounding soil; but those who desire to avoid 
disappointment, should prepare the ground to 
be planted, by deep plowing and thorough cul¬ 
tivation,—draining it if not already drained.— 
Plantations of strawberries may now be made 
if the runners are sufficiently strong and fur¬ 
nished with good roots. The ground should 
be well prepared, free from weeds, and thor¬ 
oughly pulverized. A slight covering of leaves 
and litter will be useful for plants not very 
strong or well established ; some persons use a 
covering of tan bark, but we would avoid it. 
Constant attention is required in the Pruit 
Garden at this season. Such varieties of pears 
as ripen early in this month, should be picked 
about a week before their time of ripening.— 
Much injury has been done by the grub, to 
both pears and apples. Many of the best spe¬ 
cimens have fallen off from this cause. Until 
the refreshing rain which we have just had, 
came to their relief, the trees were in a lan¬ 
guishing state, and many sound fruits dropped 
Compared with last year the crop of pears and 
apples is light, though many very fair speci¬ 
mens may be obtained of both. 
Those who have young orchards just com¬ 
mencing to bear, should give strict attention to 
the proper pruning of the trees, and the due 
thinning of the fruit; were these essential op¬ 
erations judiciously performed, we should not' 
one year have a feast and the next a famine.— 
It is not natural for either an apple or a pear 
tree to produce its crop only once in two years, 
though this would appear to have become a con¬ 
stitutional defect, especially with the apple. 
The cultivation of good varieties of fruits for 
market is not encouraged as it should be. It 
has been repeatedly declared that small and in¬ 
different varieties of strawberries will sell as 
well, generally, as the new and choice sorts 
which have not yet been extensively cultiva¬ 
ted. If this is true and continues to be the case, 
it need not be a matter of surprise to an East¬ 
ern Editor that The Fruit Growers’ Society still 
recommends the Large Early Scarlet for general 
market cultivation in preference to Hovey’s 
Seedling and other less productive varieties_ 
The fault lies with the public, who are the 
consumers, for continuing unskilled in the 
choice of improved fruits. So it is with Pears. 
The old Summer Belle will bring a higher price 
among fruit peddlers, than the Bloodgood, Os- 
band'a Summer, Tyson, Bucrre Giffard, Doyenne 
d'Ete, and other choice and select early varie¬ 
ties. Any pear, however luscious, that does 
not change its color from green to yellow in 
ripening, is r< jected in favor of the commonest 
sort with a yellow hue, even though premature¬ 
ly imparted by the concealed presence of a 
grub. This of course only applies to those 
“unsifted in such circumstance.” We hope to 
observe a chanee in this important matter be¬ 
fore many years, when an educated and discrim¬ 
inating public will be as select in the choice 
of good fruit, as the amateur is in choosing a se¬ 
lect sample of wine. 
In the nursery the operation of budding is 
nearly completed. A more favorable season 
has seldom been experienced, but as profes¬ 
sional readers require few hints, we shall not 
enter upon the discussion of their peculiar 
branches. 
In the Flower Garden, Phloxes and Dahlias 
are now the prominent objects. Dahlias have 
not made a luxuriant growth this season, but 
will doubtless bloom profusely, they must be 
thinned out considerably, as the plants are 
much branched. Attention to staking and ty¬ 
ing up is requisite. We shall next month note 
a few of the new acquisitions in this class of 
flowers. All, hereabouts, who have over two 
dozen varieties should prepare themselves for 
our County Fair, so that some interest may be 
displayed in the beautiful branch of Floricul¬ 
ture so desirable among all improving farmers 
for the sake of their families. And to our read¬ 
ers in all other parts of the country we would 
say prepare for the Fair nearest to you. Bring 
Turnips, Beets, Carrots, Corn, or whatever pro¬ 
duce you may have worthy attention, so that 
the right spirit of emulation and progress may 
be encouraged. 
Those who have the luxury of a green house, 
or even a few frames for the increase of tender 
flowering plants, should now attend to the prop¬ 
agation, by cuttiugs, of Roses, Geraniums, 
Verbenas, Petunias, and all such bedding out 
plants as they will require next season. In 
another month, by the unerring course of the 
seasons, these tender gems will no longer be 
able to withstand the chilling influence of the 
October blasts, so that all such as may be des¬ 
tined for housing must have timely attention. 
