STORER'S IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT-, Tekselt, cylinder, in such a manner that the slide valve or Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of this FIG. 2 WHEELS. T Lemuel Wright, of Brooklyn, U.S.), are to sectionding to a right-handed screw and the next ever) in such a manner that the time occupied by WRIGHT'S IMPROVEMENTS IN PADDLE prevent concussions as the buckets of the wheel inclination of each range of buckets run in an opposite direction, each of said rauges forms a section of a many-threaded screw, one range corto a left-handed screw, and the buckets of one range standing intermediately to those of the next range, the water, instead of receiving a back ward movement as soon as struck by the buckets will be thrown against the buckets of the next range, increasing the resistance or hold of the buckets on the water, preventing the side swell in a great measure, and finally passing the water directly to the rear. The outer ends of the buckets are shown as projecting beyond the edges of thearms or rims of the wheel, and each bucket, coming to a sharp point. Instead of being so formed they may be made with a circular or straight outer edge, as shown at f g by dotted lines, Fig. 1, or if desired the buckets might be flush with the rims of the wheel. A paddle wheel made in the manner above set forth possesses many advantages over the wheels heretofore used CLEMENTS ECONOMIC LUBRICATOR. VE illustrate Clements' economic lubri Water, now so well known that it scarcely needs our description, but as the makers, Llewellins and James, of Bristol, have latterly so modified and improved it as to make it of more general adaptation, we have thought fit to notice it here. This steam lubricator, or impermeator, we believe to have been the precursor of the many now before the public. It was first introduced some years ago in the A form, with a hollow or curved back, as shown in our left-hand illustration, so that it might be fixed against the steam pipe by means of a band; the advantage in this being that the heat from the pipe always keeps the grease in a fluid state. Latterly, however, the forms have been varied so that it may be used in any position, vertical or horizontal, and either for marine, stationary, or locomotive engines, one of which-the C form-we illustrate on the right hand. To briefly describe the lubricator, we may say that A is the body or grease vessel, to which is attached a gauge glass E; C is the charging valve; D the air vent; P is the steam Mr. Birt gave the results of a twelvemonth's watching of the crator Plato, with a 9-inch refractor. The result has been to observe and map many spots on the floor of Plato, hitherto unobserved, with the changes that have taken place in their number and position, and Mr. Birt expressed his intention of continuing to observe the moon, which he had little doubt would lead to valuable results. The President then observed that there was a possibility that Government would furnish a ship, similar to the Himalaya, perhaps the Himalaya itself, to carry observers to Spain to observe the total eclipse of December 22. 1870; but before any certain result could be obtained, it was indispensable that the society should know how many gentlemen contemplated a voyage, and what accommodation would be required, and what instru mental means the intending observers could command. Xeres, Syracuse, and Oran (on the African coast), appeared Oran, on French territory, could be left to the astronoto be the stations that offered the greatest facilities. mers of that nation; but Gibraltar being the seat of an send observers to that port. To supply effectually all the English garrison, it was desirable that the English should departments of astronomy, and to employ a complete set of instruments, about twenty observers would be needed at each station. The President concluded by inviting observations and discussion on this interesting subject from those Fellows present, and announced that a circular would be despatched to warn other Fellows who were not PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL present, but who were likely to take part in the expe inlet which rises to the top of the grease vessel, and G is the grease outlet, which has an elongated perforated stem to project into the steam way, and H is the blow-off valve. There is the advantage of simplicity about this instrument, and we may remark that screw valves are used instead of plug-cocks, which are not so easily regulated, and are more liable to leak. AT the meeting of the society (W. Lassell, Esq., in the chair), on the 8th inst., only three papers were communicated-one from Mr. Hind, giving an account of an investigation recently made by Mr. Plummer on the orbit of the comet of 1683, another from Mr. Tebbutt, jun., of New South Wales, on the lunar eclipse of January 17, on the earth's surface. It would not touch any of the 1870; and the third from Mr. Birt, giving his result of the observations on the lunar crater, Plato. Mr. Hind said that attempts had been made to repreBent the path of the comet of 1683, both by a parabolic and an elliptic orbit, the former by Halley, and the latter by Dr. Claussen. Dr. Claussen's investigation had led him to conclude that the comet moved in an ellipse of 189 years' period, and that