plied. But though the aperture or still larger, which terminates upwards apertures may be made on any side of in a tube, pipe, or prismatic cavity, to the vessel, at the top or bottom, or which a metallic plug or piston is elsewhere, yet the preference is given fitted, so as to move up and down with to a surface, or face, nearly horizon- facility, without suffering any of the tal, so that the fluid metal shall spout metal to issue out. The same plug is up into the mould-it is the easiest also used to extrude the melted metal method; it is thought proper to keep through the aperture into the mould, each of the apertures closed, when it by giving the piston a stroke, or apis requisite to be so done, by a plate plying a suitable pressure. But to of metal laid upon the horizontal sur- impel the metal into the mould, the face, and well fitted thereunto. The plug or piston is suffered to descend lower part of the mould is also made by its own weight, into the tube; flat and true, in order that it may be though in every application of the applied in like manner, and slided same, instead of closing the aperture along the horizontal surface.

by a cock, valve, or plate, the quanThis mould is slided by pushing it tity of the metal may be so regulated, against the said flat plate, until the or the position of the parts of the ap plate is displaced, and the aperture of paratus so disposed, that the surface the mould falls directly opposite to of the fused metal shall be accurately, the aperture in the vessel, and receives or very nearly at the upper part of the its charge of metal accordingly; af- aperture, beneath the mould. These ter which, the mould being again machines consisting of vessels so fitted drawn back, the metal plate, by means up, the moulds and their respective of a weight, a spring, or other well- parts may be used by one or more known agent, suited to the purpose, is workmen to cast letters and sorts at the made to follow the mould, and close same time from the same mass of methe aperture by resuming its first situ- tal; but if different metals are to be ation. In order that these motions used, or local circumstances render it and effects may be performed, and necessary for the workmen to be at a produced without any particular skill considerable distance from each other, or attention in the workman, guides, recourse must then be had to a numsliders, stops, or pins, are made use of ber of distinct and separate machines for confining, directing, and limiting of Mr. Berte's improvement, one of their motions. But when it may not which consists in making the body of be necessary to use the sliding plate the mould of four adjustable pieces for closing and opening the aperture instead of two, which has been hitheraforesaid, the mould may be applied to the common practice. Each of to it, either by sliding it to its place, these four pieces hath two external or by any other method of opposition; and that the fluid may rise with sufficient force, the vessel, with some exceptions, is made in such a figure that the quantity of type metal which it Contains, shall have its upper surface sufficiently high above the level of the aperture or apertures. For this purpose the vessel is formed like a box or closed receptacle, with a pipe or tube rising out of it, so that the pressure afforded by the statical action of water, or any other fluid, which may be used, shall produce their desired effect against the surface of the type metal.

Another improvement in this method of casting types results from making the vessel, which contains the fluid metal, close on all sides, the common aperture excepted, and another UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIII.

plain faces inclined to each other in the precise angle of a square or right angle, so that all the four convex pieces, when put together, with their angular edges in the same line, will fit, and leave no cavity; but when the several pieces are slided upon each other, face to face at right angles to the middle line or edges upon every one of the touching faces, a square, rectangular, or cavity, will be left, which, instead of being adjustable in one direction only, can be made of any required dimensions, so as to admit of changes in the width, as well as thickness, in the body of the letter, and when the adjustment is made, the plates may be fastened together in pairs, and used like the common moulds. Mr. Berte's moulds are also made without nicks or notches, or

such parts as will produce nicks or may also be made by substituting any notches in the shank of the letter; thin paper for the duplicate paper, and he expels the cast letter from the and writing upon it with any hard submouid by a punch or proper tool, stance, which will leave a trace bewithout opening the mould as is hind it; or by using such papers as usually done. These moulds, how- admit of an easy absorption of the co ever, so improved, may be used along louring matter beneath. with any other improvements in casting, equally in the same manner as they may be used and applied for casting in the common way.

