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MAY 20, 1870.]

trap, mats, portmanteau, and other appliances neces-
sary for a larger craft, but no use in this case; also a
rudder, which a canoe has no business with, as the
paddle answers the purpose much better.-MATY.
[2531]-BAZING CAST-IRON.-Cast-iron will not
braze, if well tinned it can be burnt with brass in the
manner described by "Blue Ruin," if "Reciprocity
will inquire he will find it was done so.-N. L.

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[2563.-VENEERS FOR HARMONIUM PANS.In response to the hint conveyed in "Eleve's" welcome letter. I beg to inform "Valve," that he will find great difficulty in obtaining beech veneers, such as he requires. I have myself used sycamore instead of beech, and find it answers admirably; it can be readily procured at any good timber yard. The use "Eleve" of sycamore was first suggested to me by and like all his suggestions, it proved a really good one, as it is a wood which is most easily worked, and therefore well suited for an amateur's use.-TREMOLO. (2382)-WEIGHT OF FRUSTUM. - To "BERNARDIN."-Upon second working out of this problem, I find the weight of the whole frustum as sent in by myself a fortnight ago to be wrong. As it appears we have worked it out by the same formula :

Η Π

1=17 (R2+12+ Rr)

3

the same result ought to be obtained, when correctly calculated. Nevertheless if the values as given are substituted in the same, we receive :

✓ = 4 x 3·1416 (4+1 + 2 x 1) = 12-5664 × 10 = = 125 664 cub. ft.,

therefore its weight

= 125-664 x 440lb. = 55292-160lb. Or, reduced to tons

=

55202-160
2240

=24-68 tons,

whereas your result appears (agreeing very nearly with Mr. Wilson's to be 17 28 tons. I should feel obliged if you can tell me what causes the difference?-A. TOLHAUSEN.

[2682.]-WEIGHT OF FRUSTUM.-My diagram was stuck up at the top of centre column, p. 188, and the solution at bottom of third ditto. I think mine is correct, except two printer's errors, and simpler than others. Tolhausen puts letters for hnown quantities.-J. K. P.

[2600.]-CLEANING OF DIATOMS.-The filamentous matter that has tried "Beaten's" patience so much in attempting to remove it from his diatoms, is probably the remains of some confervoid growth gathered with the diatoms, and which acid will not entirely remove. The best plan that I have yet met with to get rid of it is to put the boiling of diatoms into a stoppered bottle holding about 6 or 8 ounces, adding clear filtered water until the bottle is about half full; insert the stopper and shake the bottle vigorously for several minutes. This proceeding will break up the flocculent matter into small particles, which, when the bottle is left to stand, will not subside so rapidly as the diatoms; and much of it may be poured off with the water after about an hour's subsidence, taking care not to pour off too closely. Repeat the process a few times, observing to shake well after each addition of fresh water.-W. W.

[2630.]-CANOE STRAKES.-The strakes are put together with copper nails and washers (otherwise known as burrs or rooves), the edges of the planks must be champered off sufficiently to fit them (no one can fit a sharp edge to a flat surface); the allowance for overlap to seams is th of an inch, which is sufficient. No caulking is necessary to seams when planks are properly put together.-MATY.

[2638]-MAKING BUTTER.-In France they bury the cream in thick sacks under ground about 6ft for 24 hours, and when they take it up it is sweet butter and butter milk, which is then washed well in salted water.-SCORPIO.

[2640.]-GIRDER PATTERNS.-To bend the pattern will not do much good, for the moulder would ram it out of shape. Patterns are commonly made straight. When the moulder rams it up in the sand he applies a straight edge a ng the pattern, then knocks it down at the ends to s it his requirements. In well regulated foundries the foreman sees it is done right, it is one of those thing where one ounce of practi ce is worth more than a pound of theory.-N. L.

There is a small

[2650.]-MAP PROJECTION.-
atlas, published by E. Standford, 6, Charing-cross,
called, An Elementary Atlas," chiefly for map draw.
ing, &c., by the Rev. J. P. Faunthorpe, B. A., F.R.G.S.,
which contains a concise dissertation upon map draw.
ing. The price of this book I do not know exactly,
but should say it is about 2s. 6d.-F.R.G.S.

will
[2651.]-LECLANCHE BATTERY.-" Telos
find several communications by W. H. Stone, and one
from A. J. Jarman, page 38, present volume, which
fully answer what he requires, but is he sure his
porous cells require recharging? Unless they have
been in use some years they should not do so. Let
him take the porous cells and put them into clean
water a few hours, and then try them, as the sal-
ammoniac fills up the pores of the porous pots by
Would "Telos " say
crystallising upon them, which only requires to be
dissolved to be as good as new.
in what respect the patent cells in his possession differ
from those of ordinary make? I would draw his at-
tention to a communication by "Sigma" in the num-
ber for April 15th, page 93, upon whose opinion I
place the highest value, as I have proved it over and
over again.-A GOOD BOY.

[2671. CANOE BUILDING.-The planks com-
posing the skin of the boat, are first built up from the
keel, after which the ribs are put in to strengthen and
keep the skin in shape; the strakes, while building,
are kept to curve by means of sticks, termed shores, to
shore the plank up or down, whichever is necessary:
the planks are gummed together with copper nails and

burrs.-MATY.

[2676.]--MODEL STEAM ENGINE.-In reply to "C. R." I enclose the following sketch of a model vertical engine. On referring to the figure, B is the

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boiler, C the furnace, E the cylinder, D the feed plug
(out of sight), G the crosshead, F flywheel, A the axle
and crank, T the exhaust steam from cylinder. On
filling the lamp with methylated
spirit the steam will soon be raised,
which will be indicated by a slight
escape of steam at the safety valve.
(Never use an engine without a safety
valve, as the consequences may
serious.) The action of working is
as follows:-The steam enters the
steam block K at E, and up a hole
drilled through and out at the hole
F into a corresponding one in the
cylinder, which oscillates on an axis
just above the steam block. On the
down stroke of the cylinder, the
cylinder being at a reverse angle to
that on the steam entering it, the
steam rushes out of the cylinder at H, and escapes
into the air at B. I hope "C. R." will understand
my explanation and my drawing.-ANON.
[2679.-CURLING HORSE HAIR.-The hair must

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[2645.]-IMPERFECT TWO MANUAL ORGAN. the filth and impunities that adhere to it, then dried, Rees stops are usually troublesome, especially the afterwards it is spun into a rope of one fold dia., upper notes, which in some measure accounts for the when that is done the rope must be twisted very hard extra tuning the clarion requires. Reed stops will till it is kinked from end to end, so that it appears 14" have a settling point in spite of the tuner. If Anti-dia.. (it is the kinking that makes the curl), it is then discord" will first tune the reeds with the wire, and use put in an oven on a wooden frame and roasted or dried the organ a few hours, until the reeds are thoroughly for 24 hours at a heat about 2120, but experience is the settled; tune again (say next day) with shades, which best guide. Feathers are washed in lime and water, must be soldered on the pipe tops for the purpose, a then soda and water; after being drained and dried satisfactory result will be had.-T. TAYLOR, Leicester. they are smoked with sulphur fumes, and well beat [2646.]GILDING PLATE-GLASS.-I would with canes.-W. W. advise "Blackburn " to prepare size from some of the cleanest filtered water boiled in a small pan, and a few shreds of best isinglass dropped in and kept boiling until the same is dissolved, Remove any scum from the top of size, and it is then ready for use. See that the glass, brush, and size is clean-perfectly so. When this is done apply the size with camel-hair tool, and gold-leaf to follow at once. Put aside till dry, and piece up imperfections, as stated above.-PAINTER. [2648.]-CARDING ENGINE.-I presume your correspondent wishes to know which is preferable, the hand strickle or the roller. For my own part, I think that both claim a share of our patronage. The hand strickle is a very easy, cheap, and (with care) an efficient way of grinding; yet however careful the person may be, he cannot avoid putting it on heavier in some places than others, therefore the roller is a useful-1 inay say indispensable-commodity for keeping the wires perfectly true-the one great desideratum in grinding. The system I adopt, is to have the cards ground every morning with the hand strickle, and the roller put on once a week, and I find it to act better than anything I have yet tried.-THE HARMONIOUS COTTON SPINNER.

