MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
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REPORT ON FRUITS. 
Report of the Fruit Committee of the Horticul* 
tural Society of the Valley of the Genesee, for 
the year 1851. Read at the annual meeting cf 
the Society, held at Rochester, Feb. 7, 1852: 
The Spring and early part, indeed the 
greater part, of the Summer, were exceed¬ 
ingly wet and cold; consequently, the fruit 
crop was, in many respects, inferior. Ap¬ 
ples were especially affected, being very 
generally imperfect and covered with patch¬ 
es of a fungus that has rarely beforo appear¬ 
ed on the fruits of this region. 
The'small fruits generally wero good.— 
Cherries wore abundant, but owing to the 
wetness of the weather at the time of ripen¬ 
ing, rotted badly on the trees, rears and 
Plums were nearly or quite as abundant and 
fine as usual. The Peach crop in certain 
localities was a full average, whilst in others 
it was almost a total failure, but on the 
whole the markets were pretty well supplied. 
Notwithstanding the drawbacks of the sea¬ 
son, however, our exhibitions in many re¬ 
spects. wero better than those of any previ¬ 
ous year, and this affords a very satisfactory 
proof of the increased attention which is 
given to fruit culture in this region. The 
number and excellence of the varieties of 
Strawberries, Peaches, Plinns. Pears, and 
Apples , that have been spread upon the ta¬ 
bles at our exhibitions, could scarcely be 
surpassed in any section of the U. States. 
The Committee would direct particular at¬ 
tention to this fact, for it shows to the cul¬ 
tivators and land owners of Western New 
York, how they may and ought to become 
leaders in this most interesting branch of ru¬ 
ral industry. 
The first exhibition of the season was held 
on the 19th of June, and the principal fruits 
shown were Strawberries. The culturo of 
this fruit, has for a few years past attracted 
much attention, and it has become an im¬ 
portant inquiry, what varieties are the best 
for general and profitable cultivation ?— 
The Committee now believe they aro justi¬ 
fied in stating that, from the experience of 
cultivators and the results of comparisons at 
our shows, Burr’s JYew Pine, Hoveys Seed¬ 
ing, Boston Pine, Hudson or Rival Hudson, 
Crimson Cone, and Large Early Scarlet, 
are, on the whole, tho best that can bo re¬ 
commended. There aro other good varie¬ 
ties, admired for particular qualities, but, in 
general, and for this region, inferior to the 
above. Some new seedlings have been pre¬ 
sented, for two seasons past, 1 )vEllwanger 
& Barry, one or two of which, and especi¬ 
ally tho Genesee, is eminently worthy of 
trial. 
Among Currants, two varieties, yet rare 
in this region, have appeared and attracted 
much attention. The Cherry, remarkable 
for its size, being the largest of all known 
varieties of the red currant. The Victoria, 
remarkable for its long branches and late¬ 
ness of ripening, extending the currant sea¬ 
son nearly a month. It is also of largo size 
and a beautiful pale red color. These are 
likely to be great acquisitions to this valu¬ 
able class of fruits. 
Of Raspberries, the JYew Large Fruited 
Monthly . yet little known hero, has produc¬ 
ed a fine crop in September and October; 
the fruit resembles, and is nearly as large, 
as the Red Antwerp. There are some par¬ 
ticular points about the culture of this fruit 
that requires attention, such as the careful 
removal of suckers, which spring up in great 
numbers, and protection in winter. Under 
proper treatment this, the committee think, 
will be a valuable variety. 
Of Cherries, a large number of new vari¬ 
eties have been fruited, many of which aro 
not, in the opinion of the committee, worthy 
of notice. At tho June exhibition Mr. Zera 
Burr, of Perinton, whose Burr’s Seedling 
is a well known admired variety, presented 
a new early seedling, ripening about tho 
same time as Bauman s May. It may prove 
worthy of cultivation, and is worthy of trial. 
At present, the experience of our cultivators 
is, that the Early Purple Guigne, is the best 
early variety for this region. The Belle 
d' Orleans, a new foreign variety, has borne 
and proves to be a beautiful pale cherry, but 
not high flavored, nor so early as it was ex¬ 
pected to be, and therefore of less value. 
The Reine I lor tense proves to be a beau¬ 
tiful and excellent variety, one of the best 
received of lato years from abroad. It is of 
the Duke class, hardy and makes a beauti¬ 
ful garden troo. The Monstreuse De Mezcl, 
first described as a monster in sizo, has borne 
the second time hero, and proves to bo a 
large cherry, about tho size of a JYapoleon 
Bigarreau, of a dark mahogany color, very 
firm. 
