152 {, Oct. 6, 1876. found what I consider, at present, to be lithofellic acid, 1 by scorification or by reduction of litharge, concentration and a few other substances, but practically of no great of two or three lead-buttons so obtained, and cupellation. importance. - I am, &c., The points to which I wish to-day to call the par ASSAYER. ticular attention of veterinary surgeons and others are these 1. That the calculi are owed almost entirely to phosphate of ammonia and magnesia. CHEMICAL NOTICES FROM FOREIGN 2. That this salt is contained in the corn; and here SOURCES. arises the question whether corn is not for the horse as artificial a food as meat is for the human race. 3. The ease with which these calculi can be decom- Note.-All degrees of temperature are Centigrade, unless otherwise posed, broken up, dispersed, or dissolved by means of expressed. weak hydrochloric acid. I am of opinion that repeated doses of very dilute Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Scances, de l'Acadenie hydrochloric acid, say 2 to 5 per cent, in water or spirit, des Sciences. No. 10, September 4, 1876. if it can be made to reach them, would destroy the largest Researches on the Disappearance of the Ammonia of these calculi in a comparatively short space of time. Contained in Waters.-M. A. Houzeau.—Spring, and This treatment, with appropriate diet, would, I feel con- river water contains little ammonia, whilst rain, dew, and vinced, prove effectual even in very bad cases. fog often contains it in abundance. Well-waters rapidly The disease no doubt originates from the cæcum lose their ammonia, even when contained in vessels her. becoming alkaline instead of remaining slightly acid as it metically sealed. This loss is promoted by light. should be in a normal state of health; the calculus itself is alkaline, and contains minute quantities of carbonate of of the Sugar-Cane by means of New Apparatus... Results Obtained on the Extraction of the Juice ammonia and tribasic phosphate of magnesia, as well as the phosphate of ammonia and magnesia which constitutes –MM. Mignon and Rouart.—The cane is cut up by the greater part of it. It is a very rapid disease; when once means of a machine like that contrived by MM. Labrouse started a few years will find it increased very considerably. for reducing straw to a pulp for the paper manufa&ure. To cite one instance that has come under my own obser: The pulp thus obtained is subjected to hydraulic pressure vation, a fine cart-horse was born in Hereford, where it at 80 atmospheres. The canes thus yield 77 per cent of rich juice. remained four years, and then went to Staffordshire, where it lived five years longer. It died of calculus at nine years Detection of Magenta used in the Sophistication of age, and the calculus was 20 inches in circumference of Wines.-M. V. Didelot:—The author has forwarded the size of an ordinary gas-lamp globe—and weighed to the Academy a sample of gun-cotton dyed with a wine 8 lbs., so that it must have increased at least about i lb. containing magenta. a year, perhaps much more. Dissociation of Bicarbonate of Soda at 100°.-M. The lime in the water drunk by horses, to which some V. Urbain.—The author maintains, in opposition to M. have attributed the disease, has nothing to do with it. Gautier, that if dried plasma is submitted to a tempera. It originates in the food-in the corn-as I have stated ture of 100° the bicarbonate of soda which it contains is above, and is due no doubt, in great measure, to a want of not decomposed. salt in the food. When horses are highly fed for labour in the industrial districts, it is essential that they should No. 11, September 11, 1876. have access to lumps of salt to lick, or have salt in their food and a liberal supply of water to drink. The ventilation and Process for the Detection of Wines Artificially Coloured.-M. L. Lamattina.—To detect wines artifidrainage of the stable is another important consideration. cially coloured, the simplest method is to mix 100 grms. How many valuable beasts after a hard day's work pass of the wine with 15 grms. of wine in coarse powder, stir the night in an atmosphere loaded with fumes of am the mixture for twelve to fifteen minutes, and filter through monia |--I am, &c., a double filter. If the wine is pure it passes through T. L. PHIPSON, Ph.D., F.C.S., &c. colourless, but if it preserves its colour it has been artifi. Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, cially coloured. If pure peroxide of manganese has been Putney, London, S.W., September 24, 1876. employed this process is applicable to all the colouring matters artificially introduced, including magenta. If the peroxide of manganese is ferruginous, the acids and salts of the wine dissolve the iron; magenta, if present, forms DETERMINATION OF GOLD IN PYRITES. an insoluble compound, which remains on the filter, The filtrate then takes a saintly yellowish colour, resembling To the Editor of the Chemical News. that of sesqui-salts of iron. In this case the peroxide of Sir, -Why do M. H. Schwarz and the gentleman signing manganese left upon the filter is treated with alcohol, himself “'Latent" in the Chemical News, vol. xxxiv., which dissolves the magenta, whilst the natural colouring p. 132, propose to fuse the pyrites with iron turnings at matter of the wine is insoluble. If the alcoholic filtrate all ? There is nothing whatever to be gained by so doing, remains of a blue slightly yellowish the presence of and they would get the gold into a quantity of regulus magenta may be suspected. If we add to this liquid convery much larger than necessary and very inconvenient centrated acetic acid, and then a few drops of ammonia, for further treatment. If they simply fuse the pyrites the colour of the magenta reappears aster stirring for a alone at a strong heat, with such Aux as the gangue, if few moments. any is present, may require, a very much smaller regulus Note on the Radiometer.-W. Crookes.-(Extract will result, equally sure to contain all the gold, and equally suitable for treatment with acid. from a letter to The Count Th. du Moncel.) The simplest mode of treating the insoluble residue after acting upon the regulus with acid, would be to collect it on a small filter, dry it, lay it upon a scorifier, Justus Liebig's Annalen der Chemie, cover with assay-lead, fuse, and scorify in a muffle, finally Band 182, Heft 1 and 2. cupelling the lead-button. This method of assay might Contributions to the Theory of Luminous Flames. be advisable in cases where very small amounts of gold | --Dr. Karl Heumann.-(Second section ; see band 181, are to be determined; but in most cases it could not com page 129.) The author considers the circumstances that pare, for convenience, with the direct treatment of the ore a gas-filame does not actually touch the edge of the burner, CHEMICAL NEWS,} Chemical Notices from Foreign Sources. 153 1876. nor a candle-flame the summit of the wick; and that a action of hydrochloric acid upon potassium chlorate by flame never comes in close contact with a cold body is G. Schacheri. due to the fact that heat is conducted away by the solid On Phosphorus Pentafluoride.--T. E. Thorpe.body. The flame-gases are cooled for a certain distance This compound, PF5, is a colourless gas of a very punbelow their ignition-point, and the flame is consequently / gent odour, and strongly attacks the throat and the extinguished within this region. The distance between a mucous membranes. It fumes in the air, and is decomgas-flame and the burner is considerably increased if the posed by water into phosphoric and hydrofluoric acids. inflammable gas or vapour streams out under a high pres. It is four and a half times heavier than air, and can be sure, or is mixed with a large amount of some non-inflam- poured from one vessel to another like carbonic acid. It mable gas. This phenomenon is due not merely to the is neither combustible nor a supporter of combustion. It cooling action of the gaseous stream and of the external is not modified by the passage of electric sparks, nor by air, but to the fact that the speed of the issuing gas stream the introduction of oxygen or hydrogen. close to the burner is greater than the speed of the propa Oxidation Product of Glycogen with Bromine, gation of ignition. When other influences are not essential, the flame begins in that section of the issuing gas product is an acid, for which the author proposes the Silver-Oxide, and Water.-R. H. Chittenden.-The current where its speed equals the speed of the propagation name glycogenic. He describes a number of its salts. of ignition. Hence this speed of propagation for different Amidous Derivatives of Hydroxylamin.—This emgases and vapours may be experimentally ascertained. In case of solids and liquids of a combustible nature the braces a notice of the metallic derivatives of hydroxylsame speed may also be readily found by experiment, and urea, and the double salts of other hydroxamic acids, by the results may be regarded as relative numerical expres- N. D. C. Hodges; and one on the ester of hydroxamic sions of the dangerous character of the combustibles in acids, ethyl-hydroxylamin, and methyl-hydroxylamin, by question. W. Lossen and Dr. J. Zanni. Communications from the Laborarory of the Poly Chemical Investigation of a Case of Cystinury.technic School of Delft.