consequently the return of the comet might be expected about the year 1871; but the tion Gibraltar who would be pleased to make the necessary arrangements to receive the deputation of astronomers. Admiral Ommaney coincided in the remarks that had fallen from Lieut. Brown, and believed Gibraltar preferable to Syracuse, and could afford sufficient accommodaThe President was very gratified to hear an opinion so favourable from such eminent authorities, and although be had been of a different opinion, he yielded most will ingly to those of greater experience. Mr. Warren de la Rue called attention to the necessity of observing with the greatest accuracy the corona, which might consist of two or three phenomena, and he trusted that the attention of astronomers would be given to that portion of the corona between the prominences, which had always been seen very brilliant. Mr. De la Rue conjectured that this belonged to the sun, as the advance of the moon covered some of this brilliant portion, and disclosed others. but any doubt on the subject he trusted, would be cleared up by attentive observation. Mr. Viguolles informed the society that he had learnt from the Vice-President of the Cortes that he (the Vice-President) would be very happy to render all the assistance in his power to astronomers that should visit Spain on this occasion, either in providing accommodation, or conveying them into the interior. A Fellow asked what length of time would probably be consumed on the journey, and in making the necessary observations; and whether there would be any attempt at organisation, or each observer left to carry cut his own design in the manner that seemed to him best? The Astronomer-Royal replied, judging from the experience of former eclipses, a month would probably suffice, and that a complete organisation was desirable. In the eclipse of 1860 this organisation was effected on board the Himalaya, but if intending observers sent in their names and instrumental means, such an organisation might be effected sooner, which was desirable. Mr. Airy said that among the instruments of the Royal Observatory were three 6in. refractors, and four 4in.. which he had no doubt the Government would allow him to put at the command of competent observers. Mr. Huggins remarked on the organisation of spectroscopic observers, that as the time was short, it would be advisable to divide the complete spectrum between two observers-one to scrutinise for bright lines on the less refracted half, and the other for bright lines in the more refracted half of the spectrum. This only referred to the portion of the corona nearest the sun, alluded to by Mr. De la Rue. For the corona more distant, a spectroscope might be employed that should show the whole of the spectrum at one view; and, further, he thought it necessary that each spectroscope should be furnished with three observers-one to look through the instrument, another to direct the instrument at the desired portion of the sun, and a third to write down the observations: two spectroscopes being required to examine the prominences, two for the corona between the prominences, and one for the distant part of the corona, making in all five instruments, and fourteen observers, or manipulators, for each station. Colonel Strange offered a few remarks upon the necessity of examining the observers in the pecularities that polarised light presents, observing that if the eclipse took place next week, very few observers would be found capable of observing the phenomena-an opinion in which the society coincided, and he concluded with a few remarks on the connection between astronomical observations and general science and knowledge. In answer to a question from the President, Mr. De la Rue replied that the number of manipulators required to manage the photographical department would be five, one principal, and four assistants. Hence for the spectroscopic and photographic observations alone, nearly twenty observers are required at each station. The meeting concluded with some remarks from Mr. Watson on the geographical structure of the moon, which being an abstract theory unsupported by facts or observations, offers little of interest. MR. J. NORMAN LOCKYER ON THE SUN. ON Saturday, the 9th inst, Mr. J. Norman Lockyer, F.R.S., delivered his fourth and closing lecture at the Royal Institution, on" The Sun." In the course of the lecture he observed that when the flame of a common candle is examined in the same way that the sun is observed with a spectroscope, it is found that when the flame is infany way disturbed, gases of different kinds are thrown out from its interior towards its exterior. In like manner, when from any cause disturbances are set up in the sun, there are storms or outbursts of luminous iron, magnesium, barium, and other vapours. It is evident, therefore, that there are layers underneath the external envelopes of the sun, portions of which layers become visible to us whenever there is the least disturbance. Spotsbeing depressions in the external envelopes of the sun, it follows that an examination of the solar spots brings the astronomer nearer to the centre of the sun than does the observation of any other part of the orb. On examining the spots with a spectroscope, a general absorption of the rays of all parts of the solar spectrum is