Among new native sorts, the committee 
have seen none worthy yet of particular 
note, except Elliots JYo. 10, now called Gov. 
}Vood, after the present Governor of Ohio. 
This variety was originated by Prof. Ivirt- 
land, of Cleveland, a distinguished horticul¬ 
turist, who has given special attention to the 
cherry, and has originated a largo number 
of varieties; this one is the best of them tho 
committee have seen, large, pale red, of de¬ 
licious flavor and very early; fully entitled 
to rank with the best varieties now in culti¬ 
vation. The Rockport Bigarreau, from 
the same source, is simply a good cherry, but 
not equal to some of the old sorts. The 
Doctor, good, and valuable for its earliness. 
Among Peaches, few novelties have ap¬ 
peared worthy of special remark. The 
Crawford's Early continues to be the uni¬ 
versal favorite, notwithstanding its being 
ranked by pomologists as second rate in 
quality. Its hardiness, productiveness, large 
size and showy appearance, make it the most 
highly prized by orchardists, and most sale¬ 
able in market. This has led to an error 
that began to bo felt tho past season; viz., 
that of planting too largely of one variety 
or varieties of tho same season, by which the 
markets are at one time flooded and at oth¬ 
ers quite destitute. The committee think 
it not improper to call the attention of those 
engaged or engaging in fruit culture, to this 
consideration. 
Crawford's Late Melocoton has borne in 
several orchards, and promises, in favorable 
autumns, to be an important late variety.— 
The Druid Hill, originated near Baltimore, 
has proved a fine, white fleshed peach, and 
merits extensive trial. Mr. James Lyon, of 
Irondequoit, presented a new variety at tho 
autumn exhibition, on the 17th of (Septem¬ 
ber last, that is well worthy of trial. The 
Peclie de Vigne, or Vineyard Peach of 
France, fruited for the first time the past 
season, and proves to bo much superior in 
quality to what it was supposed to be; juicy, 
vinous, and high flavored—ripens late. Its 
great merit, however, is its hardiness: it 
seems to bo totally exempt from that disease 
becoming prevalent and almost alarming, 
called the curl; during three seasons, since 
it was imported, and the worst seasons for tho 
“curl” we have ever had, not a single leaf 
has been affected. 
Of Plums the committee consider as 
worthy of special note the Jefferson, a nativo 
variety, comparatively new in this region. 
It has fruited in several gardens, and has 
been shown at tho exhibitions in several col¬ 
lections, and, in all cases, sustaining, fully, 
its high character, as one of tho most beau¬ 
tiful and excellent varieties. Tho Lawrence, 
another new native sort, proves also to be of 
tho first quality. Tho Reine Claude de 
Bavay, a new Belgian variety, has now fruit¬ 
ed for two seasons, and comes fully up to 
expectations. It is a most abundant bearer, 
of large size, excellent flavor, ripens late, 
hanging on the tree almost until frost comes, 
and improving by shrivelling, either on tho 
tree or in tho fruit-room. 
Many other now varieties have been fruit¬ 
ed, but the committee do not yet feel suffi¬ 
ciently satisfied with their merits to speak 
of them here. — 
The Pear at the present time is ono of 
the most interesting fruits we cultivate.— 
The soil and climate of Western New York 
are admirably adapted to the production of 
the fruit in its greatest excellence. In all 
tho markets of this country, and indeed of 
Europe, it commands a high price. It is 
also pre-eminently a garden fruit; hence, both 
among orchardists and amateur cultivators, 
it is approaching tho Apple in importance. 
There aro certain varieties, for instance 
the Madclaine, Bartlett, Osband’s Summer 
or Summer Virgalieu, tho Seckel, tho 
Swan’s Orange, Stevens’ Genesee, the Vir¬ 
galieu or IVhite Doyenne, and Gray Doyenne, 
that abundant experience has proved to be 
of the first quality, and in all respects adapt¬ 
ed to this region. Of these nothing need 
bo said. 