[2682.]-TO "OMICRON."-I have never been a double
star measurer, and my micrometer would be quite
unequal, for want of power, to cope with so minute an
object; all I can say is, that with a power of 450, I
caught occasionally a momentary black separation
between A and B Cancri, on March 29 and 33, which
in the better air of March 31 and April 4, was quite
evident. I believe B lay in the s p quadrant: the dis-
tance I estimated about 07, but this would be worthy
of very little confidence, probably it might be less. I
have never looked at Herculis, since the re-appear-
ance of the companion, in weather fine enough to
show it with any certainty.-T. W. WEBB.
[2687.]-DUSTING BRASS MOULDS.-Charcoal
will do if you use facing sand, but it makes the cast-
ings look black, like iron, different places use different
stuffs. The commonest are common flour, potato flour,
and peameal, if the castings are heavy it is a good
thing to use weak facing sand to face them, say about
the half of the coaldust that is used for iron; for
cores, dry sand, and loam work, use'charcoal blackwash
the same as for iron, only thinner, just black water
merely.--N. L

[2689.]-TURBINE.-In answer to "Simpleton," I would advise him to write to Messrs. Williamson, Bros., Canal Iron Works, Kendal.-PRACTICAL. [2695.]-GEOGRAPHICAL.-The most likely place "local history." I have consulted "Words and Places," by the Rev. J. Taylor, which is a standard to obtain the information desired, will be in some work upon this subject, but have not as yet found any mention of these names.-F.R.G.S.

[2696.]-CLEANING FLAGS.-Rub the flags with turpentine, and it will dissolve the tar.-SCORPIO. [2697.1-CANARY.-I hope "Minnehaha " has not joined the Society for the Expression of Cruelty, and placed the bird in a draughty situation-always productive in delicate lungs, of asthma, &c. Remedynight. By care, my birds live long, one 24 years. warmth, and a cover to all cages, invalid or not, at Give plenty of groundsel, called poison by some new beginners.-HENRY ALLEN.

[3708.]-CARBONIC OXIDE.-Carbon should be put into a retort, or glass flask, fitted with a bent tube, some crystallised oxalic acid, and pour upon it five times its weight of oil of vitriol. On applying heat the mixture is resolved into water, carbonic acid, and carbonic oxide; pass the gas through a strong solution of caustic potash, the carbonic acid will be entirely absorbed, the carbonic oxide remaining unchanged. Another method is to heat finely-powdered, prussiate of potash with nine times its weight of concentrated oil of vitriol; carbonic oxide is given off, which may be collected over water. I presume "Carbon" has some knowledge of chemical experiments, if not he can hardly ensure success.-R.

HODDER.

[3708.]-CARBONIC MONOXIDE.-I beg to inform "Carbon" that carbonic monoxide can be prepared in 4 other ways besides the two he names. (1.) By heating oxalic acid with hydric sulphate. COMO + Siv O,Hoạ = CO, + C*O + OH, COHO SviO, HO2 The oxalic acid is resolved, by means of the hydric sulphate into its constituent, carbonic dioxide, carbonic monoxide and hydric oxide. The dioxide may ba separated from the monoxide by passing the mixed gases through a solution of potas sic hydrate, which absorbs the former.

(2.) By heating potassic ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate of potash) with hydric sulphate

Fe"(Cu"),4KCn + 6 SviO,Ho, + 70H2 = 2SviO,KO,
+35vio,(NvH,O), + SHOHO,Feo" + 6C O
That is, potassic ferrocyanide, hydric sulphate and
water give potassic sulphate, ammonic sulphate, fer-
rous sulphate and carbonic monoxide.

(3.) Heat iron or zinc with any carbonate.
Take zinc and potassic carbonic

COKO, Zn = OK2+ ZnO + C"O
Which give potassic oxide, zincic oxide (which two
substances form, when amalgamated, potassic zine
K,ZuO,) and carbonic monoxide.

(4.) By taking the elements of water from hydric formiat. This is done by adding hydric sulphate (which has a very great attraction for water) and ap-. plying heat

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Ho

C + SviO,Ho2 = CO + Svi0,Ho2+ OH,
Ho

In this reaction, as also in the reaction of the first
method, the hydric sulphate remains unaltered.
Chloride of tin can obtained from Jackson and Town-
son's 89, Bishopsgate Within, for 4d. an ounce.-
EDWARD HEARD, A.A.

[3709]-TURNING.-An amateur never will find a coarse sharp new file remove the scale from his castings, which ought to have been first pickled, but from his description, I fancy that the castings are not good, and that the interior of the metal is full of the oxide' of zinc, which has a much worse action on the tools than any sandy surface. The rest of his question is obscure.-Q. YORKE.

[3710.]-ARITHMETICAL QUESTIONS.- Every circle is equal to a parallelogram whose length is equal to half the circumference, and the breadth equal to half the diameter; and as the area of a parallelogram is found by multiplying the length by the breadth, it is evident that the area of a circle will be found by multiplying half the circumference by half the diameter, and as 31416 is the circumference when the diameter is 1, therefore if half 3 1416, which is 1-5708, be multiplied by 5 (half of 1, the diameter), the product will be 7854, the area of circle whose diameter is 1.J. SHARP.

[3711.]-CUSTOMS EXAMINATION PAPER"R. P." should obtain the Report of the Civ.1 Service Commissioners, or obtain the information from some friend who has passed the examination. Further information will be gladly given.-R. HODDEK.

1

AND SILVER COINS.-In [3717.1-COPPER answer to my friend Mr. Samuel Smith, I beg to inform him that his large silver coin is very similar to AN Indian rupee, though, not having studied foreign coins very much, I cannot speak possibly on the subject. Mr. Batty, whose speciality is the knowledge of tokens, the copper one.-HENRY W. HENFREY, will no doubt be able to give some information concerning ST. ROLLOX'S [3718.] TALL CHIMNEYS. M.N.S., &c., &c. CHEMICAL WORKS, GLASGOW.-Heigt (total) 447ft. 6 n; height (above surface), 432ft. 6in.; diameter at base, 45ft.; diameter at surface, 40ft.; diameter at ness at top, 1 bricks; internal flue 260ft. high; pertop, 13ft. 6in.: thickness at bottom, 3 bricks; thickEngineer and Contractor's Pocket 'ectly vertical.-" Book for 1858." I have a working drawing of a chimney about 120ft. high above surface which I can lend Gainsboro," if he will promise to be very careful of it, and return it soon.-J. K. P.

[3718.]-TALL CHIMNEYS.-The dimensions of the tallest chimney in the world, that at Townsend's Chemical Works, Glasgow, are as follows:- Height Sin ;thickness at bottom 7 bricks, and at top 10 bricks. 468ft., outside diam., at bottom 32ft., and at top 12ft.. The St. Rollox Chemical Works stalk is 5ft. high,,

and 30ft. outside diam. at base; the rest of the sizes I do not know.-R. H. M.

[3720.]-BONE BLEACHING. "O. S." will find frying his bones in turpentine bleach them entirely, but make them more brittle by so dissolving the albumen. For small pieces, take a common fryingpan and provide a lid to it, say a piece of sheet iron or tin plate, which have handy to apply instantly in case the turpentine takes fire, which would be bad to allow to proceed for many reasons. The time for keeping the bones in the turpentine depends much on their condition, and experience alone would teach.-Q. YORKE,

[3755.]—TURBINE WHEEL.-" A. B." must give some data to start upon-say height of fall or quantity of water available as the speed and size of the wheel depend upon these entirely; for the greater the fall, the less quantity of water required, the smaller the wheel, and the greater number of revolutions; and inversely, viz., the lower the fall, the greater the body of water, the larger the wheel, and the lesser speed obtained.-SENEX.

[3761.]-EMIGRANTS' INQUIRIES. "Emigrant" couches his query in such peculiar language that "the learned F.R.G.S." has nearly determined to let him gain the information he seeks from some other source. "F.R.G.S." has a" doubt" whether the use of such an unsought-for expression was really meant as a sarcastic rally on the part of the writer or not, and therefore "Emigrant gets the benefit of the doubt. To his question I answer, the noxious animals, &c., he mentions are to be met with in Natal-vide "African Hunting from Natal to the Zambesi," by W. C. Baldwin; Bentley.-F.R.G.S.

[3768.]-THEINE.-A. A. Attwood should try again. He may next time succeed, or he may, after evaporating, add alcohol, and crystallise from the alcoholic solution. I have obtained them many times by the above process.-R. HODDER,

[3728.]-CURIOUS CHUCKS, BY "W. J."-I have never seen one of these chucks, but I have no doubt but that the three pinsor catches in the centre are forced out by a spring on the unscrewing of the half of the chuck (a cut for which I perceive in the engraving), and thus admitting the piece of iron, &c., which on being rescrewed forces the said catches by the hollow in the centre of the said half being formed in the shape of a cone, and thus rendering it a true centre chuckA GUERNSEY AMATEUR. [3786.] GENEVA CYLINDER. — In reply to "Cyl," the callipers used are similar to the smaller pair of comp asses that have a tail or handle, usually contained in a superior case of drawing instruments; only where the points draw out to be replaced by the pen or pencil, a screw with a nut on one end of it passes through holes in both the legs. The legs are flat instead of triangular, and spring like a pair of sugar-tongs where the compass opens and shuts with a joint. I do not know how any other cool could be made on take these heights, or how it could be used supposing one made. "Cyl" could take his height on a slip of paper, or wood, or wire, and send it through-J. K. P. the post to the tool shop, stating at the same time it was the height from the 'scape wheel to the end of the pivot.-NOBODY.