-These communications con Dr. W. F. Läbisch.-In this case the occurrence of sist of a paper on "a-Xylenolol prepared from Metaxylol, cystin was accompanied by the usual marked decrease of by S. Lako, and a long and important dissertation by A. urea and uric acid. Č. Oudemanns on the “Specific Rotatory Power of the more important Cinchona Alkaloids." Reimann's Farber Zeitung. Composition of the Dialurates.-M. Menschutkin. No. 36, 1876. An account of the dialurates of ammonium, potassium, Dr. Reimann, in a paper read before the Berlin Dyers' sodium, and barium. Association, described * Pittakall,” the method of preOn Tartronaminic Acid.-M. Menschutkin.--A pro- | paring which has been recen re-discovered by Grätzel, duct obtained on the decomposition of dialurate of sodium of Hanover. Pittakall is insoluble in water, but dissolves by means of water. Its composition is C3H5N04. in alcohol and in acids with an orange colour, and in On Ethyl- and Methyl-Succinimid.-M. Menschut- alkalies with a magnificent violet. It dyes wool and silk kin.—A brief account of the preparation, composition, and direct, but cotton only when previously mordanted. This properties of these two bodies. colouring-matter is of an acid character, and yields-with Substitution in Benzol.-F. Beilstein and A. Kurba salts of lead, barium, aluminium, and tin-violet precipi Patterns of silk, wool, cotton, and mixed goods, tow.-Not suitable for abstraction. dyed with the new colour, were exhibited. These shades Solid Compounds of Carbon in Meteorites.-J. résist air and light perfectly and soap moderately. Lawrence Smith.-To regard the carbonaceous matter of black meteorites as a kind of humus is contrary to all that coloured with magenta, because the tannin present would A correspondent points out that red wines cannot be we know of humus. The meteoric body is almost insoluble precipitate it as a tannate. in alkaline lyes, gives off water only at a very high temperature after being previously dried at 110°, and burns readily upon platinum foil almost without odour, leaving much ash. According to the author's experiments it is Les Mondes, Revue Hebdomadaire des Sciences, neither humus nor true coal, but is probably an analogue No. 1, September 7, 1876. of the so-called hydrate of carbon. Three Years of Experience in the Evaporation of Examination of the Rotatory Power of the more Mother-Liquors ; Treatise on the Production of Salt, important Cinchonic Alkaloids. -0. Hesse.— A showing the Advantages of Combined Evaporation valuable paper, but quite incapable of useful abstraction from the Bottom and the Surface.-Otto Pohl.-The Behaviour of Phenol with the Cinchonic Alkaloids. author, a Liverpool salt merchant, descrites in this paper -0. Hesse.-Cinchonidin and quinine combine readily a series of very carefully conducted experiments on the with phenol, but the dextro-gyratory crystalline alkaloids, preparation of salt, and appears to have effected very conchinin, cinchonin, and chinamin, are, in their free decided improvements. state, not capable of forming a phenol compound. No. 2, September 14, 1876. Remarks on Cynanchol.-0. Hesse.—The properties of this body as described by Butleroff agree with those of Advancement of Science, held at Clermont-Ferrand, the At the recent meeting of the French Association for the a mixture of echicerin and echitin. inaugural discourse was delivered by M. Dumas. The Pyrophosphate of Lithia, Lithia-Soda, aud Lithia- following passage is significant :-"'Except the soul, its Potassa.-M. Nahnsen and E. Cuno.-Not suited for origin, and its destiny, which pertain to the sphere of faith, abstraction. the rest of the universe belongs to science. Let us leave Derivatives of Glycerin.-K. Kraut.-Among the deri- the soul to God, morals to religion and to philosophy vatives described are iodtriethylglycinammoniumethylester (metaphysics), and human passions to the poets, and let glycin, chlortriethylglycinammoniumplatin chloride, and us march on resolutely to the scientific conquest of the diethylglycinethylester. universe ; the field is vast enough for our free discus. Communications from the University Laboratory sions.” of Graz.-These consist of a paper on trichloro-butyric Hoffmann's "Fringe" Polarimeter.