Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1842-09-07
Agriculture, &c.
From the D,laicare Journal.
TIE, OWNING ROD.

The art OF discovering water courses un
der The surface oil the earth by mcous of
green rod or wand newly cut from peach,
haze or cherry tree, has been known in
Europe for several years. II is said the
discovery was made in Germany. but b,
whom is uncertain. Until a very late pc.
rod it has been considered an imposture,
and ranked with the arts OF magicians and
other vain prc,enders 10 mysterious pow
ers. This opinion of the power of "divin-
ing rod" or "magic wand" as has been
istFfa ist A hRs RI B aiiy peisoEs
ac,ion Of the rod is wholly imperceptiblc,
whilst in others The attraction Of the wa
ter, especially if it be nea- the surface and
the vein large, is surprisingly real. When
the wand is Of q brittle nature the aitrac-
tive power is SO forciblc as frequently to
break il.
| From numerous experiments made IN
! France, since the commencement oil the
present century, by Thouvcnel and other
men of sricnce. the claims of the divninS
rod are found to rest upon well known ma
,eria powers. The art of finding water
by its means il well established aud pro-
uiscs 10 he of great utility 10 our country.
The theory explaining the phenomena OF
the magic wand" suppose that The wa
ter fnrms with The earth above it, and the
: fluids OF the human body. Galvanlc cir
Gle. This circle is more or less perfect. as
the state and condition of The body o! the
operator qualities il TO he j better or worse
conductor of the palvanic fluid. The hu-
man body Is one ni the best conductors yet
discovered, aud weakly aud dcbi!ilatcd
persuus are said 10 bc better conductors
ihun persons in sound hcalb. and the at
traction is crcatcsi when the skin Is wet,
particularly the hands aud arms. Salt
water, or a weak solution Uf the murlailc
acid are the best fluids for moi5tcning the
.hn. The effect will increase il The opc-
raIur he harriOoied. his feet and hands
having been previously wet with either OF
the aforesaid fluids. but il we have silk
stockings on, the rod will mt bc suspended
| by an electric, or in immediate contact
with an electric. no attraction will he felt,
and the degree OF attraction varies rs any
| substances lying between the water and
the hand ol the operator. and more or less
adapted to conduct the salvanic fluid.
Such are some of the facts stated by
writers 1,l tie subject. hui Of thr reality OF
/ the puwrr> attributed To the diviniug rod,
We now need III foreign authorities 10 car
~ conviction Ia every intelligent mind
We have IN this city several operators,
men of IL Innsr unquesiionable character,
hose powers have been tested by The
sevcrc,, -crGIiny. aud who have never
failed TO convince the most incrcdu!oUs.-
The writer has known several stoui un.
believers thrGwu into tho mrai luhicr0u.
prcdicamert, by suddenly discovering iha,
they themselves were aIn"ns The magi
uud had all the powers of The best wner.
fnLer,! The powers of "lhe magic rod
hclus natural powers, il only requires ,ha
the natural means be present in any indi
vllual 10 produce the necessary result.
Any person may discover whether or no
he hn, the puw", Of water finder by the
following experiment. Let him cut {
branch Of n peach OF cherry tree. liaviu,
fork with TWO twiss of length ant
,hicknes, nearly equal, and slender euougi
to I've quite flexible. II formed correctly i
will nearly represent the letter Y. Lc
him lake the small ends Of the ,wiss. ont
in his right hand, aud one in his left, ant
hold II SO that the main branch, where tht
forks begins. shall be uppcrmost aud near
ly per'lcndicular TO The earth. but liltl,
inclined forward. Holding i, in this po
si'icn lc, him walk slowly an4 CAREFUL,