seen, as well as a selective absorption, the latter being especially noticeable in the so-dium lines, and the greater the pressure of the sun's atmosphere the thicker are these absorption lines. In order to prove that increase of pressure, without variation in temperature, broadens the absorption lines, Mr. Lockyer threw upon the screen a continuous rainbow-like spectrum of the electric light, the dispersion being produced by means of two hollow glass prisms filled with bisulphide of carbon. Just outside the slit of the electric lantern the light was made to pass through a glass tube filled with attenuated hydrogen gas; the tube contained also a lump of metallic sodium. Heat was applied to the bottom of the tube, so as to gradually vapourise the sodium, and the vapour was at first, of course, densest near the bottom of the tube, rather than at the top. The vapour intercepted none of the rays of the spectrum, except a portion of the yellow, consequently a dark band was cut in the yellow part of the spectrum upon the screen, but this band was thickest where the light had previously passed through the denser portions of the sodium vapour. The appearance of this tapering dark line consequently proved that where the pressure of the sodium was densest, it broadened the dark line in the yellow of the spectrum. Thus the broader the sodium absorption lines produced by a sun-spot, the greater is the pressure and quantity of the scdium atmosphere over that spot. There are now many large spots upon the solar disc, and it is a very curious fact that they give scarcely any absorption in the yellow part of a spectrum, showing thereby that the spots are not present found in life-preserving dresses made of india-rubber, gutta percha, or like material, as it does not impede the movements of the wearer or stop his natural perspiration. The invention consists in making dresses of india-rubber, gutta percha, or other waterproof material, provided with cushions which form separate and distinct receptacles or reservoirs, and which are filled with air, and suitably arranged and adapted to the human figure, there being no communication between the receptacles, so that if by any accident one should be injured the safety of the wearer would not be jeopardised, as the other receptacles would still be sufficient. In addition to the dress, an air-tight chamber or chambers, made of the same materials and on the same principles, that is to say, in separate and distinct compartments, may be provided and made of such a shape that if necessary the wearer of the dress may sit on it and move himself about by means of an oar. The dress and the riding chamber lastly described may be made of india-rubber, gutta percha, or other waterproof material, and may be provided with pockets for carrying anything that may be necessary. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. [We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our correspondents. The EDITOR respectfully requests that all communications should be drawn up as briefly as possible.] All communications should be addressed to the EDITOR of the ENGLISH MECHANIC, 31, Tavistockstreet, Covent Garden, W.C. All eheques and Post Office Orders to be made payable to J. PASSMORE EDWARDS. alike at all times. There are, in the ordinary solar spectrum, bright lines as well as dark ones, and he thought that these would be found to be the most unchangeable lines in it, for the dark ones are constantly varying. The yellow line, so often seen in the spectrum of the solar prominences, was once surmised to be a line belonging to hydrogen gas when the gas became luminous under certain very unusual conditions, but after many experiments with hydrogen, tried by Dr. Frankland and himself for more than a year, they were unable to make the luminous gas produce any such line. It was only on the previous Saturday that, while he (Mr. Lockyer) was examining the spectrum of a solar prominence, he saw the bright hydrogen lines of the prominence disappear almost entirely, while the yellow line retained its full luminosity and length. It would appear, therefore, to be certain that it is not a hydrogen line; neither is it a sodium line, for it does not fall at the right part of the yellow of the spectrum. Probably this perplexing line is due to some new substance common in the sun, but not yet known upon earth. A very valuable paper on solar physics, once communicated to the Royal Society by Messrs. Balfour Stewart, De la Rue, and Loewe, set forth that the photosphere of the sun might be considered to be a plane of condensation, and any changes in the pressure of the plane of condensation will cause very considerable changes to take place in the spectra observed. For example, when the pressure of the plane of condensation of a common candle flame is reduced by the aid of the air-pump, a halo of blue light begins to spread outside the flame as the pressure is diminished, and at last the candle flame will give the spectrum of nearly pure carbon. The F line of hydrogen varies very much when the pressure is reduced, so this line is a very delicate indicator of the pressure of the atmosphere of the sun. Light is composed of waves varying in length, so that when a prominence bursts out upon the sun, and in the direction of the eye of the observer, more waves are