At no season is there more necessity for in¬ 
dustry in the garden and pleasure ground. We 
may continue the beauty of the garden for sev¬ 
eral weeks longer by attention in the prompt 
destruction of weeds,and removal of litter from 
the walks and flower beds. 
Always note what objects are most striking 
as the season progresses, so that another year 
you may make a judicious selection from your 
own observations. Make ready to report your¬ 
self at such Agricultural and Horticultural 
meetings as are within your reach, and let 
those who live wi.hin a reasonable distance of 
the “ Flour City” remember that on the 24th 
of the present month four Societies devoted to 
Rural Improvement meet iu Rochester—to wit., 
the American Pomological Society, the Horti¬ 
cultural Society of the Genesee Valley, the 
Western New York Fruit Growers’ Society 
and the Monroe County Agricultural Society. 
s. 
AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
[As the time of holding the next Session of 
this Society is rapidly approaching, we repeat 
the official announcement, as follows :] 
In conformity with a resolution passed at the last meet¬ 
ing of this National Association, the Sixth Session will be 
held in Corinthian Hall, in the city of Rochester, N. Y., 
commencing on Wednesday, the twenty-fourth day ofSep- 
tember, 18:6, at 10 o’clock, A. M., and will continue for 
several days. 
Among the objects of this meeting are the following 
To bring together the most distinguished Pomologists of 
our land, and, by free interchange of experience, to collect 
and diffuse such researches and discoveries as have been 
recently made in the science of Pomology—to hear the 
Reports of the various State Committees and other district 
associations—to revise and enlarge the Society’s catalogue 
of Fruits—to assist in determining the synonyms by 
which the same frnit is known in America or Europe—to 
ascertain the relative value of varieties in different parts 
of our country—what are suitable for particular localities 
-what new sorts give promise of being worthy of dissem¬ 
ination-and, especially, what are adapted to general cul¬ 
tivation. 
The remarkable and gratifying progress which has been 
attained, of late years, in this branch of rural industry, is, 
in no small degree, attributable to the establishment ard 
salutary influences of Horticultural and Pomological So¬ 
cieties. It is, therefore, desirable that every State and 
Territory of the Union should be represented in this Con¬ 
vention, so that the advantages resulting from this meet¬ 
ing may be generally and widely diffused. Held, as it will 
be, at a convenient point between the Eastern States and 
the Western, easily accessible from the South, and also 
from the Canadas, it is anticipated that the attendance 
will be larger than on any former occasion, and the bene¬ 
ficial results to the American farmer and gardener propor- 
tiooably increased. 
All Pomological, Horticultural, Agricultural, and other 
kindred associations of the United States, and of the Brit¬ 
ish Provinces, are requested to send such number of de’e- 
gates as they may deem expedient; and nurserymen, and 
all other persons interested in the cultivation of fruit, are 
invited to be present, and to participate in the delibera¬ 
tions of the Convention. 
In order to increase as much as possible the utility of 
the occasion, and to facilitate business, members and del¬ 
egates are requested to forward specimens of fruits grown 
in their respective districts, and esteemed worthy of no¬ 
tice ; also, papers descriptive of their mode of cultivation 
—of diseases and insects injurious to vegetation—of rem¬ 
edies for the same, and also to communicate whatever 
may aid in promoting the objects of the meeting. Each 
contributor is requested to make out a complete list of his 
specimens, and present the same with his fruits, that a 
report of all the varieties entered may be submitted to the 
meeting as soon as practicable after its organization. 
Packages of fruits and communications may be address¬ 
ed as follows : “For the American Pomological So- 
CiKTY, care of VV. A- Reynolds. Esq , Chairman Com. of 
Arrangements, Rochester, N. Y.” 
Delegations will please forward certificates of their 
appointment, either to the above, or to the undersigned at 
Boston. 
Gentlemen desirous of becoming members of the Socie¬ 
ty, and of receiving its Transactions, may do so bv remit¬ 
ting to the Treasurer, Thomas P. James, Esq., Philadel¬ 
phia, Penn., the admission fee of two dollars, for biennial , 
or twenty dollars for life membership. 
Marshall P. Wilder, President. 
H. W. S. Cleveland, Secretary. 
SPROUTS ABOUT FRUIT TREES. 
