up must go. Ballingall's Improvements in Ship-Building.||ings) are entirely unconnected with each the bottom, amidships, and many strakes in [From the London Mechanics' Magazine.] other, resting only on the outer planking, the bows, and yet this ship was floated off." It is now upwards of twenty years since without contributing, in the smallest degree, Sir Robert Seppings has justly the credit Sir Robert Seppings introduced into the towards the support of the general structure. of introducing this practice into general use Royal Navy various improvements in ship. This loose and dangerous mode of construc- in the Royal Dock Yards; but when in of building, which are universally allowed to tion has, at the instance of Sir Robert Sep-fice, he had himself the liberality to point out have imparted great additional strength, safe-pings, been altogether abandoned in the con- to Mr. Ballingall, in the model-room at the ty, and durability, to our ships of war: yet,struction of our ships of war. Every couple Navy-Office, the model of a brig called The to use the words of Mr. Knowles, (Inquiry of ribs, without exception, is closely connect-Lady Nelson, which was built about 1790, into the Means which have been taken to pre-ed, and all the smaller interstices, as high as under the directions of Admiral Schanks, serve the British Navy,) such is "the jea- the floor heads, are filled in and caulked; in on the principle of a perfect union of the lousy incident to human nature, in properly short, the bottom is converted into one com- timbers, and is now, after a lapse of thirtyappreciating and applying the inventions of pact solid mass, and that wholly exclusive of two years, still running, and "tight as a botothers, or the indolence of the mind in not the outer planking. It must be evident that tle.' bringing itself to examine new methods or a ship thus constructed may sustain very Mr. Ballingall thinks that "nearly all the combinations-these improvements, while they considerable damage in her outer planking vessels which have been lost by foundering have been eagerly grasped by foreign na. lose actually a plank or two, or even her keel and collision might have been saved, if the tions, are but slowly introduced in the ships-and yet reach the place of her destination; vessels had had solid bottoms;" and there of our merchants, and, with an apathy hardly while the loss of even a portion of a single can be no question that the loss of life and to be credited, are totally neglected by the plank or of the keel would be the destruction property from the neglect of this mode of first trading company in Europe (the East of a vessel built on the present mode. When construction is annually immense. India Company)." The advantages of the water gets once past the outside planking of 2. Caulking the whole of the ceiling or inimproved system, however, are so manifest any ordinary vessel, nothing but the pumps ner planking of the vessel, and thus making and indisputable, that all that was wanting to can save it; and should these get choked, it water-tight. This is contrary to the pracbring it into general use, in the mercantile or the crew become exhausted in working tice pursued in the Royal Navy, and, we are navy, was, that some influential individual them, (both very common cases,) down she induced to think, somewhat superfluous, but connected with shipping should take it From numerous illustrative in-is strongly recommended by Mr. Ballingall, should make it his business to promote its stances adduced by Mr. Ballingall, of the on the ground of its affording a double secuadoption, not only by his own example, but advantage which ships of war possess over rity against a leak. If this, however, be done, by pressing it in every possible way on the merchant vessels in this respect, we quote the it will be naturally asked how any water, public attention-should 'do, in short, for the following: which may have got into the vessel from inmerchants' yards, what Sir Robert Seppings "On or about the same ledge of rocks on board, is to get to the pumps to be pumped has done for the King's. We are happy to which the Wolf, sloop of war, struck, and out? The answer to this question brings us say that such an individual has at length been lay fast for two nights and a day, in March, to Mr. B.'s third important improvement, found in Mr. Ballingall, the author of a very 1830, at the back of the Isle of Wight, the which consists in clever and intelligent work, which we have vessel at the time she struck going at a con- 3. An improvement in the water-course, now before us, entitled "The Mercantile siderable rate through the water, at the very by means of what are called percolators : Navy Improved."* Mr. Ballingall has brought top of high water of a high spring tide, and with "I would propose a water-course to be led to the task he has undertaken, not only alla considerable swell on, and which vessel was alongside the keison on each side, as far forthe weight of an official situation of conside-got off again and is now in the East Indies, ward and aft as may be required from the rable prominence, but great practical expe- having been dragged over the rocks for half a spring of the vessel raised above the level of rience, combined with what seldom accom-mile by assistance from Spithead, the vessel the adjoining ceiling, by what I would call panies it in men of his class, a very earnest beating very hard upon the rocks with the lift percolators, and the bottom of said waterand clear-sighted desire of improvement. He of the