AREA, this term is a Latin word, and signifies

the same thing as superfices or quantity of On the Manufacture of Floorcloths. surface, but is applied exclusively to plane figures. Thus we say, the surface of a sphere, the area of a triangle, and the surface of a cube, is six times the area of one of its faces. The word is also applied to signify any large open space, or the ground upon which a building is erected; whence, in modern-built houses, the portion of the site which is not built upon is commonly called the area.

B

Example 1.-Measure a side A B of the triangle ABC, and the perpendicular CD, which is let fall upon it from the opposite vertex, both in units. Half the product of A B and C D is the number of square units in the triangle A B C. Thus, if A B be 30 yards and C D 16 yards, the triangle contains 240 square yards.

2. Measure the three sides A c, c B, B A, in units; take the half sum of the three, from it subtract each of the sides, multiply the four results together, and extract the square root of the product; this gives the number of square units in the triangle. For instance, let the three sides be 5, 6, and 7 inches, the half is 9, which, diminished by the three sides respective ly, gives 4, 3, and 2. 9,4,3,2, multiplied together, give 216, the square root of which is 147, 1410 very nearly. The triangle, therefore, contains about square inches.

7

ARGENT (in Heraldry), stands for the white colour.

(To be continued.)

ALTHOUGH the use of floorcloths, from their natural defects as to warmth, &c., is generally restricted to passages, halls, corridors, antechambers, and staircases, still their manufacture constitutes a very important branch of trade, and one which seems to be rather on the increase than otherwise.

They are made partly of flax and partly of hemp, the former being the cheaper of the two, but the latter better fitted to retain the oil and paint on the surface. For avoiding joinings in the cloth, it is woven in peculiarly constructed looms, by which perfect pieces can be turned out, of the following dimensions, which are those most generally required -namely, 100 yards in length by 6 yards in breadth, 108 yards by 7 yards, and 113 yards by 8 yards.

The canvas generally retains the same width throughout the subsequent operations; but it is cut into pieces varying from 60 to 100 feet in length, each of which is stretched over a vertical frame, to which its four corners hooked, rendering it almost as tight as a drum. Here the canvas remains many weeks, during most of the processes.

are

The

The first stage of proceeding consists in preparing the surface of the canvas in order to render it smooth and durable. For this purpose a wash of melted size is applied to each surface, and, while wet, well rubbed with a piece of flat pummice-stone. When the size has dried, the painting commences. paints employed are those of the common much thicker and stiffer, and have but very description, with this exception, that they are little turpentine added to them. The first and there with a brush, and then levelled and layer of paint is dabbed on in patches here spread by means of a trowel, twelve or fourteen inches in length. Ten or twelve days are allowed for this thick coating to dry, at the expiration of which a second one is laid on thinner than the former, and applied wholly with the brush. These two layers are all that are required for the back surface; but the front one requires a greater number of coatings and more processes, such as a rubbing with pummice-stone after each successive layer. Two or three more coats of paint will, in general, suffice for this surface, by the time it has received which it will have acquired a great degree of smoothness, and the substance altogether much suppleness and pliability.

The pattern is the next point to be conemployed in much the same manner as those for paper-hangings and colour printing. The canvas is first removed from its vertical position in the frame and then wrapped round a roller so placed as to allow the canvas to be uncoiled and spread out on a table to be printed. The blocks (which we will suppose to be four for one pattern, namely, red, yellow, blue, and green) being ready, the paint (say red) is applied with a brush to the surface of a pad or cushion formed of flannel

NOISELESS CARRIAGE WHEELS.-An inven-sidered. For this purpose wood blocks are tion for making wheels of the above description has just been patented by Mr. A. Smith, C.E., of Millwall. The improvement is effected by forming the tyre of numerous layers of galvanised plate iron lapped together, and re-galvanised in the mass; the consequence of this is, that when the wheels run over the stones there can be nothing heard but a slight dead sound. In order to prevent any noise from the axle, the nave of the wheel is lined with an elastic

substance.

covered with floorcloth; the block, held by a handle at the back, is placed face downwards on this cushion, and the layer of paint thus obtained is transferred to the surface of the canvas by pressing the block smartly down on the latter. A second impression is made in a similar manner, by the side of and close to the first; and so on throughout the length and breadth of the canvas; each impression being about fifteen inches square. The proper "register of the succeeding impressions is assisted by pins placed at the corners of the blocks. When the whole surface is thus printed with one colour, all the other three are similarly applied in succession. Where more colours occur, more attention to their "register" is, of course, requisite, in order to effect the proper arrangement of the whole.

