202 Miscellanies. 



jured, or which are naturally acrid, may lose these qualities by the 

 moderate and suitable operation of heat. — Idem. 



8. How to boil Rice. — The grains of rice when properly boiled, 

 remain dry and loose, and are then much more sweet and wholesome 

 than when agglutinated or partially converted into starch. To boil 

 rice properly, add salt to the water, and when boiling hot, stir in the 

 rice. Keep it boiling for twejve- minutes by the watch, then pour off 

 the water and set the pot on live coals during ten minutes. The 

 rice is then fit for the table. 



9. Poiatoe Cheese. — In Thuringia and Saxony, potatoe cheese is 

 made, which is an object of considerable research, as it has the ad- 

 vantage of retaining its freshness during several years, provided it is 

 kept in close vessels. 



It is thus prepared :^ — select potatoes of good quality, especially 

 large white ones ; boil them in a kettle, skin them and when cold re- 

 duce them to a homogeneous pulp ; add a pint of sour milk to five 

 pounds of this pulp, knead the mass well and keep it covered three 

 or four days, then knead it again, and place it in small baskets to 

 drain ; lastly dry it in the shade and pack it in layers in pots or casks 

 and leave it thus for a fortnight before using it. The older it is the 

 better, as its quality improves by age. 



The above proportions are most commonly used ; but four parts 

 of potatoes may be added to two parts of curdled milk, or even oth- 

 er proportions according to the taste of the manufacturer. — Mem, 

 tome 12, p. 89. 



10. Collecting swarms of Bees. — In Corsica the following method 

 is employed for collecting swarms of bees. When the swarm comes 

 out, a man follows them with an empty hive swung over his shoul- 

 ders, the bottom and sides of which are rubbed over with lemon 

 bark. He approaches the swarm and sprinkles it with lemon juice, 

 with which he fills his mouth. The odor attracts the bees, and as 

 soon as a single one enters the hive the' rest follow. — Idem. 



