18 Direcror’s RErorRT OF THE 
the two troubles may be readily distinguished by the fact that 
imperfectly fertilized peaches have undersized pits containing 
no kernel or else only a partially developed one; whereas, in tle 
“little peach ” disease the pit is of normal size and contains a 
well developed kernel. 
Tile drain clogged by fungus.—At Milton, N. Y., the three-inch 
tile drain to a vinegar cellar became completely clogged by an 
unusually luxuriant growth of the fungus Leptomitus lacteus. 
The obstruction was readily removed by placing a handful cf 
copper sulphate crystals in the upper end of the drain. 
Fungus in refrigerators —The water pipes to refrigerators 
often become clogged with a dark-gray, slimy substance. The 
principal part of this slime consists of a fungus which is a vege- 
table growth and not an accumulation of matter from the ice. 
It may’ be removed by occasionally -pouring boiling water 
through the waste pipe. 
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY. 
Conditions affecting checse curing. (1) Conditions affecting loss 
of weight—Loss of weight in cheese during ripening is due 
mainly to evaporation of moisture from cheese and, at long-con- 
tinued temperatures above 70° F., to leakage of fat. Loss of 
weight varies with following conditions: (1) Amount of moisture 
originally in cheese; the greater the percentage of moisture in 
the cheese the more rapid and greater the loss of moisture. 
(2) Temperature of curing-room; the higher the temperature 
the greater and more rapid the loss of moisture. (38) The degree 
of saturation with moisture in air of curing-room; the more 
moist the air the less rapid the loss of weight. (4) The size and 
Shape of cheese; increase of height or diameter of cheese 
decreases the rapidity of relative loss of weight. (5) The tex- 
ture of cheese; the closer and more solid the texture, the less 
rapid the loss of moisture. 
These results point conclusively to the necessity of providing 
curing-rooms in which the conditions of moisture and tempera- 
ture can be controlled. Lower temperatures with proper 