Within a few years a large number of new 
varieties, or those littlo known here, have 
been introduced and the Committeo deem 
this a proper occasion to allude to tho re¬ 
sults of experience so far, as a guide to those 
who are seeking reliable information. — 
Among Summer varieties, the Bloodgood 
and Dearborn s Seedling, American sorts, 
which ripen in August, prove to bo excel¬ 
lent. Tho former not always, but the lat¬ 
ter, invariably so. They are small pears 
and not likely to bo grown much for mar¬ 
ket, but they will be indispensable in small 
garden collections. It must be admitted, 
however, that neither of them, for this sec¬ 
tion equals, in either size or beauty, or aro 
superior, generally, in flavor, to the Osband’s 
Summer, which ripens in the samo month. 
It is proper to add, however, that some of 
the Committeo, wish to qualify the last ro- 
mark by saying that they have occasionally 
found tho Osband’s Summer of inferior qual¬ 
ity ; but tho best fruits will occasionally, and 
under certain circumstances, be defective. 
The Doyenne D’Ete (Summer Doyenne,) 
a now French variety, proves to bo a most 
beautiful pear, resembling somewhat the 
Osband s,—a great bearer, a good grower 
and a delicious fruit, ripening in August.— 
This promises to become one of tho most ad¬ 
mired summer varieties. The Beurre Gif- 
fart, also a new foreign variety, comes fully 
up to its reputation. It is quite as large as 
any of the preceding, fair, finely colored and 
of good flavor, ripening from the 1st to the 
middle of August. The Summer Francreal 
has been rather extensively proved. It is 
remarkably hardy and prolific, not showy in 
appearance, but when gathered early it is a 
juicy, melting, fine fruit. On the grounds 
of some members of the committee this va¬ 
riety has not failed, in many years, to pro¬ 
duce a good crop, and has in the worst times 
never been affected with the blight: ripens 
latter end of August and beginning of Sep¬ 
tember. The Tyson, an American variety, 
ripens at same time, and proves also first 
rate : the tree is vigorous and hardy. 
Autumn pears, ripening through Septem¬ 
ber, October and November. Among the 
varieties of this season, not yet extensively 
grown, tho Louise Bonne de Jersey is enti¬ 
tled to particular attention. It is of large 
size, almost equalling the Bartlett, beauti¬ 
fully and richly colored, and of delicious 
flavor; the trees bear young and most abund¬ 
antly. It may safely be said that no other 
variety, now cultivated, is more worthy the 
attention of both orchardists and amateur 
cultivators. The Die. an American variety, 
has fruited and been presented at our exhi¬ 
bitions for two seasons, and comes fully up, 
and in some cases even surpasses, its eastern 
reputation; very large, equalling the Sivan's 
Orange, fair, and of excellent quality—keep¬ 
ing well into November. It is proper to add 
that it does not grow on tho quinco stock, 
and is a tardy bearer on the pear, but by 
grafting in large trees, or by double work¬ 
ing on the quince, it may be, and has been, 
fruited in three years. The Belle Lucrative, 
or Fondante d’ Automne, has been proved, by 
two or three seasons, to be a first rate vari¬ 
ety, large, fair and of the finest flavor.— 
Trees vigorous, early and abundant bearers, 
will prove valuable both for orchard and 
garden; ripe latter end of September and 
October. Tho Committee add, however, that 
it is somewhat variable. The Bezi de Mon- 
tigny, a foreign variety, proves to be an ex¬ 
ceedingly productive and fine variety. It 
resembles the Virgalieu in appearance, 
equally melting and rich, but has a high, 
musky flavor, like the Bartlett; tree a lino 
grower. The Oswego Beurre, a native va¬ 
riety, recently brought to notice, but bear¬ 
ing in several parts of the country, is ascer¬ 
tained to be very hardy and productive, and 
the fruit of the first quality, though not at¬ 
tractive in appearance. The Flemish Beau¬ 
ty has been proved in several collections and 
succeeds well. It is a large, beautiful,good 
fruit, and the tree hardy and vigorous; in 
tho opinion of some of tho Committee as well 
worthy extensive planting as tho White 
Doyenne. The Beurre Diel is a large and 
beautiful pear, first rate on the quince stock, 
but frequently, if not generally, astringent 
and gritty on the pear. Doyenne Boussock, 
a new foreign variety, has, for two seasons, 
proved to be one of tho largest and finest 
pears, and will become, no doubt, a most 
popular variety. It is at least worthy of ex¬ 
tensive trial. Duchess d Orleans has the 
past season come fully up to its high repu¬ 
