Preservation of Wine Must.

Charcoal was added to grape must, in the proportion of 100 grains to a litre (2.1 pints), or if very much inclined to ferment, more charcoal was used.  When the liquid had settled, and become clear and colourless, it was removed from the charcoal, and put into bottles or casks, to be closed up, and preserved.  It will not enter into fermentation, even in close vessels; for the charcoal has absorbed the ferment.  Nevertheless, the ferment has not lost its powers by combination with the carbon; for, if left in the must, the latter begins to ferment, but only where in contact with the former.—­From the French.

Weevils in Granaries.

Wash the floor and sides of the granary with a mixture of urine and water before the corn is stored up; this washing is to be repeated several times, the walls and floors of the granary being well swept between each operation.—­From the French.

French Eggs and Apples.

In the year 1827 there were 63,109,618 hen’s eggs, and 14,182 bushels of apples imported from France into England.

Enlargement of Artichokes.

The gardeners in the south of France increase the size of artichokes by splitting the stem into four at the base of the receptacle, and introducing two small sticks in the form of a cross.  This operation should not be made until the stem has attained the height it ought to have.—­From the French.

Preservation of Potatoes.

Potatoes at the depth of one foot in the ground, produce shoots near the end of spring; at the depth of two feet they appear in the middle of summer; at three feet they are very short, and never come to the surface; and between three and five feet they cease to vegetate.  In consequence of observing these effects several parcels of potatoes were buried in a garden at the depth of three and a half feet, and were not removed. until after an interval of one or two years.  They were then found without, any shoots, and possessing their original freshness, firmness, goodness, and taste. From the French.

Leeches.

It is well known that atmospheric changes have a remarkable influence upon leeches.  In 1825, M. Derheim, of St. Omer, ascribes the almost sudden death of them at the approach of, or during storms, to the coagulation of the blood of these creatures, caused by the impression of the atmospheric electricity.—­From the French.

Carpenter’s Microscope.

Mr. Carpenter’s achromatic solar microscope has now a white circular area of nine feet in diameter, to receive the images of the objects upon, some of which are magnified to the enormous size of upwards of eight feet in length!

Mr. Carpenter’s lucernal microscopes are now arranged in a kind of temple, placed in the middle of a room, and illuminated by the light of one powerful Argand lamp, so as to be independent of all natural light; thus, in all seasons, even in cloudy weather, the objects are as brilliantly displayed as they could be last year when the sun shone.—­Gill’s Repository.