The

ments-a kitchen and two bedrooms. kitchen is fitted up with a grate, oven, &c. There is also a small scullery, containing sinkstone, water-pipe, with the water constantly. on, bunker for coals, shelves, &c. Adjoining is a water-closet, through which, to prevent offensive effluvia, all water from the pipe and sink-stone passes; and there is a dust-hole in each scullery, into which sweepings, cinders, and all rubbish may be brushed, the occupants having no further trouble with them. The bedrooms are supplied with iron bedsteads and wash-stands. Each room has a ventilator at the bottom and top; and the windows are so constructed, that they can be easily opened for the further admission of air. There is also a cupboard in every cottage, and all the apartments are neatly papered, painted, and fitted up with shelving, iron hooks for clothes, &c. The building is fire-proof, there being no possibility of the fire in one flat extending. The roof of each house is flat, and covered with asphalte. The rent of a cottage on the top

In printing floorcloth for passages and stairs, where the cloth seldom exceeds a yard, the canvas is prepared in the frames, as in the other cases, but it is cut up into strips before being printed, and has usually a border given to its pattern by means of blocks, much nar-storey is 3s. 9d. a-week; on the third storey, 4s.; rower than the ones mentioned above.

Where there are large patches of one colour in the pattern of floorcloth, they are not given by smooth surfaces on the blocks, but by means of little projecting squares, technically denominated "teeth," the reason for which is, that if a surface two or more inches square were laid on wet paint, it would not take up the paint equally, but would exhibit it in an unequal splat; whereas, if the surface were broken up into a number of smaller sufaces by means of lines cut in various directions, these lines would act as air-vents, and the paint would be taken up pretty equally by the little squares or "teeth."

In future numbers we will present designs for floorcloths.

Dwellings for the Endustrial

Classes.

on the second, 4s. 3d.; and on the first, 43. 6d. There are cottages with two apartments, the lowest rent of which class is 2s. 6d.; and others of four rooms, which of course are a little dearer. In all, there are about three hundred cottages already built. Between each pile of building there is a space of eighteen feet."

A correspondent of the Builder proposes the extension of this plan, which has been found to work extremely well. He does not, however, confine his project merely to the accommodation of the working classes, but advocates the erection of "a handsome building, like those in the Temple, but with more domestic conveniences" to "be erected in a convenient suburb, and let out in chambers." He thus explains the mode by which the experiment might be made:-"Let a builder of capital procure plans and elevation from a competent architect; and having found a suitable piece of land, announce that as soon as he had the names of a sufficient number of parties willing to rent, say thirty sets of chambers, he would commence the first block. The subscription of parties willing to engage for a year certain, would be filled up in a week. The Bank of England clerks would alone supply a score of tenants, and all the Government offices a tithe of poor proud couples."

ARMENIAN CEMENT, OR TURKISH GLUE.This cement, which is used for mending glass, jewellery, &c., is prepared by dissolving isinglass in brandy or spirits of wine, and adding to it an equal bulk of thick mastic spirit varnish. When made, it should be as thick as common glue.

THIS is one of the most important subjects connected with the social advancement of the masses that has lately been mooted. As yet, the agitation seems to be most strenuous in the provinces, although in the metropolis itself much good has been already effected. According to the Liverpool Mercury "much is doing, or is about to be done in the right direction" in that town. In Birkenhead, the most extensive improvements have taken place, among which may be cited the cottages erected by the Birkenhead Dock Company for the residences of their workmen. "They are built near the foot of Bidston-hill, overlooking Wallasey-marsh, and adjoining the upper end of the great dock at Birkenhead, and are erected on the plan of SIR W. BURNETT'S PROCESS FOR PRESERVING the houses in Scotland, each tenant occupying WOOD, &c.-In this process a solution of a flat;' and as they are four storeys in height, chloride of zinc is introduced into the subeight families are accommodated in each house. stance by means of immense pressure, which, Of course there is a common staircase for the to a very great extent, replaces the sap of use of the eight families; but the stairs once wood, and stops up the pores of other articles. ascended, each residence is quite distinct. It is generally allowed to be one of the best Most of the cottages consist of three apart-means of preservation hitherto discovered.