The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-11 00:00:00

c_

rishe discussion was adjourned until Tuesday, March
16th, when, if time r.ertnitted, the following papers
would be rci+d :—" On the ii?cults of the use of Tubular
Boilers, or of flue boilers of inf;,-Pquate urface, or im-
periect absorption of heat," by Admiral Lord Dundonald ;
"On certain Points iti the Constt uction of Marine
Boiler`," by Mr. J. Scott liusscll, M. Inst. C. E.; and
"Dareription of a Diaphragm Steam Bliler," by M.
Boutigny (l'EvrPox).

Yesterday eveeing
SOCIT:T Y OF ARTS.
and implements the s
t) ;..2 or tea::
Eoxn
hsi gtirtiieoutli tnurgasl
deliveredpro duets
before the Saciety of Arts by Professor F.R.S.E.
The lecture formed one on
achen,i)ru-rse on the Exhibition.
Si: John Boileau Wes in ills.
The learned professor cornmen.eee by observing that
his official. position at the Exhibition bad brought him
iero daily contact with the subjects of which he
had to
treat; but his lecture would necessarily be deficient in
point of novelty. In class 2at the Exhibitioia he found
an article which, though not an agricultural product, had
a cJose connexion to agriculture: lie referred to un ex-
traction of potaAs • from sea water. Potash
was a salt
gpaptliyon was most important. It
that our brine sprins
-peculiarly essential to vegetable life, and to the. agricul-
mtuirgishtt thise fonhe
hwd sourcein ofe sstut
contained sufficient potash to pay for its extraction
but at present the shores of the Mediterranean were
the principle seat of the manufacture. It was
to
an enlightened French chemist that the agri-
cultural world was indebted for this invention.
In class 3 the hybrid wheats were deserving
of special attention. The advantage of crossing
wheats had been already • -pointed----eut -to the
society, and they had been fold that the process had not
yet been carried out to any great extent. Great credit
was due not only to the botanist who had stated the
theory, but to the farmer who had demonstrated the
practicability of the process in the field. The question
was being agitated amongst agriculturists whether or
not the manufacture of beet-root sugar could be car-
ried on beneficially in this country. The history of the
cultivation of beet-root showed how readily science
lent her aid in the various exigencies which from
time to time arose. From the necessity of replacing
an article proscribed by Napoleon had arisen what was
now admitted on all hands to be a beneficial branch of
industry. le a specimen at the Exhibition, which came
from Valenciennes, every particle ot the root was con-
verted into a mercantile commodity, by which the cost
of manufacture was considerably reduced. How far
the cultivation could be introduced into this country
remained to be seen. Statistics might encourage atten-
tion to it. In Belgium in 1848 and 1849, the make of
beet-root sugar was 4,300 tons; in 1850, 7,000 tons;
in the past year, 14,000 tons. In the Zollverein, in
1848, the quantity made was 26 000 tons, and in 1851 it
increased to 40,000 tons, the consumption of cane sugar
diminishing in nearly the same ratio. In Russia, about
85,000 tons were consumed annually, of which 35,000
were made from beetroot, and the manufacture was
rapidly increasing. Austria consumed about 40,000
tons in 1848, of which 30,000 were made from beet-
root. The quantity of beet-root sugar, in 1850, was
rather more than doubled. In France, according to the
Monileur Industrie!, the manufacture in 1850 reached
60,000 tons, half the whole consumption; and on the
Ist of December, 1851, the same paper stated that there
were 322 manufactories in full operation, which showed
an increase of-23 on the number in the preceding year.
These facts claimed the attention of agriculturists in
this country; and it appeared to him that if they
established a cross between the heavy crop mangel-
wines' and the rich Silesian beet they would have all
the elements of success. This led him to another pro-
cess—the preservation of vegetables. This process,
which it was most desirable to carry out in this country,
consisted of two parts—the evaporation of the con-
stituent water, and, afterwards, compression, for
the purpose of reducing the pulp to a state
of security against contact with the atmos-
phere. The result was, that vegetables re-
mained uninjured for a considerable time. In class 4, a
council medal was given to M. Gros for a particular de-
scription of wool. The peculiar quality of the wool was
the first result obtained by the Exhibition. He subse-
quently turned his attention to the increase of the fleece
and also of the meat, and other points in the animal.
This was some six or eight sears ago. The improve-
mente were now most satisfactory. In this country,
where the consumption of mutton and of wool was so
enormous, the relative value of the two bad excited great
