ART. III.—Notices of New Improvements in Mining, Metallurgy, Machinery, Chemical Manufactures, &c. and of Discoveries in general science bearing upon Industrial Arts.

Process of whitening Pins and Needles made of Iron and Steel. By MM. Vantillard and Leblond.—It is well known that pins made of brass wire are deficient in strength and elasticity, and accordingly they have been replaced by pins made of iron or steel; but it is necessary to tin them over. This operation, however, cannot be performed equally well with iron as with brass; the pins have a rough uneven surface, which renders them inconvenient to use, as they are liable to tear the cloth.

Messrs. Vantillard and Leblond, wishing to avoid this defect, formed the idea of first covering the iron with a thin coating of copper or other metal having a greater affinity for tin than iron has; but in order that this result should be satisfactorily attained, it is necessary to polish and pickle the pins before coppering them. The above named manufacturers have most ingeniously effected the polishing, the pickling, and the coppering, by one single operation. To treat, for example, 2 kilogrammes (a little more than 4lbs. 6ozs.), 4 litres (about 7 pints) of water, 300 grammes (10 ounces 9 drachms, avoirdupois, by weight) of oil of vitriol, 30 grammes (15 ounces 13 grains, avoirdupois,) of salt of tin, 40 grammes (1 ounce 4 drachms 17 grains) of crystallized sulphate of zinc, (white copperas,) and 7 grammes (about 108 grains, avoirdupois) of sulphate of copper, are mixed together; this mixture is allowed to dissolve during twenty-four hours. The bath being thus prepared, it is to be introduced into a barrel of wood, made pitcher-like, and mounted upon an axis. Into this barrel, which has a capacity of about 35 pints, the pins are now to be put; it is then turned rapidly during half an hour; when the pins will be found to have received a pickling, a polishing, and a slight coppering. After the lapse of this time, 20 grammes (about 10 drachms 8 grains, avordupois,) of sulphate of copper, in crystals, (blue stone,) are to be added, and the barrel again turned during 12 minutes, when a solid coppering will be effected, with a finely polished surface. This done, the liquid in the barrel is to be decanted off, and may be used repeatedly for the same purpose: the pins are washed in cold water, then put in a tray containing a hot solution of soap, and agitated for about two minutes. The soap ley is decanted off, and the pins put into a bag with some fine saw-dust and shaken, by which means the coppered surface assumes a brilliant appearance. The pins thus prepared may be tinned in the ordinary way, but the operation can be effected much more rapidly than in the case of ordinary brass pins. The articles made in this way are far more beautiful and useful than those made in the ordinary way. This process is the more deserving of attention at present, quite independent of the superior quality of the pins, in consequence of the exceedingly high price of brass wire.-Bulletin de la Société d'Encouragement, March, 1853, p. 142.

A new Hammer for forming and dressing Mill Stones, by which the great danger to the health of the Workmen from the dust produced is avoided. By M. Poirel, of La Ferte-sous-Jouarre.-It is well known that the making of mill-stones and their subsequent dressing when worn down are exceedingly unhealthy occupations. The fine silicious dust gets into the mouth, and finally into the lungs, where it causes phthisis of the most fatal kind. The effects of this disease are so disastrous at the celebrated mill-stone quarries of La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, that attention has frequently been directed to find some means to remedy the evil. This object appears to have been effected by M. Poirel's invention. It consists of an ordinary hammer, with a small reservoir made of brass or tin-plate, somewhat like a smaller hammer, fitted on the handle quite close to the hammer-head. This small hollow hammer has a hole through it exactly like that in the iron one, into which the handle is made to fit; and by means of rings of vulcanized caoutchouc or guttapercha, it is made to slide water-tight upon the handle of the hammer, to which it is to be attached; an orifice is made in one side of it for the purpose of introdu

cing water, and is closed by a screw-tap. At one end there is a fine capillary hole through which water can be forced by the shock of a blow with the hammer, but through which air cannot enter. This hole is so arranged that any drops of water which escape from it fall a little above the point of the hammer used in dressing the stone. In working with such a hammer a drop of water is made to fall upon the point with every blow, the effect of which is to make a paste of the silicious dust, and prevent it from flying about. The amount of water is proportional to the rapidity and force of the blows, and consequently directly so to the quantity of dust produced. When one point of the hammer is worn, and that the other must be used, the little reservoir may be turned round on the handle, and thus answers for both ends. The usual sized reservoirs employed are capable of containing sufficient water to last for four hours; and when made of thin tin-plate, or in part of gutta-percha, weigh only about 44ozs., so that the weight added to the hammer is very trifling. The time occupied in replenishing the reservoir when empty, would be quite inappreciable.-Bulletin de la Société d'Encouragement, May, 1853, p. 229.

