Nautical Improvement.—We congratulate the public on the application of a simple mechanical apparatus to impel boats, instead of oars. It consists of the machinery of steam-vessels, but the moving power is the hand applied to a windlass. Boats were first used on this principle with success on Whit-Monday, between London and Greenwich. The labour is much less than that of oars, and the impulse of the boat through the water much increased in swiftness.
Philosophic Girl.—The Italian journals mention that a young lady, only 13 years of age, named Maria Catherina Gherardi, a native of Scrola, has maintained in public a series of philosophic theses, in Latin.
Ingenious Automaton.—A German journal asserts, that an artist at Cemberg, in Prussia, has constructed a watch which imitates the human voice, and answers questions in German and Polish; besides executing musical airs.
To destroy Caterpillars.—A gardener at Glasgow practices a mode of destroying caterpillars, which he discovered by accident. A piece of woollen rag had been blown by the wind into a currant bush, and when taken out was found covered with these leaf-devouring insects. He immediately placed pieces of woollen cloth in every bush in his garden, and found next day that the caterpillars had universally taken to them for shelter. In this way he destroys many thousands every morning.
Vegetation in cold Climates.—The following is a calendar of a Siberian Lapland year:
| Snow melts | June 22d. |
| Snow gone | July 1st. |
| Fields quite green | do. 6th. |
| Plants at full growth | do. 17th. |
| Plants in flower | do. 25th. |
| Fruits ripe | Aug. 2d. |
| Plants shed their seed | do. 10th. |
| Snow | do. 18th. |
| From August 18th to June 22d. snow and ice. | |
Thus it appears, that from their first emerging from the ground to the ripening of their seeds, the plants take but a month; and spring, summer, and autumn are crowded into the short space of 56 days.
THE FARMER'S CREED.
By Sir John Sinclair, President of the Board of Agriculture.