sea all the time, the Carn Brea Cas-course sunk at least an inch and a half or candidly acknowledges that "the greater tle, free trader to India, was lost only a few more below the level of the adjoining ceil part" of the alterations in construction which months before, having got ashore under more ing, to allow any water which might get inhe proposes to have adopted in merchant favorable circumstances for getting off again. to the vessel to drain off the ceiling into ships, are already "in practice in the Royal What could this be owing to? The ships this water-course. There should be a graNavy;" but he has at the same time enhanced were nearly, I believe, of similar tonnage. dual acclivity forward and aft, to cause the the utility of these alterations by so many The answer is plain and obvious. The Wolf water to flow readily along the water-courses new suggestions, and added so many valua. had a solid bottom of 15 inches thick at the to the bottom of the pumps. This would be ble contrivances, entirely his own, that he keel, being 12 inches of timbers, and three greatly assisted by the spring of the vessel. has a fair claim to be considered as himself inches of outside plank, without allowing her In men of war, East and West India ships, an improver of the first order. to have had any ceiling. The Carn Brea and, in general, in all vessels which either We cannot undertake to give within the Castle would only have an outside bottom carry no cargoes, or their cargoes in packlimits to which we must needs confine our-plank to protect her, of, I presume, 3 inches ages, these percolators may be readily made selves, the whole details of Mr. Ballingall's thick. Yet this vessel would have timbers of strong and thick oak battens, fastened to system; but we shall endeavor to place in a of 12 inches thick, if no more, and a ceiling the ceiling close to the water-courses, and distinct point of view before our readers, two plank of, I also presnme, 3 inches thick, raised, say from 6 or 8 inches high, above or three of its more important features. making 3 inches more than the sloop of war, the ceiling, with notches cut in the under 1. The filling in of the timbers—that is, but neither of which were of the least use to edges or sides of them, similar to, I believe, bringing the ribs or frames into one compact her in keeping out the water. Had her tim- the practice in the navy. These water-courses body up to the gunwale-claims, on account bers been close and her ceiling been caulk to be covered with limber boards, as at preof the immense consequences dependent up-ed, she would have had one more protection sent, and the boards would not be required on it, the first place in our consideration. A than the sloop of war, viz. the ceiling plank, to be tight on the top; the boards to be ship is but an arch of peculiar adaptation, without taking any thing from her stowage, sloped up to the kelson."-P. 20. and the strength of every arch is in propor- and the fair inference is that she would have Mr. Ballingall does not propose these pertion to the mutual dependance of the parts on been got off and preserved."-P. 97-99. colators simply because they obviate the obeach other; but, according to the ordinary Mr. Knowles, in a letter to Mr. Ballingall, jection before stated to the caulking of the mode of building merchant ships, not more dated "Navy-Office, October 24, 1831," ceiling, but for this further reason, that, than one-half the timbers have such a mutual states that "the whole navy proves that the whether the ceiling is caulked or not, they dependance. Every alternate couple of ribs ships with solid bottoms have been more du- furnish a better means of conveying the wa. only is connected together, and the interme-rable than they used to be when openings ter to the pumps, and keeping the pumps clear diate timbers (absurdly enough termed fill-were left;" and he particularly specifies the than any now in use, while at the same time *The_Mercantile Navy Improved; or a Plan for the case of the Success, which went ashore in they contribute considerable additional stabi. Greater Safety of Lives and Property in Steam Vessels, Cockburn Sound, when "the whole keel lity to the vessel. The explanations on this Packets, Smacks, and Yachts, with Explanatory Drawings. was carried away, also the lower piece of head are too long for quotation, but are to By James Ballingall, Manager of the Kirkaldy and London Shipping Company, and Surveyor of Shipping for the Port stern, five feet four inches of the stern-post, our minds entirely satisfactory. of Kirkaldy, 1832. Morrison, London, four pieces of the dead wood, nine strakes of The better to elucidate these different im. provements, we copy from Mr. Ballingall's|| book the accompanying illustrative sketches. Fig. 1 is part of a transverse section of a ship built on Mr. Ballingall's plan, and fig. 2 a continuation of that section (part broken off.) TT is the compact floor, with its bottom and ceiling planking. AA are guards fitted to protect the percolators from damage by shovels, &c. in taking out ballast or unloading a cargo. BB spaces filled with tanner's bark, charcoal, &c. or such substances as will allow the water to flow freely through them, and keep back sand, and so prevent the copper strainers, on the outer edge of the percolators, from being choked. CC the copper strainers (shown by double lines) on the outer edge of the percolators. DD the percolators, the lid or covering being open on the starboard side in midships, and shut on the larboard side and at the