Manufacture of Papier-maché from Straw.-During the last year, Mr. P. Warren has obtained a patent for producing a sort of papier-maché-like mass from straw. The process differs very little from that employed for the preparation of straw-paper, now so extensively made in this country, and was, indeed, tried many years ago in Germany. Rye, wheaten, barley, or oaten straw, is first cut into small pieces, and if there are knots in it, it is ground between millstones, or crushing cylinders. The straw thus subdivided, is then boiled in a strong alkaline ley, (caustic soda or potash,) in order to remove the exteral silicious rind, until it is converted into a pulpy mass. The rapidity with which this is effected depends upon the kind of straw, and the strength of the solution. When sufficiently boiled, the mass is worked up in a rag engine, after which it is partially dried, and in this state, is made into sheets by means of presses or rollers, or it may be at once pressed into the diffierent forms which it is intended to give it. The plates or formed articles may then be dipped in oily or gelatinous liquids, and baked in an oven, in the same way as ordinary papier-maché wares, and finally varnished, inlaid, or otherwise decorated. (A similar material can easily be made with the light surface or flow peat, forming the upper layer of our bogs, and as there is no patent for the employment of such a material, there is a wide field of industry open to any enterprizing persons, who would take up the manufacture of papiermaché from it).-London Journal, Sept. 1853, p. 193.

Rosin Oil for Lubricating Machinery.-Payen and Buran recommend the oil obtained by the distillation of common rosin with from 5 to 10 per cent. of quicklime, as a good material for greasing machinery. As it is generally slightly acid, even when distilled with lime, it is recommended to add from 2 to 5 per cent. of lime or magnesia to the cold oil, which unites with the free acid, and gives the whole mass the consistence of butter.-Polytechnisches Centralblatt, No. 12, 1853.

ART. IV.-Bulletin of Industrial Statistics.

PROGRESS OF THE LINEN MANUFACTURE IN IRELAND.

IN the first number of this Journal we gave some statistics, which showed the rapid increase in the growth of flax in this country. The progress of the linen manufacture is no less gratifying, as the following details, summarized from the Belfast Mercantile Journal of January 10th, will show. The following table gives the imports and exports of linen fabrics and linen yarns into Belfast during the years 1852 and 1853.

The following table gives the relative prices of linen and linen-yarns at the close of the years 1852 and 1853:

There are now 88 factories in the whole of Ireland, with 580,684 spindles (in 1850 there were only 73). At the close of 1852 there were only 58 power-looms at work in Ireland; there are now 218, and preparation is making for 1,105 additional, making a total of 1,323. One new establishment, that of Messrs. J. & T. Kennedy, has arrangements for 1,100 looms, of which four or five hundred are already set.

The value

From the preceding table we see that the imports of both linen fabrics and linen has considerably increased, and that the export of linen has also increased, but that of linen yarn has decreased. We believe the exports from Newry and Drogheda have also increased, but we are unable to give the amount. of the medium numbers of yarn has slightly decreased, although flax has ruled considerably higher throughout the year than in 1852, say fully £12 per ton on an average. It follows from this that the spinning trade has been comparatively unremunerative during the past year, more particularly as the price of coals has risen very considerably, as will be seen by the following table, which shows the relative price of coals per ton at Belfast at the beginning and close of the year 1853: January 1st, 1853.

English,
Scotch,

Dec. 31st, 1853.
English,
Scotch,

19s. to 20s.
158.

Showing an advance of 7s. per ton on English, and 6s. to 6s. 6d. per ton on Scotch coal. This advance on the large quantity used in Belfast and its dependencies, for manufacturing purposes, reckoned at equal to 130,000 tons per annum, must tell seriously upon the profits of the manufacturer. Notwithstanding this enormous increase the quantity of coals imported into Belfast has considerably increased, as will be evident by the following table of the imports for the last four years:

In consequence of the anticipated war the consumption of linen was scarcely so good as at the corresponding period last year; and the stock of linen and linen yarns was also larger, During the first nine months of 1853 both the production and consumption were large, but since the 1st of October the trade has ruled rather dull. The spinners having, however, adopted the wise step of working only fortyeight hours in the week instead of sixty; the stocks have been kept down and the prices to a great extent maintained.

INCREASE OF TRADE IN BELFAST.