It is recommended in a late number of the 
Rural to remove “ Sprouts about Fruit Trees” 
by cutting them " close to the surface.” To 
this practice there are in my mind, two objec¬ 
tions : 
1st. If this should ultimately result in get¬ 
ting rid of the sprouts, it would have a “host” 
of dead stumps attached to the body, or loot, 
of the parent tree, which, in my opinion would 
sooner or later tend to its injury if not to its 
early decay. 
But, 2d. This practice would soon destroy 
them. The stumps would remain and be for¬ 
ever sending forth new sprouts. I would say, 
let the sprouts remain till sometime in June or 
July, (earlier or later,) then dig away the soil 
from the root of the tree and cut off the sprouts 
close to the body, or root, (to whichever they 
are attached.) as a scientific primer would cut 
off a branch, and then replace the soil, if the 
work be done as it ought to be, no more sprouts 
will be seen that year, and generally, very few 
the next. Treat those that come afterwards in 
the same manner, aud you will soon be rid of 
them, and your trees will thrive under the 
treatment. j. l. h. 
To “Head” Vine Bugs. — A “Subscriber” 
asks what will protect his cucumber and squash 
vines from the bugs. If he will take some 
Scotch snuff and sprinkle on his vines in the 
morning when the dew is on, so that the snuff 
will adhere to the vines, the bugs will leave, 
whether it is the small striped bug or the 
larger gray bug. The last I have found to be 
the worst enemy to tine winter squashes that 
we have in this country, but the snuff saves 
them.—D., Hebron, Ind. 
Pepper Grass vs. Melon Bugs.— Noticing an 
inquiry as to the effect of the pepper grass 
plaut on melon bugs, I would say that in my 
case it prevented the ravages of the bug entire¬ 
ly. The bugs did not even visit my plants 
wheu protected by the pepper grass.—A. R. 
Bray, Genesee, Mich. 
WATER-MELCN3-WHEN riper 
Tite best test that I have found, and one 
which has seldom deceived me, is, to press 
them with the thumb. If the melon is small 
one thumb is sufficient; if larger, use both.— 
Place the thumbs together, press upon the mel¬ 
on while lying on the ground ; and if it cracks 
internally, there is little doubt of its being ripe. 
If it indents considerably without cracking, or 
cracks but feebly, it is pretty certain that it is 
green, or but pariially ripe. The only objection 
to this method is, that if kept long after the op¬ 
eration, it will commence decaying at the point 
where the pressure was made.—J. L. H., “Out 
West," {III.) 1856. 
I. Jenkins asks for a certain sign or mark to 
distinguish between a ripe and green water¬ 
melon. Among the “ Michiganders,” who raise 
them in great abundance, is this sure sign :— 
When pressed heavily with the thumb, if you 
hear a sort of cracking noise from within the 
rind, you may slice and eat immediately. The 
noise will be heard more plainly if the melon 
is cool.—N. J. S., Tekonsha, Mich. 
FRUIT IN CALIFORNIA. 
We think it will be admitted that California 
is destined to become the finest fruit-growing 
country in the world. The fruits that are now 
offered in our markets are superior to anything 
that can be found in any market in the United 
States or Europe. This is no exaggerated ac¬ 
count. It was only the first day of July, and 
yet as we went through the markets of San 
Francisco, we were astonished at what we saw. 
Fine, high-flavored apples, (f the last year's 
growth, and also of the present year; grapes, 
peaches, apricots, (superb.) strawberries, cur¬ 
rants, gooseberries, pears, figs, etc. We exam- 
arained the several kinds, and found them rich 
in flavor and very beautiful; in the collection 
were strawberries and cherries the largest we 
ever saw. The fruit we saw in the glass case 
of Mrs. Weaver, 47 Washington Market, deserves 
particular notice. The strawberries were ot 
the varieties known as the “Boston Pine,” and 
“ Longworth’s Prolific;” the cherries were the 
“ Napoleon Bigarreau”—all very superior. 
Fruit always finds quick sales, and at high 
prices. Strawberries, per box, $2, down to $1 ; 
cherries, only $1 per pound ; currants,50 cents ; 
other fruit in proportion to the quality. 
We have examined the orchard of the Messrs. 
Smith, on the American river, and we think 
they will have from three to four thousand 
bushels of delicious peaches. If they onl\ 
taste as those we ate last Saturday, when there, 
we say to all, prepare to enjoy luxuries this 
season. 
Aside from all these fine evidences of success, 
let us now urge a more scientific culture — and 
we shall soon see Fruit Gardens springing up 
all over the State.— California Farmer, July 17. 
italic f rmtumy. 