bilge receiv er. EE limbers or receivers for water. FF the pipe which leads from the water-course down into the well prepared for it at the bilge. G shows the top of one of the main percolators opened; that on the other side is represented as shut. BP is the bilge piece. SS the water-courses, serving as supporters to the bilge piece. Fig. 3 is another trans-ing this improved system of ship-building, has published, from Messrs. Ogilvie & Crichverse section, showing the alterations neces- there are two which are particularly deserv-ton, of Leith, the builders of the Royal Adesary to be made in the positions of the pump ing of notice: one is the greater security laide, steam ship, (one of those which ply (P), pump-well (PW), and cistern (CC), in from fire which it affords, in consequence of between London and Edinburgh,) that she order to suit the new system. Fig. 4 is part all the vacancies, which at present act as so has been built, "in most respects, on the of a longitudinal section of a merchant ves- many funnels to the flames, being filled up; plan now recommended," and that it is the sel, cut off at a line perpendicular to the out-and the other, the protection obtained from intention of the company to which it belongs side of the keel. F is the floor, G the fut-vermin, in consequence of there being no to adhere to that plan "in any vessels which tocks. It will be seen from this, that the harbor left for them between the timbers and they may hereafter build." We trust that outside planking is reduced at the garboard the inside and outside planks. strake, A, to one-half the general thickness, so judicious and spirited an example will not Various objections to the system will na- be long without numerous imitators. by the rebate for the water-course; so that, turally suggest themselves to the minds of Mr. B.'s book contains, also, instructions supposing the general thickness to be, as practical men; it is certain, also, that the for rendering vessels, already built on the preusual, 3 inches, only one inch and a half is improvements which it embraces are not sent plan, more secure at a cheap rate. He left between the inside of the ship and the equally applicable to all merchant ships: particularly recommends a revival of the element on which she floats. Fig. 5 exhi- but before any ship-builder or ship-owner plan of placing a doubling on ships, as was bits, in section, the same part of a vessel, as rejects it on either account, we would ear-proposed as far back as 1792, by Mr. Snodconstructed on Mr. Ballingall's plan. Here nestly advise him to send for Mr. Ballingall's grass, surveyor of shipping to the East India the floors, futtocks, or cross pieces (G,) book, where he will find nearly every possi- Company. Mr. S.'s plan was, "that no planks of the bottom (A), and ceiling plank ble objection very frankly discussed, and ship should have a thorough repair; but in(CP), form one complete mass, and present every modification, which particular circum- stead of this, that its bottoms and upper a substance of 18 inches, (instead of 1!) stances may call for, provided for with great works should be doubled with three-inch oak to withstand all accidents. intelligence and ability. plank, from keel to gunwale, and strengthWe perceive, from a letter which Mr. B. ened with knees, standards, and even iron Among the subordinate advantages attend riders, if necessary—all which might be done here is gneiss,-with occasional beds, or veins,||to 50 bushels per acre. A deep rich soil, or at a small expense." Mr. S. thought that of hornblende, green stone and sceinite.-limestone land in the great valley, will receive ships so repaired would "be stronger and About five miles to the north of us is the 70 to 80 (and I am told even a hundred) safer, and be able to keep the seas longer in great valley of transition limestone, stretch-bushels to the acre with advantage. On very the worst weather, than new ships," (that is, ing from northeast to southwest; and imme-poor land, twenty to thirty bushels per acre new ships on the old construction;) and in diately on the southern side of this valley, is deemed most advantageous to commence this opinion Mr. Ballingall perfectly concurs. running parallel with it, is a broken ridge of with. It is usually repeated every five or The company of which Mr. B. is manager hills, formed of mica slate, with beds of ser-six years-i. e. every time the field comes in have had two of their smacks, the Enterprise pentine rock and hornblende on the side next turn to be broken up with the plough; and and the Fifeshire, thus doubled; and it ap- to the gneiss rock, on the southeast. Over as the land improves, the quantity of lime iş pears from the following paragraph, which the gneiss rock, and among the hornblende, increased. The prevailing practice here is we extract from the Scotsman of the 28th the soil is generally a stiff loam; and there, to plough down the sod, or lay, in the fall, or November last, that the result has been most I think, the best effects are perceptible from early in the spring,-harrow it once, and then satisfactory : a given quantity of lime. On the soil over-spread the lime (previously slacked to a pow. laying the schistose rocks, the good effects of der) preparatory to planting the field with lime are sufficiently obvious, under the man-Indian corn. Every field, in rotation, reagement of skilful farmers; but the benefits ceives this kind of dressing; and as our farms seem to be less permanent. On the serpentine are mostly divided into about half a dozen