view, mainly, to attain a higher degree of speed than has hitherto been thought eligible in the reciprocating engine. I have succeeded, in practice, in working the piston of my engine at a speed of upwards of two thousand feet per minute, and have thus produced effects at least five fold greater than have heretofore been produced by engines of the same weight. I am aware that I cannot claim the increased speed of which my engines admit, in the abstract, but I do claim it in combination with, and as resulting from, the manner in which I have constructed my engines, and especially from the peculiar construction of my piston, which moves, as I verily believe, absolutely without friction.

"I claim, therefore, the general combination and arrangement of the above described engine, taken as a whole, and as distinguished from other engines by appropriate characteristics. I claim the within described mode of constructing and setting cylindrical boilers. I claim the constructing of a metallic piston to move without friction in the manner set forth. I do not claim to be the first to have used a solid metallic piston, but I do claim to be the first who has used it so as to pass through the cylinder without friction, having been the first to ascertain that this might be done without a waste of steam. I claim the manner of constructing and using the receiver, where two or more boilers are employed, as herein fully made known. I claim the manner in which I have constructed my indicator, and connected and combined the same with the boiler, snbstantially as described. Lastly, I claim the particular construction of the slide-valve for cutting off the steam at any designated part of the stroke of the piston; this result being obtained by the particular proportion of its parts, without any greater complexity of construction than in the ordinary whole stroke valve."

We have made large extracts from the specification of this patent, because there are some things in it which are interesting and well calculated to arrest attention. Whether the experiments which were instituted on a large scale have been productive of new and useful results, we have not been informed, and are apprehensive, therefore, that such has not been the case.

PREPARING TANNIN, AND SOLUTIONS OF TANNIN, FROM ASTRINGENT BARKS; Augustus J. Hayes, Roxbury, Massachusetts, July 12.-"I place in suitable vessels, the contents of which can be heated by steam, or otherwise, the quantity, and kind of bark to be operated upon, after it has been deprived of its out coat or ross,

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and add hot or cold water sufficient to cover the bark. I then dissolve so much of the alkaline salts of either ammonia, potash, soda or lithia, or of these alkalies in a pure state, as may be required to neutralize four-fifths of the acid naturally contained in these barks, (which quantity varies according to the season of cutting the barks) in one barrel of hot or cold water, and mix the alkaline solution so obtained, with the bark and water, by strong agitation. I allow this mixture to remain one hour, and after that time, heat the whole to nearly the boiling point of water, then withdraw the heating source, and allow the clear liquor to drain from the bark. I wash the bark which remains with the weak liquors which have been used for washing other portions of bark, and mix the liquor which drains from the bark with that previously obtained, so long as it is denser than water; what remains is used for washing the next quantity of bark. If I operate without applying heat to the mixture, I allow it to remain for twenty-four hours mixed, instead of one hour, and then proceed as above described.

The solution of oak or hemlock tannin thus obtained, may be used for tanning operations generally, or for concentration, by which the watery part is dissipated by heat, and the bulk and weight greatly reduced.

If I operate on 128 cubic feet or 1122 lbs. avoirdupois, of dry hemlock bark, deprived of its outer coat or ross, I use and prefer, 11 lbs. of dry carbonate of soda, (called soda ash) or 16 lbs. of carbonate of potash, (called pearlash) although the alkaline bases of these salts, and other alkalies in equivalent proportions, will serve for neutralizing four-fifths of the acid naturally contained in that bark, and these are the mean quantities required. I then extract the tanning principle by the method described above, and if it is to be carried to distant parts, I concentrate it by boiling it in vessels of lead, tin or copper, heated below 300° Fahr., until it is reduced to the form of a consistent paste.

GUN CARRIAGES FOR NAVAL AND OTHER PURPOSES, William Smith, Washington, Kentucky, July 19.-"The distinguishing character of this improvement consists in making about four-fifths of the periphery of each truck or wheel of the gun carriage, the figure of a section of a spiral curve, and the other fifth nearly flat, instead of a circle, for the purpose of retarding the motion of a carriage, as the gun recoils at discharging, and thus to prevent the breaking of the breeching, which often takes place when the trunks are made round." The sketch in the margin will give an idea of the intended form of the wheels.