TOMATO PICKLES.-WORTH KNOWING. 
Friend Moore :—Below I send you a recipe 
for pickling tomatoes, which every body ought 
to be in possession of, and as almost that number 
read the Rural, you will confer a favor on your 
readers by publishing it. If you have never 
tried anything of the kind, try it yourself, and 
so add one more to the list of your luxuries. 
Take green tomatoes, (they are best when 
nearly full grown ;) slice them and scald them 
in salt aud water, with the addition of a little 
alum, until they begin to be tender. Skim 
them out and put them in a stone jar, or other 
receptacle. Take enough good vinegar to cover 
them, and to every quart add one pound of 
sugar and spices to suit the taste. Scald them 
together and pour over the tomatoes while hot. 
Try them—you will find them delicious-- the 
very best kind of pickles. r. b. w. 
Recipe ior Making Cement to Repair Bro¬ 
ken China. —From an English almanac we a 
long time since cut a recipe fo mending China- 
ware, and the opportunity having occurred for 
testing its viitues, we found it admirable, the 
fracture being scarcely visible after the article 
had been repaired. It is thus made Take a 
very thick solution of gum arabic dissolved in 
water, and stir into it plaster of Paris until the 
mixture becomes a viscous paste. Apply it 
with a brush to the fractured edges, and stick 
them together. In three days the article cau- 
not be broken in the same piace. The white¬ 
ness of the cement renders it doubly valuable. 
— Selected. 
Elder Wine. —Two quarts of wa f er, one 
quart of elderberry juice, three and a half 
pounds of brown sugar. Let it stand iu a warm 
place a week or more, until it ferments, then 
eemove it to the cellar, and in a month strain 
it; rinse the jug or cask and pour it back. Ii 
will be fit for use in two or three months, but 
improves by age.—Ohio Cultivat.or. 
To Pickle Ripe Cucumbers. —Take them 
when they have just turned yellow, pare,slice 
aud take out the seeds. Scald them overnight 
in brine, then lay them in your jar, aud to a 
gallon of vinegar, add three-fourths of a pound 
of brown sugar, and spice to your taste; pour 
it on boiling hot, aud re-scald occasionally’. 
Valuable Recipe.—’ The Journal de St. Quin- 
tin publishes a recipe for curing cattle of the 
fermentation produced in their stomachs from 
eating clover aud other green food. The remedy 
is a spoonful of ammouia, dissolved in a glass 
of water aud administered to the animal. The 
cure, it states, takes place within an hour. 
Jptjranic guts, 
MANUFACTURE OF FIRE ARMS. 
We subjoin the following extracts from the 
Journal of Commerce, which gives a long and 
interesting account of the manufacture of des¬ 
tructive weapons in the Eastern States : 
Tiie National Armory at Springfield.— 
This establishment is entitled to the prece¬ 
dence, on account of the more general interest 
which attaches to its operations, as one of the 
chief sources of supply for national defence.— 
The present armory shops employ about 300 
workmen, and have a forty horse engine. The 
machinery is all of the most perfect desciip- 
tion, and executes its work with wonderful ce¬ 
lerity and precision. - Probably is no depart¬ 
ment of the mechanic arts has the inventive 
power of the human mind been exerted with 
more remarkable results. This is evident to 
the visual sense, and is rendered equally pal¬ 
pable by the single fact that with the facilities 
already mentioned, one complete musket can 
he turned out every eight minutes of the work¬ 
ing day, from the raw materials. 
To produce the musket entire, two hundred 
and ninety-four machines and nearly five hun¬ 
dred distinct processes are involved I The bar¬ 
rel is made from iron costing $200 per ton, 
mostly procured from Norway, though a very 
excellent quality is received from Salisbury, 
Ct. The iron is cut up from bars into pieces 
of ten pounds weight, and fourteen inches iD 
length. After being drawn out to forty inches 
under a high heat, the bar is curved and welded 
on steel rods. The barrel is then bored out, 
and reduced in weight from ten pounds to four 
and a half, after which it is polished with eme¬ 
ry on revolving wheels. 
The total valuation of the property of the 
general government connected with this armo¬ 
ry, is as follows : Buildings, $352,618 ; Machi¬ 
nery now in operation, $143,133; Tools, $40,- 
942 ; Mechanical and shop fixtures, $33,400. 