rock the soil is extremely sterile, and neither fields, the dressing of course comes once in lime nor barn-yard manure can be used with six years, more or less according to the nummuch advantage. In the limestone soil of ber of the fields. Some enterprising farmthe great valley, where one would suppose it ers, however, give their fields an intermediate was already redundant, lime is used with ad-dressing, on the sod, after they come into vantage; and much heavier dressings are grass; which I consider an excellent prac put on, than in the adjacent districts. I can-tice, tending rapidly to improve the condition not furnish the rationale of this practice; but of the land. "We understand that since the Kirkaldy and London Shipping Company's smacks, Enterprise and Fifeshire, have been fitted with double bottoms, they have frequently been deeply laden-have encountered very stormy and tempestuous weather-and were both at sea during the late very severe storm on the 10th curt., when so many vessels were wrecked, and have not admitted a drop or water through their bottoms or sides." AGRICULTURE, &c. [From the New-York Farmer.] THE SEASON. In this vicinity, and, as far as we have been able to learn, in other sections of the country, the season is from ten to fifteen days earlier than the last. The weather has not been only mild, but is now become dry. Farmers and gardeners have had a fine season to get their work advanced. It is, we believe, a general remark, that a forward April is not followed with a fruitful sea son. to our readers. ture. WESTCHESTER, (Penn.) December 17, 1832. I believe the fact is established, that more Query III.—"Is it applied in a caustic or Lime, undoubtedly, has a good effect in soils easier to spread it equally while in a light The following article contains so much which are sandy, even where sand predomi- pulverised state, than after it gets much wet practical information, and so methodically nates; but I believe its meliorating properties with rains. I am inclined to think, too, it is presented, that we can not delay in giving it are most conspicuous in a clay soil, or rather better for the land, when applied fresh from in a stiff loam. A good proportion of decom-the kiln. It forms a part of the proceedings of the New-York State Agricultu- posed vegetable matter adds greatly to the Query IV. To what crops is it most adral Society.-[ED.] beneficial effects of lime; and hence our vantageously applied, and at what season?" Letter from Dr. Wm. Darlington, of Penn. farmers are desirous to mingle as much barnAnswer. It is usually applied, as already sylvania, on the Use of Lime in Agricul-yard manure as possible with their lime dress-intimated, to the crop of Indian corn, in the ings, and to get their fields into what is called spring of the year-say the month of April. a good sod, or turf, full of grass roots. Then Occasionally it is applied, preparatory to Dear Sir,-Your letter, containing a a dressing of lime has an admirable effect.* sowing wheat in autumn. When used as a number of queries relative to the operation The soils indicated by a natural growth of top dressing, on the sod, it is generally applied and utility of Lime, in the processes of agri- black oak, (quercus tinctoria,) walnut (juglans in the fall-say November. The prevailing culture, was received in the early part of June nigra,) and poplar (liriodendron), and those impression is that it is most advantageously last: but as I have been much engaged durin which such grasses as the pous and festu-applied to the Indian corn crop; and hence cas best flourish, are generally most signally the general practice. But the truth is, it is ing the past summer, with duties which required all my attention, and as your letter in- benefitted by the use of lime. In short, I may highly advantageous at any and at all seatimated that answers furnished "any time observe, that lime has been found more or less sons; and our shrewd old farmers have a saybeneficial in any description of soil, in this ing,during the present year" would be in season "Get your lime on for your corn, if you for your purposes, I have taken the liberty to district. It is most so on hilly or rolling lands, can, but be sure you get it on the land some where clay predominates,-less permanently time in the year." so among the mica slate, and least of all, postpone my reply until now. I proceed, then, with great pleasure, to Query V.-"How is it incorporated with furnish you with such facts and remarks as on the magnesian rocks. The soil on these the soil-by the plough or the harrow? and my opportunities for observation have ena- last is rarely worth cultivating. bled me to offer. With a view to render the answers more explicit and satisfactory, I will annex them, seriatim, to your several inqui rics. Query I.-"Upon what lands does lime operate most beneficially: 1. In regard to geological formation, as primitive, transitory, secondary, and alluvial? 2. In reference to the soil,-as sand, clay, lime, and vegetable matter? 3. As indicated by natural growth of timber and plants?" Answer. My residence has always been in a primitive region, and my observations very much limited to agricultural processes in soils upon that formation. The prevailing rock|| is it applied in any case as a top dressing to Query II."What quantity of lime is ap-grass and to grains, and with what effect?" plied to the acre, upon different soils, at a Answer.