Mr. WEDGWOOD's, for an Apparatus for producing Duplicates of Writing

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To multiply copies from an origi nal, a set of types, and a type tablet is used; and for shortening the handwriting, the types can be reduced to one figure, namely, to a point, but nicnt. These convey the idea of any more figures may be used if conveletter by the position in which they may be placed, in a square, or any other figure, printed, or otherwise marked in the writing paper, which square is called the basis of the letters, and the paper, character-paper; the preciss shape and size thereof is not of impor tance, but may be varied at pleasure.

per

O write by this mode, a prepared paper is made use of, which is called duplicate paper; this is made by thinly smearing any kind of thin paper with any kind of oil; but preferring those kinds of oil which are least liable to oxyenizement, or to be evaporated by heat. The ink used in The types consist of small tubes of this case consists of carbon, or any metal, or any other material, of any other colouring substance, and finely shape: and on that end which is to levigated with any kind of oil. This give the form of the letters, there may ink is to be evenly spread on leaves of be either a round point, or any other thin paper, &c. after which it should simple mark, or marks, at pleasure; remain for five or six weeks, or any the types are of the same thickness shorter period, betwixt sheets of ab- from end to end, or otherwise, as may sorbent or blotting paper; afterwards be thought proper. The type-tableť it is fit for use: this is called carbon- consists of a piece of flat metal, or any ated paper. But any colouring mat- other material of any dimensions ter of any kind may be used, provided forated with holes or sockets to fit the the medium be such as will admit of types. On the top of the type-tablet the colouring matter being transferred is engraved, or marked, squares cor to the duplicate and the writing pa- responding with those upon the cha per; and some colouring substances racter paper, on which the writing or nay be used without any medium or printing is to be made. To prevent vehicle. The pens or styles used are the accidental shifting of the types in made of agate, ground and polished their sockets, they are rubbed with a to a smooth round point, and set in little bees wax, softened with oil or metal, or any other sockets, or any any unctuous matter; and to hinder hard substance may be substituted for the types from passing through the agate. To write singly by this mode, sockets of the type-tablet in the act of a leaf of this carbonated paper is laid writing, a plate of metal, of equal size upon a smooth tablet of metal; se- with the type-tablet, is fixed at the condly, a leaf of carbonated paper up- bottom of it, so as to admit the types on that, and thirdly, upon both, a leaf being pressed to any given distance of duplicate paper, and upon the pa- through the sockets of the type-tablet, pers so disposed, the writing is made till by this plate they are stopped. T with a style. The effect produced is fix the types previous to taking off a double transfer of the carbon from impressions, melted lead, or any the carbonated paper, viz. that on the other substance, may be run into the lower surface to the letter paper be- tops of these sockets, which are vacatneath it, and that from the upper to ed by the depression of the types that the under surface of the duplicate have been used. The lead uniting the paper above it. If desired, the tablet whole is called a stereotyped-tablet, may be left out, yet the impression is and this may be used the same as any always stronger with it. Duplicates other type in the common mode of

printing, and with a common press, underneath; and when the types are observing always to place the charac- formed as before directed, with lead, ter paper so that the squares thereof, a stereotyped-tablet is formed, from and those of the type-tablet, shall which other impressions may be mulperfectly correspond, and meet line tiplied at pleasure.

for line,when pressed upon each other. After meiting out the lead, the Or leaves of this carbonated paper types may be all replaced in their re may be laid alternately upon each spective sockets, by gently pressing other, and upon this the stereotyped upon their points a metal or wooden paper is pressed in any way found tablet which will cover the whole of convenient; and by this means, with them at once. The type-tablet is then a single pressure, a multiplicity of ready for the composition of the seimpressions are formed at once. To cond page of any work which is to be write with new characters, one, two, painted. or even six layers of duplicate paper This invention combines the advan are taken, on which is stamped, or tages of inaking several fac-similes of printed, the basis of the letters; be- writings or drawings at the same tween every two leaves a leaf of carbo- time, by a single pen or style, which nated paper is laid, and over all the requires no repair, and with ink rest the type-tablet, each square of proof against those chemical agents which must be exactly over the squares which destroy the common ink. Exor figures in the character paper; clusively of copying, this machinery when thus laid, each type which may saves time; is perfectly simple, and, be required to make an impression,' adapted for all climates. It may go is pressed down, from which act six in the pocket, and in that form weighs copies are produced on the papers only three ounces.