tation. It is exceedingly productive, very 
beautiful and of excellent quality. The 
Beurre Goubault, St. Andre, Beurre Super¬ 
fine, Beurre de Wdterloo, Beurre de Konig, 
new foreign sorts, have all been particularly 
fino the past season; ranking as first rate.— 
Rapalje’s Seedling, a native variety, has also 
proved very fine. Many others might bo 
named in this connection* 
Winter Pears. —Among tho earlier vari¬ 
eties of this season tin; Committeo are in¬ 
clined to place the Vicar of Winkfield in the 
front rank. Its productiveness, largo size, 
fair appearance and good quality, combine 
in making it a most valuable variety, and 
especially for tho orchard; the tree is a vig- 
i orous and beautiful grower. The Winter 
J\'‘elis is also an early winter sort ot the first 
quality. The tree is a crooked grower, and 
tho better way to propagate it, is to graft on 
large trees. Prince’s St. Germain has borne 
for several seasons, and proves superior to 
the estimate usually placed upon it. The 
tree is very hardy, bears well and regularly, 
and tho fruit is as easily kept and ripened 
as apples; fit for use up to the first of Feb¬ 
ruary. Tho Bewrre Gris d’ Hiver JYouveau 
or JYeiv Winter Gray Beurre, is one of the 
best of all new winter sorts from abroad; for 
two or three seasons it has borne and been 
invariably first rate; melting, rich and deli¬ 
cious, keeping through January. The Beurre 
d’ Arremberg, a very highly rated variety, 
has so far rather disappointed expectation 
hero. The same may be said of tho Glout 
Morceau, and several other sorts of high 
reputation in other parts. It is probable, 
however, that further experience will be 
more successful. Tho Doyenne Goubault, 
a new foreign sort, promises to be an early 
winter variety of the first quality, and de¬ 
serves extensive trial. The Eastern Beurre 
is as yot the finest long keeper, remaining 
sound till March and April. It has succeed¬ 
ed well here on the quince. A large num¬ 
ber of new winter sorts have been fruited 
the past season, but it is necessary to test 
them further beforo venturing an opinion on 
their merits. As large, productive, cooking 
varieties, tho Pound, Cattillac, and Chaptal 
have been successfully tested here and mav 
be planted with confidence. 
In regard to Apples tho Committee do 
not consider it necessary to enter into any 
detail. Among varieties somewhat rare 
hero, however, they would mention the 
Gravenstein, which begins to appear at the 
exhibition. This variety succeeds admirably 
here, and is at the same time one of the very 
largest and most beautiful autumn apples, 
crisp, juicy, fine flavored—every way first 
rate. It can bo recommended for all collec¬ 
tions. The Pomme Royal or Dyer is anoth¬ 
er autumn variety, yot rare here, that has 
proved of the highest quality. Among win¬ 
ter sorts tho Esopus Spitzenburg, Swaar, 
Rhode Island Greening and Seek-no-farther, 
continue to be popular varieties. The Red 
Canada is an excellent variety, and is by 
many considered the best among all our win* 
ter sorts, but many orchardists complain of 
the growth and bearing properties of the 
tree. 
The Melon is becoming well known and 
much admired lor its beauty, tenderness and 
delicacy of flavor. Tho Baldwin is gaining 
ground in the opinion of our cultivators.— 
Its largo size, fairness, fine appearance, com¬ 
bined with great vigor and productiveness, 
make it a profitable variety, and it is plant¬ 
ed largely. The JYorthern Spy. and fiox- 
bur y Russet, are tho two principal long- 
keeping sorts,—tho former prized above all 
othoisfor retaining its freshness and deli¬ 
cate flavor later than any other. 
The Committee would have been able to 
present a much inoro complete and useful 
report, had tho exhibitions been more nu¬ 
merous, affording them more frequent op¬ 
portunities for examining and comparing va¬ 
rieties and communicating with cultivators. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 
P. Barry, ' 1 
J. J. Thomas, | 
Alonzo Frost, ) Committee. 
II. E. Hooker, I 
M. G. Warner, J 
Merlimiir Slrts & Juinirr. 
LIST OF PATENT CLAIMS 
ISSUED FROM THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, 
For the week ending February 17, 1852. 
Francis Armstrong of New Orleans, La., for 
improvement in the construction of grate bam for 
furnaces. 
Abel Barker, of Honesdale, Fa., for improvement 
in pumps. 
Edward Callow, of London England, for im¬ 
provement in explosive compositions for blasting 
rocks. 
Jno. Card, of Gainesville, N. Y., for improve¬ 
ment in fences. 
Egbert P. Carter, of Yorkshire, N. Y., for im¬ 
provement in railroad grales. 
