Each of these 12 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.
Tobias (1721-1771), a British novelist. He was born in Scotland, and was educated as a surgeon. He resided for a time in Jamaica, then in London. He is remembered for three humorous, coarse novels: Roderick Random, a series of sea tales; Peregrine Pickle, full of scrapes; and Humphrey Clinker, pronounced by Thackeray, himself touched with coarseness, the most laughable story in the language. "Facts are stubborn things," is a saying from Smollett.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
REED, a United States Senator from Utah, born in Salt Lake City, in 1862. After graduating from Brigham Young Academy in 1879, he engaged in business and became a director and officer in many important financial organizations in Salt Lake City and elsewhere. In 1900 he was appointed one of the apostles of the Mormon Church. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1902, 1908, 1916, and 1920. He was also a member of the Republican National Committee, and in 1919 was chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. In the Senate he was recognized as one of its most industrious and efficient members, and was an especial authority on matters pertaining to finance and the tariff.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Important: Safety Warning
This page recommends pest-control substances such as arsenic compounds, strychnine, or cyanide — in some cases applied to food crops. These substances are lethal to humans and animals, and their use is now banned or strictly controlled.
In addition, this page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
any one of several parasitic plants growing on corn and other field crops. Smut is akin to rust, and is included in the general class of fungi or leafless, flowerless plants feeding on organic matter. The threads of smut run like the threads of mold through blade or tassel or ear in an immense tangle until they are ready to produce their black dust spores. As each particle of the black dust is capable of producing a smut plant a year later, the marvel is not that an occasional stalk is infested, but rather that we have any corn at all. Onions, wheat, oats, rye, etc., each has its particular smut. Cows turned loose in a cornfield sometimes die unaccountably. Formerly the loss was charged to smut. Experiments carried on at agricultural stations disprove this theory. Smut has been mixed with food in large amounts without injury to the animals. Smut is usually in the seed when planted. Experts advise treating seed grain with formaldehyde to kill the spores. One pound of formaldehyde, forty per cent pure, may be added to forty-five gallons of water. This is sufficient for one hundred bushels of grain. The grain should be spread out on the floor of a bin. The liquid may be applied in a spray or from a watering pot. The grain should be turned repeatedly with a shovel that all the kernels may be moistened.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
The ornamentation of the surface of metals by means of circles or bars, sometimes erroneously called damaskeening
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler
JOHN COLLIS, an English writer of fiction. He brought out his first work, "Broke of Covenden," in 1904, and this was followed two years later by "Henry Northcote." Since then his published works have included: "William Jordan, Junior," "Araminta," "Fortune," "Mrs. Fitz," "The Principal Girl," "An Affair of State," "The Great Age," "The Sailor," "Mary Plantagenet."
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a serpent, any species of the order Ophidia. The best-known harmless snake is probably the common snake, known also as the ringed or grass snake. The black snake, of which there are two species, is also very common in the United States. The common snake has no poison fangs, but is furnished with scent glands which secrete a volatile substance of offensive and penetrating odor. Snakes are partial to damp situations and enter water readily, swimming with ease. They are very voracious and swallow their prey -frogs, mice, and small birds-alive and entire, their teeth, which are in two rows on each side of the jaws and directed backward, being too weak to tear or masticate. See SERPENT.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
. See Anhinga
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
the popular name of numerous American plants of different species and genera, most of which are, or formerly were, reputed to be efficacious as remedies for snake bites. SNEEHÄTTEN (sna-het'en; "Snowhat"), a mountain in Norway with an altitude of 7,566 feet. It rises from the midst of the Dovrefield, an extensive tract of country, from 40 to 50 miles in extent in every direction, and between 3,000 and 4,000 feet above the sea-level.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
or Reptiles, rep'tils, an order of animals, including tortoises, crocodiles, lizards, and serpents. The entire phylum or type is repulsive, unless an exception be made of the lively southern chameleon. There are about 2,000 species. Their circulation is low. Their blood is cold. Their habits are sluggish. Their digestion is slow. In temperate climes they are torpid over winter. None of them requires a warm covering, as of hair. They can go without food for long periods and can remain under water without breathing for a considerable length of time. No reptile hatches its eggs by nesting on them, though the pythoness keeps guard until the sun has done the work. Many species bring forth their young alive. Separate articles may be consulted for the leading animals of the phylum. It may be convenient to refer to the following classification of living reptiles: I. Crocodilians--gavial, crocodile, alligator. II. Tortoises--terrapin, turtles. III. Lizards--iguana, slow-worm, "glass" snake, gila monster, horned "toad ." IV. Serpents--boa, python, black snake, garter snake , copperhead, moccasin, viper, rattlesnake, cobra. See Adder ; Anaconda ; Asp ; Boa Constrictor ; Cobra ; Python ; Rattlesnake ; Viper
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
A small catch, or fastening, as in a bracelet. The fastening of one piece of metal to another by springing of the edges, as in the bezel of a watch case.
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler
or Antirrhinum, an old-fashioned garden flower. The common snapdragon is a biennial from one to three feet in height. It has large tubular flowers, having spreading, erect lobes and arranged in a long spike or head. In color, it ranges from red and purple to white. The snapdragon is related to the figwort, betony, foxglove, veronica, digitalis, painted cup, monkey flower, etc. Python. Serpents Boa constrictor . Serpents
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
To emboss or raise figures upon metal work by driving the metal up from the back with a die or snarling iron, as in metal vases.
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler