188 - SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY. 



quite as strong and quite as flexible as that made from rags; it is easily 

 bleached, economical in respect of chemicals, pure in color, and remarkably- 

 free from specks and blemishes. It is especially recommended for the 

 manufacture of printing paper. The grass grows in enormous quantities in 

 our Canadian Dominion, on the shores of Lakes Erie, St. Clair, Ontario, 

 Ac, and it is aflfirmed that a supply of 100,000 tons annually may be looked 

 on as certain. Its habitat is swamps, ponds, and shallow streams, where it 

 grows to a height of from 7 to 8, or even to 12 and 14 feet. The structure 

 is similar to that of rice, except that the flowers are unisexual. The grains 

 are largely used as an article of food by the native Indians, some tribes de- 

 pending on them to a large extent for their subsistence. The flavor is said to 

 be superior to that of most other cereals, and it has long been known from 

 .thes.e properties as "Canada Eice." — Nature. 



Sawdust in Eough Casting. — Siehr recommends very highly the use 

 of sawdust in mortar, as superior even to hair for the prevention of crack- 

 ing, and subsequent peeling off, from rough casting under the action of 

 storms and frost. His own house, exposed to prolonged storms on the sea- 

 'Coast, had patches of mortar to be renewed each spring; and, after trying 

 without effect a number of substances to prevent it, he found sawdust per- 

 fectly satisfactory. It was first thoroughly dried, and sifted through an 

 ordinary grain sieve, to remove the larger particles. The mortar was made 

 by mixing one part of cement, two of lime, two of sawdust and five of 

 isharp sand, the sawdust being first well mixed dry with the cement and 

 sand. — Scientific American. 



Dried Eggs. — A large establishment has been opened in St. Louis for 

 •drying eggs. It is in full operation, and hundreds of thousands of dozens 

 .are going into its insatiable maw. The eggs are carefully "candled" by 

 hand — that is, examined by light to ascertain whether good or not — and 

 are then thrown into an immense receptacle, where they are broken, and by 

 .a centrifugal operation the white and yoke are separated from the shell 

 very much as liquid honey is separated from the comb. The liquid is then 

 •dried by heat, by patent process, and the dried article is left, resembling 

 «ugar ; and it is put in barrels and is ready for transportation anywhere. 

 This dried article has been taken twice across the equator in ships, and 

 then made into omelet, and compared with omelet made from fresh eggs in 

 "the same manner, and the best judges could not detect the difference be- 

 tween the two. Is this not an ages of wonders? Milk made solid, cider 

 made solid, apple butter made into bricks! What next? — Fhiladdphia 

 Trade Journal. 



The Smithsonian Institution. — Professor Joseph Henry says that he 

 has been trying for j^ears, in regard to the Smithsonian Institution, to get 