-As already stated, after the sod single dressing, and during a period of years?" is ploughed down for Indian corn, it is usually Answer. The quantity of lime per acre, harrowed once to render the surface more which can be used advantageously, varies uniform. The lime is spread as equally as with the condition and original character of possible over the field, and then the ground is the soil. Highly improved land will bear a well harrowed in different directions, in order heavier dressing than poor land. On a soil to incorporate the lime with the soil. Soon of medium condition, the usual dressing is 40 afterwards, the field is marked out and planted with corn. The plough is rarely, if ever used, for the purpose alluded to. I have mentioned above, that lime is occasionally used as a top dressing for grass. It appears to be particu larly beneficial to that crop; and answers extremely well when applied in that manner. The practice of applying it to Indian corn, as *The yard manure is not usually mingled with the lime when the latter is first applied. The practice is, to lime the Indian corn ground, prior to planting that grain, on the inverted sod, and, the ensuing spring, to manure the same field for a barley crop; or, to reserve the manure until the succeeding autumn, and apply it to the wheat crop. It is not well settled which of these is the better practice. Each has its advocates; but it is most usual to reserve the manure for the wheat, day. HOT-HOUSE. above related, is, however, chiefly followed:|| deemed worthy of cultivation, on which lime but is in her gayest attire; every color and and the application of a dressing to each field is wholly inoperative as a fertilizer. On some form are displayed with the utmost taste to in rotation, causes as much labor and expense sterile slaty ridges, and on magnesian rocks, please and delight the eye. Animated nature every year as our farmers generally are wil- it has indeed but a slight effect; and even the is not only cheered but vocal with song. Who ling to incur. Lime has rarely been used as benefits of barnyard manure are very tran- can refuse to join in the universal chorus? a top dressing to grain crops, within my know- sient. In low swampy grounds, also, unless Whose mind is so constituted that it cannot be ledge. they are previously well drained, the labor of enlivened when the eye, the ear, and the smell Query VI.-"What is the ordinary cost applying lime is pretty much thrown away. per acre of liming, and the relative profits, in There seems to be something in the constitu- are so richly regaled? Deep must be the trouincreased products, of a period of years?" tion of magnesian rocks peculiarly unfriendly ble and corroding the cares of him whose viAnswer.-Quick lime, at the kilns, usually to the growth of the more valuable plants.bratory chords are not struck into tune. costs twelve and a half cents per bushel. The Indeed, there are patches of the soil perfectly farmers generally haul it with their own destitute ofall vegetation. Repeated attempts AIR.-Plants in the hot-house require to be teams; and the additional expense depends, have been made to cultivate the bases of our accustomed to air by leaving the sashes down of course, materially upon the distance. It serpentine banks; but neither lime, nor ma- in the day time, and sufficiently so in the mild is frequently hauled by them a distance of 8, nure, will enable the farmer to obtain more nights, to prevent the air from becoming close 10, and even 12 miles. The average, per- than a light crop of small grain. Neither clo- and heated. They require to be well watered haps, is about 5 or 6 miles. It is delivered ver, nor the valuable grasses, can be induced every day, and syringed as often as every other to me by the lime burners, (a distance of near- to take root and flourish in the ungenial soil. RE-POTTING.-Messrs. Hibbert and Buist conly six miles,) at 18 cents per bushel. At the It is, therefore, almost universally neglected. sider the present and the succeeding month, in rate of 40 bushels to the acre, the cost at 18 I have thus endeavored, (in rather a desul-preference to August, to be the most suitable cents, would be $7.20 per acre. It is diffi-tory manner, I confess,) to answer your que-time to re-pot hot-house plants. They give the cult to estimate with precision the relative ries according to my best judgment. if what following reasons. Fresh soil in August stimprofits, in increased products: but I can safe- I have furnished shall in any degree tend to ulates to a renewed action that the warmth of ly say, from my own experience, on a small make the subject better understood, I shall be the weather will not sustain, and consequently Whereas, re-potted in farm of middling quality, that two dressings amply gratified. With great respect, I have assumes a yellow cast. the spring the increased vigor is sustained, and of lime at the above rate, in the course of 8 the honor to be, your obedient servant, the wood is properly ripened. or 9 years, have more than trebled the products of the land to which it was applied, both in grain and grass. It is to be understood, however, that the system of ploughing only so much ground as could be well manured was adopted at the same time. I may also observe generally, that the farmers of this district, (who are shrewd economists,) are so well convinced of the beneficial effects of liming, that, costly as its application seems to be, they are unanimous in sparing no effort to procure it. Lime has been found to be pe- The eminent surgeon, Henry Cline, Esq. culiarly favorable to the growth of pasture, of London, has given the world his views, when the farm is otherwise well managed; from which I glean the following summary of and as our farmers are mostly in the practice doctrine. The external form is considered of feeding cattle, they resort to liming as an an indication of the internal structure. indispensable auxiliary to successful grazing. the size and soundness of the lungs the health Query VII. Is lime applied with yard Query VII.