K. DOMESTIC AND HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY. 457 



They are next rinsed repeatedly in clear water (since adher- 

 ing particles of soap will render them yellow) ; and are final- 

 ly 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 (7, 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 fill- 

 ing the spaces with equal parts of sand and grass seed, and 

 hanging it in a dark room for a week with the lower half im- 

 mersed 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 wa- 

 tered daily with lukewarm water. 9 (7, June, 1874, 89. 



EXTRACT OF MEAT IN BREAD. 



According to the Abbe Moigno, the experiment of intro- 

 ducing 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, 1 874, 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 va- 

 nilline, and is said to be undistinguishable in general charac- 

 ter 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 meas- 

 urably 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 con- 

 tinent, was that prepared from yaupon leaves {Ilex cassi?ie), 

 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 



IT 



