1848. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
45 
quisites are obtained as follows: a spiral spring of brass 
wire, about three inches in length, is wound about the 
spindle at d; one end of this spring is fastened to a 
short tube, through which the spindle enters the pump, 
and the other extremity to the spindle near d. This 
spring gives the spindle the necessary outward move¬ 
ment, when pressed inward and released, and the ad¬ 
mission of air into the pump around the spindle, is en¬ 
tirely prevented, by having the spiral spring enclosed 
by a thin tube of metallic gum-elastic. The outer end 
of the spindle is supported by a guide, which holds it 
in a proper line for action. On each side of u, near its 
extremity, rise two standards, i, i, through which 
passes the shaft/, which carries, on its front end, the 
grooved wheel e, a portion of which is represented in 
the figure as broken away, to give a view of the parts 
beyond. On the middle of this shaft are two circular 
discs, g, g, half an inch apart, through which passes, 
parallel with the shaft, the key p. This key, when the 
wheel e, is revolved in the direction of the arrow, 
comes in contact with the upper end of a latch, h, on 
the spindle, and if the revolution of the wheel is con¬ 
tinued, carries the spindle in the direction c, d, about 
half an inch, and then allows it to fly back; but if the 
wheel be revolved in the opposite direction, the key 
merely raises and drops the latch, without acting on 
the spindle. 
Through the upper extremities of i, i , passes another 
shaft q, to which is fastened the pendulous weight k. 
On the front extremity of this shaft is a small spur, Z, 
which, when k hangs at rest stands nearly horizontal, 
though w r ith its point a little elevated. From the in¬ 
ner side of that part of the rim of e, which is represented 
as broken away, projects a small pin, which, when e 
is revolved in the direction of the arrow, comes under 
the point of the spur Z, and throw’s the pendule k out, 
towards the pump, elevating it at right angles to the 
position shown in the drawing, before the pin passes 
over the spur; but when the wheel is revolved back¬ 
wards, the position of the spur is such that the pin 
slides over it easily, tilting k, very slightly, in the op¬ 
posite direction. Over the wheel e, passes a cord n, 
on one side of which is suspended the small weight m, 
and on the other a cylindrical float which hangs in the 
well. The weight of the float, when out of water, is 
a little greater than that of m, and the weight of m is 
sufficient, when not counterbalanced by the float, to 
carry the wheel e around, in spite of the resistance of¬ 
fered by the pendule k, and of the force necessary to 
operate the spindle, and open the valve. 
Now let it be supposed that the pump has recently 
been in action, and emptied the well, and that the 
float attached to n has descended, until the weight m 
is at the position represented; and that the pin in the 
rim of e, is situated about opposite the upper broken 
spoke. The water rises until the lower end of the float 
is immersed an inch or two; m then begins to prepon¬ 
derate, and as the w 7 ater continues rising, the wheel 
revolves in the direction of the arrow, until the pin in 
its rim comes under the point of the spur Z. The 
w r eightof the pendule then arrests the movement of the 
wheel for a time, and the water in the well rises eight 
or ten inches upon the float, before the weight of m is 
sufficient to tilt k far enough to allow the pin to pass 
over the spur. When this happens the pendule loses 
its retaining power entirely, and m, being now but 
slightly counterbalanced, immediately gives the wheel 
a half revolution, which operates the spindle, opens the 
valve, and leaves the pump free to run, until stopped 
by the exhaustion of the supply of water. In the 
meantime the float descends, with the level of the water 
in the well, bringing the parts attached to it back to 
their original position; they are then ready for a repe¬ 
tition of their action, with the next rise of water. 
Previous to the invention of this attachment for start¬ 
ing, I have attempted, once or twice, by simpler me¬ 
thods, to make a float set the machine in action, by 
operating the plug at the foot of the short leg of the 
syphon; but the mechanism, though simple, was clum¬ 
sy, and not reliable. The present device, however, al¬ 
though it has an air of much greater complexity and 
delicacy, has shown that its movements may be antici¬ 
pated with as much certainty as those of a well made 
clock for striking the hour at the proper time. And if 
a machine does its work perfectly, that fact is ample 
justification for the use of every mechanical arrange¬ 
ment, that conduces to the perfection of its action, 
which it may contain. 
I do not, however, recommend this attachment as 
one that should frequently accompany the pump; and 
have not taken the trouble of writing the above de¬ 
scription of it for the purpose of advertising it, or in¬ 
viting the cavils of those mechanics who may be dis¬ 
posed to be critical on the subject of its general utility. 
That which I have in use at this place is the only spe¬ 
cimen of it, and is daily accomplishing the sole pur¬ 
pose for which it was invented. 
Erastus W. Ellsworth. 
East Windsor Hill, Ct., Nov. 30th, 1847. 
Economy, Heciipes, &<c. 
Keeping Beef Fresh. —Combe says the ribs will 
keep longest, or five or six days in summer, the middle 
of the loin next, the rump next, the round next, and 
the brisket the worst, which will not keep longer than 
three days in summer. 
Indelible Ink. —This may be made much cheaper 
than purchased, as follows: Two drachms of nitrate 
of silver, added to four drachms of a weak solution of 
tincture of galls. Another:—Nitrate of silver, one 
drachm, mixed with a solution of half an ounce of gum 
arabic in half a pint of pure rain water. Moisten the 
cloth previously with a strong solution of pearl, or salt 
of tartar, and iron it dry. 
Incombustible White-wash. —Pass fine freshly- 
slacked lime through a fine sieve, and to six quarts of 
the fine pulverized lime thus obtained, add one quart of 
the purest salt, and one gallon of water, and boil the 
mixture, and skim it clean. Then to every five gallons 
of this mixture, add 1 lb. of alum, lb. of copperas, 
and slowly add | lb. potash, and 4 quarts fine sand- It 
adheres firmly to wood or brick. 
Frost proof Cement. —Mix tar with sand; it grad¬ 
ually hardens, and as moisture cannot in the least de¬ 
gree penetrate it, it will never crack by frost. This 
was proved by the accidental upsetting of a tar barrel 
on a spot of sand—the cement thus accidentally formed, 
remaining impenetrably hard for years, although under 
the rain-water spout, and exposed to all weathers. 
Ink spots, on mahogany, may be easily removed by 
rubbing them with wet blotting paper, and afterwards 
rubbing the spot with a dry cloth. 
Malaga Raisins. —These are all made by merely 
drying the large white Muscatel grape, without the ad¬ 
dition of any ingredient. They are all raised within 2 
leagues of the southern Spanish coast, and do not suc¬ 
ceed farther inland. The Lexica raisins, used for pud¬ 
dings, are however, produced in the interior. They are 
gathered when ripe, and spread out upon the ground to 
dry, which usually requires 15 days, during which time 
they are never removed, although the drying process is 
retarded by the dews, which difficulty would doubtless 
be removed by the use of portable awnings. 
Tobacco. —Kentucky raises more than any other 
State. 