Total, $570,093. 
Sharpe’s Rifles—Machinery for Europe._ 
Another very large establishment for the man¬ 
ufacture of fire arms, is at Hartford. This ter¬ 
ribly destructive weapon made by this concern 
has but recently come into public notice, and 
large numbers have been made on European 
account. The Company at the present time 
have contracts with the English Government 
for 7,000 Sharpe’s Rifles and 25,000 “ Minie” 
rifles, and there is a prospect of receiving aD 
order for 50,000 more, when this is completed. 
The same establishment have made at Windsor, 
and sent to England within a very few months, 
about $50,000 worth of machinery, besides a 
large quantity of tools made at Hartford. Pre¬ 
viously the English made all their arms by 
hand. They have now here four inspectors to 
examine their arms as fast as made, and for¬ 
ward them to their destination, a number be¬ 
ing sent by every steamer—also a professional 
“ shooting master,” who fires each gun ten times 
at a target—loading and firing without difficul- 
iy fifteen times per minute. The firing is done 
at 300 yards, bull’s eye ten inches in diameter 
—striking on an average twelve times out ol 
twenty shots. Those W’hich do not hit the bull’s 
eye, strike very near. Altogether, about 600 
men are employed. Sharpe’s rifles, as well as 
the Minie barrel, are all made in the place 
last mentioned, and about 300 are turned out 
every week ; but the Minie lock, stock and ma¬ 
chinery are made at Windsor. Of this variety 
of arms the number manufactured per week is 
about 500. The amount of capital invested at 
both places is estimated at $600,000. About 
25,000 of Sharpe’s rifles have been made in all, 
and a contract of several hundred for the U. S. 
government has been filled, and the arm put 
to a practical test in actual service. In the 
manufacture of the Sharpe and Minie arm, there 
is a substantial difference ; the first being made 
solid, of cast steel, and afterwards bored, while 
the latter is welded. The Hartford establish¬ 
ment runs two steam engines, one of 75 aud the 
other of 40 horse power; has 12 trip-hammers 
for welding barrels, &c. That at Windsor is 
also extensive; the- building is of brick, four 
stories in height, and 200 feet in length. 
Molten Shot. —The process of shooting mol¬ 
ten iron consists of a hollow shot of any given 
calibre, with a round hole or fuse on its side ; 
on the sides of this fuse are two parallel raised 
lines, grooved on the inner side of them, into 
which to slide a piece of wrought iron to clean 
the fuse when the shell is fitted. The inside 
of the shell must be coated with some sub¬ 
stance to prevent the molten iron from coming 
into contact with the iron of the shell. The 
shell can be fitted to any sized gun. When 
filled with molten iron it has the weight and 
form of a cold ball; when it strikes a solid body 
it will burst, and the molten iron is a thousand 
times more destructive than a hot shot. — Boston 
Post. 
Paper making in the United States has be¬ 
come one of our greatest productive interests, in 
consequence of the unrestrained liberty of the 
press, the prevalence of common school educa¬ 
tion and the appetite for literature of all de¬ 
scriptions. There are in the Republic, it is 
said, seven hundred and fifty paper mills in ac¬ 
tual operation, having three thousand engines, 
and producing in the year two hundred and 
fifty million pounds of paper. 
Scientific Reward. —The Belgian Govern¬ 
ment has offend a reward of 10,000 francs for 
the discovery of a non-alimentary substance 
which may be substituted for starch. 
ANECDOTE OF FULTON. 
A gentleman who was acquainted with Ful¬ 
ton, recently told us the following anecdote, 
which was related to him by Fulton himself: 
When Fultoh was in England, he had a 
scheme for applying steam machinery to the 
purposes of naval warfare ; and obtained an 
audience with Wm. Pitt, then Prime Minister, 
to communicate it to him, and to any man of 
science, whom he might choose, in confidence. 
Soon after his arrival, Pitt with his lriend en¬ 
tered the room, and received Fulton politely. 
They seated themselves at the table, and Ful¬ 
ton was invited to explain his plans. When he 
had got into the application ot steam as a pro¬ 
pelling agent, Pitt whispered with his friend 
for a moment. 1 hey both immediately rose and 
walked away without a word to the visionary 
inventor. The servant soon made his appear¬ 
ance, waiting for something; perhaps lor Ful¬ 
ton’s commands—perhaps lor him to go. 