thrown into the eye in a second of time; if, on the other hand, the prominence be receding with a velocity at all comparable to that of light, the waves will be lengthened out, and a smaller number will enter the eye in a second. This variation in wave-length caused by the rapid motion of solar flames produces zig-zag and irregular lines in the spectrum, and by measurement of the deflection of the bright lines from their normal position, the velocity of motion of portions of the solar prominences may within certain limits be deter mined. The flames often rise or recede with a velocity of from 50 to 100 miles per second, which, considering the size of the sun, is not a very excessive rate of motion. It seems as if the chromosphere is the outer limit of the sun, for very little absorption takes place outside it, and there is evidence that the absorbing atmosphere of the sun and the photosphere begin together. As to what is below the photosphere, spectrum analysis gives no information whatever, and he thought that in a sun-spot astronomers never get below the photo-Essays. sphere; he considered the spots to be purely surface phenomena. The photosphere may be gaseous, cloudy, or even liquid, but certainly is not solid. He did not know the origin of the continuous spectrum of the sun; a continuous spectrum may be thrown by dense luminous gases, as well as by white-hot solids; but it is consoling to be aware that it is equally unknown whether the continuous spectrum of a candle flame is due to solid, liquid, or gaseous matter. He would close his lecture with a few general remarks about the nature of the sun. The sun, after all, is nothing but the nearest star; it is also a variable star, for the spots upon it, as proved by observations extending over the last 50 years, are very plentiful at some periods, and very scarce at other periods; the interval between two maximum periods or two minimum periods, is about 11 years. We are now in a maximum period. There is also some connection between the spots on the sun and the sun's family of planets, for the positions of the planets, more especially of Mercury and Venus, have an influence upon the area of the spots on the sun. The sun cannot be a ball of fire, for if it were it would burn itself out in a ridiculously short space of time, and there is reason to suppose that it is a hot globe now slowly cooling. If we accept the hypothesis of Laplace, that the sun was formed originally by the condensation of a tremendous nebula, it is not difficult to imagine that it is now slowly cooling; and as it had an enormous initial temperature to start with, the cooling will go on through untold ages, until at last, having absorbed all its surrounding planets into its mass, it will in the end roll through space a cold dark ball. Afterwards, perhaps, it may clash against another dark ball like itself, and the force of the blow may be proved by calculation to be sufficient to generate light and heat, a new sun, and other worlds. RIHOUX'S IMPROVED LIFE-PRESERVING DRESS. The invention, patented by Emile Rihoux, of Paliseul, Belgium, has for its object the supplying shipwrecked people and others with a means of keeping themselves afloat, and, moreover, has the advantage of overcoming the difficulties at I would have every one write what he knows, and as much as he knows, but no more; and that not in this only, but in all other subjects: For such a person may have some particular knowledge and experience of the nature of such a person or such a fountain, that, as to other things, knows no more than what everybody does, and yet to keep a clutter with this little pittance of his, will undertake to write the whole body of physicks: a vice from whence great inconveniences derive their original. -Montaigne's VOICING WOODEN ORGAN PIPES. SIR, I feel very strongly tempted to follow the example of a certain chickabiddy who resides in my neighbourhood, and "crow." About a year ago I related that I had heard organ wooden pipes so skilfully voiced that I could not distinguish their sounds from those uttered by metal pipes; and, notwithstanding my testimony was corroborated by another correspondent who heard the trumpet calls alternately performed on a wooden trumpet and on a brass one without being able to distinguish "t'other from which" by their difference of timbre-perhaps the most severe test which is possible to apply to two pipes, and pretty clearly demonstrating that the difference of their timbre depends much more on their voicing than on their material-I say that notwithstanding all this, I, being only an ignorant, humble amateur, was duly snubbed by professional authority: but, Magnus veritas, &c., which has been translated for the benefit of us unclassical blacksmiths, &c., by the quaint author of "The Mechanic's Saturday Night," to mean "Truth is great and will prevail a bit. Being in no great hurry, I could well afford to wait until truth did prewail; and I now have the reward of my patience in the testimony of no less an authority than that of our "Adept "N.B. I don't think even Mr. Kemble will dispute his statement on this matter-that by making a pipe with a circular mouth, bevelled from within, we can obtain from it a tone so clear and bright that it surpasses that It even took in" a of the ordinary metal pipe. practical organ builder-1 do so like to see the practical knowing ones "taken in "-see "Adept's" note to his article in p. 533, No. 255, after reading which I was sorely tempted to cry Cock-a-doodle-doo;" but in mercy to Mr. Kemble and the rest of the weaker brethren I forbear to utter so offensive an Io paan, only begging them thankfully to look this very valuable "gift-horse" in its "mouth," and to forbear from showing their own teeth at what may tend to save us part of the cost of organ construction by enabling them to substitute cheap wood for tha: dear metal which is, or ought to be, tin, and, alas! costs a good deal of our tin. THE HARMONIOUS BLACKSMITH. P.S.