—The construce acid, by K. Garzarolli-Thurnlak; another by the same tion of this instrument cannot be made intelligible without author on certain salts of glyceric acid ; and one on the the accompanying illustration. tates. meter. 154 CHEMICAL News { Oct. 6, 1876. A meteorological observatory has been established on Assay of Commercial Oils. — A. Pinchon.– The the summit of the Puy de Dôme. author recommends, for ascertaining the purity of com 'mercial samples of oils, a hydrometer inclosing a thermoNo. 3, September 21, 1876. A precisely similar instrument has been in use in Fuming Sulphuric Acid.—M. Winckler proposes to Germany and in England for about twenty-five years, manufacture this acid by passing a proper mixture of under the name of Fischer's oleometer. sulphurous acid and oxygen over platinised asbestos. Anti-fermentescible Action of Salicylic Acid.-M, Neubauer.-An examination of the power of salicylic acid to arrest fermentation. Gazzetta Chimica Italiana. Chemical Indications relating to the Applica. tions of Salicylic Acid.-H. Kolbe. Anno vi., 1876, Fasc. v. and vi. Use of Salicylic Acid to prevent the FermentaUse of Hydrosulphite of Soda as a Reagent in the tion of Syrups.-H. Lajoux. Analysis of Colours fixed upon Tissues.-G. ScuratiManzoni. The facility with which orchil is discoloured by from their title. The nature of these two papers is sufficiently evident the action of hydrosulphite suggested the idea of using it for estimating the value of orchil-paste and extract, but the attempt proved unsuccessful. Methods of Preparing the lodides of Potassium NOTES AND QUERIES, and Sodium and the Bromide of Potassium.-P. Chiappe and O. Malesci.—To a solution of potassa at Our Notes and Queries column was opened for the purpose of 30° B. the authors add iodine in fine powder till the mass giving and obtaining information likely to be of use to our readers remains coloured slightly red by iodine in excess. It is generally, We cannot undertake to let this column be the then mixed with iron filings, and heated in the sand-bath. means of transmitting merely private information, or such trade notices as should legitimately come in the advertising columns. Observation on a Process for obtaining lodic Acid by causing Chlorine to Act upon Iodine Suspended your readers inform me of a method of distinguishing accurately Organic and Mineral Phosphates in Manure.-Will any of in Water.-G. Sodini.-In order that all the iodine should between organic and mineral phosphates in a mixed manure.-E. C. be converted into iodic acid, I part should be used in POTLER. 20 parts of water. Elementary Physics and Geology.-Will any of your readers kindly give me the name of a good German book on elementary Magistery of Sulphur.-M. Sansoni and G. Capellini. physics and on elementary geology.-W. T. PHILIPSON. - The authors think it unnecessary to use pure hydrochloric acid, and employ the commercial quality, but free from arsenic. Now ready, New Edition, 8vo., 7s. 6d., Method of Detecting the Adulteration of Iodide of CHEMIA COARTATA: Lead.-L. Alessandri and C. Conti.-The usual adultera OR, THE KEY TO MODERN Chemistry. tions are the chromate and carbonate of lead and the sul By A. H. KOLLINYER, A.M., M.D., phate of baryta. Among the available tests they give the Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics at Montreal. preference to potassa and ammonia, with which the detection of chrome is easy. J. and A. CHURCHILL, New Berlington Street. A New Reagent for the Detection and Determination of Glucose.-A. Soldiani.—416 grms. of bicarbonate on of . of potassa; 15 grms. of basic carbonate of copper, dry; By J. A. WANKLYN, M.R.C.S. 1400 grms. of distilled water are placed to heat on the FOURTH Edition, thoroughly revised, crown Svo., cloth, ss. sand-bath in a porcelain capsule for about six hours, the London: TRÜBNER and Co., Ludgate Hill, liquid being kept always at the same level by adding water to make up for what is lost by evaporation, and stirring. Early in October. The heat is withdrawn when the evolution of carbonic acid ceases; it is left to settle, and filtered, and concen. LECTURE NOTES FOR THE USE OF CHEMICAL trated to 800 c.c. STUDENTS preparing for Matriculation (University of London), College of Surgeons, Science and Art Department, and other ExPreparation of Ferric and Cupric Oxides from their aminations. By Thomas ELTOFT, F.C.s., Chemical Teacher to the respective Sulphates without the Production of Matriculation Classes, St. Bartholomew's Hospital; Chemical Basic Sulphates.-A. Oglialoro.