28 THE YOUNG 
meridian as follows: 10-10 10 eve.; 20—9 26 
•€ve. ; 30 — 8 44 eve. 
Saturn is further west or higher up, and only 
a. few degrees west of the Pleiades. His rings 
are not seen so well as in August and September, 
but they are still very fine objects requiring 
only a very small telescop(;. We alwaj^s take a 
look at him if in sight before leaving the obser- 
vatory. 
EPHEMEKIDES OF THE PEINCIPAL STARS AND 
CLUSTERS, JAN. 20, 1883. 
M. 
Alpha Andromeda (Alpheratz) sets 
11 
53 P.M. 
Omicron Ceti (Mira) variable " 
0 
5 A.M. 
JBeta Persei (Algol) variable in merid. 
6 
56 P.M. 
JEta Tauri (Alcyone or Light of 
Pleiades) in meridian 
7 
41 " 
Alpha Tauri (Aldebaran) in merid. 
8 
"29 " 
Alpha Auvigm (Capella) " 
9 
8 " 
^r^a Ononis (Eigel) " 
9 
9 " 
Alpha Orionis (Betelguese) " 
9 
49 " 
Alpha Canis Majoris (Sirius or Dog 
Star) in merid. 
10 
40 
Alpha Canis Minoris (Procyon) in 
meridian 
11 
33 
Alpha Leonis (Regulus) rises 
7 
18 " 
^Zp/ia Virginis (Spica) " 
11 
55 " 
Alpha Bootis (Arcturus) " 
10 
58 " 
Alpha Scorpionis (Antares) rises 
4 
5 A.M. 
Alpha Lyrae (Vega) sets 
7 
27 P.M. 
Alpha Aquillae (Altair) sets 
6 
15 " 
Alpha Cygni (Deneb) " 
10 
33 " 
Alpha Pisces Australis (Fomalhaut) 
sets 
6 
51 " 
Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. Y. 
•-9^ 
Polishing Metals. 
Soft metals, like gold and silver, may be 
polished with comparatively soft powders, such 
iis prepared chalk or putty powder (oxide of 
tin). When metals are to be polished in the 
lathe the process is very simple. After being 
turned or filed. smooth, the article is still further 
polished by means of fine emery and oil, applied 
-with a stick, and in the case of rods or cylin- 
ders, a sort of clamp is used so that great 
pressure can be brought to bear on the part to 
be polished. The work must be examined from 
time to time, to see that all parts are brought 
up equally to the greatest smoothness and 
freedom from scratches, and as fast as this 
occurs, polishing powder of finer and finer 
quality is used, until the required finish is at- 
tained. In polishing metals or any other hard 
substances by abrasion, the great point is to 
bring the whole surface up equally. 
A single scratch will destroy the appearance 
of the finest work, and it cannot be removed 
SCIENTIST. 
except by going back to the stage to which it 
corresponds, and beginning again from that 
point. Thus, if in working with a smooth file, 
we make a scratch as deep as the cut of a 
bastard file, it is of no use to try and remove 
this scratch with the smooth file : we must go 
back, and taking a bastard file, make the sur- 
face as even as possible with it, and afterwards 
work forward through fine files and polishing 
powders. 
Baked Angle Worms. 
The Pall Mall Gazette (London) gravely re- 
ports that a group of French gourmets have 
tested the edible qualities of the common earth 
worm, whose agricultural services have been 
so recently demonstrated. 
" Fifty guests w^ere present at the experi- 
ment. The worms, apparently lob-worms, were 
first put into vinegar, by which process they 
were made to disgorge the famous vegetable 
mould about which we have recently heard so 
much. They were then rolled in batter and put 
into an oven, where they acquired a delightful 
golden tint, and, we are assured, a most appetiz- 
ing smell. After the first plateful the fifty guests 
rose like one man and asked for more. Could 
anything be more convincing ? Those who love 
snails, they add, will abandon them forever in 
favor of worms." 
Leaf and Fern Natural Prints. 
The new process of photographing, known as 
the "blue process," described in a previous 
number of this journal, has given rise to a very 
interesting amateur art— the photographing of 
leaves and ferns. Fibrous leaves, like those of 
the maple, oak, poplar, birch, make the best 
photographs. Hairy, rough, or velvety speci- 
mens never prove satisfactory, nor do those 
that are immature, imperfect, succulent, or have 
a thick, leathery epidermis. None are better 
adapted for the experiments of the beginner 
than fern fronds. After the leaves or ferns have 
been collected, press and dry them very care- 
fully, for which purpose a botanical press, if 
judiciously used, is the most satisfactory. Great 
care is required, lest by too heavy pressure the 
tender and delicate foliage and finer sprays be- 
come cruehed, and thus spoiled for printing. 
Old books and files of newspapers will be found 
to answer well for the herbarium. 
The requisites for leaf printing are neither 
numerous nor expensive, consisting of two panes 
of window glass free from bubbles and other 
defects, and sheets of prepared paper which 
may now be obtained from any dealer in artists' 
materials, though if the reader should desire 
