rt. And since archaeology has become a science,
investigators, for half a century, may be looking about for facts to
complete the system auspiciously introduced by the antiquarians of
Northern Europe, and advanced in our own country by the researches
of Caleb Atwater (_Archaeologia Americana_) and by those of the
Smithsonian contributors to knowledge, especially Squier and Davis.
RAMBLER.

* * * * *

A SMALL WATER WHEEL.--There is in the town of Meriden, Conn., a
Leffel double turbine wheel, running under 240 feet fall and driving
a manufactory. It uses only about one-half of a square inch of water,
and runs at the marvelous speed of 3,000 revolutions per minute, or 50
revolutions per second, which is by far the most rapid rate of motion
ever imparted to a water wheel. This is, also, beyond comparison the
greatest fall applied to the propulsion of a wheel in America. The
wheel at Meriden is of the most diminutive size, scarcely exceeding in
dimensions the old-fashioned "turnip" watches which our grandfathers
used to carry in their capacious vest pockets. The complete success of
this wheel has attracted much attention and affords further evidence
of the wide range of adaptability of the Leffel turbine.

* * * * *

[For the Scientific American.]

SILK CULTURE.

BY W. V. ANDREWS.

A vague notion that silk culture ought to form one of the industrial
pursuits of the American people seems to be prevalent enough; but it
does not take practical hold upon anybody. The nearest approach to
anything practical which we have seen, in late years--excepting, of
course, what has been done in California--occurred in New York in July
last, when a number of gentlemen pledged themselves, according to a
report given in the _Tribune_ of July 30, "to promote the native silk
trade."

The gentlemen present at the meeting represented the most prominent
silk manufacturing and importing houses in this country. What these
gentlemen have since done towards promoting the native silk trade, I
do not know, but, having pledged themselves, it is presumed they have
done something.

At the meeting, of which the _Tribune_ article is a report, dags,
and other things, manufactured from California silk, were exhibited;
and the report goes on to say that "Mr. Warren also exhibited samples
of native and foreign cocoons, and of raw and thrown silk, together
with the common _Cecrop