A friend has translated the following from the Frauendorfer Blatter. Will he favor us with his present address?

The unpleasant odor diffused through water in vases in which cut flowers are kept, it is said, may be prevented by placing a small strip of sheet iron in the vase.

In Italy, grapes are kept " fresh and fine" during the year, by placing the clusters, after removing all the imperfect, immature, specked, or decaying berries, in a box with alternate layers of green peach leaves. The box is to be covered and set in a dry, cool room, free from frost.

In Germany, plums, prunes, and gages are preserved in a fresh state, in the same manner, only substituting pear leaves for those of the peach.

Rats are said to have such an antipathy to the odor of the herb houndstongue ( Cynoglossum officinale), that they will forsake a building within twenty-four hours after the leaves and stems of this plant have been strewed therein. It should be gathered when in flower, and the more freshly it is used, the more certain are its effects alleged to be.