26 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
BROOKS’ SILK SPINNER AND TWISTER.—Fig. 3. 
This machine, the cut of which came to hand after our paper was 
made up, is noticed in the proceedings of the State Agricultural 
Convention, in the communication of Judge Spencer, and in an 
editorial article. It is worth millions to American Silk Culturists. 
GLOSSARY OF CHEMICAL TERMS. 
[As it is tedious to give explanations of torms m chemistry, when they occur, 
and as they are not always understood by the reader, we give a glossary of 
terms most in use, which may be referred to at pleasure. The names of 
most of the compounds denote the substances of which they are composed;] 
Absorption, the conversion of a gaseous fluid into a liquid or solid. 
Acetates, salts formed by the combination of any base with the acetic 
Acetate of lead , sugar of lead., [acid. 
Acids, compounds of bases with oxygen, hydrogen, &c. 
Acetic acid, concentrated vinegar. 
JElher, a volatile liquor formed of alcohol and an acid. 
Alkali, fixed, or fossil, or mineral, soda. 
Alkali, vegetable, potash. 
Alkali, volatile, ammonia. 
Alum, a compound of sulphuric acid, alumine and potash, or ammo- 
Alumine, earth of alum; pure argillaceous clay. [nia: 
Anthracite, coal containing no bitumen. 
Areometer, a graduated glass instrument with a bulb, by which the 
specific gravity of liquids is taken; an-hydrometer. 
Affinity, a force by which substances of different kinds unite. 
Argillaceous, of the nature of clay. 
Alcohol, rectified spirits of wine. 
Alluvial, depositions of soil made by water. [fusions. 
Aroma, the odor which arises from certain vegetables, or their in- 
Azote, nitrogen; the basis of atmospheric air, of ammonia, nitrous 
acid, &c. . ^ [plieric pressure 
Barometer, an instrument which shows the variation of the atmos- 
Bell-metal, an alloy of tin and copper. 
Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc. 
Calcareous, partaking of the nature of lime. 
Caloric, the chemical term for the matter of heat. 
Caloric, free, radiant heat, or that which is not in chemical union 
with other bodies. [perceptible. 
Caloric, latent, the matter of heat in a state of combination; not 
Carbon, the base of diamond and of charcoal. 
Chalybeate, a term applied to mineral waters impregnatedwith iron. 
Carbonic acid, carbon combined with oxygen. 
Citric acid, the acid of lemons. 
Cohesion,, a force inherent in all the particles of bodies, by which 
they are prevented from falling to pieces. 
Carbonate of lime, the compounds of carbonic acid and lime, under 
the names of limestone, marble, calcareous spar, chalk, &c. 
Carbonate of potash, common potash; pearlash; salt of tartar. 
Concentration, the act of increasing the specific gravity of bodies. 
Decomposition, separation of the constituent principles of compound 
bodies. / 
Effervescence, an intense motion which takes place in certain bodies 
caused by the escape of a gaseous substance. 
Efflorescence, the pulverulent form of saline bodies by exposure to 
the air, in consequence of losing their water of crystallization. 
Elements, properly, are the simple constituent parts of bodies, inca¬ 
pable of decomposition, or further division. 
Essences, the essential oils obtained by distillation from odoriferous 
vegetable substances. 
Evaporation, dissipation of fluids by heat; evaporating fluids into 
vapor by heat. 
Fermentation, a peculiar spontaneous motion, which occurs in vege¬ 
table substances, if exposed to proper temperature, under cer¬ 
tain circumstances. It is usually divided into the acetous, vi¬ 
nous and putrefactive stages. 
Fluidity, a term applied to all liquid substances. Solids are con¬ 
verted into fluids by combining with a certain portion of caloric. 
Gas, all solid substances, when converted into permanently elastic 
fluids by caloric, are called gases. 
Gelatine, a chemical term for animal jelly. 
Gluten, a vegetable substance allied to gelatine. 
Gravity, that property by which bodies fall to the earth. 
Gravity, specific, is the weight of any solid or fluid body, compared 
with the same measure of distilled water. 
Gallic acid, the acid found in gall nuts. 
"rates. Those substances which have formed so intimate union 
with water, as to solidify the water, and render it one of its 
component parts, are called hydrates. 
Hydrogen, the base of water; inflammable air. 
Hydrate of lime, lime slaked with water. 
Hydrometer , see areometer. 
Incineration, the burning of vegetables for the sake of their ashes. 
Laboratory. A room fitted up with apparatus for the performance 
of chemical operations. 
Lute, a composition for closing the junctures of chemical vessels, &c. 
Lime, quick-lime; calcareous earth; oxide of calcium. 
Maceration, softening a solid body in a fluid, without impregnating 
the fluid with it. 
Mucillage, a vegetable principle allied to gum. 
Muriates, salts formed by the combination of any base with muriatic 
Muriatic acid, acid of sea salt. [acid. 
Malic acid, acid of apples. 
Muriate of soda, common salt. 
Malleability . That property of metals which gives them the capa¬ 
city of being extended and flattened by hammering. 
Menstruum, the fluid in which a solid body is dissolved. 
Mineral, any natural substance of a metallic, earthy or saline nature. 
Mordants, substances which have a chemical affinity for particular 
Nitrate of potash, salt-petre, nitre. [colors, as alum. 
Nitrates, salts formed by the combination of any base with nitric acid. 
Neutral salt. A substance formed by the union of an acid with an 
alkali, an earth, or a metalic oxide, in such proportions as to 
saturate both the base and the acid. 
Oxide. Any substance combined with oxygen, in a proportion not 
sufficient to produce acidity ; rust of metals. 
Oxidize, to combine oxygen with a body without producing acidity. 
Oxygen, a simple substance, composing the greatest part of water, 
and part of atmospheric air; vital air. 
Oxygen gas, oxygen converted into gas by caloric. 
Oxalic acid, the acid found in sorrel 
Pellicle, a thin skin which forms on the surface of saline and other 
liquids, when boiled down to a certain strength. 
Pyrolignic acid, obtained from wood by burning. 
Sal, salt; a class of bodies. 
Sulphate of copper, blue vitriol; blue stone. 
Sulphate of iron, copperas; green vitriol. 
Sulphate of lime, gypsum. 
Sulphate of soda, glaubers salts. 
Sulphate of zinc, white vitriol. 
Sulphate of potash, liver of sulphur; sulphur and potash fused toge- 
Sulphate of magnesia, epsom salts. • _ [ther. 
Sulphuric acid, oil of vitriol; vitriolic acid. 
Super-tartrat of potash, cream of tartar. 
Subacetate of copper, verdigris. 
Saturation, the art of impregnating a fluid with another substance 
till no more can be received or imbibed. 
Silicious earths. A term used to describe a variety of natural sub¬ 
stances which are composed chiefly of silica, as quartz, flint, 
sand, &c. 
