Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/343

309&#93; WE A transparency, or turbid appearance of which, indicates the changes in the atmosphere. Thus, if the wea- ther promise to be fine, the solid matter of the composition will settle at the bottom of the tube, while the liquid is pellucid ; but, previously to a change for rain, the compound will gradually rise 3 the fluid will continue transparent J and small stars will be observed moving or floating about the glass. Twenty-four hours before a storm, or very high wind, the sub- stance will be partly on the surface of the liquid, apparently in the form of a leaf; the fluid, in such case, will be very turbid, and in a state resembling fermentaion. During the winter, small stars being in motion, the composition is remarkiibly white, and somewhat higher than usual, particularly when white frosts, or snow prevail. On the contrary, in the summer, if the weather be hot and serene, the substance subsides closely to the bottom of the glass tube. Lastly, it may be ascertained from what point of the compass the wind blows, by observing that the solid particles adhere more closely to the bottom, on the side opposite to that, from which the tempest happens to arise. — This instrument has been satisfactorily employed both at sea and on shore: being small, portable, and toler- ably exa6t, it may often serve as a substitute for the more bulky and expensive contrivances in common use. — See also Barometer. WEAVING is the art of work- ing a web of linen, silk, wool, or any other material, by means of looms. Having, in the article Cloth, given an outline of the manner in which weaving is performed^ we WEE [309 shall at present notice two im- provements that have lately been introduced in this important branch of our staple-manufaflure. The first is, Mr. Robert Mil- ler's method of weaving all kinds of linen, woollen, or other stuffs, by means of looms worked by water, steam-engines, or horses ; for which he obtained a patent in June, 1795. — Our limits not ad- mitting of diffuse accounts, which would also require the aid of en- gravings, we refer the reader to the 8th vol. of the " Repertory of Arts," &c. where the specificatioa is illustrated with two plates. In the year ISOO, the Society for theEncouragement of Arts, &c, con- ferred a bounty of 15 guineas onMr, Thomas Clulow, for his inven- tion of a loom, designed to weave Jlgured ribbons. The great ad- vantage attending the use of this machine is, not only a considerable saving of tiniie, but ribbons may thus be woven with greater neat- ness, and beauty, than by the com- mon iooms ; the work being ne- cessarily stopped in the latter, while the figure is formed by the hand ; whereas, by Mr. C.'s con- trivance, the tire- cords, or those which trace such outline, without retarding the progress of the work, are a6ted upon by straps affixed to the centre treddle. — A farther ac- count of this useful improvement, will be found in the 18th vol. of the Society's " Trans anions," &c. —See also the article Loom. WEED, a term applied to aH rank, coarse vegetables, that grow spontaneously, to the detriment of other plants. Weeds are usually divided into two classes, namely, annual, and perennial. With a view to eradi- cate the former, it will be advis- X 3 aU%