JMiscellanies. 381 
Miscellaneous contributions ; by Cuartes U. Sueparp. 
1. To destroy weeds in the alleys of gardens.—A rainy summer 
is favorable to the multiplication of weeds. They are often cut and 
pulled up; but, besides this method being expensive, it operates to 
injure the alleys. The rain water which often stands in the gul- 
lies, softens the earth, and the alleys soon become deranged, and ren- 
der it necessary to have recourse to expensive repairs. ‘This remedy 
is also insufficient: the delicate extremities of the roots are broken 5 
the plants shoot up again, and the same labor is to be repeated. 
Equal damage is done to the alleys when they are treated with a scraper. 
A more sure, more expeditious and less expensive process to ac- 
_ complish the same end, is to water them with the following solution 
which destroys the plants even to the roots. 
Boil about a hundred litres of water in a cauldron of iron with 
twenty pounds (livres) of quicklime and two pounds of sulphur: 
_ let this liquid settle: add water as may be necessary for the pavement 
of the alleys; the plants will disappear for cen years.— Recueil 
Industriel, Sept. 1830. 
2. Preservative against flies, employed by the butchers at Geneva. 
—A French gentleman, who lived in Geneva a long time, relates that 
the butchers of that city have possessed, from time immemorial, a meth- 
od of protecting meats from flies. It is by the odor of the oil of lau- 
rel. This oil, which though a little disagreeable is not insupportable, 
will drive away the flies; and they will not approach the wall or the 
bench which has been rubbed with it. I have, says the person, made 
the experiment, and by this means protected the gilding of furniture 
from the approach of flies.—Idem. 
3. Coloring materials suitable for confectioners and distillers.— 
Blue colors.—Indigo, which is often dissolved by sulphuric acid. 
Prussian or Berlin blue—These colors mingle easily with all oth- 
ers, and afford all the compound tints of which blue is an element. 
Red colors. —Carmine, Carmine lake. 
Yellow colors.—Saftron, La graine d’ Avignon, Lygraine de Perse, 
Le quercitron. 
The aluminous lakes of these substances. —The yellows which 
are obtained with many of the substances already described, are 
Vou. XXIL—No. 2. 49 
