Extracts from Communications to the Society, 299 



plete success near Philadelphia. Reaumur says that the 

 principle upon nhich the varnish acts; is, " by prevent- 

 ing the perspiration of the egg.'' Parmentier says that they 

 may be preserved by ** plunging them in boiling water, 

 for two seconds, and that on taking them out, they should 

 be marked, and used according to their ages." He adds, 

 ** eggs cannot long be preserved, after having undergone 

 the least motion whether by land or water ; for agitation 

 disorganises the interior parts of the egg, breaks the rami- 

 fication of the vessels by which the germ is attached to 

 the membrane of the yolk, and this germ, deprived of 

 the organs which preserve its life, dies, is corrupted, and 

 spoils every other part of the egg. Thunder will also 

 kill the germ.'' 



March J 1822.-— Mr. George Garth sent to the So- 

 ciety a specimen of the *' round leaved Indian mallows 

 plant (Sida Abutilon of the botanists) which had been par- 

 tially water rotted, and prepared in the manner of hemp. 

 The plant had been pointed out to him by Mr. Prosper 

 Martin, as one from which, when a boy, he made strings. 

 He supposes that 600lbs. might be raised from an acre of 

 land. The fibre of the specimen sent was very strong. 



Januarij^ 1823. — Isaac Conard, of Lancaster county 

 Pennsylvania, suggests " the advantage that might attend 

 the immersion of the butts of the stakes, (used in setting 

 the fence he recommends,*) in a vat of lime- wash, for 

 six or nine months, by increasing their durability. Upon 

 mentioning the idea to a friend, he thought well of it, and 

 recollecting an old deserted tan-yard, he went to examine 

 its vats : he found the planks of the lime-pool sound, 



* See pages 97, 98. (Erratum in the note — for " furrow ed^"^ 

 read /«rm erf.") 



