, ~ - 
1¥Fen,, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 151 
art of about 100 volts pressure is caused to pass through the timber. The 
Ment sets up what is termed electro-capillary attraction, and drives out the 
hee the introduction of the solution. _ This treatment lasts from six to eight 
® generally, after which the wood is subjected to a further treatment of a 
ate hours’ duration in a warm bath to allow of thorough permeation of the 
me section. It is then removed and dried under cover by air currents, a 
ana which is said to take from 14 days to 2 months, according to the density 
4 lekness of the material. The inventors claim that not only is a consider- 
© saving in time and expense in the drying of timber effected by this process, 
Hi that certain classes of wood, such as maritime pine, which have not 
e erto been readily saleable owing to the large amount of moisture they 
meen, can by its use be readily deprived of the sap. The expenditure of 
metic current is said to be 600 watts per cubic metre per hour for 5 hours, 
ng [ilectric Timber Seasoning Company, Victoria street, Westminster, is 
ducing the system into this country, and a model apparatus has been 
iN up at the work of Messrs. Johnson and Phillips, Charlton Junction.— 
heer, 
CUCUMBERS, APPLES, AND ONIONS AS FOOD. 
an cople are under the impression that cucumber is very indigestible ; and 
me? ey eat it they do so under protest, and with apprehensions of possibly 
Uhless peduences. How this delusion can have arisen it is difficult to say, . 
es It be that cucumber is often eaten with salmon and other indigestible 
fo friends. It is not the cucumber, however, but the salmon that sits so 
waren on our stomach’s throne. Cucumber, in fact, is very digestible when 
Mara Properly. It cannot be otherwise, when it is remembered that it consists 
cells y. of water, and that those parts which are not water are almost exclusively 
slice °F a very rapid growth. In eating cucumber it is well to cut it into thin 
ane es and to masticate them thoroughly. yen the vinegar and pepper that 
ans ® often added to it are of service to digestion, if not taken in excess. The 
"mnber, as almost everyone knows, belongs to the melon tribe. 
fruit Peles, it is stated, contain a larger amount of phosphorus than any other 
Men °r vegetable ; and on this account they are very important to sedentary 
‘ » Who work their brains rather than their muscles. ‘They also contain the 
a Which are needed every day, especially for sedentary men, the action of 
: a liver is too sluggish to eliminate effete matter, which, if retained in the 
‘lee “1, produces inaction of the brain, and, indeed, of the whole system, causing 
Pihess, scurvy, and troublesome diseases of the skin. 4 
fron the use of raw onions with daily food tends, says Dr. Fernie, to preserve 
‘infectious diseases. 
Pp DESTRUCTION OF RATS. ° 
fre ATED barium carbonate (100 grams) and tartar emetic (1 gram) are 
are fyi qi baked flour and glycerin, and made up into 2-gram boluses, which 
Pastas brown in hot fat. Gypsum, 2; oatmeal, 750; flavoured with anise oil. 
exo. tof Paris and sugar, equal parts. The mixture is spread on a plate, and 
b i Sed near a vessel of water. Crushed bitter almonds, 60; lard; fresh squill 
* equal parts. Powdered almonds mixed with arsenic answer well. 
ie RAT CAKES. 
little of squill is cut into thin slices, dried and mixed with sugar, flour, and a 
then “theylic acid. Make into cakes with glycerin and with sugar, and expose + 
Y the side of the water. 
Ve MOTH AND CATERPILLAR LIME, 
ape ce turpentine, 200; resin, 1,000; turpentine, 140; tar, 80; lard, 500; 
Tape oil, 240; tallow, 200. Resin, 50; lard, 40; stearine oil, 40. Resin, 3; 
OU, 4s lard, 2; soft soap, 1; wood tar, 10. Resin, 36; rape oil, 36; Venice 