I

TRANSACTIONS OF LEARNED & ECONOMICAL SOCIETIES. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.-Hints Guzerat, was sown with bariey, in a respecting the proper Mode of inuring well cultivated field; but though it tender Plants to the British Climate, rose, eared land bio-somed, with a By the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Bunks, healthy appearance, many cars were K.B. F.R.S.-Read Dec. 3, 1805.. without corn, and few brought more IT is observed by the lecturer, that than three or four grains to per many attempts had been made in fection. this line, and that several valuable In 1791, some seeds of Zizania aquashrubs that used to be kept in stoves tica, procured from Canada, were are now seen in the open garden; sown in a pond at Spring Grove, near there is, however, reason for thinking that each of them was originally the natives of a cold climate, though introduced to us through the medium of a warm one; as the gold tree, aucuba japonica, the moutan, Paonia frutescens, and several others of our times.

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In the case of annuals, all that can be done, is to enable it to ripen its fruit in a comparatively cold summer, after which the bardest frost has no power to injure the seed, though ever so much exposed; while a perennial has to encounter frosts with its buds and anuuals; frosts with us have been so severe as to rend asunder the trunks of our indigenous forest tres. It is probable that the seed of wheat, our principal food at present, was only perfected by repeated sowings: a few Jears since, soine spring wheat from

Hounslow, which grew, and produced strong plants which ripened their seeds; these seeds vegetated in the succeeding spring, but the plants they produced were weak and slender, not half so tali as the first, and grew in the shallowest water only. The next year the seeds of these plauts produced others considerably stronger than their parents of the second year, and thus they increased every year till 1804, when several of the plants were six feet high, and the who e pond was co, vered with them as thick as wheat grows on a well-managed field. This experiment proves that an annual plant, scarcely able to endure the ungemal summer of England, bas become, in fourteen generations, as strong and as vigous as our own, and as perfect in all its parts as in its native climate.

The

Among the flowering shrubs, the small acquisition to the pleasure of Bay tree has been cultivated more the gentleman, and the profit of the than two centuries, Tusser mentions gardener. As the learned Naturalist it among the list of his garden plants, expressed his intention to commence called "Five Hundred Points of Good experiments immediately, be also inHusbandry," printed in 1579. vited the younger brethren of the soMaster Cole, a merchant living at ciety to bring his theory to the test of Hampstead some years before 1629, experience, and which he said he had introduced the laurel: this was when brought forward, he hoped, not withParkinson published his "Paradisus qut some prospect of success. Terrestris," when we had in our gar- settlement lately made at New Holdens oranges, myrtles of three sorts, land, he observed, afforded a large lauristinus, cypress, phillyrea, ala- scope to these experiments, many ternus arbutus. A cactus was brought plants from there endure our climate from Bermudas, and the Passion with very little protection, and some flower, which last had flowered here, of them arrive at puberty at an early and showed a remarkable particula- period. We have already three from rity, by rising from the ground nearly the south point of Van Diemen's land, a month sooner if a seedling plant, where the climate cannot be wholly than if it grew from roots brought without frost, viz. the mimosa vertifrom Virginia. At that time the calata, eucalyptus hirsuta, and ob whole of these were tender plants; liqua. The first produced flowers Master Cole threw a blanke over his within eight years of its first introduclaurel to protect it in frosty weather; tion. Among the further supplies but though two centuries have since hoped for, the learned Naturalist speelapsed, not one of them will bear yet cified the winterana aromatica, an inwith certainty, our winter frosts. habitant of the inhospitable shore of Though some of these shrubs ripen Terra del Fuego, which Mr, Brown their seeds here, it is not the custom discovered on the south part of Van of gardeners to sow them; some of Diemen's Island. them are propagated by suckers and cuttings, and others by imported seeds; consequently the very identical laurel introduced by Master Cole, and some of the plants mentioned by Parkinson, are now actually growing in our gardens, It is therefore not HIS learned member commenced astonishing, that these original shrubs by observing, that natureappear have not become hardier, though pro- to have put no limits to our labours bably they would, had they passed in improving vegetables, if properly through several generations by being applied; thus our wild crab has been raised from British seeds. From hence converted into the golden pippin, it is inferred worthy of a trial to sow while our most delicious plums ori the seeds of these and other tender ginally sprung from the sloe. Wha shrubs that occasionally ripen in this would suppose that the hard acrid climate. The Zizania exhibited a root of the Brassica Napus, or com complete habit of success in fourteen mon rape, might be rendered so mild generations, and had proportionably and palatable by cultivation, as to improved in hardiness long before. be preferred to the common turnip, In plants that require some years to Yet this has actually been the case; arrive at puberty, fourteen generations and in France, as well as in Germany, is more than any man can hope to sur- few great dinners are served up with vive; but in many cases a much less out it, in one shape or another. The number of years will suffice: even one learned member observed, that he generation may effect a change of no had seen this plant brought to Covent small importance. If the myrtle Garden market, but only by one per could bear the climate of Middlesex, son. He believed it had been chiefly as well as that of Devonshire, or ex- sold to Foreigners, though when once empt our laufel hedges from the known, he thought it would be a very danger of being cut by severe frosts, acceptable root to most families. In Sir Joseph observed, it would be no Germany it enriches all their soups,

