n 



08 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Another mode I have known practiced : that is to set np the . 

 barrel in a warm place, and put another under it, letting the 

 cider drop into the lower one, and by the time it drops out of 

 the one into the other it will be good vinegar." 



R. G. Pardee. — A large vinegar manufacturer of this city tells 

 me that the cider made in some years, does not readily take on 

 the acetic fermentation that is necessary to make vinegar. 



Prof. Nash. — There are several stages of fermentation. Even 

 the sourest apples produces sweet cider in the vinous fermenta- 

 tion, of which alcohol is the result. This is adulterated by ex- 

 posure to the air. Then comes acetic fermentation, and vinegar 

 is the result. If the liquid is too weak, it will soon pass into 

 the destructive fermentation, and become worthless. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I have received the following letter from our 

 old friend, Mr. John Bruce, who was formerly an active member 

 of the Club : 



Mariposa, February l7, 1862. 



"The severity of the present Avinter in cold and rains, is with- 

 out precedent in the annals of the white men of California. 



" All but the mountainous part of the country has been deluged, 

 bringing desolation and ruin on thousands engaged in agriculture 

 and its branches, destroying thousands of cattle, horses and mules. 



"Our mountain towns in the mining regions have by no means 

 escaped, but suffered in proportion to their proximity to mountain 

 streams. To speak from personal knowledge, the Mariposa river 

 running through this town, is here but two miles from its source, 

 and for eight months of the year does not exceed two feet in 

 width. It became so much swollen by the rains of this season 

 as to attain a breadth of two hundred feet, and all those having 

 buildings on or near its margin, had them swept away by the 

 impetuous torrent. 



" The first sufferers were my sons, whose store and the one 

 adjoining were leveled with the earth, one-half being carried down 

 stream with much valuable property. In consequence of the 

 heaps of tailings thrown up by Chinamen who annually mine 

 the bed of the stream in the dry season, the current changed its 

 course to the opposite side where were situated a number of 

 cottages with beautiful fruit gardens surrounding them. Here 

 the torrent commenced as it were to scoop out these gardens, 

 forming a semicircular bay, &c. Oar dwelling place being the 

 last, and on much higher ground, the water did not reach within 



