1st ing periphery of the cask. This is effected by a modification of the patented machine of Messrs. Horsfall and James. The hoop iron, having been cut to lengths, and punched to receive the rivets for coupling the ends, is passed between a pair of nipping rolls-one being set slightly out of the horizontal. A tighter nip is, therefore, given to one edge than the other, and the metal is thereby slightly spread at one edge. A third roll, set higher than the nip of the pair of rolls, turns the hoop iron upwards, and causes it to curl into the form of a hoop. The rivets being applied by hand, as usual, the hoops are quickly formed. The casks may be trussed by hand, but, preferably, they are trussed by a modification of the machine already referred to, as described in the specification of Mr. Robertson. This machine consists of two conical metal cases, which fit one on to the other; one being fixed, and the other moveable, by the action of a press. The cask may be built up or inserted in one of these conical cases, which are each divided down their middle, and the parts coupled by tightening screws. They are also grooved, to receive the metal hoops. When, therefore, pressure is applied, to bring the two conical cases together, the cask is forced into the hoops placed in the grooves or recesses. By slackening the coupling screws, and separating the conical cases, the cask, now mechanically trussed, is readily removed from the machine. This system of mechanical trussing is, we believe, in use in some of our Government establishments; hydraulic power being employed instead of the screw press (actuated by bevil gearing) of Richardson. Thus modified, it will form a useful complement to Messrs. Benson's system of cask making. We have now completed our survey of the manufacture of the thirtysix gallon beer barrel, but we have only spoken incidentally of the advantages of the system over the old mode. It would lead us on too far, were we enter into a comparison of cost of machine and handmade barrels; we would, however, refer the reader who is curious on this point to Mr. Davison's appendix to his report, in which he brings out a very satisfactory result. He tells us, however, that "in order to carry out a manufactory in the most economical manner, it should be of sufficient magnitude to produce every kind of cask used in the locality-both large and small, wet and dry;" the object being to prevent loss from waste or defective material. We may remark, in passing, that when covering iron drums with wood, for petroleum and other uses, Messrs. Benson use a peculiar form of stave, which fits the cylinder, and yet is taper on its outer face, to allow of the application of truss hoops. The inner face of the stave is hollowed, to fit the drum, in the simplest possible manner, viz., by passing it along a fixed guide and 2 c VOL. XIX, 1st ' over a circular saw, which slightly projects upwards through the table of a common saw bench. The saw teeth therefore hollow the stave by a rasping action. Mr. Davison makes The To return to our subject of beer barrels. an important statement, with respect to a peculiarity in those made by machinery. We have already remarked that smooth joints are not desirable; but why is this? Mr. Davison gives a very explicit answer. He says, "When casks are jointed upon this system [that is, left rough from the saw], and set up by hydraulic pressure, after being subjected to superheated steam, the joints are so knit together as to require considerable force to separate them, even after the hoops are removed. The consequence is, that a cask, made on this plan, will resist any blow, short of completely crushing in the side, without starting the joints." This is a merit which all brewers will at once recognise, remembering the rough usage which their casks undergo at the hands of draymen. We doubt not, therefore, that machine-made casks, even if their cost were the same as those produced by hand, would be sought after in the market; but it is by no means clear that they will be obtainable in any quantity, unless steps are taken by capitalists, interested in the business, to establish manufactories for themselves or their localities. In the appendix to his report, Mr. Davison gives an approximate statement of cost of a cask factory, to produce machine-made casks, of assorted kinds in general use. capital required, he puts down at £45,000, which, he calculates, will yield a profit of about 31 per cent.; and by a large outlay, to double some of the machines-implying thereby a great accession of businesshe makes the profit much larger. The data of the calculations are given, so that any person practically acquainted with the trade may check the results. Although we cannot, of our own knowledge, confirm this estimate, yet by giving a few notes respecting the speed of working made during our inspection-when