suspicions to the collector that there was at times a strong smell of mash from the drains. This led to inquiries and an inspection of the premises, when the still was found. The experience of the Metropolitan Association is that the ground-rents of cottages in the country are three and a half pence per family per week, while those of London average eight pence per family per week. Cottages in the country can be constructed at £34 per room, while the construction in London costs £36 per room. RENEWING WRINKLED SILK. It is said that silk which has become wrinkled may be made to appear like new by sponging the surface with a weak solution of gum arabic or white glue, and ironing on the wrong side.-18 A, May 21, 1875, 242. WASHING WOOLEN CLOTHING. It has been found on trial that woolen articles treated by the following method, suggested by Dr. Tillmann, do not shrink, and remain unchanged in color. The garments are to be soaked for several hours in a warm, moderately concentrated solution of soda, to which about half a tumbler of ammonia water has been added, more or less, according to the quantity of clothing. They are then to be washed out after the addition of some warm water, and rinsed in fresh water. The same result may be reached by adding a tumbler of ammonia water to a small tub of water, soaking the articles for half an hour in this, and then rinsing them in pure water.-5 C, IV., 1875, 32. AUSTRALIAN METHOD OF OBTAINING COOL WATER. A simple method of obtaining cool water, practiced very extensively in Australia, seems worthy of introduction into the United States, in localities where ice is not readily procurable. This consists in the use of a large bucket, made of sail-cloth or stout canvas (somewhat like that used for fire buckets), about four feet high and ten inches in diameter. A thick piece of flannel stretched across the top serves as a strainer, and an open cock, a siphon, or some similar arrangement, answers to draw the water. This is to be suspended in the shade, under a tree or elsewhere, where the constant evaporation, intensified by any passing breeze, brings about a temperature very appreciably lower than that of the surrounding air.—1 B, May 10, 1875, 93. METHOD OF PRESERVING EGGS, Professor Sacc now announces that by far the best method of preserving eggs for an indefinite length of time consists in coating them with paraffin, of which one pound will answer for fifteen hundred eggs. After being thus treated they do not experience any loss in weight, and will remain unchanged for several months. It is essential, however, that the eggs be perfectly fresh, as, should decomposition have commenced, the operation will not prevent its continuance.-1 B, May 16, 1875, 94. PREVENTING THE BURSTING OF WATER-PIPES BY FROST. An ingenious method of preventing water-pipes from being burst by frost has lately been patented in England, and consists in passing through the pipes an India-rubber tube of such diameter that the cavity inside it is little more than equal to the increase in the volume of water by freezing. The result is that when the water freezes it compresses the rubber tube, and thus, having the space required in expansion, all danger of bursting the pipe itself is averted. Of course when the ice melts the rubber expands again. The air is supplied from a reservoir, which is acted upon by the water pressure, so as, automatically, to put the air tube under an exactly corresponding degree of tension. By heating the air in the tube the water in the pipes can be thawed. This application is peculiarly useful in the case of waterclosets, and in preventing the supply of cold water to engine boilers from being interrupted by frost.-3 A, May 2, 1874, 557. WASHING MUSLIN, CAMBRIC, FRENCH LAWN, ETC. The articles, after having been well soaked in soft water, are to be rubbed in the direction of the threads (without displacing them) with cakes or balls formed from a mass obtained by boiling and skimming one pound of soap, half an ounce of alum, and one ounce of carbonate of potash. After this they are squeezed out, and the operation is repeated several times. They are next rinsed repeatedly in clear water (since adhering particles of soap will render them yellow); and are finally rinsed in pure water, to which a few drops of tincture of indigo have been added, after which they are again squeezed out, clapped, and dried in the shade.-34 C, XVI., 1874, 128. BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENT FOR ROOMS. A very ornamental object may be made of a pine cone, by laying it on a stove until the scales are fully open, then filling the spaces with equal parts of sand and grass seed, and hanging it in a dark room for a week with the lower half immersed in a vessel of water. On exposure to light the seeds will germinate rapidly, and produce a luxuriant growth. When hung up in a window subsequently, it should be watered daily with lukewarm water.