THE CULTIVATOR 
Nov, 
378 
own views in regard to Dr. Harvey’s theory in a few 
words, and in the following conclusion we think he will 
be sustained by general observation: 
“ From the time we read Dr. Harvey’s first paper, we 
doubted altogether the correctness of this explanation. 
We thought then, as we still think, that the resemblance 
of the subsequent offspring to the first male by whom 
the mother was impregnated, was to be explained upon 
the principle of mental injluence, and not upon inoccu - 
lation of the mother’s blood, by the matter of the first 
foetus that she bore.” 
Sait for Animals. 
Professor Simonds, Veterinary Inspector to the Royal 
Agricultural Society, observes, in relation to the action 
of salt on the animal economy, that “it is exceedingly 
beneficial in moderate quantities, but prejudicial in large 
ones.” He thought horses might take with advantage 
from an ounce and a half to two ounces of salt, daily; 
but that an excess of it would render animals weak, de¬ 
bilitated, and unfit for exertion. Similar facts were ap¬ 
plicable also to oxen, which accumulated flesh faster by 
the judicious use of salt, than without it. He cited Ar¬ 
thur Young, and Sir John Sinclair, to show that salt had 
a tendency to prevent the rot in sheep. Prof. S. added 
as his own opinion, that salt, by its action on the liver, 
and the supply of soda it yielded to the bile, led to a 
greater amount of nutriment being derived from the food. 
The substance, he said, was also well known as a vermi¬ 
fuge, destroying many kinds of worms in the intestines 
of animals, and conferring a healthy tone of action which 
prevented their re-occurrence. Several members of the 
R. A. Society, as Col. Challoner, and Mr. Fisher Hobbs, 
stated that their experience led them to agree with Prof. 
Simonds, in regard to the value of salt for animals. In 
reference to the mode of giving it, the practice of plac¬ 
ing large lumps of rock salt in fields or yards, where it 
was always accessible to the stock, was mentioned with 
approbation. This practice is now adopted by many far¬ 
mers in this country, and after several years trial is pre¬ 
ferred to the former mode of giving salt periodically. 
When animals are only allowed to have salt once or twice 
a week, it is sometimes the case that they eat too much 
at once, but by having it constantly in their reach, they 
eat in such quantitles as their systems require, and it as¬ 
sists digestion, and promotes health and thrift. 
Fire Annihilator. 
There seems to be no doubt that the ingenuity of man 
has at last devised a means by which the “ devouring 
element” may be in a great degree deprived of its ter¬ 
rors, and its power to harm. A man in England, by the 
name of Phillips, has obtained a patent for what he calls 
a “ Fire Annihilator,” and is described as “ a machine 
containing a chemical preparation, which, whenever oc¬ 
casion demands, will discharge, with the power of steam, 
a vapor in which flame cannot exist.” It has been sub¬ 
jected to several tests during the great exhibition at 
London, and in all of which it has proved entirely ef¬ 
fectual in accomplishing the purpose for which it was de¬ 
signed. One of the most striking and gratifying experi¬ 
ments for testing the efficacy of this invention, was made 
by filling the hold of a vessel of 150 tons burden, with 
the most combustible materials, which were set on fire, 
and allowed to burn with the hatches closed, for several 
minutes, when, on admitting the air, the flame burst 
forth with great power, ascending high above the deck. 
“ The word being given by Mr. Phillips,” says an eye¬ 
witness, “ his men brought the portable machines for¬ 
ward. Each of these portable machines is of about 20 
horse power, that is to say, from the peculiarity of the 
invention, the vapor from the nozzle or spout*of each, 
was admitted at that ratio. Two of these were brought 
in succession on the burning mass from the mouth of the 
hatchway, and in three seconds the vapor had extinguish¬ 
ed the great body of the flame, leaving one or two small 
points where the flame was discernible; and in about two 
minutes the vessel was almost clear of all smoke.” 
The experiment was witnessed by several officers of 
the Royal Navy, who severally signed a certificate em¬ 
bracing the facts above mentioned. 
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. 
Drain Tile Machine. —A. B., South Carolina. "We 
know of no other machines for making tiles, than such 
as have been previously mentioned in our journal. We 
do not see how it would be possible for a machine to be 
made, that would answer the purpose, fora much smaller 
price. 
Raising Water by Wind power. —T. S. E., Salem 
City, Oregon- We have no wind-mills in operation for 
raising water in this vicinity. We have seen pumps 
worked by wind for this purpose—the apparatus being 
moved by the ordinary mode of attaching sails to the 
arms of a shaft. 
Name of Pear. —B., Nassau, V N. Y. The pear you 
left with us, is the summer Bon Chretien. It is a native 
of Europe, but has been long cultivated in this country. 
Corn-stalk Cutter. —R. S. C., Elmira, N. Y. We 
know of no machine better adapted to this purpose than 
Wheeler’s, which is for sale by Emery &. Co., and 
Wheeler &, Co., of this city. It is adapted to horse 
power. Price $28. Hay or straw can be cut by the 
same machine. 
Buckthorn. —J. C., Brandon, Yt. The buckthorn 
is very different from the common white or any other 
species of thorn. The former is the only kind which has 
generally succeeded in the Northern States. The seeds 
can be obtained at most seed-stores in Boston, Albany, 
or New-York. If planted this fall, two inches deep, the 
frost will probably soften the outer covering so much that 
the seeds will mostly vegetate next spring. 
Reclaiming Swamps. —S. L., Gay’s River, N. S. The 
land you describe could probably be made to produce 
good crops of hay. The first thing to be done is to mako 
the ground so dry that the cultivated grasses will grow ; 
next to kill out the wild growth, and sow the seeds of 
the kinds wanted. If the ground is solid enough to work¬ 
horses or oxen, plow and level the ground, dig out and 
burn, (or carry off,) the roots and turf which appear 
above the surface; sow timothy and red-top, either in 
spring or early autumn, and bury the seed slightly with 
a rake or bush-harrow. As to the expense, it is impos¬ 
sible for an estimate to be made without knowing all the 
particulars, such as the price of labor, and the exact cir¬ 
cumstances, relating to the situation of the ground. - 
Ice-house.- —W. A. M., Chautauque county, N. Y. 
The plan of which you speak, described in our volume 