an order of Messrs. Allsopp, for thirty-six gallon casks, was being completed-we may help our readers to a fair estimate of the rate of the abovedescribed process of manufacture. We have said that no skilled labour is required. So far from this, nearly all the machines might, without disadvantage, be attended by boys. Thus, with the assistance of three boys, the steaming and bending of the staves, to fit them for the jointing machine, may be effected at the rate of forty staves in five minutes. The jointing of these staves, with the aid of one boy, is completed at the rate of three per minute. To chine a cask--that is, to turn and groove the ends-with a man attending, requires three minutes. Rounding the cask heads by the 1st band saw is effected at the rate of sixty per hour. And the oval turning and bevilling of the heads is completed at the rate of twelve pairs per hour. That the speed of working is deemed satisfactory, is proved by the fact that the Government, by the recommendation of engineers sent down to examine Messrs. Benson's process of manufacture, have ordered a set of the machinery, which is now being made by Messrs. Greenwood & Batley, of Leeds. It is well that Government should have taken this decided step, for it is only by such prompt encouragement that the benefits of a speedy introduction of a new and costly manufacture can be ensured to the public. Recent Patents. To JAMES YOUNG, of Bucklersbury, for improvements in the preservation of animal matter.-[Dated 6th August, 1863.] THIS invention consists in the employment of the sulphide or sulphuret of calcium, in order to deprive of oxygen the air in the cases or vessels in which animal matter is intended to be preserved. About one pound of sulphuret of calcium, placed in a vessel of a capacity equal to one cubic foot, which is filled up with meat and closed airtight, is sufficient to preserve the meat. The patentee takes a vessel of tinned iron, into which he introduces a coarse cloth bag containing dry sulphuret of calcium, which is improved by being mixed with one-fourth of its weight of slacked lime; and in order to keep the meat from direct contact with the bag, the bag is covered loosely with glazed cloth, tin plate, or other suitable material, allowing free communication between the mixture of sulphuret and lime and the air contained in the vessel. The vessel is then filled with meat, and the lid soldered down air-tight. If the vessel is larger than one foot capacity, it is better to divide the mixture, and to place it in different parts thereof, in lieu of in one place; or two vessels may be used, the one containing the meat, the other the sulphuret, with a communication between the two; the whole being made air-tight. Other sulphurets, having the same property as sulphuret of calcium, may be used-such, for example, as the sulphuret of potassium or the proto-sulphuret of iron. The patentee claims, "the preservation of animal matters by the employment of the sulphuret of calcium, or other sulphurets capable of absorbing oxygen, as described." ist To HERBERT MACKINDER, of Lincoln, for improvements in apparatus for separating potatoes into different sizes.-[Dated 21st February, 1863.] THIS invention of improvements in apparatus for separating potatoes into different sizes is shown in longitudinal section in Plate VIII. a, a, is the frame of the apparatus; it is mounted on wheels a', a1, and has handles a2, a2, to facilitate its removal from place to place; b, is the hopper to receive the potatoes or roots to be sorted; c, and d, are the upper and lower riddles, the riddle c, being finer than the riddle d; and e, is the frame in which the riddles are mounted: this frame is linked, by means of the connecting rod f, with a crank on the axle g. g1, is a flywheel, and g2, a pulley on this axle, which is set in motion by a crank handle. A to-and-fro motion is thus given to the riddles and their frame. This frame e, is furnished with wheels e1, which rest on the short rails a3, on the frame a, whereby the riddle frame is supported and guided in its motion. k, is the grated incline, on which the smallest potatoes and the dirt fall: the dirt passes through, and the potatoes run down to a mouth, which guides them into a sack. m, is another incline, which conducts the seed potatoes to another mouth, where they are collected. o, o, are the mouths, by which the large potatoes, when they get to the end of the second screen, pass into other sacks placed for their reception. To JOHN THOMAS OAKLEY and THOMAS OAKLEY, both of Grange-road, Bermondsey, for improvements in the construction of garden pumps ; part of which said improvements are applicable to fire-engines and other hydraulic machines.