--The author recom Lecturer, City of London College, St. Thomas, Charierhouse, Science Schools, &c. Cloth, post 4to. mends to pour the sulphate of iron into a solution of an London : SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, and CO., Stationers' Hall Court alkaline carbonate. Manchester : JOHN HEYWOOD, Deansgate. WATER ANALYSIS: a Practical Treatise KING'S COLLEGE.-EVENING CLASSES. WINTER SESSION, 1876-77. October 9th, and terminate in March. CHEMISTRY-Mr. W. N. Hartley, at 7 o'clock. Mondays and Chemistry of Diabetes Mellitus.--C. T. Kingzett. Thursdays. Fee, £i 118.6d. These two papers are translated from the English. ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY—Tuesday from 7 to 9. Fee, {2 28. Pepper and its Principal Adulterations.-E. Laud SALICYLIC ACID. rin.-Amongst the ordinary sophistications of pepper, the author enumerates pepper-dust, the epidermic portion de NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that tached from the pepper; mineral matters, such as plaster, Coleman Street, London, E.C., are ihe' sole Consignees of Salicylic Messrs. Burgoyne, Burbidges, Cyriax, and Farries, of 16 chalk, clay, ochre, &c.; grains of paradise ; dregs from Acid manufactured by Dr. F. Von Heyden, Chemical Manufacturer, the manufacture of potato-starch ; farina of legumina. Dresden, under Letters Patent, No. 595, 1874. Legal proceedings will ceous see Is; olive kernels freed from oil and ground be taken against all persons manufacturing, importing, or sending (these are regularly sold to the trade in France as olive Salicylic Acid produced according to the said Patent without the License of the Patentee.--Dated the 18th day of September, 1876. crusts-grignons—for pepper "); laurel leaves and oil. J. HENRY JOHNSON, 47, Lincoln's Inn Pields, W.C., cakes. Solicitor for the Patentee, Professor Hermann Kolbe. not. manure. CHEMICAL News, Effect of Temperature on the Growth of Potatoes. 155 of combination in which the sulphur occurs be determined. THE CHEMICAL NEWS. As tasmanite can be obtained (by the use of mechanical means, aided by the action of hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids) contaminated with no more than it per cent of a VOL. XXXIV. No. 881, white or grey ash, we can prove that the high percentage pyrites. NOTE ON THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE The paper-coal from Melili, Sicily, has been long known. ON THE GROWTH OF POTATOES. Similar minerals have been described from several lignite By J. B. HANNAY, F.R.S.E. deposits in different parts of Europe. I have often desired to ascertain whether there might be any near relationship between this paper-coal (sometimes termed In a former paper published in this journal* I gave my dysodile) and the tasmanite, * which I analysed and reasons for rejecting the theory that the proportions of the described in 1864 (Phil. Mag., IV., xxviii., 465). Both minerals burn with a most offensive odonr, fully accounted inorganic constituents have much to do with the health of the plant; in short, that we could not by an analysis of for in the case of tasmanite by the presence of much unoxidised sulphur in union with the carbon, hydrogen, and potato ash declare whether the tuber had been sound or I there showed that sound or diseased potatoes from oxygen of the mineral. Analysis shows, however, that the resemblance of the two species is very slight, as the organic compounds, while potatoes from the same seed the same field had virtually the same proportions of infollowing results will demonstrate. A characteristic specimen of dysodile from Rotl, near grown on different soil may have very different proporBonn, was submitted to examination. To remove matters tions of these compounds. These results have since been soluble in water, and notably gypsum, it was powdered, corroborated by other investigators, but I would wish to and then washed with much water. Subsequently it was place on record further evidence I have obtained by treated with moderately strong hydrochloric acid, until analysis of the ash of potatoes grown near the sea-shore as neither iron nor sulphuric acid could be detected in the compared with that of tubers from the same seed grown at some distance from it; both soils were gravelly. In acid liquid or washings. Thus it was expected that the high percentage of mineral matter in the original sample the subjoined analyses No. I. is that from the shore, and No. II. that from inland. They both received the same would be lowered, while all sulphates would at the same time be removed. The method of analysis was that used by The latter change was probably