-If Dr. Ussher has not quite deserted his first love-i.e., pipes, and gone over to the enemy-viz., a reed shaken by the wind, perhaps he will say a word for clear bright tone from wooden pipes at moderate cost? ACHROMATIC TELESCOPES. SIR,-Will "F. R.A.S.," Mr. Webb, Mr. Proctor, or any other adept, inform me if I can obtain any printed account of the performance of Mr. Buckingham's 21jin. refractor; also that of the 25in., made by Cook for Mr. Newall? If these deserve the title aplanatic Mr. Webb's suggestion to put a new OG to the great tube at Wandsworth might be improved on by making the new OG as large as the old one, and the flint glass thick enough to bear grinding to the required depth to produce the needful curves without making a great hole in its centre, which required a black patch bigger than the top of my "chimney pot"-I mean elegant arristic hat-fashion compels me to wear. For Mr. Webb's account of this monstrous abortion I respectfully tender him my sincere thanks. Well might FR.A.S." say, in his extremely neat manner-when he perpetrates a jest it is invariably a good one-that he trusted this telescope was something very much "out of the common." Such a vile OG is to me an ogre: bat, surely, the tube and the tower may be utilised for another OG of equal diameter, aud such apertures, besides their value for sidereal astronomy, could we find a place to use them in which the stormy winds do not blow, ought to enable us to see the man in the moon," presuming he is "at home," which, considering he can have no present duty to perform towards our "free and independent electors," he probably may be, unless, indeed, his customary search after such of the inhabitants of his native satellite who have strayed to the earth-see the book entitled "De Lunatico Inquirendo "-occupies the whole of his time, and compels him, like other ambassadors, to lie abroad for the good of his country from the time of one general (parliamentary) election until the next, when the calls of duty must become so onerous to him that he is not likely to agitate for the repeal of the septennial act in favour of annual parliamentary elecTHE HARMONIOUS BLACKSMITH. tions. SIR,-I an informed platinum, when polished, reflects a larger proportion of incident rays than silver, and that it can be deposited in thin films; the existing manufacture of what are termed platinised looking glasses is sufficient proof. A silvered mirror is perhaps yet more liable to become tarnished by atmospheric influences than one of bronze or speculum metal, but platinum does not readily become tarnished, which liability is one of the greatest objections to the employment of reflecting telescopes, so I would respectfully ask Mr. Purkiss," F.R.A.S.," Mr. Webb, and others who are acquainted with reflectors, if there is any practical objection to coating glass specula with platinum instead of silver, and if there be none, how best to do it? I presume, laying it on with a brush, and afterwards heating the specula, as if it were a fictile production, which is the process employed for so called platinised looking-glasses, would not be applicable to specula, for I fear it might slightly alter their form, and not be conducive to correct definition. THE HARMONIOUS BLACKSMITH. followingjorder: lancewood, greenheart, hickory, ash. Well selected heart of hickory makes a very fair fly I have been told, very good fly rods may be made of PLATINISED GLASS SPECULA FOR REFLECT- mountain ash, also of wych elm and of hazel, but ING TELESCOPES. having no experience of those woods, I cannot form any confident opinion of their merits. I doubt if they are so good as the woods commonly used. According to the Field's correspondent, blue mahoe wood is far superior to them all, and is not heavy, a very important consideration in a long rod in the hands of "our weaker brethren" of the craft; indeed I esteem lightness of so much importance, that I had a rod made, whose top, nearly five feet long, was a finely grown and moderately taper piece of North Carolina cane, with about a foot of split jungle bamboo forming its point. The 'middle joint of this rod was also of North Carolina cane, and its butt was made out of an ashen billiard cue. It was nearly sixteen feet long, and so light, that it might be used with one hand. It answered admirably for throwing a long line when chub whipping, but its action was not so regular as that of a well made solid rod, probably because the maker had not a sufficient stock of North Carolina cane of large diameter to select the middle joint from, for it hardly tapered enough-i.e., had rather too much action at its larger end, where it entered the butt. This is a