Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-09-11
Care OF Qrindstonos.

Care OF Qrindstonos
A correspondent, who writes himself far
mer complains that his grindstonc, which for
several years hos proved of uniform grit, has
deterloratcd in this necessary quality. He
has kept it heretofore under she'd but lately
removed it to an open space in his back yard,
and asks whether this exposure has changed
the character of the stono. One side il soft,
as tho whole stone was formerly, but the 9th
or side is hard and rigid
We think the removal Of tho stone is the
cause OF its change of character. Exposure
to tho sunlight is always injurious to grind.
stone. The substance Of the stone is porous,
and it contains q considerable amount of
watcr; this being eyaporatod, tho stone be-
comes granulatcd, harsh, and hard 1t is not
altogether for personal comfort that the far
MGR places his grindstone under tho friendly
protection of wiacsprcadng apple trco or
elm. He knows, almost ;ntuitiycly, that the
summers suns raycs arc iGiE'cai to the
qualities Of tho stone, and he shelters i from
this too fervil light aud hcat Tho stoce
that in the shop Of tho mechanic runs n water
through all the hours Of daylight, will pro-
servo its homogcncity bottor than one that is
used occasionally, aud il exposed to the sun.
light.
Tho red or brown freestone, 30 much used
in Now York city, New jersey, and Connoo-
tioutt, is n sandstone similar in structure to
the ordinary grindstonc, differing, mainly, in
being of coarscr toxturo aud coored with an
oxide Of iron. It is on aggregation of psrti.
clcs Of sand, aggutinatcd by clay, and co,a.
pressed Yet this stone, which is such a
resistant to the action of the elements on OK.
posrro, may be oasily cut with knife when
first removed from the quarry. In fact it is
so saturated with water, that, when quarried
in the fall, it must bo preserved from the
action Of frost during tho winter, by being
sunk under water or otherwise protected, else
it will bur by tho freezing of the water
contained n' IT, Exposure to heat, or to the
suns, cyaporatos tho water and leaves Il
quite hard.
80 with tho grindstonc, aud, in lesser
degree, with the oilstonc Notwithstanding
tho close grain Of tho best oilstoncs, they dcto.
riorato by long exposure to the sunlight.
How TO FoRETEL1, THE WEATHER "A
corrcs pondcnt Of tho g Augusta Chronicle .
makes the following assertions relative 10 the
weather:
a red sky (mind you, now, skye in tho
morning significth rain. Lightning in The
North signifcth rain.
Snails crawling to and up trees, signilieth
rain the higher up tho tree they crawl, the
heavier will DO tho fall Of rain.
Light cob webs across the road, or bushes,
oto., at early morn, sgnifeth fair weather
a red sky (mind you, now, sky, not clouds,)
ne esn-sct, eisniGeth fair weather
A now moon, With it's horns turned down,
indicateth q rainy moon.
A new moon, with it's horns turned up, in
dicateth q olcar moon
Ants working at early dawn indioateth
clear day.
llycnins red aud morning grey, will light
tho traveller on his way but evening groy
and mor,:ng rod, will pour down rain on tTaS.
clo.'s head
in winter rcl sunset indioa 10th wind
and severe cold
ONLY MuTTMRINo. Prentice seys Ken
tuoky has not thundcrcd vet tho late election