—“ Is lime applied with yard manures, or earthy composts, and with what results?" WM. DARLINGTON. Raising Horses, Cattle, and other Live Stock. SIR,—As the season is approaching when On GREEN-HOUSE. OPEN EXPOSURE.-About the first of the month the more hardy plants should be taken out of the green-house. These plants, geraniums for instance, that are inclined to grow spindling, should be so placed that they may have as much light as possible. The plants generally should not be exposed to the sun all day, particularly if the pots are so situated as to become heated. Great care is requisite in watering, some requiring much more than others. Knowing their native country and their habitat is a great guide. Succulent plants require much sun, while others generally require but a little. FLOWER GARDEN. SOWING SEEDS.-Hardy annuals and biennials should be sown early in the month. and strength of the animal principally depend. Those exotics of warmer climates require to Answer.—I have already intimated that SHADE.-Tulips, hyacinths, anemones, and vegetable matters, and especially yard manures, are highly important in conjunction should be the length of the neck, that it may ranunculæ, require to be lightly shaded while collect its food. For strength and travelling, in flower. with lime. Both are valuable, even when used separately; but when combined, the effect the muscles and tendons should be large. Mr. is most complete. If to this be added that great secret of good farming, viz. to plough only so much ground as can be well manured, -the state of agriculture may be considered nearly perfect. practised. of labelled. DAHLIAS, Tuberoses, and Amaryllis, should Cline supposes bones disproportionably large be planted early in the month, and carefully to indicate an imperfection in the organs nutrition, and by no means to imply great strength. Those breeds of stock are to be preferred To be stationary or slow in growth, implies that have a regular and pretty rapid growth. DOUBLE WALL FLOWERS.-Being partially biennials they are seldom propagated by seeds, inches long, and put in a shady situation. but by shoots, which should be about three ROOMS. Lime is, in some instances, added to earthy composts, preparatory to distribution on the disease or disordered functions, and is seldom EXPOSURE.-Plants that have been in open field; but it is doubtful whether the extra labor of this method is compensated by any Those breeds that have the property of grow-delicate ones, however, should be retained a attended with beauty and compactness of form. airy rooms can with safety be turned out into the open air the first week in May. The more peculiar advantages. It is not generallying are generally straight in their back and week or two longer, according to the state of belly. Although we do not want much belly, the weather. Judgment should be consulted, Query VIII.—" Is powdered limestone (car-yet gauntness or paucity of intestines bespeak so that the air, the wind, and sun, should not bonate of lime) applied to soils; and if so, a material defect. Hardy, healthy constitu- greatly vary, at first, from what they were acdoes it induce fertility otherwise than by me- tions, arriving soon at perfection, not only in customed to in the rooms. chanically ameliorating their texture?" size but in fatness, prolificness, quality of flesh,| BULBS. Those that have done flowering Answer...No instance of powdered limestone lightness of offal, gentleness, as well as other should have the pots laid on their sides to ribeing applied to soils has come under my properties, are to be brought into view. pen the bulbs. In a week or two the bulbs notice. I can, therefore, form but a very ought to be taken out, dried, put in papers, and If it were imperfect opinion of its utility. carefully marked. even as beneficial as quick lime, (which I doubt,) I apprehend it could not be procured and applied with less cost and labor. Yours, &c. April, 1833. SUFFOLK COUNTY. GENERAL REMARKS.-Much attention should Suggestions relative to Florists' Work for May. be given to saving seeds of flowers when ripe. By the EDITOR. If in the field I meet a smiling flower, This Answer. There is no soil in this district, year. is considered the loveliest month in the A few of the best from the most healthy and vigorous plants are more valuable than many promiscuously gathered. Every florist, and every lady who cultivates, should keep a diary of her floral operations,-the time of flowering under ordinary or peculiar treatment, when turned out into the open air, the effects of the NEW-YORK AMERICAN. air of the room, mode of propagating, and vari-nent Divine-and in a style that does credit to the THE PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF JAS. O. PATTIE; edous other particulars. Such a diary would press whence it issues. In addition to Sermons and ited by T. Flint: Cincinnati, E. H. Flint; N. York, serve as a directory for future years, and would Letters of Mr. Hall's, we have here a Memoir by Dr. Peter Hill.-To those who delight in tales full of innot fail of increasing the knowledge of plants. Gregory, of the life and career of his great friend.