[3739.]-CHLORIDE OF TIN.-" Amator Scientiæ "

may succeed by asking for muriate of tin, salts of tin. or butter of tin. He can easily make it by dissolving tin in hydrochloric acid. (best in a copper vessel), having the tin in excess. On evaporating the liquid the salt crystallises out in prismatic needles.-R. HODDER.

[3741.]-TURBINE.-A turbine was a few years since at work at the paper mills, Chafford, near Tunbridge Wells, A letter addressed to the proprietor, Turner, Esq., will no doubt enable" M. R. C. S." to have a view of the same.-R. HODDER.

[3744]-SILVER COIN-In reply to Mr. Nash, his coin is an English silver half-groat, or twopence of James I.'s 2nd coinage. The observe legend is I. D. G. ROSA. SINE SPINA (James, by the grace of God, or a rose without a thorn). The reverse inscription is TVEATVR VNITA DEVS (may God uphold them in union). A common coin, worth about is. It is described in my "Guide to English Coins," part II., page 76. Some half-groats of Charles I. are exactly like it, differing only in having "C." instead of "I." in the obverse legend. See page 89 of the same work.-HENRY W. HENFREY. M.N.S.. &c., &c.

[3746.]-PROVING STEAM BOILERS.-There are two methods of proving steam boilers without unseating them, each of which is effectual, and at the same time safe to the operator. In the first case, by cold pressure having drawn the fire and allowed everything to cool down, run the boiler full of water and put extra weights on the safety valve in order to prevent all escape: then disconnect the feed pump from the pipe, and attach an ordinary boiler-maker's force pump, and pump up the pressure until you find your steam gauge indicates at least 2 or 3 times the pressure you are likely to require under steam. Of course I am here taking your own figures-10lb. on the inch-and unless your boilers are very old indeed, you ought to pump them up to, say 50lb., good new boilers being generally proved up to 120lb. Having got the required pressure, let some one go into the flues and see if there is any leakage; if not, your boiler may be worked with safety, but if there is, have in a boiler-maker to set you right. The other way is to fill your boiler quite full, fasten down the safety valve, attach a pressure gauge, and then light a fire underneath. As the water expands by the warmth you will find the gauge will indicate the pressure, and when it is high enough examine the boiler carefully in the same manner as before directed while the pressure is on. I need scarcely say that the heat must not be carried far enough to generate steam, or the result may be very serious. In the latter plan the boiler must be, as I have before said, quite full, or the experiment will not succeed.-T. S. CONISBEE.

[3751,]-ASCARIDES.-Worms are mainly occasioned by poor living, too much fruit and sugar, eating under-done meat, &c. Certain unhealthy states of the constitution favour worms, as indigestion, &c. Cure: -The best is an injection consisting of tincture of perchloride of iron dr. infusion of quassia 8oz.; inject a sixth part every night, or take a dose of cammony powdered 6gr., rhubarb 6gr., jalap 6gr., calomel 4gr. Better still, and more simple, a dose of rhubarb and magnesia, about 30 gr. of the former to 20 of the latter. To prevent their re-appearance, eat good wholesome food, and live in a healthy, well-ventilated house; take plenty of exercise. The cause of their being felt more at the close of the day is no doubt due to their being carried down with the contents of the intestines.-R. HODDER.

[3751.] ASCARIDES.-Get a bottle of Cina Anthelmintica from any bomœopathic chemist. Take 2 pilules 4 times a day, (not within 1 hour of meals), till realieved, then less frequently.-J. NASH.

[3751.]-ASCARIDES.-" A Great Sufferer" has my sincere sympathy. Many years ago I was nearly frantic with those tormenting pests. Having a "Graham's Domestic Medicine " to biud, I consulted its pages, and followed the advice there given-viz., to use an abundance of salt, and to take a teaspoonful of salt every day in water. It is a nauseous remedy, but I strongly recommend "A Great Sufferer to persevere in taking it, and I am certain that the Ascarides will soon cease to trouble him, as they do not relish the salt at all. I hope to hear that he is relieved.AB INITIO.

could some kind brother informine the best mode of catching the centre of pinion to replace the pivot?J. A. E.

[3785.]-PRICES FOR SAWING TIMBER-Can any brother reader inform me what is the price of sawing beech wood by machinery in England; also the apppoximate price of turning the same into 2in' cylinders, 6ft. long?-WIFITIN.

[3786.]-AREA OF SAFETY VALVES.-What is the difference of the area of two safety valves, the one having a flat surface, and the other having a coucave surface, the concave valve being concaved in.

[3767.]-FLY WHEEL ARMS.-They are properly made so, as the thick part is where the strain comes. The arms are merely so many levers for transmitting to the heavy rim and back again the balance of work that the engine does at one part of the stroke over and above the resistances, and at another part of the stroke-viz., the dead points, work accumulated in the rim of the wheel, ready to be given back again deep, and both being 4in. diameter, according to a when the engine power falls short of those resistances.

[3768.]-POISONING BY CANTHARIDES.-Camphor is the antidote.-J. NASH.

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[3769.]-STREET TELESCOPE.-He may see a 'street telescope" of 5in. aperture in the Marylebone-road, near the Portland-road Railway Station, on any fine night when either the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, or Saturn are conspicuous objects, and (also occasionally pick up some astounding bits of astrenomical information. The old gentleman who exhibits the instrument informs me that the moon is the best paying object (excepting a good comet). Double stars and clusters do not "take." Nor the spots on the sun; they are not big enough to satisfy his customers. I have also seen" street telescopes in Hampstead-road, near Ampthill-square, also near the Elephant and Castle, and in the Whitechapelroad, but do not know if they are to be seen regularly.-G. F.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

[3774.]-LOOSE PULLEYS, &c. What is the best way to bush cast-iron loose pulleys or other cast wheels that have got worn in the holes on the shaft; would it do to bore the hole larger and fill round the shaft with some composition? If so, what is the best composition, and how prepared?-WM. CORLETT. [3775.]-EMERY GRINDSTONES.-A few replies have appeared, but none satisfactory to me. Will some one who knows give the best for sharpening reaping machine knives, &c., how prepared, and where the emery may be purchased, and whether fine or coarse?

-WM. CORLETT.

[3776.]-CASE FOR FERNS AND MOSS.-I wish to make a Wardian case for ferns and moss, about 3ft. long by 18in. broad, would some brother reader give me a handsome design, with instructions how to stock it, and what sort of soil to use; also treatment for the plants?-SCOLOPENDRIUM.

[3777.]-EAR BORING.-When a boy I was induced to have my ears pierced, and for some time wore earrings, I have now abandoned such a foolish practice, but the holes in my ears are plainly visible; can any one advise me how to make them less conspicuous ?REPENTANT.

rough sketch which I have enclosed?-FLAT AND CONCAVE VALVES.

[8787.]-TEMPERING BUFFER SPRINGS. - I should be glad if you, or any of your correspondents, could inform me of a method to temper worm or buffer springs, those that are tapered at the ends?-C. Y.

[3788.)-BONE BREAKING.-May I ask one or more of your medical correspondents how it is that men employed daily breaking and reducing to powder with a hammer, large quantities of bones for manure, with flesh and blood adhering to them in a state of decomposition, do not suffer in health; surely they cannot derive any benefit from the minute particles they is most offensive, but those employed do not, appainhale. To one unaccustomed to the work, the smell rently suffer any inconvenience, but the real stingo is when the vitriol is poured over the bones ?-C. T.

[3789.]-AVIARY.-I wish to make an aviary about 3ft. high, and would feel obliged if some kind reader will inform me how to set about it, and the approximate cost?-A LOVER OF BIRDS.

[3790.]-THE VELOCIPEDE ROUNDABOUT.Can anyone inform me whether the velocipede roundabout is patented, and what it would cost to make one, say for 24 riders?-AN OLD SUBSCRIBER. [The description given in our pages about twelve months since, was that of an American arrangement. An "Old Subscriber 99 may obtain a number if he likes.

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[3791.]-CLIMATE, &c., OF OUR AFRICAN AND AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.-I observe with much pleasure "ours is to be enriched with geographical notes by "F.R.G.S.," and have no doubt but that many, like myself, will feel greatly interested in this feature of our valuable paper. I fear I must seek out a milder climate before the return of another winter. What I want from "F.R.G.S." is some information ou colonies, with the advantages offered by each to a the climate of our different Australian and African person of delicate constitution, but I hope as yet withand commercial state of the colonies brought under out disease. At same time a few facts as to the social notice will be highly esteemed? I may mention I can carry with me a moderate amount of capital.-NAG

NATA.

