Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/532

504&#93; 5^4] ROP boiler is placed a hogshead or cask, the top of which is open (we be- lieve it might with mure advantage be covered with a coarse cloth) ; xvhile the bottom is drilled w;th numerous holes, about one inch in diameter 5 so that the steam may freely p:iss through the roots. In f.his vessel, the potatoes^, &c. after being washed, are deposited ; and, when sufficiently steamed, they af- ford a more invigorating and fat- tening food to cattle, than in a raw state. ROPE, a continuation of several twists or siring^ ot hemp, combined by means of a wheel, and in that state employed in various branches of naval, mihtary, and civil arciii- tedlure, as v/ell as in rural and (domestic economy. Ropes may be manufaftured of all vegetable substances that are sufficiently fibrous, tenacious, and pliant. Thus, the stems of aloes, tbe fibrous covering of cocoa-nuts, bamboos, and the leaves of the common Spanish nut-grass CLy- feum <partum, L.), are, in the East ndies, advantageonsly converted into ropes. The barks of the Lin- den-tree, Wiliow, Bramble, &c. are employed for the same pur- pose in Europe ; but the most du- rable and flexible material.-, hither- to discovered, are fiax and hemp, the latter of which is preferred f(jr all cordage employed for raising great weights. Flora the multifarious purposes to v.hich ropes art; sub.--ervic-nt, iheir matnifafture is an objedt of considerable importance : onr li-, raits, however, permit us only to mention such patents as have been obtained for makino- or working- them to the greatest advantage, and which have not already been sated, under the article Corx>. In March, 1/93, a patent wa? granted to Mr. John Daniel Bel- four, for a new invented machine in the manufaiSture of ropes ancj cordage. The obje6l of this con- trivance, is the improvement of the common method, by making every yarn bear an equal proportion of the strain or wright : for this jipr- pose, each yarn is wound on a sepa- rate reel, which is so constructed as not to yield, or part with, the former, till it is unwound in its ro- tation, with a view to cijntribute its pioportioiiate assistance in forming the strand. — As the construttion of this machine is interesting chiefly to rope-makers, we for- bear to describe it, and refer the inquisitive reader to tiie. 2d vol. of the R^perfnrij nf' Arts, Sec. where a full .specification is given, and il- lustrattd with a,, engraving. In November, 17c>S, another pa- tent was obtained by Mr. John CcBR j for a method of manufac- turing ^flat ropes, to be usid in drawing coals, water, i:c. from any mine or pit. Such ropes may be madii, by conrietting two or more cords or small ropes sidcic-ise, by sewing or interweaving ihum wilii thread, or cordage inaie of hemp, Hax, or other materials i or with brass or iron wire ; so as to pre- vent them from separating, and to form a broad roj>e. The patentee observes, that this .sewing or stitch- ing may be effected in ditierent ways ; and that his machine will be found eminentl}' useful, and ex- peditious j buti as a mere descrip- tion WiJj not convey an adequate idea of its meclianism, the reader will coiisult the 10th volume of thfe work above (juoted ; in wh.ch it is fully described, and exemplified by a plate. ROSE, St. Anthony's Firb^, or