||cident,-of perils among savage hordes, and encounThis tribute was to have been paid by Sir Jumesters with ferocious beasts,—of wanderings in interMackintosh, but death took him from the scene ere minable forests, and exposure upon arid sands; or he had accomplished the undertaking, which friend-to those who, looking deeper than the mere interest ship and admiration of kindred genius had led him in the scene of the moment, take pleasure in studying to assume. A higher tribute can scarcely be paid its effect upon the characters brought beneath their by one man to another than Mackintosh, paid to observation,-this remarkable narrative will prove Hall. In a letter published in the memoir, refer-highly interesting. The author-whose veracity is ring to a sketch which he, Mr. Mackintosh, had endorsed by Mr. Flint, to whom, we have Mr. F's prepared of his own life, he says to Mr. Hall-" On express word for stating, that he is indebted only for the most impartial survey of my early life, I could a few verbal alterations and topographical illustrasee nothing which tended so much to invigorate and tions-is a thorough backwoodsman,-" a plain, excite my understanding, and to direct it towards blunt man," who delivers his round unvarnished tale high though, perhaps, scarcely accessible objects, with an appearance of truth and simplicity that must than my intimacy with you." Such praise, from at once obtain him credit, even while it makes his such a quarter, is precious indeed. readers smile. : LITERARY NOTICES. MEMOIRS OF Gen. LafayETTE AND of the Revo. LUTION OF 1830, by B. SARRANS, Secretary to Gen. Lafayette New York; J. & J. HARPER: 2 vols.The memoirs, of which we here have a translation, produced, as they are well fitted to do, a great sensation on their first appearance in Paris. The revolution of three days, to which Gen. Lafayette imposed a term, and hoped to consummate its aim and hopes by presenting Louis Phillippe to the nation as the representative on the throne of republican princi. ples, had already begun to retrograde when these volumes appeared. The Bourbon rather than the repubHis father, who it appears distinguished himself lican, the descendant of the legitimate race rather step in his career, from his being set apart for the as a subaltern in the last war, was induced by a rethan the man of and from the people of the barri.ministry, his residence at Cambridge, at Leicester, verse of fortune and domestic calamity, to leave St. cades, swayed the destinies of France; and already It speaks of him with affectionate admiration; but, trading expeditions which are occasionally starting at Bristol, to the closing scene in February, 1831. Louis early in 1824 upon one of those hunting and der of Louis Phillippe's throne, and Lafayette him.withal, with discriminating praise; and seeks not to from that place to Mexico. Young Pattie, then about Lafitte, who was, after Lafayette, the great foun self, were disregarded personages in the new systen of politics. In this state of things, a volume purporting to recall the attention of the nation to the actual oc Dr. Gregory's Memoir follows Mr. Hall, step by less. The consciousness of great abilities often led make him, what it is not given to man to be, faulttwenty, made one of the party, which, from consisting of but a few in the first instance, gradually inMr. H., as a disputant, into an impetuous and pre-creased in number, until it amounted to one hundred currences just preceding and succeeding the three sumptuous course of argument, where victory, rather and sixteen well armed and well mounted adven days, and justifying its statements by reference to official documents, and to private and confidential mand general attention. Efforts have been made to discredit the authority of these memoirs, and the London Quarterly Review has recently affirmed that they were disavowed by Lafayette himself. So far as such disavowal, if made, may be construed as extending to the authenticity and accuracy of the docu This turers, skilled in the use of weapons and familiar with the dangers and resources of frontier life. It may what with exposure and accident, famine, fever, and deadly conflict with the Indians, there were but sixteen of its number surviving at the end of five years; and the majority of these either captives in New Mexico, or wandering, stripped of every possession, even than truth, seemed to be the aim; and his great delight seemed to be to confound his adversaries habit, however, his biographer says, "never tempted interviews and discussions, could not fail to com-him to trifle with the sanctities of religion." It is give some idea of the sufferings, hardships and danRobt. Hall is known. He was a friend to man's best not only as a learned and eloquent clergyman that gers which this party encountered, to mention, that interests as connected with political systems; and regarded those European governments, which trampled upon the rights of man, as "operating most fa. tally to the extinction of light and virtue." It was permanent conviction, as forcibly expressed in his own words, "that he who is instrumental in perpetuating a corrupt and wicked government, is also instrumental in unfitting his fellow men for the felicity of the celestial mansions." Among, and indeed the very first of, his political publications, was an eloquent "apology for the Freedom of the Press," pamphlet widely circulated in this country at the ments and letters published in the work, we take leave to question that such was the purpose of La fayette. He meant, we do not