[3792.]-SEPARATING CHALK FROM WATER. -Can any reader of the ENGLISH MECHANIC give me the construction of Dr. Cask's apparatus for separating chalk from ordinary pump water; and whether such formation on the subject of lighthouses, their history, water filtered through the chalk hills of Kent give a (3778.)-LIGHTHOUSES.-Where can I obtain inapparatus can be adapted for private houses? The construction, and management, as I am about to pre-proportion of 160z. 17gr. of carbonate of lime in soldpare a little lecture with diagrams?-RYD.

[3779.]-BOILER-Having a boiler with safety valve 3in. diameter, distance from fulcrum to centre of valve in., length of levers from centre of valve, 20in., weight of valve and lever 71b. 14oz., what will be the weight required at the end of lever for 60lb. per square inch ?-ONE IN NEED.

Blacksmith" have the kindness to inform me how the [3780.]-FOG HORN.-Would the "Harmonious fog horn is made, and if it would do to be blown by steam? A sketch with dimensions would greatly oblige, and no doubt would confer a favour upon more than one brother reader.-E. A.

[3781.]-PHOTOGRAPHY.-I should be glad if a brother photographer could inform me how to construct an exchange box for the dry process, explaining it with diagrams; and also give his experience in working a vertical developing bath?-P. MAKIN. [3782.]-POWER OF BOILER.-Will "J. K. P.,” or any other kind brother reader. please favour me by giving me the following explanation:-1st. What

16.INS DIAMETER

FIRE BOX 8 INS

tion to the gallon, thus impairing the quality of the water both for cleansing and infusing purposes.-J. GRAYLING, M.D.

[3793.]-COOKING BY GAS.-Will any of your numerous readers inform me whether the meat cooked in a gas stove (say roasted) is considered as wholesome and good as if roasted before a tire or baked in the whether gas at 38. 2d. per 1000ft., or coals at 233. per ordinary oven; also the best shape for usefulness, and ten, is the most economical?-J. M. D.

[3794.]-TO "NOBODY."-POLISHING STEELI return my sincere thanks to "Nobody" for his great kindness in replying so minutely and clearly to my query respecting a Geneva cylinder, A B and also for the excellent diagram a ccompanying it; I shall now be able to proceed without difficulty. I should feel greatly obliged if he would help me out of another dilemmapolishing steel. I use oilstone dust and red stuff, but cannot succeed in imparting that beautiful black polish obtain from a boiler, thing flat I attempt is of a light grey colour, and which is seen in a good watch. Anyhaving the same dimensions as in covered with minute scratches. the drawing? 2nd. Also what thickAgain, in trying to polish from ness plates should I require for the forming. I use a brass centre, is there anything pivots, I cannot prevent rings above?-HYDRAULICAN. better than that; I notice in balance staffs, two per sketch. Will "Nobody" give me his opinion which different shapes for the pivots A and B, as he thinks the best shape, and how they are made?CYLINDER.

power could

[3783.]—TO "FORTUNATUS."Will Fortunatus" be kind enough to say if the mixture as well as the ointment for which he gave recipe in Reply 1871, p. 66, of No. 265, is for external application only; issue of the 29th inst., information respecting the [3795.]-VULCANISING RUBBER.-I see in your and if not, in what quantity, and how often should it be taken ?-about to write, The above not being sufficient, I beg system of vulcanising rubber, for which I was just T. B. [3784]-TO WATCHMAKERS. I purchase the rubber, and where can it be obtained; to ask a few more questions. 1st. In what state shall -When a pivot is broken off. also the very lowest price per pound, taking a quantity

of the rubber, to be of the A 1 quality? 2nd. I want to put the rubber into an iron mould previous to vulcanising it, would a cast iron steam chest with loose top do to put the mould and rubber in and close the same up; if so, please say how many pounds' pressure of steam should be put in and for what length of time, as I want the rubber stiff, and at the same time to stretch freely? Information will be thankfully received from "Dentist," or any other experienced [3796.]-PROBLEMS..-I. N T is the diameter of a circle, the centre of which is M. Through R, a fixed point on this diameter, a straight line is drawn cutting the circle in O and S. It is required to prove

friend.-X. Y.

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[3797. TELESCOPE STAND-I am under great obligation to "F.R.A.S." for his admirable letters on the telescope, also to " Hipparchus" (p. 505. Vol. X.), and to Mr. Purkiss (p. 604, Vol. X), for their letters; but I want a little more detailed information about the construction of a good stand for a refractor. Will one of the gentlemen above referred to oblige me. "Hipparchus" refers to the Varley stand-what is it like? He also mentions "the simple apparatus for moving the telescope in right ascension," recommended by Lord Rosse-where can I find a description or illustrations of this? I have a stand of the ordinary construction, but want some means of getting a slow, steady motion, both for finding and following stars?TURTON.

[3798.]-TUBE FOR 9IN. TELESCOPE.-Will any of your correspondents who have mounted specula, inform me what thickness of sheet iron it is necessary to use for the tube of a 9in, telescope of 6 or 7ft. focus? -C. 8. G.

[3799]-BRASS COINS.-Can any of my brother renders inform me what coin this is, of which I send a drawing half size? It was found by me at Dalkey,

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co. Dublin, near a Danish castle. I observed one nearly the same in one of the recent numbers of the ENGLISH MECHANIC. Made of brass and very thin.— F. B. K.

[3800]-PHOTOGRAPHY.-Can any of your subscribers inform me if a good vignette carte-de-visites can be taken in a room with an ordinary window, about 4ft. wide, and facing the north; if so, what apparatus would be best for the purpose?-WOULD-BE AN ARTIST.

[3801.]-LEVER ESCAPEMENT.-Allow me to thank "Nobody" for his instruction for Geneva cylinder; would he now kindly give me plain instructions to plant a lever escapement, in converting or new work, proper dimensions, &c. ?-GRACCHUS.

[3802.]-TO "SIGMA."-I beg to thank "Sigma" for his kind answer to my query (gilding battery), but would he give me plain instructions, quantities, &c., how to work my battery successfully, how to suspend the sulphate, &c.? I don't think he uuderstood quite the kind of battery I have. First is a copper call, inside that stands a porous Wedgewood pot, then suspended by a cross piece of wood in that, the zinc pole, set screw, &c., fastened in the pole.-ONE IN A FOG STILL,

[3803.]-PRIMROSES.-Can any of your gardening correspondents tell me how to change the colour of primroses?-J. D. MORGAN.

[3804.-WATCH CLEANING.-Would any correspondent oblige by telling on who does not know, how to take to pieces, clean, and put together again, one of these old watches; also a list of the tools required? This query appeared about a month ago, but I have seen no answer to it. A paper how to doctor disabled watches, like the one we had on clocks, would be very useful.-J. D. MORGAN.

[3807.]-PAINTING STONES IN JEWELLERY. What method is used in giving that brilliant colour to pale stones to make them a deep colour; there is some kind of paint used besides tin foil?—T. G. [3808.]-TO "SENEX."-Has "Senex" seen my suggestions for attaining an increased amount of power from an ordinary four-armed turbine, suited to low water falls, illustrated in the latter part of the late Penny Mechanic? Will he be kind enough to give a calculation of the power attainable by it, as described; and what power he finds attainable from a current of 200 cubic feet per minute by it, fall 7ft., diameter of table 14ft.? What I mean by no pressure, is no pend head of water required, but a sufficient amount that may flow from a conduit or rivulet.-J C. SHEWAN.

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of an engine with a cylinder 24in. diameter and sin. stroke, the water to come from above? I should like to see a print of one as simple as possible, the print in No. 267 being too complicated and not sufficiently explained to my unprofessional eyes.-A GUERNSEY AMATEUR.

[3828.-SLOT CUTTING.-To "J. K. P."-Two weeks ago a slot-cutting tool was shown in "our journal.' Several amateurs, including myself, could not understand the shape of the tool and cutting edges, and we should esteem it a favour if "J. K. P. would give another illustration if it is for the lathe. I give the result of my attempt at slot-cutting in the lathe. Having a tin. American twist drill, with lin. of the fluted part only left. I eased off the back along the two flutes, and sharpened edges to cut, drilled a fin. hole through strap iron in. thick, entered the altered drill, fixed iron in tool holder of slide rest (lathe 5in. centre), and with a speed ordinarily used for cutting wrought iron, cut a slot by feeding up to the cutter at the rate of lin. in. 5 J. K. P.," but numerous amtaeurs will doubtless minutes. There may be nothing new in this to gladly avail themselves of this plan unless a better can be shown. The drill I think originally cost 18., and the alteration may be made in 10 minutes.-J. F. [3824-GOVERNORS.-Will any reader say what is the greatest variation of speed allowed by the best steam engine governor, and give description of governor. I presume there must be an increase of speed before the governor can act, and speed then rise in proportion to the work thrown off the engine If, when the engine carries its full complement, a shaft runs at the rate of 60 revolutions per minute, be allowed to make if more than half the complehow many revolutious per minute will the said shaft ment be thrown off? also can the principle be applied, to govern water wheels.-EXPECTANT.