To aid in training the gun for firing forward or abaft, anti-friction rollers are to be placed on the middle of the flat side of the periphery of the wheel, so that it may be moved laterally with but little friction on the deck.

MANUFACTURING SUGAR FROM BEETS, Joseph Hurd, jun. Boston, Massachusetts, July 26.-The beets after being taken from the ground, and freed from all extraneous matter, are to be cut into slices, the thickness of which should not much exceed the eighth of an inch. I have invented a machine for the purpose of performing this operation,which is more effective than any other with which I am acquainted, and for which I have obtained letters patent of the United States. The beets are to be taken out of the ground as soon as they are perfectly matured, and are to be then stored in a cellar or other suitable place, as otherwise they rapidly undergo a change unfavourable to the production of sugar; they are to remain in this situation until the arrival of the time for slicing and drying them. The proper period for this operation is the earliest season of frost; as, in my process, they are to be exposed to a freezing temperature, so as to freeze and dry them in the air immediately after they are cut. This freezing is an essential point in my process; this, together with the dispensing with the use of lime, and the producing of sugar without molasses, may be denominated its characteristic features. To dry the beets after slicing them, they may be spread out upon laths or upon netting or in any other manner in which they will be most completely exposed to the frost and to the wind; the desiccation, when sliced as above directed, requires but a short space of time, and is effected without injury to the saccharine principle. After being thus frozen and dried, the subsequent steps of the process may be performed at any time, as not the slightest injury will result from keeping the beets in a dry state for any length of time.

When it is desired to proceed to obtain the sugar from the beets immediately, they may be subjected to the freezing process only, then thawed, and submitted to pressure; they will then readily yield the greater

part of their juice, which they would not have done if pressed prior to their being frozen. The pressed slices, with the residuum of the sugar contained in them, may afterwards be dried, and kept as food for cattle.

When the sugar is to be extracted from the dried beets, which may be done at any season, they are to be steeped in pure water, which will take up all the soluble matter, an effect consequent upon the change produced in the beet by freezing. The quantity of water need only be such as shall suffice to cover the beets, and may be about one-half of that which was lost in the process of drying. The soluble materials consist principally of the sugar, the mucilage and a portion of colouring matter. To free the sugar from the mucilage and colouring matter, I generally acidulate the water before pouring it upon the dried beets, by adding to it a minute portion of sulphuric acid; the quantity of this cannot be easily designated, otherwise than by observing that it shall be no greater than shall suffice to render the acid taste just perceptible. Sometimes I add the water alone, and after allowing a sufficient length of time for it to take up all the soluble matter, which may be from three to four hours when cold water is used, but a much shorter period will suffice with hot water; I drain off and press out the solution from the residual matter, and then add thereto the sulphuric acid as before directed. In the former mode, but little of the mucilage and colouring matter is taken into solution; in the latter, they are precipitated, or so far disengaged from their combination with the sugar, that they separate in the form of scum, and are readily removed when the liquid is boiled.

The liquid thus prepared, is to be put into a boiler, and placed over a fire, a portion of the white of eggs or other fining being added. When brought to a boiling heat, a scum will rise, which is to be removed after damping or taking the kettle from the fire, which is to be repeated as long as any scum rises.

The next operation is to filter the liquor through animal charcoal, (ivory or bone black.) A stratum of two or three inches in thickness will suffice for every useful purpose, when the previous preparation has been used as above directed. The sirop will come through perfectly fine, and nearly as colourless as water; there will however be a very slight yellowish green tinge, resulting apparently from the presence of a peculiar principle in the beet; this material separates when crystallization takes place; although its quantity is minute, and its weight scarcely appreciable, if left among the crystals, occasion an adhesiveness of the particles and

a tendency to deliquescence; it should therefore be got rid of, and this is easily effected. All that it is necessary is to pour a quantity of white sirop upon the crystalized sugar after it has been pressed, so as to moisten it throughout and then press it again. This operation requires but little time, and should be repeated until the sugar is fit to pack.