On a variety of the Brassica Napus, or Rape, which has been long cultivated on the Continent. By Mr. James Dickson, F.L.S. V.P.H.S. Read Feb. 4, 1803.

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and there is no necessity to cut away, border, however, and upon a sandy but only scrape the outer skin or riud, moist soil, they may be had sweet and which is thinner than that of the com- tender during the whole summer. mon turnip. Stewed in gravy it forms To save good seeds it will be neces a most excellent dish, and being white, sary in February, or the beginning of and of the shape of a carrot, when March, to transplant some of the mixed alternately with those roots finest roots, placing them two feet upon a dish, it is very ornamental. asunder, and keeping the ground reAn eminent French cook has given peatedly hoed. When the seed-pots the following receipts for dressing them.

stitute, relates the following of

are formed, they should be guarded. from the birds, either with nets, or "Take your roots and wash them hanging up some birds that have beca very clean with a brush; then scrape shot upon sticks. As soon as the seedthem, cutting a slice away from the pods change colour, it is necessary to top, and as much from the bottom as cut the heads and spread them to dry will make them of equal length; boil in the sun; after which the seed is to them in water with a little salt till they be beaten out, and laid up for use. are tender; then put them into a stewpan with a gill of veal gravy, two tea- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FRANCE. spoonfulls of lemon-pickle, one of mushroom ketchup, a little mace and MR. SAGE, a Member of the Insalt, and let them just simmer, but not the soporific effects produced by the boil, for a quarter of an hour; or, after exhalation of saffion. This plant preparing and boiling them as before, is cultivated in great abundance in put them into a stew-pan, with a little water, working in as much flour and butter as will thicken it like cream; let them simmer five minutes, then place the stew-pan near the stove to keep hot. Just before you dish them, add two spoonfuls of cream, mixed with the yolk of an egg, and a little mace, beat very fine, skaking the pan over the fire for two or three minutes, but do not let them boil; put white sippets of French bread round the dish.

the Gatenais, one of the former provinces of France, and is gathered in autumn. The flowers after being carefully collected, are spread over linen cloths in the farm houses; and in the evening the women are employed in picking off the pistils, the odour of which produces the most alarming effects on the nervous system; and this, by the natives, is called soporific fever. This generally lasts a month, but is never felt excepting during the saffron harvest. Its effects are much like A great advantage which attends those of opium, and will sometimes this vegetable is, that it wants no ma- even cause the death of children and pure whatever. Any soil, poor and feeble persons. Vinegar is the best light, if it be sandy, suits it, where it remedy, sometimes mixed with gooseseldom exceeds the size of one's berry water, and rubbed into the body thumb or middle finger. In rich ma- with a flannel dipped into it. Mr. nured earth it grows much larger, but Sage also succeeded in re.ieving a peris not so sweet or good in quality, son from a similar state of lethargy, The season for sowing is any time be- having remained too long in a garden tween the middle of July and the end of poppies. Mr. Sage further relates, of August, or eveu later in this coun- that being in his own house on the try, where our frost seldom sets in be- 4th of August last, about half past one fore Christmas. If the season be dry in the afternoon, the thunder was at, it will be necessary to water the beds tracted by the paratonnere, or conduc regularly, till the plants have got tor, on the top of his study, at the three or four leaves, otherwise they will be destroyed by the fly. If want ed during the whole year, a little seed may be sown the latter end of October, which plants, if they do not miscarry, will be fit for use in April or May. In July and August the crops will not be very good; upon a north

Hotel de la Monnaie. On hearing a violent rumbling noise, but very dif ferent from that of thunder, he ob served to the person that was with him," the thunder approaches us.” At the same moment a woman, who was standing near the chimney in the kitchen adjoining his apartment, was