154 J Assembly 



made to test the sacliHrine qualities of the butter-nut sap. The 

 writer states that late in the spring he sapped several trees stand- 

 ing in an open field, and obtained from each tree about four gal- 

 lons of sap, which on evaporation yielded 5 oz., grained sugar to 

 the gallon, of a peculiar honey-like flavor. It was thought to 

 make better molasses than any other kind the writer was ac- 

 quainted with. It required to be well strained from the jelly- 

 flakes when very dilute. This sugar did not partake of the 

 medicinal properties of the bark ; and the amount of sap it was 

 supposed would be equal to those of any maple of same size and 

 soil. Tlie gathering it was stated, would furnish employment 

 for the early spring, befjre the oommencement of the regular 

 farm labor. 



Poultry. — My next memorandum refers to poultry, of which I 

 learn that Mr. Giles, of Providence, R. I., has lately imported 

 some very fine specimens, from the aviary of Messrs. Baker, Pic- 

 cadilly, London. The prices it appears were for Malay roosters, 

 $3.25 to 18.75 each; hens $2.50 to $3.75 : Cochin China roosters, 

 |10; hens, $5 to $7.50: speckled Dorking roosters, $5; hens, 

 $1.75 to $2 : Spanish roosters, $6.25 to $7.50 ; hens, $2.50 to $3 : 

 Sussex roosters, $5; hens, $1.75: golden and silver Pheasants, 

 each, per pair, $17.50, and English Pheasants $« to $7.50 per 

 li)air. 



Steam Boilers. — From poultry to machinery is somewhat of a 

 bound, but sir I have no alternative. To prevent corrosion in 

 steam boilers, it was proposed at the annual meeting of the Corn- 

 wall Polyt-echnic Society, to pour a small quantity of coal tar 

 into the water, just before the steam is to "get up." The expe- 

 rimenter (Mr. Williams, of Helstone,) stated, that this substance, 

 whea thrown into boiling water, parts with its volatile constitu- 

 ents, and its carbon is deposited upon all sides of the boiler with 

 singular uniformity, adhering with great firmness to the iron 

 plates by the peculiar action of the forc^, which appears to con- 

 dense fluid matter on solid surfaces ; thus forming a kind of gra- 

 phite coating, which most effectually protected the iron from all 

 corrosion. 



