in the top of a receiver, by the action of water from the main, the air being admitted to the milk of lime vessel through a suitable regulating valve.  A very small filter suffices for removing the precipitate, and the clear, softened water can either be used at once, or stored in the usual way.  The advantages which would accrue to the community at large from the general adoption of some cheap method of reducing the hardness of water are too well known to need much comment from us.

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PNEUMATIC MALTING.

According to K. Lintner, the worst features of the present system of malting are the inequalities of water and temperature in the heaps and the irregular supplies of oxygen to, and removal of carbonic acid from, the germinating grain.  The importance of the last two points is demonstrated by the facts that, when oxygen is cut off, alcoholic fermentation—­giving rise to the well-known odor of apples—­sets in in the cells, and that in an atmosphere with 20 per cent. of carbonic acid, germination ceases.  The open pneumatic system, which consists in drawing warm air through the heaps spread on a perforated floor, should yield better results.  All the processes are thoroughly controlled by the eye and by the thermometer, great cleanliness is possible, and the space requisite is only one-third of that required on the old plan.  Since May, 1882, this method has been successfully worked at Puntigam, where plant has been established sufficient for an annual output of 7,000 qrs. of malt.  The closed pneumatic system labors under the disadvantages that from the form of the apparatus germination cannot be thoroughly controlled, and cleanliness is very difficult to maintain, while the supply of oxygen is, as a rule, more irregular than with the open floors.

[Illustration:  Improved pneumatic filtering presses.]

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A NEW FORM OF GAS WASHER.

By A. BANDSEPT, of Brussels.

The washer is an appliance intended to condense and clean gas, which, on leaving the hydraulic main, holds in suspension a great many properties that are injurious to its illuminating power, and cannot, if retained, be turned to profitable account.  This cleaning process is not difficult to carry out effectually; and most of the appliances invented for the purpose would be highly efficacious if they did not in other respects present certain very serious inconveniences.  The passage of the gas through a column of cold water is, of course, sufficient to condense it, and clear it of these injurious properties; but this operation has for its immediate effect the presentation of an obstacle to the flow of the gas, and consequently augmentation of pressure in the retorts.  In order to obviate this inconvenience (which exists notwithstanding