Bunsen. accomplished, not so the former. The following figures No. I. No. II. comprise the chief analytical data from which the ultimate composition of dysodile may be deduced : tuber 4'25 4'08 A. Dysodile thoroughly washed with Water and Soluble portionHydrochloric Acid, and dried at 100° C. Potassium 32'55 38.81 Sodium 0-328 grm. gave oʻ1640 grm. ash, or 50'00 p.c. ash. 10'87 0'328 Magnesium 1'04 0:651 090555 S. 14'29 14.97 0'7515 0593 or 34:56 Phosphoric oxide 4'01 5.83 or 5'03 274 5'22 10:59 6:58 Insoluble portion- Silica 1.85 I'94 0.0885 grm. gave o'0298 grm. ash, or 33:67 p.c. ash. Ferric oxide and alumina:: 025 0.80 N. 3'09 4'17 I'15 0'73 It appears from the above figures that the composition Carbon dioxide .. I'31 1.88 of the carbonaceous or combustible part of dysodile may be Phosphoric oxide 3:40 4:17 represented by the following percentages, if the ash present Unburnt carbon 0.62 be previously deducted : Oxygen equivalent to metals minus equivalent 11•63 10.68 proportion of chlorine .. 100'45 10140 10'04 Sulphur.. Both these samples of potatoes were pretty good, the 2'35 Nitrogen I'70 last portions of the carbon were very difficult to burn Oxygen .. 16.90 away, and the starch granules were large, and on being boiled the skin of the potato burst owing to the swelling It is thus evident that dysodile does not belong to the of the starch granules which the tuber contained, and yet same group of minerals as tasmanite, for the latter species we see that as in the case of some other plants a large is 10 per cent richer in carbon than the former. Dysodile, proportion of one element may be replaced by another indeed, is possibly, perhaps even probably, a mixture of without injuring the root. It will be noticed that in two or more distinct substances. Nor can the percentages i diseased or weakly tubers the potassium and sodium are given above be regarded as necessarily representing the nearly always present in greater quantity than in those of carbonaceous constituent of the mineral. The sulphur, a healthy nature. I do not think that that is so much for example, may really belong to some fixed sulphide, owing to an actual excess of these elements in the dissuch as pyrites, in the ash. Not till dysodile can be eased tubers as to the fact before mentioned that it is secured tolerably free from ferruginous ash can the mode *“On the Inorganic Constituents of Sound and Discased Potatoes," * See Dana's “ Mineralogy,” 5th edition, pp. 746 and 747. | Chemical News, vol. xxvii., p. 147. 3.96 2'22 H20, 9 No. II. CHEMICAL News, 156 Blowpipe Analysis of Henwoodite. { Oct. 13, 1876. more difficult to completely oxidise the carbon in healthy No. I. tubers than in the diseased ones, and that a portion of Percentage of ash 3.85 4'27 these volatile substances is lost during the protracted ignition. This fact that the inorganic constituents are Potassium 38:25 3973 less intimately combined with the carbon compounds in Sodium 2'17 2'04 diseased tubers than in those which are healthy led Magnesium 2:42 2.87 me to the conjecture that a kind of constitutional decay Calcium 4'02 3*75 was the precursor of the real disease. The paper above Phosphoric oxido 10'94 10-51 referred to concluded as follows:-“On the whole I think Sulphuric oxide 5'22 6.83 the potato disease is a problem for the naturalist or the Chlorine 5:08 6:15 physiologist rather than the chemist.” Now the researches of Mr. Worthington Smith have proved that the The principal result to which I wish to draw attention, conjecture was correct, but the fact still remains unex- however, is the manner in which the starch granules are plained that even during the worst periods of disease developed in the two sets of tubers. First as to quantity. some fields escape infection. And I found on careful | The method of estimating the starch was as follows: inquiry that as a general rule those fields which escaped | The best potatoes from both portions of the soil were cut were of a darker colour than those attacked, and this led up and dried, and a weighed portion treated with alcoholic me to the conjecture that the heat caused by the absorp. potash to remove sugar, sat, &c., and dried and weighed; tion of the solar rays must strengthen the constitution of then treated with diluted hydrochloric acid to remove the the plant. Besides, as 1 pointed out in ny former paper, starch, and again dried and weighed. The difference soot is considered by practical men as a preventive of the between the last two weighings gives the starch in the disease, and it occurred to me to determine