very common defect in fly rods, especially those made in Ireland, and if an advantage when playing a heavy salmon, is far from advantageous when throwing a long line for chub in the river Lea, when you are compelled to throw right across the stream. THE VIBRATION OF THE BELLIES OF SIR,-" E. P.," p. 357, Vol. X., says that I have overstated the mark when I wrote that the belly of a violin could not vibrate upwards without overcoming the downward pressure of its strings. Now as this down ard pressure never ceases, because the strings of a Addle vibrate horizontally and remain deflected vertically while they are vibrating, I think "E. P." will, on further consideration, see that the upward vibration of the belly must lift the bridge, and of course the strings which are resting on it. THE HARMONIOUS BLACKSMITH. COMBINED DRILL, REIMER, AND TAP FOR GAS MAINS. THE HARMONIOUS BLACKSMITH. INCREASE OF INSANITY. SIR,-There is a question of vast importance which have not seen discussed in your versatile pages-the increase of insanity in this country. Although, says a writer, there is some difference of opinion with regard to the cause of it, we can The fact that the belly is propped up by the sound- hardly doubt that insanity is greatly increasing in post no more relieves it from the downward pressure human diseases was liable to grow with the growth of these islands. It would seem as if the worst of all of the strings than a plate of lead on the top of a column is relieved from the pressure of the superin- civilization, and as if medical science was impotent to cumbent weight by the column beneath it. The sound-stay its progress. This is what the non-professional post is simply a column which props the belly, and observer will gather from certain statements and statransfers the downward pressure of the strings tistics on the subject, and it is, indeed, admitted to a to the back of the instrument (the belly being large extent by medical men in scientific periodicals. squeezed between the top of the sound-post and the Thus, for example, in the Quarterly Journal of Science, bottom of the bridge); but this is not relieving the just published, Dr. Martin Duneau writes that "the upper surface of the belly from downward pressure, cures of the insane in our fine asylums are not more but only enabling it to support that pressure with less numerous than they were from 1748 to 1814, when the distortion. treatment of the insane was a disgrace to humanity;" that our social state is producing year after year an increasing amount of insanity more than ever difficult explaining away the fact of the rapid accumulation of cure;" and, again, that there is no denying or of insane persons in all parts of the kingdom." In the Medico-Chirurgical Review for this mouth there is an article on the same subject, in which the writer states that in the course of ten years the number of recorded lunatics has increased 45 per cent., and that the immense additions made to hospital accommodation during the same period "have been fruitless so far as they were intended as means of bringing all pauper lunatics under proper supervision and under the protection of the lunacy laws-a privilege not belonging to workhouse inmates." In proof of these statements the writer adds that while, during the last ten years, asylum accommodation has been enlarged by nearly two-thirds, yet the lunatics detained in workhouses in 1869 were close upon 3000 more than in 1860. At the same time the pauper insane distributed in lodgings have advanced from 5950 to 6987." Both these journals thus assert the increase of insanity, both declare that the plan of large asylums has proved a comparative failure and is inimical to recovery, and both are in favour of placing pauper lunatics in cottage homes, as is done in some parts of Scotland and at Gheel, but under a careful system of registration and supervision. Dr. Tuke, writing to the Journal of Mental Science, arrives in the main at a similar conclusion. He points out the evils of the cottage system as exhibited in Kennoway in Fifeshire, but believes that sooner or later it must be brought more fully into play, and that if improved and elaborated it may be the best way of OTHER WOODS FOR Providing for harmless and incurable lunatics. NeiFISHING RODS. ther of these writers holds out to us any hope that the SIR,-In the Field of March 28, a correspondent advancing with gigantic strides, and poverty, with its growth of insanity is a temporary evil. Luxury is states he has a fly-rod made of the above wood, which, attendant miseries, grows in a like proportion. Conhe says, is at once light, stiff, tough, and very elastic. sumption and scrofula, says the Medico-Chirurgical This combination of qualities renders it especially Review, are increasing throughout the country. A suitable for fly-fishing rods-indeed for many other degenerate state of body tends to produce a weak purposes. The undersigned would be greatly obliged mind, and the Journal of Science affirms that insanity by being informed where it can be purchased.