The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-07-15
PETROLEUM. --lMPORTANT DISCOVERY.

NJ LtenTl 9alnte-Clalf lleFlile has recently pre-
sented to the French Academy of Science the third
portion Of his valuable researches on the physical
and heating properties of mineral oils VI. Deve,
IN this memoir, dwells largely on the dangers Incl
dent TO the use and storage Of petroleum, and on
the modes of preventing the disasters which are Of
such frequent occurrence.
Most persons suppose all such cases TO be due TO
one cause only; namely, TO the highly intlammable
nature OF the volatile ingredients contained in these
oils, which, by admiXtnre with air. form explosive
compounds. This is 4 cause of real danger but the
aboye-named chemist calls attention to hitherto
unnoticed reason for many fires and accidents.
This he attributes to the very great expansion in
bulk which mineral oils undergo by increase oftem-
perature. If petroleum has been barreled during
the cold season, it will expand largely with the first
appearance OF hot weather, and will then burst the
containing vessels, on the same principle that ice
ruptures our water conduits and hydrailts The
nflammabe material then oozes out, often without
being noticed, and is lurking cause of danger 1t
is we'll known that the burning of petroleum re-
neres and storehouses generally takes place in hot
weather after cool period has lust elapsed
Now IS the time Of the Year to look out for petro
elm flier. and to see to their prevention. The con-
cluslon to be derived from NJ. Deville's memoir is
that il is essential to leave sufficient space for eX-
pansion by heat in all vessels containing petroleum,
and d. never to fill them TO compilation.
When the paper Of NJ Deville shall have been
published, we Shall be able 10 tell our readers the
exact extent of space needed for the mean eypan-
sion Of all mineral oils.
This statement, taken in connection with the very
recent and destructive oil-fires at Hunters Point
l.. l., and at Weehawken, y. j., occurring undel
the precise conditions Of temperature described by
Mr. Deville. will attract much attention. iScen-
tliic American.
"STRIKE THE KNOT" Strike the knot" said
Il gentleman one day to his son, who tired and wca
rv, was leaning on his axe over log which he had
i'll vain been trying TO cleave. Then looking at the
chlpped all round the knot without hitting it, TAX
ing the axe, he struck few sharp blows on the
knot and split the log without difficulty Smiling
he returned the axe 10 his son, saying:
always strike the knott
That was good advice. Ii is good for YOU, nv
children ii was for the boy whom it was first
given. 1t is capital maxim to follow when you
are in trouble. Have you hard sum to do a,
school: Have you got TO face difficulty? Are You
leaving home, to live for the first time among stran-
gers: strike the knot! Look your trouble in the
eye, AZ the bold on-h,mter looks in the face of the
lion. Never shrink from painful duty hut ster
right up TO ii and do il. Yes. strike the knot
Strike the knot, boys and girls, and You will always
conquer Your difficulties.
How 10 UsE LIME As MANURE. "k. 4. r.,
Eddysvile, Ky. We have more faith in large dose
OF lime than i'll small. One hundred bushels pei
acre will often so change the character Of the sol
that the beneficial effects will be observed for twenty
or thirty years. A convenient way to apply the
lime is to plow the land and then as the lime is
drawn from the kiln put ii on the field in heaps *
feet apart each way, and a bushel Of lime in eacl
heap. Then cover the heaps with few inches OF
soil, and AS soon the lime is slaked, spread the
whole evenly over the land with shovel, and har-
row OF plow it ill., and sow the crop. This give,
about one hundred bushels per acre, and none o.
the lime has to be thrown more than 10 feet it i,
easily spread. We should prefer to use the lime on
summer-faow for wheat, as this affords more time
to attend to it. But 1t may be applied to any crop
II your land is drained, naturally or articiay and
is well summer-fallowed and then lined as above
You may expect good wheat and good clover, and
no matter how much it is ''worn,' when YOU have
once got good clover you easily make Your land
bring large crops.
/ LIQUID MANURE, sc. NJ F." Boone Comfy