Cotton and Sewed Muslin Manufactures.-The influence which the existence of a great branch of manufacture in a locality exercises upon its general trade is well illustrated in Belfast, in the rapid progress of every other species of manufacture, and of its general commerce. Thus, the cotton trade of that town is steadily increasing; there being now employed 111,264 spindles, being an increase of 15,000 spindles over 1852. The consumption of yarns has been much the same as in 1852, as regards quantity, but the quality was superior. Of the 111,264 spindles, 34,360 are occupied in spinning the finer qualities; 39,000, medium; and 37,904, coarse yarns. The same causes which affected the linen trade, especially the high price of coals, have also affected this branch of manufacture. The following table represents the imports and exports of cotton goods for the year 1852 and 1853: 1853.

Imports.

1852.

...

Cottons & Cotton Wool, 20,215 bales, 12,936 trusses. 6,522 bales, 8,343 trusses. Cotton Yarn, 6,607 skps. & bgs.

2,544

Exports.

1852.

...

1853.

Cotton Yarn, 1,224 bales, 499 bxs, 1006 skps. 1,125 bales, 1,215 bxs. 906 skps. Calicoes, Muslins, 1,949 14,343 pgs.

18,025 pgs.

.. 1,004

...

The sewed muslin business, as well as the gingham and printed calico trades, although not, perhaps, so lively or remunerative as they were at the commencement of the year, have been conducted throughout with great activity. The former continues to insinuate its branches throughout Ireland, wherever skilful and willing hands are to be found; and we believe we are within the mark when we say, that about £1,500,000 are spent annually throughout Ireland for wages in this trade, chiefly through the agency of Belfast and Glasgow establishments. It is calculated that upwards of 50,000 looms are at work in Belfast and various parts of Ireland in weaving muslins, calicoes, &c., and which number would be rapidly augmented, were a sufficient supply of skilled labour to be had.

Shipping of Belfast.-As may be expected from the previous statements, a very considerable increase has taken place in the shipping of Belfast during the past year, as the following table, representing the tonnage of all the vessels entering and clearing outwards from that port, during the years 1851, 1852, and 1853, indicates:

Being equal to an increase of 123 per cent. on 1852, and 18 per cent on 1851. Iron Ship-building.-We are glad to find that the trade of iron ship-building has been established in Belfast. Messrs. R. Hickson & Co. have established a building yard on Queen's Island; and had in January last a clipper-ship, intended for the Bombay trade, of 1,400 tons register, in course of erection. They had also completed a contract for another, of 2,600 tons, for the Australian trade; and with a Liverpool house for supplying an iron vessel, which will be the largest iron sailing ship yet built. It is a great source of satisfaction to know that these ships will be all completed with native manufactured iron; all the plates, &c., required for them will be made at the Iron Works in Eliza-street, Belfast, where, we understand, the make of this article has been nearly doubled during the months of November and December. The keels also for these ships are forged with the tilt hammer at these works, and are a very massive piece of workmanship, certainly the largest of manufactured iron for a keel ever made in the Three Kingdoms.

THE

JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS.

No. IV. - APRIL, 1854.

ART. L-INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION. No. II.-On the State and Progress of Agricultural Education in Ireland. By M. BROGAN.

Ir is a self-evident fact, that the successful conduct of any business requires previous training and careful instruction in all its various details; but, to any one who doubts the reasonableness of such a proposition, the lamentable failures that are constantly occurring from men embarking in pursuits, with the principles of which they are but imperfectly acquainted, should afford abundant evidence of its truth. And yet, until a comparatively recent period, there was one pursuit, at least the cultivation of the soil -which was considered of so simple a character as to exempt it from the application of this fundamental principle of social economy. Any man possessing sufficient capital, no matter how insufficient his intelligence and experience, was considered qualified to have the management of land; and any man whose physical power was well developed, though possessing no other qualification whatsoever, was deemed quite fit to become an agricultural labourer. Fortunately, this stand-still state of matters was not destined to continue. Thinking men began to suspect that something more than capital and labour was required, in order to make the pursuit of Agriculture as successful as it ought to be;-that the principles of vegetable growth and nutrition, instead of being simple processes, interesting only in theory, form some of the most important subjects of investigation;— that the soil, which was formerly considered of an entirely homogeneous nature, and ranked as one of the "four elements," under the general name of earth, was an extremely compound mass, consisting of various heterogeneous substances, from which the different families of plants derived their nourishment;-in short, that mere "practical experience" was too slow a guide on the path of agricultural progress, and that the aid of theory, the offspring of science, was necessary to enable the agriculturist to meet the constantly increasing demands upon his exertions.

But there is often a wide interval between the recognition of a defect and the application of a suitable remedy, and so it was in this case: years

H