-Query, is due far more frequently to insuflicient nutriment, can this wood be the blue mahogany of Jamaica? to poverty, and to physical deterioration, than to the I have had considerable experience as an amateur severe mental strain which is so often demanded in fishing rod maker, and I have found the most elastic the present day from the upper and middle classes. material yet tried, to be logwood. Hickory, lancewood, The increase of lunacy is not to be found among edugreenheart, and ash, are commonly employed, and, cated men, but is to be traced almost wholly to the next to logwood, their elasticity is, I think, in the pauper class. In proof of this it is enough to state SIR,-On page 473 is the representation of a drill, reimer, and tap combined, or formed of one piece of steel, to which your correspondent "Machinator," p. 508, very reasonably objects that it would be drilling, reiming, and tapping at ouce, and be broken in the attempt to use it. The idea is so good, that it is worth carrying out, and this may be done by the very simple expedient of getting rid of the reimer, which is between the drill and the tap, for if the latter be the proper size for the former, it is obvious the hole it makes cannot require to be reimed, but if it be desired to retain the reimer, to compensate for the workman's want of care, who might grind the drill until it became too small for the tap, and induce the breaking of the latter in the hole, all that is needed is to form a cylindrical neck the same size, or rather a trifle smaller than the largest portion of the reimer, between it and the tap. If this neck be as long as the thickness of the pipe which is drilled, the reimer must finish the hole before the tap can enter it, and there will be no danger of breaking the latter from the hole being too small for it. I need hardly add, that the drill ought to be long enough to perforate the whole thickness of the pipe before the reimer enters the hole, or there will be a jam. THE HARMONIOUS BLACKSMITH. BLUE MAHOE AND that in the five years ending January 1, 1867, the increase of private patients in asylums was 36, while the increase of pauper lunatics during the same period was 5049. It would seem, therefore, that in proportion as we can diminish the pauperism of the country, we shall stay the progress of the most awful disease which can afflict humanity. I don't know that a discussion of this question in the pages of the ENGLISH MECHANIC would assist materially in checking the evil so much to be deplored or preventing its extension. Still, if any one could suggest any means whereby this malady could in any way be diminished, he would so far perform a public good. J. H. C. COTTON SPINNING. SIR-I notice with pleasure the remarks of a "Factory Lad" respecting the absence of anything relating to the cotton manufacture in your paper. Certainly a very few things have appeared, but no discussion of any moment has followed, considering the enormous number of persons interested and having to do with the mechanical operations and contrivances connected with this large business. It is surprising that more has not been brought forward when we think of the number of persons into whose hands your paper falls in the Lancashire and cotton spinning districts, and of how many different notions and opinions about certain matters connected therewith are held among those engaged. As Factory Lad" says, it would be a great advantage if some person would give a description of the machines and processes of cotton manufacture, and until such appears perhaps a little discussion may arise from the following question:-A carding engine, whose doffer is 24 in. in diameter, has on a 26-tooth wheel, driving 26 on side shaft, on which is 17-change wheel into 154 on feed roller of 2in. diameter. On doffer end is also 207 through two carriers into 45 on bottom callender, on this 39 into 39 on top callender, both 4in. diameter Required the draught? From several pu. lications now before me I find the following rule: Multiply the driving wheels on ends of side shaft and doffer together with diameter of feed roller for a divisor; then the driven wheels on side shaft and feed roller with diameter of doffer for a dividend; quotient, the draught Is the above rule strictly correct? MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT. SIR, A Factory Lad" is quite correct in his remarks. p. 59, on" Gitche Masito," and the cotton willow and scutching machines. Evidently "G. M."dd not understand what he was writing about, or he would not have so confounded the two machines. I can also supplement "A Factory Lad's" statement of the estimation in which the ENGLISH MECHANIC is held in the manufacturing districts; it circulates extensively in the town and neighbourhood of Rochdale, and is patronised by the Rochdale co-operators, at their noble building, the Central Stores, where it graces the tables of their splendid reading and news rooms, and its pages are eagerly perused by many of the numerous members who frequent those rooms. woollen manufactures have been but barely treated of in our journal. With "A Factory Lad," I hope that in future they will receive more notice, and I think our Editor will acknowledge that we may fairly claim for those branches of industry a fair portion of the space set apart in the ENGLISH MECHANIC for mutual instruction. I have seen several questions en cotton spinning which have received no answers, the reason no doubt being that to give the information asked for would make such a demand on your space that persons able and willing to give it have been