340 MISCELLANEOUS. 



the microscope on a slip of flat glass, first putting on 

 it a drop of water, taken up by the head of a pin, 

 for them to swim in. 



A very useful Method of breaking up Logs of 

 Wood. 



The usual way of breaking up logs of wood for 

 the purposes of fuel, is by axes, and driving wedges 

 in. This, particularly in roots of trees, is very 

 laborious. It is also sometimes done by gun- 

 powder, in the same way as stones and rocks are 

 blasted ; but this is very troublesome, as the plug 

 is often driven out. A better method of perform- 

 ing this operation has lately been invented. A 

 hole is bored with .an augre, and a charge of pow- 

 der introduced. An iron screw, with a good 

 thread, having a hole bored through its axis, is then 

 introduced into the hole, and turned till it come 

 near to the powder. While the screw is putting 

 in, a wire is kept in the hole through its axis, but 

 it is afterwards drawn out, and a piece of twine 

 dipped in a solution of nitre is put into its place. 

 This quick match is set fire to, and by its slow 

 burning, affords time for the operator to retire be- 

 fore it sets fire to the gunpowder. 



By this means, any roots or old stumps of trees 

 may be easily broken up. 



A Process for purifying Fish Oil. 



Take a gallon of crude stinking oil, and put to 

 it a pint of water poured off from two ounces of 

 lime slacked in the air; stir the mixture up 

 several times for the first twenty-four hours ; then 

 let it stand a day, and the lime water will sink 