by experiment original quantity. In this way the potatoes grown under whether, besides the good which its contained ammoniacal soot gave 22'5 per cent of starch and those in the plain salts does, a part of its virtue may not lie in its imparting ground 17'5 per cent, a difference of 5 per cent. Then as a dark colour to the soil and so rendering it a better ab- to the size of the starch granules : :- Micrometrical sorbent of solar heat. I therefore had the following ex- measurements of 20 average granules in the good potatoes periment tried to decide this question : gave an average of 0.175 m.m., whereas 20 of those from A piece of ground was chosen, little adapted for the the diseased tubers gave only 0'155 m.m. We see from growth of potatoes, consisting of a kind of blue till. The this that not only were the granules smaller but their ground was divided into two parts, and both were planted substance was altogether of a more fibrous nature. It number was less. In the potatoes poor in starch the with potatoes in the ordinary way, using stable manure. The one half was left as planted, while the other was thus appears that the increase in temperature gives a covered with soot which had been carefully washed till great impetus to the growth of starch granules both in no soluble matter remained in it. Those with the soot size and number. I know that an investigation like this sprouted first and were all through much healthier than would require to be extended over several years to make the others. A series of temperatures were taken until the sure of a definite law, and such was my intention, but as foliage was too thick for much sunlight to penetrate, and I had to leave this country last spring the experiments I then resumed when the foliage was beginning to fail till intended to carrry on this year were not accomplished, the tubers were dug up. The temperature of the air was and I have no prospect of being able to resume the invesnot kept, as we have no idea from it what is the real tem-tigation soon; so I considered in these circumstances that perature of the leaf, as we do not know how much heat it the above results were sufficiently striking to warrant absorbs from the sun's rays. All the temperatures were publication. taken on sunny days as on otherwise there was no differ. ence in temperature. The following table gives the two series of temperatures. They were taken at 2 and 8 inches below the surface and always simultaneously, but | BLOWPIPE ANALYSIS OF THE NEW MINERAL not at regular intervals, and in reality do not represent the HENWOODITE. actual average temperature of the earth, but they serve the purpose I intended to show-the higher temperature By MAJOR ROSS, late R.A. of the dark coloured earth. The first number of the Mineralogical Society's Journal Earth Covered with Soot. Pure Earth. contains the blowpipe analysis by Berzelian methods of Depth 2 ins. Depth 8 ins. Depth 2 ins. Depth 8 ins. this interesting mineral, written by Dr. C. Le Neve Foster, H. M. Inspector of Mines, who seems also to have 55'4 52:6 53'0 521 discovered it; and Mr. J. H. Collins, the Society's Secre56'9 55'0 55'2 55'4 tary, having been so kind as to forward me by letter a few 67'2 63'9 65'1 60:8 pin's-head fragments of the mineral for the purpose of 63'2 63.8 62.4 testing them by my methods, I have the pleasure now to 5807 58.8 58.0 63.0 send you an account of these, but, in the first place, append Dr. Foster's analysis. 6395 Colour.–Turquoise blue. 62'0 “Streak.-White, with bluish green tinge. 63'2 6104 боо 60'0 “ Matrass.-Turns brown, gives H20, slight decrepita. tion. Average 61496 59.83 60:19 58.74 “Pt forceps.-Colours flame green, does not fuse. "C alone. -Does not suse. These numbers show distinctly that the potatoes grown “ Borax.-0.F. green hot, blue cold. in a dark soil have a warmer climate, so to speak, than ". Borax.-R.F. on C; Cu reduced. those in a light one. The tubers with no soot were weak “Carb. soda on C; obtained metallic Cu. and a great deal of disease among them, whereas those · Berzelius's test for P205.-Boric acid and Fe on C which had the covering were larger and nearly all healthy. obtained round globule of phosphide of iron. Still, as the following numbers show, the principal in. “Dissolved in H2SO4, added ammonia, blue solution, organic constituents were present in nearly the same and white focculent precipitate (Al2O3). proportions. No. I. is from the soot-covered tubers, “ Filtered, added oxalate of potassium ; decided turNo. II. from the others. bidity (CaO). 64'5 6147 63.9 |