The evaporating of the water from the sugar, preparatory to its crystallization, may be in great part performed over an open fire without danger of injury; it may be completed by placing the evaporating pan in a vessel of water kept at about 150° of Fahrenheit's thermometer. When this is performed early in the season, or by taking beets which have been frozen and dried at the proper time, there will not be the smallest portion of molasses produced, the whole of the sugar being crystallizable. In very cold weather, a large part of the water may be removed in the form of ice, by allowing it to freeze, and much labour and fuel be thus saved.

When the clarified sirop is sufficiently concentrated, small brilliant crystals will appear upon the sides and bottom of the vessel, and a crust soon forms over the surface of the liquor; the crytals go on increasing in size, and that portion of the sirop from which the air is excluded continues in a perfectly clear and liquid state; but if the sirop be at this time stirred, it becomes opaque, and of milky whiteness; a deposition of fine white sugar then takes place, and whatever of impurity may have remained in the liquor will rise to the surface; this portion crystallizes more slowly than the other but by drawing it off, and again exposing it to heat, it will readily form good

sugar.

CHAT MOSS-PEAT SOIL CULTIVATION.

We find that a good deal of misconception exists on the subject of the agricultural improvements upon that large tract of land called Chat Moss, so well known to all travellers by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, and that in some cases these improvements are much over-rated, and in others somewhat under-rated.

This property consists of about 6000 acres, and it is divided into portions taking the designation of Worsley, Barton, Astley, &c. according to the respective townships in which the estates are situated.

One part of Chat Moss (Worsley Moss) consists of about 1500 acres, and is in the possession of Lord Fras. Egerton ; another portion of it called Barton Moss, is in the

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possession of Mr. Baines, of Leeds, and consists of between a thousand and eleven hundred acres, and the other estates of the same kind are held by other persons, some in large and others in small portions.

A considerable part of Worsley Moss has been reclaimed by the noble proprietor or his predecessor, the Duke of Bridgewater, but we do not know exactly to what extent.

Barton Moss has also undergone considerable improvement, and of that we are better able to speak than of any other part of the land. About twenty years ago Mr. Baines directed his attention to this object, and his first operations were to drain the moss, and to plough, marl and manure the portion marked out for cultivation: he has also nearly surrounded the land with plantations consisting principally of Fir, Larch, Poplar and Beech, which all grow well in this soil. The progress of these improvements has not been rapid, but it has been steady; the construction of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, while it considerably increased the value of the property, accelerated the progress of the improvements, and Mr. Baines's own improvements and those of his tenants now comprehended something more than five hundred acres. The effect has been that good crops of wheat and oats are now produced, with fair crops of clover, potatoes and turnips; and a dairy-farm has been formed here, including about forty head of cattle, which, after about seven years' experience, are found to thrive and milk well. The consequence of these improvements has been that while twenty years ago the estate did not yield provisions for a dozen individuals, it now supports several hundreds with the necessaries of life, and that number is every year increasing. Another beneficial effect has been to give employment to the principal part of the inhabitants of the neighbouring village of Irlam, which from having been one of the most poverty-stricken villages in the county, has become the residence of a comfortably-provided and contented peasantry *

The degree of success that has attended this experiment may lead to erroneous conclusions, which it is proper to guard against, particularly as many Irish and English landlords possessing land of the same description, have visited these farms with the hope of making similar improvements on their

* In Devonshire and some of the southern counties, it was stated in the House of Commons, that the wages paid to labourers in husbandry is only 78. to 88. a week. This was denied by Sir Thomas Acland, who said the wages amounted to 8s. or 9s. weekly; but in South Lancashire the regular wages to husbandry labourers is from 12s. to 138, a week.