312 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



quite large quantities of the carmin coloring matter, which Is naturally 

 small on the stalk — by means of piling up the stalks (after they have been 

 pressed for their. juice) in heaps several feet high, when fermentation 

 immediately sets in, he airs the heap so as to prevent putridity, and in 

 two weeks, the whole mass becomes reddish brown ; he then stops the fer- 

 mentation by drying it. He then grinds it fine — puts it into vessels in 

 cold water for twelve hours, but little of the color dissolves. He then 

 drains it, adds weak solution of caustic soda or potash, until all color is 

 extracted. He then neutralizes the solution with sulphuric acid, which 

 precipitates the coloring matter into red flakes ; these he washes in water, 

 collects it on filters and dries it. This color dissolves in alcohol, in alka- 

 line, leys, dilute acid, &c. The colors produced by it, are said to be un- 

 changed by light or by washing in warm soap suds. 



RECORDING BAROMETER AND THERMOMETER. 



Dr. Van Der Weyde exhibited and explained the new recording barome- 

 ter and thermometer in one instrument, of Mr. Becker, of Brooklyn. 



This machine is wound up as a clock, runs twenty-four hours, and by means 

 of long delicate levers, with delicate pencils, records all the movements of 

 both metres for the twenty-four hours, on prepared tables of paper, Mr. 

 Becker has also anemometers and pluviometers, which register the winda 

 in direction and in force of pressure on paper tables, prepared with figures, 

 &c. The pounds on a square foot, and the inches of rain. These record- 

 ing instruments are considered very useful and new. 



HOT BEDS. 



Solon Bobinson read a letter asking some questions about raising tomato 

 plants in hot beds. 



John Gr. Bergen, of Long Island. — The hotbeds are usually prepared in 

 February, with not less than eighteen inches of horse manure. The frames 

 outside are protected by horse manure, and the glass is covered with mats. 

 This protects the plants against frost. When the plants are three inches 

 high, they are picked out into other beds or pots, where less manure is 

 used. There they grow until it is time to set them in the field. 



Wm. S. Carpenter. — I make my hot bed about April 1st, and that I find 

 early enough where I grow them, in Westchester county. 



Mr. Quinn, farmer of Prof. Mapes, Newark, N. J. — We make our beds 

 in February, and sow the seed four days after we make the bed, and we 

 use cold manure with the hot manure. We transplant three or four times, 

 and always give the plants air every mild day, to harden them and to pre- 

 vent them from growing spindling. 



Mr. Carpenter. — For a private family, I think the first of April full 

 time to make the hot bed, and then the plants will not need to be trans- 

 planted into other beds. A good size for the sash is three by six feet, 



Mr. Bergen. — The first of April may be early enough for farmers and 

 private families, but not for gome of the Long Island gardeners, who grow 