—[Dated 2nd May, 1863.] THIS invention consists in constructing garden pumps as shown in Plate VIII., where fig. 1 is a side elevation of the pump, and fig. 2 a section of the same. A, is a wooden vessel; B, a piece of wood fixed to the bottom of the vessel; C, D, valves, fitted in water ways in the piece B; E, a pump barrel, fixed to the piece B; G, a piston, fitting water-tight in the tube E; H, a piston-rod, connected by its upper end to a lever handle 1, the fulcrum whereof is a pin at a, passed through a hole in the standard K, fixed to the vessel A; L, is a metal tube, fixed to a hole in the piece B ; L', a piece of vulcanised India-rubber tubing fitted on the tube L; b, is an opening for the passage of water into the barrel of the pump; M, is an air vessel, of vulcanised India-rubber or other suitable elastic material: the bottom or neck of the vessel M, is securely fixed to a short pipe N, which fits water-tight in a hole formed in the piece B. o, is a metal guard, to limit the expansion of the vessel M, and to prevent its bursting. The thickness of the material of which the vessel м, is formed, should be in proportion to the pressure therein; and this rule applies to the air vessels of fire-engines and other hydraulic machines. The operations of the above arrangements are as follows:-As the piston G, is raised, the water from the vessel A, fills the barrel E; the downward movement of the piston closes the valve c, and forces the water through the valve D, into the air vessel M; thereby compressing the air therein, and distending the vessel with a force proportionate to the thickness of the material of which the vessel M, is formed. Simulta 1st neously with this filling of the vessel M, the pipes L, L', are also filled with water; but by reason of the opening in the rose P, screwed on to the hose pipe L1, being small, the water cannot escape in a large volume; so that at each upstroke of the piston G, the combined pressure of the compressed air in the vessel M, and elastic material of which the vessel is formed, serve to keep up and discharge a continuous stream of water, with less expenditure of manual labour and to a greater height than has hitherto been effected by hydraulic machines, constructed with air vessels formed of metal. The patentees remark that, when great pressure is required, instead of making the vessel M, of the shape shown at fig. 2, they employ a piece of vulcanised India-rubber tubing a, (fig. 3) which is securely fixed to a short pipe inserted in the valve box B. The upper end of the tubing Q, is closed by a stopper R. When water is forced into this tube, it will expand in the direction denoted by the dotted lines. Another form of expanding air vessel is represented at fig. 4, where s, T, are two metal cylinders, the inner one s, being fitted water-tight, and capable of sliding in the outer cylinder T. This cylinder is fixed on the valve box, in place of the vessels M, and a, before described. U, U, are strong lugs or pins, fitted upon the cylinders s, T. W, w, are strong rings of vulcanised India-rubber, passed over the lugs or pins, which offer resistance to the water as it is forced into the cylinders s, T; at the same time allowing the air vessel thus formed to expand, after the manner of the vessels M, and o, before described, with the advantage of being considerably stronger than those vessels. The patentees claim, "the general combination and arrangement of parts, above described and represented, with reference to garden pumps, as constituting improvements in the construction thereof, and especially the vessels marked м, Q, s, T, for the purposes set forth." To WILLIAM NEILL, jun., of Bold, near St. Helen's, Lancashire, for improvements in steam-engines.—[Dated 16th June, 1863.] THIS invention is particularly applicable to those steam-engines which are used for pumping or otherwise forcing water, although it may be applied to other cases in which motive power is required. The description of engine to which the invention refers is that in which a supplementary piston or pistons are employed for shifting the slide valves, and consists in causing the said shifting of the valves to be effected by the direct action of the steam, that is, without the intervention of mechanical appliances. In Plate VIII., fig. 1 exhibits one method by which the invention may be carried into effect. The working cylinder is at a, within which is a piston b; the rod c, being supposed to work a pump, or to perform any similar office. f, are the passages leading to and from the cylinder. At g, h, are two additional exhaust passages, which extend upward and lead to chambers i, k, situate within a valve box l. The box, is cylindrical, and carries the steam pipe at n, and two exhaust pipes at o; and within it is another cylindrical box m. Within the cylindrical box m, are the two pistons p, q, which are designed to give motion to the slide valves: in this arrangement, however, they themselves act as slide valves. They are |