doubt, to exonerate himself from any imputation of having suggested or perhaps even wished the publication of these me. moirs-for they tend to exalt his character and influence so much, that it would have savored of ego. tism that he should be privy to their appearance. But a a to their arms, over a country where the face of every who had been justly punished for trying to spy out the man was turned away from them as "infidel dogs," nakedness of the land. For the general course of the narrative, we refer those desirous of becoming acquainted with the most striking peculiarities of life in the wild regions traversed by the Messrs. Patties, to the book itself; but we have marked a number of and the thrilling interest they excite, are hardly excelled even in the most highly wrought works of fiction. we have full confidence in the statements here made, close of the last century. The soundness of his judg.passages, which, for the bold situations they exhibit, and in the faithfulness with which events and important conversations are related. In this view, and because of the honor it does to Lafayette, this book will be popular with Americans. ment, however, and the earnestness of purpose with which he had devoted himself to preaching the gospel, taught him the inconveniences to a clergyman of political celebrity; and he therefore soon What, for instance, can be more animated than the BOYS AND GIRLS' LIBRARY OF USEFUL AND ENTER- receded, not from his principles, as the memoir following account of a midnight attack from a bear, TAINING KNOWLEDGE, Vol. VI and VII. New-York, justly distinguishes, or from the avowal of them in with the melancholy consequences of his ferocity: J. & J. Harper.—These two little volumes, prepared private, but from the further advocacy of them in We came to water, and encamped early. I was by Mr. Thatcher, whose Lives of the Indians, in a re-public, and came to the conclusion, which we think so one of the guard for the night, which was rather cent number of Harpers' Family Library, was so true and wise, that the Christian ministry is in dan.cloudy. About the middle of my guard, our horses well received, furnish from the same pen the leading ger of losing something of its energy and sanctity by had gotten in among them, and sprung upon one of became uneasy, and in a few moments more, a bear traits of Indian character, and notices of the habits embarking in the stormy elements of political debate.' them. The others were so much alarmed, that they and pursuits of the Indians, in a style adapted to in- His subsequent life was governed by that conviction; burst their fastenings, and darted off at full speed. struct while it interests the youthful reader. There and of that life and its valuable fruits, these volumes fence, although much confused, from not knowing Our camp was soon aroused, and in arms for de. are several engravings in each volume, which add to furnish an enduring and faithful record. their value and ornament. what the enemy was, nor from what direction to expect the attack. I still stood at my post, in no little alarm, as I did not know with the rest, if the Indians ness, the noise of those in pursuit of the horses being were around us or not. All around was again stilllost in the distance. Suddenly my attention was arrested, as I gazed in the direction from which the alarm came, by a noise like that of a struggle at no immediately fired. great distance from me. I espied a hulk, at which I horse, still alive. My shot wounded him. The reIt was the bear devouring a port of my gun, together with the noise made by the enraged bear, brought our men from the camp, where they awaited a second attack from the unknown eneELEMENTS OF Descriptive GEOMETRY, by Prof. Da.my in perfect stillness. Determined to avenge them. selves, they now sallied forth, although it was so dark, that an object ten steps in advance could not be seen. The growls of the bear, as he tore up the ground around him with his claws, attracted all in his direction. Some of the men came so near, that the animal saw them, and made towards them. THE NEW YORK SPORTING MAGAZINE, No. II. THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY, by ALEX. WILSON; New York: C. R. Colden. We are glad to find with seventy-six colored Engravings. Philad., H. this second number so spirited in its execution. There HALL-N. Y. COLLINS & Co.-This recent edition are two good colored engravings of celebrated horses of Wilson's beautiful work, has the convenience of -one of Birmingham, winner of the Doncaster St. presenting all the plates in a single volume of large Leger stake in 1830, the other of Priam-with mequarto size, while the admirable biographies of the moirs of both these horses. There is also an amu birds, with one of the author himself, by Mr. Ord, sing and spirited sketch of fleshing a young bull-pup are given in three volumes, royal octavo. the pioneer work of American Ornithology; and the either useful, or amusing, or both. in Staffordshire. The papers too are varied, and all price at which it is afforded, fifty dollars, places it more within common reach, than the larger, more expensive, and more magnificent work of Audubon.vies of Westpoint, of which we announced the publiTHE WORKS OF THE REV. ROBERT HALL, A. M. cation by the Messrs. Harper last year, have been just issued in a second edition from the same press; —vol. III.—N. Y. J. & J. HARPER.-This volume and we need say no more to show the demand for completes the publication of the works of this emi-this excellent text book. This was |