-9 C, June, 1874, 89. EXTRACT OF MEAT IN BREAD. According to the Abbé Moigno, the experiment of introducing the extract of meat into bread and into vegetable soups, in the various hospitals and naval establishments of Paris, has proved an entire success, and more than vindicates the claims made for it as a nutrient in cases of sickness.-3 B, April 2, 1874, 625. ARTIFICIAL VANILLA. According to Dr. Hoffman, a crystalline substance growing between the wood and the bark of the fir, named coniferine, when acted upon by oxidizing agents, is converted into vanilline, and is said to be undistinguishable in general character from the vanilla of commerce. It is suggested that if the transformation can be effected cheaply, and the result be as efficient as claimed, the trade in the vanilla bean will measurably cease after a time.-18 A, April 3, 1874, 64. YAUPON TEA. A well-known beverage used by the earlier inhabitants of the United States, and, indeed, by the aborigines of the continent, was that prepared from yaupon leaves (Ilex cassine), this forming with the aborigines not only a part of the daily household drink, but, mixed with other substances, being largely employed at religious festivals. A recent analysis U by Smith shows that it contains a great variety of substances, including only a small percentage of théine. In this respect it is about equal to the maté, or Paraguay tea, but far below coffee and tea in its percentage of valuable ingredients.-17 A, September 1, 1874, 132. COVER FOR WATER-COOLERS. A cylindrical cover of wool felt, or similar material, having a wooden top, with a handle attached, the whole covered externally and internally with flannel and coated with varnish or shellac, is made to slip over the vessel to be kept cool. A rubber ring around the open bottom serves to adjust the cover to any inequalities of the vessel.-13 C, February 15, 1874, 271. RENDERING FADED MANUSCRIPT LEGIBLE. According to the Revue Industrielle the best method of rendering faded manuscript legible consists in moistening the paper first with water, and then dipping it in a solution of sulphohydrate of ammonia. The ink is said to reappear immediately, becoming very distinct, and remaining perma nent on parchment. Certain parchments treated in this way ten years ago still maintain their legibility. This result is due to the fact that, by the action of sulphohydrate of ammonia, the iron which enters into the composition of the ink is transformed into a very black sulphuret.-13 B, July 31, 1874, 143. EFFECT OF WASHING UPON VEGETABLES. The peculiar flavor of all vegetables is affected by washing, but that of the kinds used for salads is especially impaired by water. These should, therefore, never be washed unless necessary, and then only immediately before preparation for the table, and as rapidly as possible, all the water being removed by shaking or whirling in a net or colander.-9 C, September, 1874, 134. L. MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING. PIG-IRON PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1874. From the long-expected statement of the Secretary of the American Iron and Steel Association, which has just appeared in the Bulletin, we are enabled to give the following official facts and figures concerning the production of pigiron in the United States for the year 1874. From the statistical information in possession of the Association, the production for 1874 was 2,698,413 net tons, against 2,868,278 net tons in 1873, and 2,854,558 net tons in 1872; showing a decrease of 178,865 tons as compared with 1873, and of 165,145 tons as compared with 1872. Notwithstanding this decrease, however, the production for 1874 is much larger than had been generally anticipated by those best informed. The accompanying statistical résumé will give a general view of the subject in its bearing upon the past three (3) years: The comparatively (and unexpectedly) large production of pig-iron in 1874 the Secretary inclines to attribute partly to the strong hope that was entertained by many manufacturers at the outset of the last year that the depressing ef fects of the financial panic would soon disappear; and partly to the fact that, of the 413 furnaces that continued to make iron, nearly every one of the large, new, and improved furnaces erected in 1872 and 1873 was included, while those * Including three spicgeleisen furnaces in New Jersey. + Estimated. |