The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-27
NATURAL CURIOSiTIEs.

Those interested in making an examination Of the
natural curiosities at the Crystal Palace, should
search for the small glass case in which is contained
some fine specimens from the Mammoth Cave, Ken
lucky. Among the products Of this great cave, are
said to be fish without eyes, few Of which are on
exhibition. They are preserved in alcohol, which
gives them white color, but their natural appear
ance is said to be somewhat similar. Upon minute
examination Of the largest OF the fish exhibited we
were unable to distinguish any eyes, any place for
them. The head Of the fish appears perfect in every
respect excepting the visual organs. The largest Of
the specimens exhibited is about three inches long and
its shape and appearance is more like catfish than
anything else we compare to- of the nny tribe
With this is associated another kind of the piscatory
inhabitants Of this cave, which has the appearance
of craw fish or lobster, but very SMALL not weighing
more than half an Besides these curiosities
in the same case exhibited quantities Of staactite
and stalagmite from this subterTanean wonder.
Not far from these fish are two other curiosities
which deserve place in the same category. They
are the stuffed bodies of two English terriers named
Tiny and Minnie, both of which are in an excellent
state Of preservation and look sprghty as If they
were still alive. Minnie was two years and eight
months old when she died. and Tiny fourteen days.
We particular in giving the exact age, as it may
account for the great difference in size. The latter
weighs only three ounces, while the former weighs
two pounds three ounces. With good sized rat
Tiny would have stood no chance, and even with
Minnie the fight would be doubtful.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
We are truly an agricultural people. II there was
other proof of this fact, the display Of the pro-
ducts of peace made by our countrymen in the pre-
sent industrial exhibitions, would be in itself O
sufficient vindication of the assertion Other
nations represented in the great fair may ex.
Gel in other departments of the peaceful arts but the
United States is first in everything pertaining to ag
rculture. The ingenuity Of our people has met every
necessity for outstanding the productions Of fruit
full domains, with machinery which almost defes the
powers of the most skiful to improve or supersede
Invention in country has been made to do more
labor upon the farm, than perhaps in any ether ma.
tion on the globe. Among the many curious and
valuable inventions which are worthy the examina-
ton of all interested in the progress of people,
is one from the Old Dominion, called the Farmers
Labor saving Machine" invented by Elisha S. Sny
der. This is new machine, and never, we believe,
before the present time, was exhibited to the pub.
lie. 1t looks some like winnowing MILL excepting
that it is much larger Every farmer in the land will
hail it his best friend. if it accompshes what it
promises, which we have reason to doubt It is de-
signed to thresh, cean measure and bag one hundred
bushels of grain per day. 1t also throws Off smut,
cheat and other impurities and prepares the grain
ready cleaned and sacked for market, all by the
same operation. The one on exhibition is of two
horse power, but they may be made of any power
wished the amount of work they are able to accom-
plish being dependent upon their size. If needed
they may be made for hand power, and used in plac
Of the common tanning mill for cleaning rye, oats
corn, &C., &c. A machine of six horse power, and
attended by seven hands, will thresh, clean and bag
the very large amount of two hundred and fifty
bushels of wheat, ready for the MILL in one day. 1t
require argument to prove the superiority of
this invention, if it acts as it purports What its
greatest powers are has not yet been decided, as it
has not been in use for period long enough to
properly test it. But it is stated that one of these
machines of one-eighth horse power, has already
threshed cleaned and bagged forty thousand bushels
Of grain, and the cost of repairs in the separating
and cleaning apparatus did not exceed five dollars
| in doing this amount of work. We can suggest no
improvement to this invention unless it be the addi
ton Of other powers making it capable also Of grind
| ing the grain, mixing the dough and baking the
bread, which improvements would not astonish US,
oWiHS W uScnulty ucduy IuduucSCcu tue WoH
| derfu inventions of our countrymen. Farmers and
scientific men should examine Mr. Snyders invention.
Gibbs rotary spade, made in the District Of Co.
lumbia, is another machine in the agricultural de-
partment which is much praised by those competent
to judge to the merits Of inventions This is
designed to supersede the plough in many instances.
1t is not intended for breaking up new or heavy
sward ground but more particularly for titled land.
1t consists of very simple arrangement, by which
a sort of trowel shaped spade is thrust into the
earth throwing it up behind revolving wheel, in
| which these spades fixed. Two heavy iron
wheels, of about two feet in diameter, stand upright
ina simple frame, and projecting around the edges
of these wheels are the diggers, if we may so call
them, which the weight of the machine presses
into the ground. These dggers slightly curved,
and will break the earth few inches each side.
The two wheels of this machine are placed about six
inches apart they meet each other in breaking the
| ground between them, and together will plough a
| width of two feet Wheels can be added to these,
cutting the earth as to width according to ones
| pleasure. They somewhat more costly than the
ordinary plough, but much more durable. We
| should think them heavy to draw, and unwicldly;
but they are reported otherwise by those who have
seen them used. 1t is well for those interested in
farming implements to examine them; but we
would rather see them in operation before we
more fully speake of their efficacy or superiority
SCIENTIFIC IMPLEMENTS.
! One of the greatest and most valuable scientific
arrangements in the whole exhibition, is a large
panearum, describing the motions Of all the planets
from the sun to the EARTH This planetarium is Of
| entirely new construction, invented and made by
Thomas H. barton of Lexington Kentucky, The
instrument moves with such precision that the mina-
ture will actually represent the real position and
motions of the sun, the earth, moon, Mercury and
Venus showing the relative position Of the planets
to the earth and to each other, duly demonstrating
the Of the change of the seasons. length Of day
and night the time Of ulls and changes Of the moon,