Jno. M. Crawford, of New Castle, Pa., for im¬ 
provements in machinery for making chairs 
Lewis Fagin, of Cincinnati, 0., for improve¬ 
ment in bran dusters. 
Abel Hildreth, of Newark, 0., for improvements 
in bran dusters. 
Lora B. Hoit, of Millbury, Mass., for improve 
ments in stop motions of looms. 
Wm. H. Lindsay, of New York, N. Y., for me¬ 
ter for steam boilers. 
Jas. Millhollaud, of Reading Pa., for improve¬ 
ment. in grain and grass harvesters. 
"W in. R. Palmer, of Elizabeth City, N. C., for 
improvement in feeding apparatus for a grain 
thresher. 
Robert W. Parker, of Roxbury Mass., for im¬ 
provement in banding pullies. 
Peter Robeits, of New York, N. Y., for improve¬ 
ments in capstans. 
Pleasant E. Royce, of New Albany, Ind., for 
improvement in rotary cultivators. 
William and Thomas Schnobly, of'New York, 
N. Y., for improvement in weighing machines. 
J. C. Taylor, of West Liberty, 0., for improve¬ 
ment in spoons for administering medicine. 
designs. * 
James Blackman and Charles Skidmore, of New¬ 
town, Conn., for design for ladies’ hair combs. 
James L. Jackson, of New York, N. Y., for de¬ 
sign lor grate-frame and summer-piece. 
“NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN/’ 
Eds. Rural :—I observe in several papers 
a description of a self-winding chronometer 
clock—invented by E. J. Willis, and sup¬ 
posed to be a new and valuable discovery, 
which I hope is true. I likewise find in the 
report of the Commissioner of Patents for 
1850, at page 444. a petition for a patent, 
which was granted to Benj. Hanks, of Litch¬ 
field, Conn., for a clock that should wind up 
itself—dated at Litchfield, Oct. 6th, 1783, 
which is 69 years ago. 
Now, whether this self-winding clock had 
a chronometer attachment is not stated— 
but barely states that it winds itself up by 
the help of tho air—the weight of which 
seems to be the motive power of the ono 
invented by Mr. Willis. But whether 
they resemble each other, it matters not.— 
Should it continue to go, as it did under tho 
eyes of those professional, scientific gentle¬ 
men who inspected it, we may hope to hear 
a good account of it; and should it prove 
no humbug, I would speak for one of the 
first edition. 
And now, Mr. Editor, will some one of 
your hundred thousand readers inform me 
through the Rural, how to keep sweet po¬ 
tatoes over the winter, north of Mason’s 
and Dixon’s line, so that they shall not rot, 
or dry up ? and oblige many inquirers. 
Simon Pierson. 
I.e Roy, Fel). 25, 1852. 
Coal for Burning Bricks. —Joel W. An¬ 
drews, of Norristown, Pa., has in operation, 
at Bridgeport, a kiln for burning bricks ex¬ 
clusively with anthracite coal. It is said to 
answer the purpose admirably, burning the 
bricks in about half the time required when 
wood is used, and at about half tho cost for 
fuel. It is said that, in burning bricks, ono 
ton of coal will produce as much heat as two 
and a half cords of wood.— Far. tj* Mech. 
Ground charcoal is said to be the best 
thing in the world for cleaning knives. It 
will not wear tho knives away like brick dust, 
which is so often used. 
PRINTING IN CHINA. 
Rev. J. W. Wilet, writing from Fuh- 
Chau, China, to the Christian Advocate and 
Journal, gives an interesting description of 
a new printing establishment belonging to 
Mr. Cole, printer of tho London Missionary 
Society. He says : 
Mr. Cole kindly conducted us through his 
printing establishment several times, and ex¬ 
plained to us at some length tho arrange¬ 
ment ot his types. It was long thought to 
bo an almost impossible work, not only to 
prepare a font of movable metallic types of 
the Chinese characters, but also to use them 
with any advantage, if they might bo pro¬ 
duced. By actually preparing a largo font, 
indeed two large fonts, and practically ap¬ 
plying them to the printing of books', Mr. 