He went: and it is well known that he went 
to France, and offered his invention to the Gov¬ 
ernment of that country. He proposed a plan 
of transporting the French army across the 
Channel by steam vessels. Bonaparte, who 
was at that time Consul, referred the proposition 
to engineers, who reported against it. 
Years after, it was recalled to the recollection 
of Bonaparte. When he was on board the 
Northumberland, on his way to St. Helena, he 
saw a smoky vessel, going at a good speed for 
that time, when there was very little wind._ 
He asked the cause of her speed, and was told 
that she was propelled by steam. He said 
nothing further ; but we may imagine that he 
felt like^a railway director, when the stock of 
his concern has just been sold for one mill per 
share, and he sees an invention in use which he 
had long before turned his back upon, and 
which mi^ht have saved him.— Inventor. 
IKON KAILROAD CARS. 
The Newark (N. J.) Advertiser of Saturday 
says that since the recent slaughter on the 
1 ennsyl\ania Railroad, by which so many per¬ 
sons lost their lives by the burning of the 
wooden cars, a Dr. La Mothe has secured a 
patent for an iron car which he is building at 
Patterson, N. J. It will be of the ordinary 
shape and dimensions, being designed to seat 
60 passengers, and resting on two four-wheeled 
trucks. 1 he body of the car will consist of 
strong iron bands, twelve or fifteen inches 
apart, running lengthwise and crosswise, 
and secured by rivets at their intersec¬ 
tions. This will constitute the frame work, 
which will be covered by sheet iron on the 
flooring, and iron panels with glass windows 
on the 6ide. Ventilators will be liberally sup¬ 
plied at the top. there is to be no wood work 
whatever about the cars ; but to counteract the 
radiation of heat, and obviate danger from ac¬ 
cidents, the inside will be lined throughout 
with several layers of thick pasteboard and 
heavy cushions. 
The Negro and the Needle. —It is not gen¬ 
erally known that in the early progress of the 
needle manufacture we are indebted to the ne¬ 
gro. The earliest record of needle making in 
this country is in the year 1545, in the reign of 
Henry VIII., and it is supposed that this useful 
branch of industry was introduced by a Moor 
from Spain. The historian Stowe tells us that 
needles were sold in Cheapside, and other busy 
streets in London in the reign of Queen Mary, 
and were at that time made by a Spanish ne¬ 
gro, who refused to discover the secret of his 
art. Another authority states that the art of 
making steel needles was lost at the negro’s 
death, but was afterwards revived by a German 
in 1566. Probably these facts may account for 
the crest of the needle maker’s coat of arms be¬ 
ing the head of a negro .—History of Needle 
Making. 
Pressure of Steam in Boilers. —A pamphlet 
has been published in England, by Mr. Ander¬ 
son, the well known machinist, on the manage¬ 
ment of steam boilers, in which he says that 
the pressure within a boiler is greater than is 
generally supposed. The joints are weaker 
than the solid parts; good solid plale will 
withstand from 56,000 pounds to 60,000 pounds 
per square inch of sectional area; the joints 
will give way at about 34,000 pounds, which 
shows the importance of seeing that the rivets 
and other fastenings are always in sound condi¬ 
tion. Mr. Anderson divides explosions in four 
classes, vD., from want of strength, deficiency 
of water, heating of plates, and the variety of 
other circumstances.— Exchange. 
An Excellent Cement. —Five years ago, we 
applied a cement composed of white lead paint, 
whiting, and dry white sand, to a small tin roof 
that leaked like a sieve ; it soon became nearly 
as hard as stone, has never scaled off, aud has 
kept the roof, since then, perfectly tight. It 
was put on about the consistency of thin putty. 
Slaters’ cement for stopping leaks around chim¬ 
neys, is composed of linseed oil, whiting, ground 
glass, and some brick dust. It is a good ce¬ 
ment lor this purpose; also for closing the joints 
of stone steps to houses.— Scientific American. 
A manufactory for sugar refining has been 
established in San Francisco upon a large scale. 
The capacity of the works is said to be equal 
to the refining of 300 to 400 tons of sugar, and 
20,000 gallons syrup per month. Supplies of 
raw sugars are to be imported from Manilla and 
Batavia, and the compauy are confident of their 
ability to furnish refined sugars aud syrups 
cheaper than they can be imported from the 
Atlantic States, which of course remains to be 
proven by practical demonstration. 
