1846 . 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
221 
the water outside the tube—this action continuing until 
both liquids become of the same specific gravity; the 
former of these actions, Detrochet terms endosmose, and 
the latter exosmose, and he attributes the action to the 
effect of electricity. 
y if we allow the liquid within the tube to represent 
thq sap of the tree—the membrane covering the tube 
to represent the spongioles of the roots—and the water 
in which the lower portion of the tube is immersed, the 
water of the soil, we have a combination of circum¬ 
stances which approach the state of the growing tree, 
the sap in the tree always being of greater specific 
gravity than the water surrounding the roots. Under 
these circumstances, there is every probability that a 
similar action to the one just described is continually 
going on in the plant during the active period of its 
growth—water would be taken into the plant through 
the spongioles of the roots by endosmose, and a portion 
of the sap would escape into the soil by exosmose; the 
sap consisting of both organic and inorganic matter in 
solution in -water, and would ever be of greater specific 
gravity than the water in the soil, arising from the 
exhalation of water continually going on from the 
leaves, and consequent concentration of the sap prior 
to its descent.” 
To demonstrate how far the action above described 
actually takes place in the living plant, Mr. Gyde made 
several experiments:— 
“ Several funnel-shaped glasses were prepared, which 
would hold about 3 fluid ounces of liquid each, and pre¬ 
sent 2i square inches of membraneous substance, through 
which endosmose might take place; these glasses were 
filled with saline solutions, and also solutions of organic 
matter, and plants cut from their roots immersed in 
them through the upper opening, where they were se¬ 
cured by collars of Indian rubber, the portion covered 
with membrane being immersed in water. In each 
instance the saline solutions were rapidly absorbed by 
the plants, they were detected in all parts of their 
structure, and a portion of the solutions was found to 
have passed by exosmose into the water in which the 
membrane was placed.” 
We must pass over the details of many of the ex¬ 
experiments which are given by Mr. Gyde. It is pro¬ 
per however to observe in passing, that he ascertained 
that plants may be made to absorb various metallic salts 
which are noxious to their growth—such as solu¬ 
tions of zinc, copper, mercury, arsenic, lead, iron, 
barytes, &c.,—the effect of which was to destroy the 
plant, sooner or later; showing that plants do not pos¬ 
sess the power of excreting noxious substances pre¬ 
viously taken into their structure, or at least, that they 
have not this power in a sufficient degree to preserve 
their lives when placed in a situation to absorb these 
substances. He shows that excretions of plants in a 
healthy or natural condition, are not prejudicial to suc¬ 
ceeding crops. He cites an example of an acre of 
ground having produced an average of 32 bushels of 
wheat per acre for 12 consecutive years—the ground 
having only u an occasional light dressing of manure, 
the stubble generally being burned and the ashes spread 
on the land.” 
The inferences to which Mr. Gyde arrives from all 
his experiments and observations are chiefly the follow¬ 
ing: 
<e 1. That the commonly cultivated plants of the natu¬ 
ral orders Graminse, Leguminosae, and Cruciferae, excrete 
by their roots soluble matters. 
“ 2. That the excretions consist of both organic and 
inorganic matters. 
“3. That the quantity of excretion thrown off by any 
single plant is very small, and excretion can only be 
satisfactorily examined when collected from a number 
of plants. 
(( 4. That plants absorb metallic salts when in solu¬ 
tion in water, and that they quickly die unless the solu¬ 
tions are very largely diluted. 
“ 5. That seeds impregnated with poisonous substan¬ 
ces may germinate if the quantity of the poison be very 
minute, but in most cases the seeds perish. 
“ 6. That plants are not injured by their excretion 
being reabsorbed into their structure as was supposed 
by M. de Candolle. 
11 7. That the necessity for a rotation of crops arises 
from the soil in most instances being unable to supply 
those earths and saline constituents required by plants.” 
WIND POWER—NEW INVENTION. 
Mr. Tucker. —I would wish to bring to the notice 
of the public, through the medium of the Cultivator, 
an important improvement in the wind-wheel, a model 
of which, you may recollect, was exhibited at my hotel 
last winter, by Dr. Bridgman, of Cabotville, Mass. 
It is believed that by the aid of this improvement, 
wind-power may be used to advantage in many situa¬ 
tions where water-power or nothing better can be had. 
The great objection generally to a machine being 
worked by wind, is the unsteadiness of the power, va¬ 
rying from a stand-still to the greatest velocity, at 
which speed it is liable to injure any machinery attached 
to it. 
A stationary power which can be applied to the va¬ 
rious operations of the farm and out-buildings, would 
be a desideratum with every farmer whose business is 
on any thing like an enlarged scale. 
There are a great many operations on the farm which 
may be economically performed by a stationary power; 
that is, by water, by steam, by horses or by wind. 
The same power that is applied to the threshing of 
grain, cutting fodder, or the grinding of apples, may, if 
properly adjusted, and with a trifling additional ex¬ 
pense, be applied to the crushing of grain for farm 
stock, or even for grinding for family use—to the saw¬ 
ing of wood, slitting of boards, to the pumping of 
water, turning of the grindstone, and various other sta¬ 
tionary uses. A friend on Staten Island erected a wind¬ 
mill on the old and common principle, which he ap¬ 
plied to fourten different purposes. 
The following description of one of these wheels, 
now in successful operation, I clip from a Chickopee 
paper. By publishing it, you will not only confer a 
favor on the ingenious inventor and proprietor, but aid 
the farmer and mechanic. C. N. Bement. 
Albany, June, 1846. 
“ On Friday last we visited a new, and we think, 
highly valuable invention of Mr. A. Judd ; of this vil¬ 
lage, called a “ Centrifio Wind-Wheel.” For sim¬ 
plicity of construction and efficiency of action, it ex- 
exceeds anything in the shape of a windmill, that we 
have ever seen. The principles on which it is con¬ 
structed are entirely new; and the inventor, in con¬ 
junction with Dr. J. B. Bridgman, who as joint pro¬ 
prietor, have obtained letters patent for the invention. 
The wheel resembles a common overshot or breast 
water-wheel, except its motion is horizontal; and is 
propelled by the application of wind upon the inner 
surface. By this application, the entire circumference 
of the wheel is kept constantly before the wind, the 
whole force of w r hich is brought to bear square upon 
the lever, producing a power three or four times as 
great as any other wind-wheel in operation. What 
adds greatly to the value of this wheel is the fact that 
it is enclosed in a building, and consequently entirely 
excluded from the weather. This, together with the 
simplicity of its construction, must extend its durability 
almost beyond the power of calculation. The building 
is covered with strips of board, about a foot wide, hung 
upon pivots, and connected with rods on the inner side 
like common Venetian window-shutters, and can be 
opened and shut at pleasure. By this arrangement, any 
quantity of wind can be admitted and excluded; and the 
wheel is as easily managed in a gale of wind as in a 
breeze; and is as completely under the control of the 
operator, as any water-power. The building is two 
and a half stories high, the wheel being located in the 
upper half story. By opening the shutters to the wind¬ 
ward, in the second story, and to the leeward in the up¬ 
per half story, the wheel is set in motion by the pas- 