Colo has demonstrated tho fallacy of both 
these opinions. It must indeed have boon 
a long-continued and arduous task to pro¬ 
duce several thousands of metallic represen¬ 
tations of those complicated characters, pre¬ 
paring first his steel punches, and then his 
matrices, and then his types, preserving 
through these several steps of the process 
the multifarious shapes, and varied and mul¬ 
tiplied strokes of tho characters, with uner¬ 
ring accuracy. But by patient industry lie 
has overcome every difficulty, and is now in 
possession, not only of a font of large tyj o, but 
also of a font containing nearly 5,000 char¬ 
acters, of a smaller and neater sizo, called 
the three-line diamond Chinese type. Tho 
relation of tho font of largo typo and that 
of the three-line diamond is such, that when 
used together, ono serves very well for tho 
text, and the other for the notes; and an 
edition of Exodus with comments, as well as 
a commentary upon the New Testament, is 
now being printed at Hong-Kong in this 
style. 
For practical purposes, tho characters in 
these fonts aro distributed in cases under 
tho 214 radicals—according to tho number 
of strokes the character possesses in addi¬ 
tion to those of the radical—eacli character 
having, of course, a distinct qompartment. 
To facilitate composition some of tho char¬ 
acters, in consequenco of their frequent oc¬ 
currence, arc concentrated in cases apart 
from tho rest. To illustrate this arrange¬ 
ment and exhibit the labor of a Chinese 
compositor, we may refer to the distribution 
of tho font of tho three-line Diamond. In 
this font there is about 5,000 different char¬ 
acters, distributed under 214 radicals. Sev¬ 
enty-four of these radicals have less than 
five characters under them; forty-five have 
between five and ten ; thirty-three have be¬ 
tween ten and twenty; thirty-four havo be¬ 
tween twenty and fifty; fourteen have be¬ 
tween fifty and a hundred; seven have be¬ 
tween one and two liuiulreel; and two havo 
over two hundred. So that although this 
font of typo requires for its distribution 4,- 
500 separate compartments, the labor of 
finding characters required in composition 
is not so difficult as we might imagine, to a 
compositor familiar with the distribution of 
characters under their proper radicals; a 
system which is adopted in nearly all Chinese 
dictionaries. 
LIGNEOUS MARBLE. 
An ingenious artisan, named Friend, ofN. 
Y. City, has just invented a now article 
which ho calls “ Ligneous Marblo,” which 
cannot fail to como into general use as soon 
as it is known. It is a composition which is 
laid on wood, and hoars so closo a resem¬ 
blance to real marble that nothing hut its 
weight can betray it. The specimens al ready 
made are variegated tables and mantels of 
tho richest description of jasper, cornelian, 
lapis-lazuli, &c. It is said to be uninjured 
by lemon juice and all the ordinary staining 
matters usual in a house. What adds im¬ 
mensely to its usefulness, is tho fact that 
it may be used as a finish for walls, and is 
susceptible of forming all shades of color. 
We cannot imagine anything more gorgeous 
than walls and columns of this splended 
material. For tables, stands, &e., it is hand¬ 
somer, more durable, lighter, and easier 
managed than marble. 
Middle Rail to Prevent Cars Running 
off the Track. —Judge Carpenter of Romo, 
has invented li means of preventing railroad 
trains from running off tho track. This in¬ 
vention consists of a middlo rail placed in 
the centre of, and raised considerably above 
the two outer rails, and fastened to the saino 
cross-ties. A saddle is attached to the en¬ 
gine and cars at both ends, which sets over 
the middle rail, with friction rollers, to play 
on both sides of it, thereby preventing tho 
cars from rocking or running off. When¬ 
ever there is a tendency to run off. these 
friction rollers play against the middlo rail, 
and bring them back to their place again.— 
It costs >$500 a mile, and an adoption of it, 
could ho made to assist trains in asconding 
elevated planes.— Farmer Mechanic. 
New Substitute for Oil. —The Com¬ 
monwealth states that a now illuminating 
fluid has been developed in N. York, which 
will in a great measure supersede spirit 
lamps, as soon as tho Patent Office can sot- 
tle its doubts. Largo manufactories of 
benzule, a hydro-carbon which has the prop¬ 
erty of producing an excellent illuminating, 
gas by being dissolved in moist air, <ro- 
ing up in New York and Brooklyn ‘The 
substance is manufactured from tar or min¬ 
eral coal, and while it can be. afforded at 
half the price of “burning %id” per gallon, 
it will yield indefinitely rnpr.o illumination. 
The use ot it would require a gasometer and 
gas fixtures in each, house, but the cheap¬ 
ness of tho consumption will put moveable 
lamps of exoijy kind nearly out of uso. 
He that does not know those things Yyideh 
are of uso and necessity for him to know, is 
out an ignorant man, whatever- he may 
know besides.— Tillotson. 
t 