[3809.]-MODERATOR LAMPS-ADDLEPATED NONSENSE.-Can you or any of your correspondents give me the address of a manufacturer of moderator lamps? I congratulate you and my fellow subscribers on the sterling merits of your magazine. If I might suggest one improvement, it would be the consignment to the waste paper basket of the letters of those gentlemen who, too lazy or too conceited to study what they talk about, have the assurance to ask us to join with them in dissent from Newton, Herschel, and a few others of similar calibre, and in pronouncing them cheats and swindlers. It is not fair to call upon us to expose their addlepated nonsense. In order to discuss the matter with such smatterers, one must first teach them the sciences on which the subject depends, of which they are sublimely ignorant, and next a little modesty, a quality with which they are quainted still.-F. H. N. [3810.]-PATTERN OF CYLINDER, &c.-I should be very much obliged if any pattern-maker would oblige me with a sketch and how to make a pattern for a steam engine cylinder, which, no doubt, would be serviceable to many readers, and how the piece of [3825.]-FROM "ROTHERWOOD" TO "JOHAN girder is made mentioned in the Whitworth scholar-NES-I am very sorry that the reply to Johannes should ship.-AMATEUR. have been lost on its way to your office; but if he will have the kindnes to inform me how he is prceeding with his gas works, and what information he now requires respecting the, I will endeavour to set him right.-ROTHERWOOD. [Rotherwood's reply referred to above, did not reach 5, which we regret for the sake of Jehannes.-ED. kindly give me a description of a pancratic eyepiece [3826.]-THE TELESCOPE. Will "F.R.A.S." and tube, and how it is fitted to a Newtonian reflector. Also, if the lenses of the Ramsden eyepiece are the same diameter ?-E. M. B.

[3811.]-GUIACUM.-Can any brother reader tell me what the medicinal properties are of the guiacum plant, and whether infusing or distilling is the best and how much water is used per oz. of herbs, so that way to obtain all the medicinal properties of herbs; a wineglass full can be taken three times a day.-Fox. inform me why all condensing engines make such au [3812.]-CONDENSING ENGINE.-Can any reader unpleasant noise upon finish of up-stroke of air-pump, and a remedy for it.-A VERY OLD SUBSCRIBER.

[8813.]-CLEAN CASTINGS.-Will any reader sullage and airholes, which look very bad after being suggest a plan to get clean castings, free from cleaned up and polished, and which is a great annoyance to one who wants his work to look well-A VERY

OLD SUBSCRIBER.

much obliged if any of your readers could give a [3814.]-MENDOZA PULLEY.-I would feel very and working a kind of pulley used in the jenny mule sketch and particulars of the manner of constructing in spinning. It is for driving the spindles as they wind on the thread, and has a double or rather a continuous groove for a band, the object being probably to give more bite on a small diameter. It was called (if not still in use) a Mendoza pulley.-J. B.,

Bath.

[3815.]-FAST ENING EMERY TO LEATHER.— Could any reader inform me how to make emery stick into leather to go round two pulleys at a good speed? I have tried glue and white lead paint, but both wear off very soon.-A. T.

[3816.]-PRESSING LADLES OR SHOVELS INTO SHAPE.-Could any of your numerous readers inform me if there is any machine in use for pressing ladles or shovel plates into shape. If he could favour me with a sketch, I shall feel greatly obliged. SHOVEL PLATER.

[381 7.]-STEAMING WOOD.-Will any reader of the ENGLISH MECHANIC give me the practical way to steam wood for bending; how long to be cut down fit to use? before it is steamed; and how long after before it is The wood will be ash, elm, and oak.

W. B.

[3818.]-TO "SIGMA."-Will "Sigma" please say if he considers a quart cell of his battery to be equal in power, quantity, and constancy to a bichromate or Bunsen's of the same size, and also if he thinks such a battery capable of exciting an intensity coil ?-W. BARBER.

[819.]-CHEAP GAS.-Can any reader tell me of a plan for lightening my gas bills (which often come very heavy to myself and a widowed mother) by (for instance) causing the gas to pass through a reservoir filled with some hydrocarbon on meter, and thus causing an increase of light with less its way from the gas? Any information given in this journal relative to increasing the light of our London gas, at the same time (if possible) reducing the cost, would, I am sure, prove acceptable to hundreds of its readers.-CHEAP

GAS.

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kind and practical corresponpent, J. K. P.," Vol. [3821.]-WHEEL-CUTTING.-TO "J. K. P."-Our XI., page 114, informs us that he has been cutting some steel wheels in. pitch, in. deep, and through cast steel in. thick. Will he have the kindness to give us a sketch of the teeth, for I have not seen any that would work well whose depth was above

12

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of

15

[8805.]-REDNESS.-I am troubled with a very red face, especially while in a hot room, and it burns very much, if any kind reader of our journal would name the cause, or if there is any remedy for it, would the pitch-viz., outside the pitch line, and 64 greatly oblige? I take scarcely any malt liquors or spirits.-ROUGE.

[3-06.]-POLISHING FACETED GOLD CHAINS. Would any of our Birmingham or London readers Bay how the polishing is done, such as the secret link pattern chain; the squares are so equal, like the squares of the diamond; I think it is done with a revolving stone, but what kind of a stone I am unable to say ?T. G.

11

51 15

within the pitch line (that would be), the working depth of in. I think he would not clear well at the points of the tooth, being so very deep.-J. K. ENGLAND.

15

[3822]-FORCE PUMP FOR BOILER-What would be the size of a force pump to supply the boiler

E. M.]

[3827.]-NITRATE OF SILVER STAINS.-How can I effectually remove nitrate of silver, and stains of developers from deal floors, &c.? I have tried cyanide of potassium, but it only takes up the newest spots.-OLD SCRUB.

[3828.-KID BOOTS.-Could any kind reader give appearance of ladies' kid boots, as most of the recipes me a good receipt for preserving the new and soft have the effect of making the kid hard.-OLD SCRUB. [3829.]-SOLDERING.-How can I solder

metal feet to cylinder bottom, which are of cast iron, so as they will hold firm; and what must I use for it when the cylinder gets heated by working; will it effect the soldering ?-THOS. STRINGER, JUN.

[3830.]-WIRE COVERING.-The wire covering machines hitherto illustrated do not suit my purpose. Will any reader give a design for one for covering fine copper wire with cotton. The machines given in back numbers do not, moreover, provide for drawing off the wire when covered in a regular and even manner.POMPEY,

[3831.]-PLANT FOR STARCH AND CORN FLOUR MANUFACTURE.-Can any of your readers give me particulars of the machinery or plant used in the manufacture of the best quality of starch, corn flour, arabica, and maizena foods, with description of the processes, or refer me to any work treating on the subject-HOTSPUR.

[3832.]-BURNISHING PLATE.-Can any correspondent give me instructions for burnishing silver spoons and forks that are badly scratched, and describe the tool to be used?-G. H.

[3833. TO "BOATBUILDER."-I should be greatly obliged to "Boatbuilder" if he would send me a drawing, say about lin. to the foot scale, as I am one who contemplates "attempting this pretty art?"-J. F. O'BRIEN.

[3834.]-DUMB BELLS.-Will some reader kindly tell me of a good reliable book on dumb bells and Indian clubs. State publisher's name and price? An answer will oblige-ÁN APPRENTICE.

scriber inform me how to clean old coins so as to [3835.]-CLEANING COINS. Can any fellow-subdiscover their inscriptions, &c.-J. NASH.

[3836.]-SCREW PROPELLER.-Will some brother calculating the pitch of a screw propeller? Perhaps reader kindly tell me the shortest and best method for Mr. T. Brown will kindly assist.-T. J. O'C.

[3837.]-TO "ADEPT.'-I am much obliged to finishing my sound-board and wind-chest, so could "Adept" for his answer to my query. I am just not make the change he advocates. I shall therefore he would give me an idea as to what pipes I should have to rely upon iny pedal organ for bass. Perhaps use, what scale, and whether metal or wood? it be an improvement if I inserted a viola di gamba LITTLE. or hautboy in place of the 12th and 15th ?-GEO. M.

Would

NUMISMATISTS are reminded by the Athenæum, to be quick in securing specimens of the Roumain coinage, because the Porte has protested against it as being in defiance of the firmau of investiture, bearing, as it does, only the effigy of the Prince without any recognition of the suzerainty of the Porte.

A SUM of money subscribed in Germany for preseutation to Baron Liebig has, by his request, been devoted to the foundation of a prize, to be called the Liebig Medal, and to be given from time to time for scientific investigations in subjects connected with agriculture.

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ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

All communications should be addressed to the EDITOR of the ENGLISH MECHANIC, 31, Tavistockstreet, Covent Garden, W.C.

ADVERTISERS' TESTIMONIES.

