It is scarcely necessary to speak of the advantages of being able to dry thoroughly both decanters and common bottles; if the former, after having been cleansed, are put away wet, they become musty; and many liquids are much injured by being put into wet bottles. Some of our readers have doubtless experienced the inefficiency of the ordinary means for drying decanters, etc, after draining for some days they still remain damp, and if placed near a fire the warmth merely drives the vapour to the colder part of the vessel; they may, however, be readily and quickly dried after draining, by making them slightly warm and blowing in fresh air with a pair of bellows, which rapidly carries out the damp vapour, and leaves the vessel perfectly dry. If bellows are not at hand, the damp air may be drawn out (not blown) with the mouth, assisted by a tube sufficiently long to reach nearly to the bottom of the decanter; in the laboratory a piece of glass tube is usually taken, being always at hand, but for domestic use a piece of paper may be rolled up bo as to form an extemporaneous and effectual substitute.