Retrospective Criticism. 331 



were full. Each box contained, in general, from eighteen to twenty pears, dis- 

 posed in four or five layers, one above another, and the pears only separated 

 from each other by the thickness of the sheet of paper. The boxes being 

 filled, M. Loiseleur Deslongchamps replaced the lid, sealed it hermetically by 

 pasting thick paper on the rim, placed several of these little zinc boxes in a 

 wooden case, and deposited the whole in an ice-house in)mediately on the ice." 



The wells and cisterns of Marcus Columella have the same effect as the ice- 

 house of M. Loiseleur Deslongchamps ; and the closing hermetically, and the 

 impermeability to moisture, are found as well in the vases of Columella as in 

 the zinc boxes of M. Loiseleur : it only remains to be seen if the fruit pre- 

 served according to the process of Loiseleur turns speedily sour, like the 

 grapes preserved according to the method of Columella. 



All this, and many other things which for brevity's sake I omit, might be 

 communicated to M. W. C. Bosse, who announces : " I intend to make more 

 experiments on preserving plums, particularly by putting them in closely 

 stopped bottles, and immersing them in water." There is no doubt but this 

 attempt will be successful, because an equal temperature and exclusion of air 

 seem to be the principal agents in preserving fruit, and where can both be 

 obtained with greater certainty than in water ? ( See Gardener's Magazine, for 

 1839, p. 604.) — Giuseppe Manetti. Monza, April 27. 1843. 



Gala's Method of preserving Grapes. — " The ancients for the most part pre- 

 served in vases the sircitulan, venuculan, larger aminian, and Gallic grapes, 

 and those which had the largest berries, hard and loose. Now, in general, 

 the grapes of Numidia are more especially preserved for this use. They are 

 gathered when they are tolerably ripe, in a calm sky, when the sun has dis- 

 pelled the dew, at the fourth or third hour, in the wane of the moon and after 

 it has set. The stalks are immediately sealed, and they are then put upon a 

 lattice in such a way that one bunch does not touch or rub against another. 

 Having done this, they are brought in doors and the decayed berries are cut 

 off with the scissors ; and being somewhat refreshed in the shade, three or 

 four bunches are put in an earthen vessel, and, the lid being put on, they ai'e 

 thoroughly sealed down, so that no moisture may penetrate. After this a mass 

 of grape dregs which have been well pressed are thrown on the top of them, 

 and after having scattered about the stalks a little, and separated the husks, 

 you form a bed of them in the cask, in which these vases are to be distributed 

 with the mouth downwards, and so much space left between them as that the 

 dregs may be heaped up and trodden in. This first bed being made with the 

 dregs well trodden in, in the same manner another is formed with the vases. 

 Afterwards, other strata are formed with the vases in a similar manner in the 

 casks, and in the intervals the dregs are well pressed in. After which the 

 dregs are heaped up to the brim of the cask, which is immediately covered, 

 and the lid fastened down with ashes prepared like cement. We must warn 

 those who buy the vases not to purchase those that are porous or ill burnt, 

 because, in either case, they would admit the damp, which would spoil the 

 grapes. It is also necessary in taking out the vases to remove an entire layer 

 of them, for, when the accumulated husks are once moved, the grapes soon be- 

 come sour and spoil." — Idem. 



Garden Walks. — In order that garden walks should not be dusty or muddy, 

 and be easier to free from grass, or rather produce as little as possible of it, 

 it was proposed in your Magazine to use asphalt, a sort of gum (catrame), and 

 pyroligneous acid. '(See Vol. for 1839, p. 188, 189. 618. and 619.) Let us see 

 if there is not something analogous in Marcus Porcius Cato. In chap. 92. 

 and 130., we read : '* In making a walk, let the earth be finely dug and well 

 saturated with lees of oil, then pulverise it, and level with a roller or mallet. 

 Sprinkle a second time with lees, and leave it to dry. Such a walk will suffer 

 no injury from ants, grass will not grow on it, nor will it be sloppy after 

 showers." Now, what great difference is there, eith.er in the chemical com- 

 position or in the effect, between the dregs (morchia) of the ancient Sabine, 

 and the gum (catrame) and asphalt of the moderns ? — Idem. 