attention amongst farmers. At present tho relative
prices of the two articles were about equal ; but circucae
s'ances connected with our wool-producing colonies
reader it probable that the supply from them would not
be so great as it had been, and in lhat case the farmer
might find that he had been manufacturing the wrong
Tula cou:slcratiou might require a modifica-
tion of present practice. Again, Messrs. Brotherton ex-
' hibited specimens of rapeseed oil, which they hod pre-
Fired in large quantities aunually for the lubrication of
machinery. This oil was pus titularly adapted for locomo-
tive engines on account of the absence of foreign ingre-
dients; and rho fact that the 'North-Western Railway
Company alone consumed more than 40,000 gallons of
oil au: ually, and were offering eecourregieg prices, might
well secure tile attention of agriculturists to tbo subject.
He now came to class 9 for ugricuhural implements.
The first imphmcnt which he should notice was the
reapin?: natien:ho, which had excited so much interest in
the !arming community. In this class there were two
specimens, two American and one English, though the
laWr was identical with one of the ushers. Now, on
this subject he was about to offer evidence against the
award made to an American, and for that purpose he
must sketch the history of these machines. At the
commencement of the present century he found a ma-
chine introduced by Mr. Boyce, in which a short
scythe, like knives, attached to a revolving contrivance,
was the principle by which the cutting was effected.
After mentioning three or four succeeding inventions
of the same character down to 1811, the lecturer
proceeded to speak of an improved reaping
ma chine invented by the late Mr. Smith, of Deanston,
for which, after a successful trial, the Dalkeith Club
awarded a premium to the inventor. From that period, ho
said;dowu to 1835, this machine was tested occasionally
at different harvests, and received improvements. lie
himssef saw it at work, cutting an acre and a quarter of
corn per hour. As to Mr. MeCormick'e machine, a de-
scriplon •• of it would be found in the Mechanic's Maga-
zinc in 1825. After tracing the history ot other inven-
tions and improvements iu reaping machines, he re-
marked that the most important invention of all sees
that of the Rev. Hr. Bell, in 1826, which had been in
constant use in the north ever since; while the fact th
four machines of that kind were supplied to • at
o the United
States about 1831 or 1832, would probably account for
the great similarity between Mr. Bare m leek,e end
one
of
the thE se
exhibited in the United States department at
hibition.—(Laughter.) U 0 then referred to sepa-
rate diagrams of Bell's and Huss ' - soy machines, and drew
attention to the points of resemblance. After claiming
tbr Mr.
remarked 13e1
1
theehief merit in the matter,
th le .tur r
at som length on theadvantagese e
to be derived
from the use of reaping machines, d
that great improvements would be made both in work-
ing and economy. Reference was then made to the
churning implements, and p
of increased attention to temperature;es-ecially to the impoar,tteanceof
to the
power which often arose from constructionwaste
the defective of engines; and to
cut-
ting turnips, on the
He congratulated the company gradual displacing waggons of
- - -aggons by carts; and in illustra
tion observed that last year five horses in carts were
matched against tea iu waggous, and the tire hores beat
the ten by two loads. The lecture concluded with some
remarks on the importance of extended education in re-
ference to the cultivation of the soil; and, as regarded
agriculture it was observed that they should never rest
satisfied till it occupied the position which it ought to do
as a scientific manufacture, and as one of the most vital
and important of all our industrial resources.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Col.
CHALLONER, a vote of thanks was given to the professor.

acktowledked t at :, with all the known imperfections,
the over-ground system had hitherto proved the best
end most econernical in Englund; a! the same time, the
great merit of gurta perelae, as a means of insulation,
was fully admitted.
It was shown that ga!var.ic action was being exten-
sively used in Berlin, for communicating between the
various Government offices and the fire and police sta-
tions; and at Boston, for a complete network of fire-
alarms to the different stations of the engines.
The origin of the idea of the submarine telegraph
was given, and the construction of the wire laid down
between England and France was described. it ap-
peared that on that station the common needle instru-
ment had hitherto been generally used, but that occa-
sionally messages were recorded by means of Brett's
Printing Telegraph, which might eventually be made
very useful.