SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS. 



blade quickly does its work. The saw is three feet long and is very easily 

 manipulated. 



A WAY OF PRESERVING GRAPES. 



Remarkable progress has been made of late years in the conservation 

 of various articles of food, and we may here speak of the preservation of the 

 grape. 



We will first mention M. R. Charmoux's method, which is called the 

 " Fresh Grape " system. The portion of the building used for the business 

 is on the first floor, as nearly as possible in the centre of the building, so as 

 to be guarded from damp. Two windows are sufficient for all purposes, 

 one to the north, and one to the south. They may be merely kept shut 

 on ordinary occasions, but when frost comes they must be draped and 



Fig. 898. Grape preserving 



" packed " with nets filled with moss or dried seaweed. The principal one 

 of the windows is to admit of the cleansing of the room and for the admission 

 of air in the summer time, when there are not many grapes left. 



In winter the apartment may be warmed by hot air, and if this cannot 

 be managed the ordinary means must be resorted to to keep up the tem- 

 perature. The upper clusters of grapes should first be picked, for shade 

 conduces to longevity of the fruit, and the 2Oth October is about the time 

 to commence. A fine day should be chosen ; a cloudy day will suit provided 

 there is no dew or dampess in the air. 



The finest bunches are cut first, and care must be taken to separate 

 them at the end of the stalk, having three " eyes " under the grape and two 

 above it. The leaves should be at once cut off, and the grapes put with 