STR.-In answer to my advertisement in last week's MECHANIC, I received replies from London, Stockton-on-Tees Ireland, and Scotland, and in less than a week obtained what I required. GEORGE BAZLEY. Clinton-cottage, Church-terrace, Leamington.

WE wish our advertisement enlarged, as we are encouraged by the success we have met with through your columas.

ORME BROS., Elgin Works, Wolverhampton.

J. H. TWITCHELL.-We cannot give more space to the sub-
ject.

THE Sixpenny Sale Column" is the only place in which can
appear queries sent by Joseph Tavlor, Photo, M.A., Oxford,
J. Brow, H. H. Fry, A Brass Moulder, Amateur (Welsh
books), J. Nash (second query), Colour.
JUVENILE had better consult a good optician. We can hardly
trouble F.R.AS." with many of such queries; they take
up time which is valuable to him and our readers.
JAMES LINTON.-We have no space for problems of the kind
you send.

MECHANIC-See back numbers.

E. G. F.-We very much fear no such scheme will ever be
found practicable. Looking at the size and power required
to move the spring of an ordinary barrel organ, we cannot
bat remain incredulous.

DAMIEL KEAT.-See pp. 210, 460, 475, Vol. X.
POMPEY.-Your second letter warrants the appearance of the
A NEW SUBSCRIBER.-Buy the indexes.
query; inserted accordingly.

STITCHER." Practical Man" will doubtless deal with the
subject in due course.

T. DIGNEY.-See reply to " E G. F."

1290 T. Ellis, Coatbridge, improvements in furnaces and bollers 1991 F. Hart, Bourton, planes for chamfering and mouldin 1292 J May, New Wortley, apparatus for spinning wool and other fibres into yarn

1293 W. Thornton, Nottingham, manufacture of gaiters, cuffs, mitts, or other similar articles

1294 W. Brough, sen. and W. Brough, jun. Keele, construction of ovens and kilns

1295 A. Ripley. 34, West-square, Southwark, a new or improved pipe wrench

1296 E. Clark, 5. Westminster Chambers, constructing piers, breakwaters. wharfs, cofferdams, river and set walls, an other works in water

1297 R. Leake, Manchester, improvements in machinery for etching or engraving rollers for calico printers

1298 J. Tester, Hurst Green. Sussex, machinery for cutting chaff and other vegetable substances

1200 D. Walker, Leith, apparatus for preventing or reducing the production of smoke in furnaces

1300 E. T. Kirkpatrick, Brussels, improved mode of produc for recording electric telegraph signals ing oxygen gas 1301 W. Thompson. No. 8, Cloak-lane, London, apparatus

1802 S. C. Lister, Bradford, aud J, Robinson, improvements in double-pile fabrics

1303 A. H. Macnair, No. 2. Prince Consort-place, Leith, improvements in the permanent way of railways

THE following are initials, &c., of letters to hand up to Friday CHARLES NOYES.-Feu Follet" is either unable or unwil- ing heat morning, May 13, unacknowledged elsewhere:

H. Stephenson, M. A. H., W. B., Ignoramus, Veritas, Patermilias, J. D. Fresenius, Tim Bobbin, Jaundice, W. R. C.. Capt. Selwyn, Letts, Son & Co., Orme Bros., J. H., E. W. T., T. M. D., Ashworth Bros., E. S. (Burnley), G. W. A., Steersman, C. H. W. B., Scorpio, Anti-Egyptian, A. Tolhausen, Cotton Clerk, J. M- o, R. F. C. W. B., H. F., J. M., ola Subscriber, W. H, Thorpe, B. H. R., J. Bloomfield, O. P. Q., J, H. D., Painter, T. J. O'C., F. W., G. S., J. E. P., Rev, C. H., Edwin Baker, Rev. J. F., Henry Pecher, R. K. P., W. T. D., J. E. F., J. II. and Son, S. T., P. C. V., B, S., J. E. L. B., A. S., R.A. Proctor, J. Jebb, J. and G.. R. Burnside, J. T. W., W. Nicholas, Dr. Z., T. R., S., J. B. D. W. K., W. N., J. E. Phillips, A. Gray, T. W. W., John Dutton, H. W. Henfrey, E. J. Jones, John Taylor, (letter forwarded), TA., T. N., L. and Co., G. S. and G.. John Heywood, D. Hermann, S. C. and Sons, N. S. Heineken.

HERMANN. Refer to the page quoted.
SAM MUNDY.-A postage stamp will not do.
SNAKESTONE,-We know of none. Some good information
was given by a practical man in our last Volume; see
Index,

T. H. S.-See recent back numbers.

A. SOLOMON.-Directions have appeared in back numbers for making inks of all colours.

WM. BATEY.-We do not favour private communications. Can you not make your directions plain to "Little Charley" by means of a sketch? Then all will benefit, and

not he alone.

J. P. SMITH.-Consult the first elementary engineering book you can pick up.

AQUAMBULATOR says he has invented an

arrangement whereby he can walk on the water without the use of balancing poles, inflated bags, &c., and he wants an enterprising person with money to insure its immediate introduction. He must advertise.

J. L.-Your letter, in fact, was so badly written that we could not make head or tail of it, and hence its nonappearance.

EQUATOREAL.-Your letter contains nothing new. We have given enough space to the subject by inserting Mr. Beardsley's letters.

J. R. JAMES.-In due time.

O. H. S.-We have a partiality for the arts of peace, hence the delay in publishing articles on war vessels. Besides, as a rule, we have more respect for facts than notions, and particularly in matters relating to vessels of war. We edited for some years the Mechanic's Magazine, which at the time devoted much of its space to gunnery and war vessels. In fact, we took the management of that publication, when Mr. E. J. Reed left it to become Chief Constructor of the Navy. The number of projects suggested for building and improving iron and iron-clad ships was amazingprojects which are now sleeping in oblivion. Let it not be supposed we eschew notions when they may relate to war. But as our space is limited, and the demands on it are numerous, we prefer verification to speculation. W. MORRIS says he can endorse the statement of "F.R.A.S.," on page 159, that "there appears to be a recent fashion with people who have nothing else to give to offer prizes." He says he was sufficiently lucky on a recent occasion, to win a prize, but by some means or other it never came to hand, though he has written several letters about it. He, however, consoles himself with the thought that if it came to hand, it would not, in all probability, be worth the carriage or houseroom. EDWARD MALBON.-Our former decision must be adhered to with regard to your letter, simply because it is best for all parties. We cannot reply to your first query. With regard to the stone-breaker, you would have to be careful that you did not add anything contained in his specification. G. EDWARDS.-The drawings and description not good enough.

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J. R. T. As you expected. "The Editor's capacious waste basket has swallowed up your letter." One Beardsley at a time is enough.

R. B. SAUL.The reason was that we could not even read your signature. Names and addresses should at all events be readable. But some of us are so familiar with our writing, and particularly with our own signatures, that we fancy others must be also. This is a mistake. L. Y. in a letter suggests that a mode of propulsion for the velocipede might be applied after the principle of the oar, but with the falcrum differently situated, the free end having a purchase on the ground. A method of guidance may be made by the feet, and other means." Suppose it would act, what on earth would be gained? W. T., DELTA, AND T. SAVAGE.-No stamps enclosed. R. T. S.-A good suggestion. Thanks. TRUST. It is somewhat beyond our province to point out or to recommend any particular manufacturer's goods. J. R. T.-The insertion of your letter would only advertise the journal, which has for months been trying in vain to get a circulation. It is well known to be a signal failure, and we are not going to assist it by holding a controversy which it is so desirous to provoke; besides, we believe" J. R. T."

is too magnanimous to strike a man when he is down.

Q. YORKE. Your writing on one side of the paper is sufficient.

It is well to put the number and the title of the query answered. Thanks.

ling to reply, or he would not have neglected the query, which has now been asked three times.

ENGLISH MECHANIC. - We cannot ask for directions to enable you to manufacture a patented article. UPSILON.-We have the numbers; they were sent to you last week addressed Mr. R. B. Lane, which appeared to be your name from your signature. Perhaps they may be lying at your post office.

FALSTAFF.-A good series of articles on painting and decoration is at present appearing in the BUILDING NEWS. Inquire of F. J. Cox, who advertises in our pages. THANKFUL-If you turn to page 143, you will see that another querist has anticipated you by asking "Fortunatus" the same question. His reply is not yet to hand, and you had better watch for it than write grumbling letters without

cause.

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APPLICATIONS FOR LETTERS PATENT DURING THE WEEK ENDING MAY 9, 1870.