held back by the consideration that you would not grant the necessary space. Hitherto matters connected with the cotton and question (1927) to which I have not yet seen any reply. Some five or six weeks ago "Excelsior" asked a He requested an explanation of the working of the cone, sun, and planet wheels, and reversing motion in Higgins' roving frame. I presume" Excelsior "is sufficiently well acquainted with the roving frame to know that the spindle twists the fibres of cotton together as they are delivered in a band from the draught rollers, that after being twisted the roving passes down one of the legs of the flyer and is wound in a spiral manuer round the bobbin in layers until the bobbin is full? The bobbin and spindle both revolve in the same direction, and if they botla ran at one speed, "Excelsior" will readily see that there would be no winding on of the roving. To wind on the roving as it is delivered from the rollers we must either run the bobbin quicker than the spindle, or run it slower; or, as we say, the bobbin must either lead the flyer or the flyer must lead the bobbin. Whether bobbin or flyer leads is immaterial to the description; the same mechanism is used for each, the arrangement only being different. We will take the case of the bobbin leading the flyer. The delivery roller and spindle revolve at speeds which have a fixed proportion to each other, the bobbin revolves at varying speeds because of its varying diameter. As the diameter increases the speed decreases, so that its speed is always equal to the speed of the spindle plus a proportionate speed of the rollers, which additional speed will, of course, be as their diameters are to each other. For example, suppose the spindle to make 10 revolutions for the roller's 1, and the diameter of bobbin equal to the diameter of roller, the bobbin in that case must make 11 revolutions for the roller's 1; if the diameter of bobbin be increased to twice the diameter of roller, the speed of the bobbin is reduced to 10 revolutions for I of roller, and so on for any other diameter of bobbin. To regulate this varying speed of the bobbin is the office of the cone drums and differential pulleys, or, as "Excelsior" calls them, sun and planet wheels. Besides revolving roud their axes the bobbins have an up and down motion given to them by the reversing bevels, by which means the roving is made to traverse from end to end of the bobbin, and is wound in a spiral manner round the barrel; this up and down motion is called the con It will thus be seen that in the speeds of the spindle and roller there is no variation. The bevel a is keyed on the driving shaft, the bevel b and the spur e, which are connected together, run loose on the driving shaft and drive the bobbin shaft. Communication between the wheels b and a is by means of the two bevels c c. which revolve on studs fixed in the wheel D; the wheel D also revolves loose on the driving shaft and carries the bevels c c round with it. If the wheel D were a fixture, the wheel 5 would revolve at the same speed as the wheel a, there would be no variation in the speed of the bobbin, and being geared like the spindle, it would run at the same speed as spindle, consequently there would have been no winding on of the roving, but the wheel D being allowed to run loose on the shaft and receive motion from the cone drums, its speed is regulated by them and commnnicated to the bobbins. The top cone drum receives its motion from the end of driving shaft, as mentioned above; this is communicated by means of the strap to the bottom cone drum, and thence to the differential wheel D, which in this case revolves in the same direction as the wheel a, to whose speed it adds its own, thus causing the wheel b to revolve quicker than the wheel a; consequently the bobbin runs faster than the spindle, and winds on the roving as delivered from the rollers. The cone drums are set out so that they will give speeds corresponding to the different diameters of the bobbin; at each increase in the bobbin's diameter the strap is shifted by a rack the required distance on the drums, the bottom drum is driven slower, and, consequently, the wheel D, which, adding less than before to the speed given out by the wheel a, reduces the speed of the bobbin as required. The reversing bevels, also receiving their motion through the cone drums, are also driven slower, the speed of traverse of bobbin being reduced accordingly. To "Excelsior's" second inquiry, the best books on the subject are Dr. Ure's "Cotton Manufacture of Great Britain," and Montgomery's "Cotton Spinning," both of which were old; no doubt there are new editions embracing recent improvements in machines. Works of this description he would get by applying to Thompson, bookseller, Market-street, Manchester. B. W. R. Note.-I consider this one of the most interesting -albeit undoubtedly one of the most troublesome forms of construction. I can well remember my own first attempt at making a pipe upon the plan, before I knew how to go to work, and even using the method I have described, it will take three or four times the ordinary amount of time and care, but it is nevertheless well worth using where space and labour are of no consequence. The peculiar character and intensity of the note well repays the additional trouble. I trust |