268 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



claim that it is better than cider vinegar, because it is free from 

 animalculfe. 



Mr. Carpenter. — A neighbor of mine who has made a fortune 

 from manufacturing cider vinegar, keeps his stock continually 

 about the same by drawing off five gallons of vinegar from each 

 hogshead every week, and filling up with new cider. That 

 converts cider into vinegar fast enough to be profitable. 



Mr. Robinson. — The trouble is to'know how to begin. 



Dr. Trimble. — The making of vinegar might very properly 

 come under the supervision of the committee on frauds. I have 

 understood that some establishments make it from the sawdust 

 of hemlock logs. Some chemical composition may be discovered 

 some day that will make good vinegar; but I do not .know that 

 it has been done yet. 



Prof. Renwick. — Much better vinegar has been made from hem- 

 lock sawdust, or from the sawdust of any wood, than can be made 

 in any other way. By distillation, we obtain pyroligneous acid, 

 from which, by a well known chemical process, acetic acid is 

 obtained. That is diluted with 15-1 6ths of water, and flavored 

 with anything which may be desired, and makes a good vinegar, 

 which is entirely free from animalcul^e. But I believe in the 

 United States it costs more than cider vinegar. 



Mr. Carpenter. — A neighbor of mine states that the decayed 

 flowers of the hollyhock will convert cider into vinegar. 



Mr. John G. Bergen.; — If the apples are ground for cider before 

 the weather is too cold, and if a small quantity of the cider, 

 with a little pomace at the bottom, is left in the tub, that will 

 become vinegar from exposure to the air. There is a starting 

 point, and that can be used to make vinegar of the rest. 



Mr. Hite. — I had the same trouble that Mr. Fuller has had ; 

 but I put it out last summer in the sun and it turned to vinegar. 



Mr. Fuller. — Mine has been in the sun. The difficulty was 

 that it was too strong. 



TIME OF PRUNING. 



Mr. A. M. Powell stated that he had five hundred dwarf pear 

 trees in Columbia county, and inquired at what time they should 

 be headed in ? 



Mr. Fuller. — I should say, do it immediately. If you wait 

 until the sap starts, they are very apt to bleed a little. 



Dr. Trimble. — Suppose there should be very cold weather after 

 it ie done ? 