1260 A. Barlow, Albion-road, Dalston, and H. Br owne textile fabrics for book covers

1261 F. J. Livsey, Manchester, machinery for printing upon spools used for holding thread and like materials.-A communication

1262 J. A. Emslie, Tarbert, Argyll, and J. T. Enslie, North Shields, apparatus for lifting, forcing, or conducting liquids, gases, or air 1203 H. Belmont, Romford, apparatus for cultivating land 1204 T. Bradbury. Shrewsbury, and J. Bamford, Manchester, communicating between passengers, guard, and engine driver

1265 J, Ormerod, Whaley-bridge, Chester, looms

1266 8. Taylor, Birmingham, rack pulleys for the cords of window blinds

adjusting umbrellas 1267 E. P. North, Birmingham, supports for supporting and

1268 W. H. Preece and W. E. Langdon, Southampton, working railway signals

1260 J. Tiranoff, S. Petersburgh, apparatus for preventing railway carriages running off the line

1270 A. M. Clark, 53, Chancery-lane, improvements in traction and locomotive engines.-A communication

1271 J. Guy, C. J. Guy, and F. S. Guy, South-street, Finsbury, copying letters

1272 G. Wright, Masborough, brick-making machines 1273 A. M. Clark, 53, Chancery-lane, steam carriages for common road locomotion.-A communication

1274 W. Woodward and A. Woodward, Manchester, apparatus to be used in connection with retorts for the manufacture of gas

1275 C. P. Matthews, Grantham, preparation to be applied to the insides of casks

1276 W. N. Hutchinson, Wellesbourne, Devon, improvements in the existing iron rails of railways and tramways, and in the construction of rails for future lines of railways and tramways

1277 W. C. Rawlins and A. Knowles, Liverpool, improve. ments in reversing gear for engines

1278 C. Exter, Munich, Bavaria, an improved brake applicable to the rolling stock of railways

1279 H. Kinsey, Nottingham, improvements in wheels for carriages

1280 B. Walker and J. F. A. Pflaum, Leeds, machinery for puddling 1281 J. Campbell, Belfast, improvements in drawing flax and other fibrous substances.

1282 F. M. Blyth, Norwich, harvesting machines

1283 B. Burton, 46, Leidenhall-street, breech-loading firearms and cartridges therefor

1284 G. Ingram, 37, Marylebone-road, regulating the lift of carriage windows

1285 3. B. Hickmott, Carlisle, maufacture of gas and coke 1280 W. R. Lake. Southampton-buildings, improvements in steam engines.-A communication 1287 A. V. Newton, 66, Chancery-lane, apparatus for cleaning grain and seeds.-A communication

1288 J. H. Johnson. 47. Lincoln's-inn-fields, treatment of maize.-A communication

1280 J. H. Johnson, 47, Lincoln's-inn-fields, improvements in safes, chests, bank vaults, and other like structures.-A communication

1301 T. Don, Redhill, improvements in obtaining and apply1305 W. T. Blake, 237, City-road, and M. Hyams, 55, Bathstreet, tobacco pipes subsoil drain 1366 H. Brooke, Huddersfield, improved drain-pipe rest ani 1307 F. R. A. Glover, Isle of Wight, steering or mancavring ships and other vessels

1508 W. S. Lowe, Torr Vale Mills, Disley, improvements in tape-dressing or sizing machines

1300 J. Ninon and J. Winterbotham. Sheffield. improved machinery for piercing and drilling tangs and scales for table knives and forks

1310 J. Bullough, Accrington, improvements in sizing machines

1311 R. Weare. Newcastle-under-Lyme, apparatus for Tecelving and treating sewage 1312 L. Mond Farnworth-within-Widnes, and J. Hargreaves. Appleton-within-Widnes, improvements in the manulactare of chlorine

1313 W. R. Lake, Southampton-buildings, London, an im proved stamping apparatus.-A communication 1814 A. P. Price, 47. Lincoln's-inn-fields, improvements in the treatment of sewage

1315 E. Guenin, Henrietta-street, Covent-zarden, manufac ture of mustard and other plasters

1316 B. Bert, No. 1, Place Richelieu, Bordeaux, a basin for the breeding of oysters,

1317 D. Brown, Belfast, machinery for dressing flax, hemp, saf other analogous materials

1318 G. S. Penny, Cheltenham, improvements applicable to cabinet stereoscopes

1319 J. Speight, Bradford, improvements in machinery or apparatus for spinning, twisting, and roving worsted

1320 J. I. Evans, Merthyr Tydvil, improved brushing machine for cleaning tin plates

1321 E. Whitworth, Groombridge, in Sussx, improvements in rotary engines

1322 T. Banks, Redditch, an improved neelle wrapper

1323 B. Hunt, 1, Serle-street, Lincoln's-inn, securing or locking screw belts and nuts.-A communication

1324 J. Pepper, Lake Village. Belknap, New Hampshire, U.S.A., machinery for knitting looped fabrics

1325 H. M. Ward, Ballymaconaghy Co. Down, machinery for spinning or twisting flax. hemp, jute, and other fibre as substances 1323 C. Brook. Huddersfield, improvement in the afacsare of sewing thread

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3223 E. Thomas, miners' safety lamps

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3233 W. Donbavand, improvements in balances for weighing 3241 L. Battinson G. Battinson, and T. Whitehead and H. W. Whitehead, machinery for combing wool, cotton, flax, and other fibrous substances

3252 G. Simpson, and L. Strauss, arrangements er apparatus for withdrawing beverages or other liquids from casks

3253 J. M. Rowan and T. & Horton, improvements in steam engines and boilers

3257 P. Wilson, improvements in locks and latches

3258 H. Rochatte, improvements in breech-loading fire-arms with central percussion

3261 B. Shaw, improvements in machinery for entting soB1). 3268 T. Snow, an improved column for exhibiting notices at railway stations

3272 G. H. Hannaford, improvements in apparatus for working, locking, and controlling railway switches

3274 W. E. Godge, composition to be used as a coating for preserving metal.-A communication

3275 W. E. Gedge, machine for cutting, drilling, and shaping wood and metals.-A communication

3280 F. Clarbour and W. E. Teale, improvements in mining lamps 3292 C. D. Abel, a new or improved process for refining and desil· vering lead.-A communication

3310 C. Ching, improvements in the boilers of hot-water apparatus

3327 R. K. Miller and A. B. Herbert, improvements in pumps 3344 C. D. Abel, improvements in the means and apparatus for utilizing streams, motive power.-A communication 3419 J. Fletcher, sen., J. Fletcher, jun., and W. Fletcher, improvements in mortar mills and other machines of the like nature

3416 G. B. McFarland, a new and improved convertible double-centre rotary engine

$629 T. Parry, and J. McHardy, an improved drag or brake applicable to wheeled vehicles

3718 C. H. Roeckner, and W. H Northcott, improvements in the process and method of disintegrating wood

408 J. Thompson, an improved spindle for door-handles 711 J. Jeavons, improvements in the manufacture of armour plates

3263 C. Brakel, improvements in obtaining and applying motive power

3255 O. Rose, Improvements in pistons for steam engines 3246 G.D. Edmeston, improvements in hammers to be worked by steam or other elastic fluid

3260 W. E. Dobson and F. Dobson, improvements in shawls made on lace machines

3271 H. R. Minas, improvements in letter pillar posts 3281 T. A. Dillon, an improved safety lamp

3282 W. Richardson, improvements appiicabla to valves of steam engine cylinders

3283 H. H. Grierson and J. M. Rigby, improvements in machinery for cutting or dressing stone

3290 F. Brampton, improvements in locks

330 W. Srigley, a new or improved friction engine

3317 E. Bazin, A. Ruiz, and E. Le Pelletier, improvements in spinning looms

3556 H. Byk, refining and bleaching paraffin

3612 W. McGee and W. McGee, doubling and winding fibrous materials

767 P. W. Spencer, improvements in limekilns 780 J. T. Walker, horseshoes

781 W. R. Lake, an improved machine for forming trenchesor ditches.-A communication

806 J. H. Johnson, improvements in crimping machines 850 C. J. Eyre, apparatus for producing motive power 870 W. R. Lake, improvements in turbine water wheels.-Y communication

872 W. R. Lake, improvements in the preparation of ammoniated sulphuric acid for the manufacture of manure.-a com munication

885 W. R. Lake, improvements in the valves of steam engines. and in the mechanism for operating the same.-A communicatin

SR. Smith, improvements in machinery for doubling and winding cotton.

The English Mechanic

AND

MIRROR OF SCIENCE AND ART.

FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1870.

WHAT STRIPES THE SUNBEAM. BY A FELLOW OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

A

(Continued from page 194.)

