ne one-hundredth
part of phosphoric acid.

While my improved process is based on the well-known converting power of
acids on starch, I am not aware that it has ever been applied in the
manner and for the purposes I have described. For example, sulphuric and
hydrochloric, also sulphuric and nitric, acids have been employed in the
manufacture of glucose; but in every such case the resulting products
were not capable of superseding those obtained by the existing methods
of saccharification used in distilleries. In my process, on the other
hand, the product is so capable. Not only may malted grain be entirely
omitted, but more fermentable products are formed and the products of
fermentation are purer. The saccharification being more complete, there
are less intermediary and nonfermentable dextrins, and the yield of
spirits is therefore increased. Malted grain being omitted or used in
reduced quantity, there is less lactic acid and few or foreign ferments
to contaminate the fermenting mass; also, the formation of higher
alcohols than the ethyl alcohol is almost totally suppressed.
Consequently the final yield of spirits is purer in quality and requires
little or no further purification. Also, further, the nitrates
themselves acting as nutrients to the yeast cells, these become more
active and require less nutrition to be taken from the grain.

* * * * *

SPECTROSCOPIC DETERMINATION OF THE SENSITIVENESS OF DRY PLATES.

After describing other methods of determining the sensitiveness of
plates, Mr. G.F. Williams, in the _Br. Jour. of Photo_., thus explains
his plan. I will now explain the method I adopt to ascertain the
relative sensitiveness of plates to daylight. Procure a small direct
vision pocket spectroscope, having adjustable slit and sliding focus. To
the front of any ordinary camera that will extend to sixteen or eighteen
inches, fit a temporary front of soft pine half an inch thick, and in
the center of this bore neatly with a center bit a hole of such diameter
as will take the eye end of the spectroscope; unscrew the eyehole, and
push the tube into the hole in wood, bushing the hole, if necessary,
with a strip of black velvet glued in to make a tight fit. By fixing the
smaller tube in the front of camera we can focus by sliding the outer
tube thereon; if we fix the larger tube in the front, we should have to
focus inside the camera, obviously most inconvenient in practice. Pl