150 



Microscopical Journal. He siijigests tbe inquiry as to their relationship 

 to the entozoa, described by Dr. Lionel Beale as found in the muscles 

 of animals dying of the same disease, and thinks they maj" be their ova. 

 They lie loose among the muscular fibers of the heart, sometimes in great 

 numbers and at other times singly. There are several characteristic 

 forms, all well figured in the article referred to. 



Food FOR young trout. — According to Dr. Slack, the well-known 

 proprietor of the Troutdale fish-breeding establishment, in New Jersey, 

 the best substance with which to feed embryo trout hatched out artifi- 

 cially consists of beef's heart, prepared by first being opened that the 

 coagulated blood may be washed away thoroughly, and then using only 

 the pure muscular fiber. This is to be finely chopped into minute frag- 

 ments, so as almost to form a pulp ; and then, mixed with a little water, 

 it is to be washed through a fine sieve of twenty-four threads to the 

 inch, to prevent any minute particles from passing through. 



Season for cutting tumber. — According to Dr. Hartig, March and 

 April are the most favorable months for cutting timber intended to be used 

 by builders and carpenters, the average per cent, of moisture being less 

 than 47, while in the three following months the average is 48 ; and in 

 the three winter months, 51. He states that properly-seasoned timber 

 contains from 20 to 25 per cent, of water, and never less than about 10 

 per cent., and if the moisture is entirely removed by artificial means 

 the wood loses its elasticity and flexibility, and becomes brittle. Any 

 artificial seasoning of wood should be carried on very gradually ; the 

 temperature at the beginning being low, and the process not conducted 

 too far. 



Quercitron. — Among the drugs and dye-stufl's of American origin, 

 quercitron, or the inner bark of the common black oak, occupies a con- 

 spicuous place. Lately a new treatment has been devised in England 

 in preparing it for the market, in consequence of which its value has 

 risen considerably, so that it now brings about $3 per hundred-weight. 

 Of the various brands in the market, that of Philadelphia is most sought 

 for on account of its supposed superiority over the others. 



Cattell's method of preparing vegetable fiber. — A system 

 of utilizing vegetable fibers that does not involve the practice of rot- 

 ting, has lately been devised by Dr. Cattell, and is said to be coming 

 rapidly into use. The special superiority of the fiber prepared by this 

 system is said to be that it possesses a greater degree of strength, esti- 

 mated at 20 per cent, over the rotted article. The yield of fiber is also 

 considerably greater from the same v^■eight of material, while its divisi- 

 bility can be carried to much more than the ordinary degree, and the 

 whole labor accomplished in much shorter time. 



Stimulating hens to lay while moulting. — According to a 

 good authority in poultry-raising, it is considered inexpedient to encour- 

 age hens to lay while moulting. When new feathers are forming the 

 ovary usually remains perfectly dormant, and in fact sometimes becomes 

 greatly reduced in size. When, however, the feathers are renewed, if a 

 hen be judiciously fed, and in good health, the production of eggs will 

 soon recommence. 



New caterpillar disease. — In a late paper by Dr. Cohn, of Bres- 

 lau, upon a new disease affecting certain caterpdlars, during which the 

 skin turns black, a coal black pigment appears in the blood, and the 

 caterpiUar becomes a wrinkled and brittle mummy, he ascribes the phe- 