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S we have seen that it is to the joint research the stars. And here we may say that no one can | bright orange. Carrying on this same system ef of the two German philosophers, Bünsen and ever view a fixed star in this instrument without research, Huggins ascertained that in those pairs Kirchhoff, that we owe our first knowledge of the the greatest astonishment a', and admiration for, of stars conspicuous for the beautiful contrasts of chemical constitution of the Sun, so it is to the the labours of those (amongst whom Mr. Huggins colour they present, the same explanation applies is facile princeps) who have obtained such recombined investigation of two eminent English-markable results as those of which we are now men, Mr. William Huggins, F.R.S., and Dr. W. about to speak: the extreme relative faintness of A. Miller, F.R.S., that we are indebted for nearly the spectrum of a fixed star; the difficulty of maintaining its image accurately upon the slit all that we know about the chemistry of the stars, of the spectroscope; the undulation and confusion nebul, and comets. of the lines from the twinkling of the object viewed, and other noticeable causes, combine to render the mere observation of the spectrum of a star an undertaking of the most laborious and the task of measuring accurately the position of difficult nature. What, then, must we think of

In order that we may identify the substances to the absorptive action of whose vapour the dark lines in the spectrum of any given star are referable, it is necessary, as we have before explained, that we should possess the means of bringing the spectra of the suspected substances into juxtaposition with that of the star itself. The little prism D in Fig. 8 supplies us with the means of doing this, as it enables us to see at a glance whether the bright lines of the incandescent vapour which we are producing in our observatory, concide with, or appear to be prolongatious of, the dark ones of the star spectrum.

Considering that our own moon and the planets merely reflect to us the light of the Sun, it might, at the first blush, be imagined that nothing as to their own chemical constitution could be learned by a spectroscopic examination of them; but, remein-lines in it? bering what we have previously said about certain dark lines which are very conspicuous in the Solar spectrum when the Sun is near the horizon, and which certainly have their origin in the absorptive action of the Earth's atmosphere, a little reflection will suffice to show us that, if the Moon or any of the planets possessed a similar atmosphere to ours, this would intensify the absorption lines to an extent which would be very perceptible. As far as the Moon is concerned, the spectroscope only serves to add to the vast mass of negative evidence we possess, and to increase the moral probability almost to a certainty that she has no appreciable atmosphere of any sort or description whatever. An experimental observation of Mr. Huggins's, as beautiful and ingenious as it was conclusive, may be held to have set this matter at rest. It is well known that the Moon, in the course of a lunar month, describes what is, in effect, a great circle in the Heavens. In doing so, she must, of course, pass over and hide the infinitely dist nt stars which lie in her path, so that they will disappear at her advancing limb, and reappear at the opposite one as she travels on. These phenomena are called occultations, and are familar to all who take the smallest interest in the face of the night-sky. In fact we give a list every month, in our "Astronomical Notes," of all occultations up to stars of the sixth magnitude. Now, suppose that the Moon had an atmosphere, we should see the star by refraction after it was actually behind the Moon and it would seem to reappear at the opposite limb, from the same cause, before it had in reality emerged; just as we see the Sun before it has really risen, and after it has really set. But the differently-coloured rays are differently refrangible-the violet the most, and the red the least; so that if the Moon had an atmosphere, the red end of the spectrum would die out first, and the spectrum would fade away up to the violet, which would be the last to disappear. On the 4th of January, 1865, then, Mr. Huggins observed the occultation of the star Piscium with the spectroscope, with the special purpose of detecting any gradual fading out of the pectrum, should such exist; but, says that gentleman, "The advance of darkness upon the spectrum, since it occurred precisely in the direction of its breadth, swallowed up the rays of different refrangibilities throughout the whole extent of the visible spectrum at the same instant."

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Jupiter, however, shows lines in his spectrum indicative of an absorbing atmosphere, and one band, notably, does not correspon with any of the lines of absorption in the terrestrial atmosphere, and, therefore, is a sign of some gas or vapour which is foreign to our air. Saturn has, probably aqueous vapour in his atmosphere; and Mars seems to have a gaseous envelope exceedingly like

our own.

No intensification of the atmospheric lines is perceptible in Venus at all. Leaving, however, our own system, let us see what the spectroscope has revealed to us of the constitution of those almost infinitely remote bodies which spangle the dim depths of space,

When this is done, we shall be struck with the diversity which exists in the spectra of various stars. Huggins gives a description of the spectra of the two stars Aldebaran and a Orionis for the purpose of comparison, and has made a marvellously accurate drawing (too delicate and complicated for reproduction here) of the dark lines which they respectively exhibit. In one thing, however, they and other stars obviously agree, and that is in their light yielding a continuous spectrum striped by dark lines or bands; so that we can only infer that they are Suns, resembling our own in having brilliantly white-hat nuclei, the light from which passes through atmospheres contain ing absorbing elements. With regard to the two stars which we have just specially mentioned, we may say that the two hydrogen lines C and F (Fig. 7, p. 172) are present in the spectrum of Aldebaran, but absent from that of a Orionis; so that we see that the atmosphere of Aldebaran does (like that of our own Sun) contain hydrogen, while it has no existence in that of a Orionis. Four lines of calcium, also a solar metal, are present in both stars, as is our old friend sodium; in fact, Huggins and Miller have detected nine elements at least in Aldebaran alone. We have just said that hydrogen is absent from a Orionis. So far as we know, it is wanting in only one other star, ẞ Pegasi. All the other stars which have been examined contain this element, which plays a part of such extraordinary importance in our own Sun's atmosphere. Sodium, magnesium, and iron also would seem to be present in a large proportion of the stars. We may well stand appalled at the grandeur of the conception thus realised, that the whole of the visible universe is knit together by the identity of the elements of which it is composed!

The next question which Huggins set himself to determine was, will the spectroscope throw any light on the cause of the diversity of colour in the fixed stars? and he had not long to wait for an answer. Commencing with that brilliantly white star, Sirius, he found that the dark lines of its spectrum were equally distributed all over it; so that rays of all refrangibilities or colours, being equably obscured, the light appeared to the eye to be colourless. Turuing now to the larger component of that lovely double star, a Herculis, he found its spectrum crossed by numerous dark lines in the deep red, green, and blue, leaving the yellow and orange relatively free from shading; so that the light affected the eye as a

-that is to say, that a star whose spectrum was thickly ruled with dark lines in the red, yellow, and green, would appear of a vivid blue, while a corresponding shading at the more refrangible, or violet and blue, end of the spectrum of a star would cause it to appear to the eye as of a red hue. Father Secchi, of the Observatory of the College at Rome, in his "Catalogo delle Stella di cui si é Determinato lo Spettro Luminoso," published in 1867, divides all the stars into three 3, y, d, e, 4, and n Ursa Majoris, &c., having four groups: Firstly, the white stars, Sirius, Vega, well-marked black lines coinciding with the hydrogen ones. His next group comprises the yellow stars, such as Arcturus, Pollux. a Ceti, our own Sun, &c.; thirdly, the red and orange stars, a Herculis, a Orionis, Antares, &c., the spectra of which are cut up into a series of bright and dark bands, increasing in intensity towards the red. Since then, Secchi has added a fourth group, consisting of small red stars, whose spectra present three bright zones increasing in intensity towards the violet.

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And here, before passing to the next division of our subject, we must, parenthetically, tell the story of the marvellous result of the application of the spectroscope to the examination of an otherwise unaccountable phenomenon observed in the Heavens in the year 1866. On the night of May the 12th in that year, an Irish gentleman, Mr. John Birmingham, of Tuam, saw a perfectly new star, which he described as " very brilliant, of about the second magnitude," next to a in the constellation Corona Borealis (vide Vol. X., p. 65). This star was observed by Mr. Baxendell, of Manchester, on the 15th, and afterwards by numerous observers in various parts of the country. We have called it a perfectly new star, but in fact it was only so in the sense of its appearance as a large and brilliant object, where nothing but a star of the 9-5th magnitude had previously been known to exist. It had arrived at its greatest brilliancy per saltum, or by a jump, for there would appear to be abundant negative evidence that it was not visible to the naked eye prior to the night of Mr. Birmingham's discovery of it, when it vied with the brightest of its eighbours in lustre. From the time that it was first seen it began steadily to decline in brightness until about the middle of August, when it had diminished nearly to the 10th magnitude. Four nights after it was first detected by Mr. Birmingham, Mr. Huggins and Dr. Miller examined it with the spectroscope. Tre results they obtained are so extremely remarkable, that we shall give them, to a great extent, in Mr. Huggins's own words. He says: "The light of the star is compound, and has emanated from two different sources; each light forms its own spectrum. The principal spectrum is analogous to the light of the Sun. The portion of the star's light represented by this spectrum was emitted by an incandescent solid or liquid photosphere, and suffered partial absorption by passing through an atmosphere of vapours existing at a temperature lower than that of the photosphere." Omitting the description of this absorptive spectrum, which des not here concern us, we proceed to quote Mr. H.'s account of the other: "The second spectrum, which in the instrument appears to be superposed upon the one already described, consists of five bright lines. This order of spectrum shows that the light by which it was formed was emitted in the shape of gas." It only remains now to say that these bright lines coincided with those of the spectrum of hydrogen; and the reader, if he have thoroughly comprehended what we have said on pp. 146 and 127, will be able to draw for himself the true inference from these appearances. It is simple this, that we were looking at some sudden and

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