ower pannels let in to be fastened 
vith buttons only; that, in case any 
egetation should arise, the pannels 
ight, with ease, be taken out to 
xamine them. 
This having now been done up- 
ards of six years, and no vegeta- 
ion or damp appearing, the whole 
fthe pannels and floor remaining 
n the same state as when first put 
p, I shall have a satisfaction in ta- 
ing part of the floor up, if the so- 
iety think proper to appoint a com- 
ittee to examine the place. 
If what 1 have produced meets 
the approbation of the society, I 
wish it made public under their 
Sancuon, thatas full a trial as possi- 
ble may be made of it; and if, at a 
of general utility, any honorary 
token of the society’s approbation 
will be received with much satisfac- 
tion by me. 
I think it may be highly necessary, 
jn some situations, to take outa 
greater depth of earth; and where 
ashes can be had froma foundery, 
they are fully equal to those from 
anchor-smiths, but by no meaus de- 
pend upon house-ashes. Iam, &c. 
Rover? Batson. 
In consequence of the foregoing 
letter, a committee was appointed 
the closet, who met on the 15th of 
May, 1794; the wainscot being ta- 
ken down, and the flooring- boards 
taken up, they were all found. ene 
tirely free from any appearance of 
the rot; and from all the cireum- 
stances then observed, it was the 
opinion of the committee, that the 
method advised by Mr. Batson, 
U SERUL (PROJECTS. 
proper distance of time, it proves - 
toexamine and report the state of 
[*99 
when fully and completely put in 
execution, appeared to have ans= 
wered every intention mentioned in 
his letter; and his opinion seemed 
the more justly founded, as two 
pieces of wood (yellow fir) which 
had been driven into the wall as 
plugs, without being previously 
charred, were affected with the rot. 
Composition of a Water which has 
the Property of Destroying Cater- 
pillars, Ants, and other Insects ; 
invented by C. Tatin,* at Paris ; 
from the Annals de Chimie. 
AKE of black soap, of the best 
quality, 1lb. 2 3 
flowers of sulphur, .. 11b.4 
mushrooms,any kind, 2\b. 
river or rain water, . 15gls. 
Divide the water into two equal 
parts ; pour one part, that is to say, 
seven gallons and a half, into a bar- 
rel, of any convenient size, which 
should be used only for this pur- 
pose ; let the black soap be stirred 
init ull it is dissolved, and then 
add to it the mushrooms, after they 
have been slightly bruised. 
Let the remaining half of the 
water be made to boil in a kettle ; 
put the whole quantity of sulphur 
into a coarse open cloth; tie it up 
with a packthread in form of a 
parcel, and fasten to it a stone or 
other weight, of some pounds, in 
order to make it sink to the bottom, 
If the kettle is too small for the 
seven gallons and a half of water to 
be boiled in at once, ‘the sulphur 
must also be divided. During twenty 
minutes (being the time the bviling 
should continue) stir it well witha 
* The Bureau de Consultation of Paris gave a reward to the author of this 
composition fur his discovery, which they desired might be made as public as 
possible. 
stick, 
