Proceedings of the Far^iehs^ Club. 377 



New York. He has written a valuable book, which the club recom- 

 mend to Mr. Peck as the best guide. 



Presera'ation of Wood. 



Chairman. — "We have with us to-daj a gentleman who should have 

 been present last week, when Mr.- Lyman read his paper on protect- 

 ing wood from decay and insects. He was. one of the first in this 

 country to suggest a practicable treatment ; he will give us his ideas 

 in brief. 



Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger gave an account of his early experiments, 

 and concluded by saying that wood boiled first in lime water, and 

 then coated with silicate of soda or liquid glass, will last a very long 

 time. The mixture is fifteen per cent alkali and eighty-five per cent 

 pure sand. Badly rusted cannon balls painted with it in the yard, 

 had the rust arrested many years, while their surface had a fine polish. 



Mr. James A. Whitney. — -AYhile this will preserve the timber, the 

 action of the alkali will be to weaken the fibre. Hence, for bridges 

 where strength is important, it would not answer. 



Keepesig Butter and Eggs. 



Mr. Edward Smith, Orrington, Maine. — I am not a farmer, but a 

 master mariner. I have conveyed my butter to the East Indies and 

 back perfectly sweet, and have crossed the line four times with the 

 same butter on board, and the last year was as sweet and nice as the 

 first year after packing. First, see that your buttermilk is well 

 worked out. Then pack in twelve pound oak kegs, perfectly tight. 

 Then pack your kegs in an oak barrel, and keep the kegs covered 

 with brine made from Turk's Island salt. Keep them under the 

 brine with a weight. In one year after, if good butter is put in, 

 good and sweet butter will come out. Or you may pack the kegs in 

 Caddie's salt, by having it well pounded in around the keg-s. But 

 the first I prefer. 



For Eggs. 

 To every three gallons of water add one pound of fresh slacked 

 lime, and one-half pint of salt. Have it well dissolved. Drop in 

 your eggs one at a time, but mind you do not crack them. If you 

 wish to keep them one or two years you can do so. But you must 

 use them as soon as taken out, or they will spoil. When you put all 

 in you wish, take a thin piece of board and put on top, and on that 



