ortho-nitro toluol, para-nitro toluol, ortho-toluidine, para-, Neville and Winther acid, Schaeffer's acid, Cleve's acid, toluidine, tolidine, 1:3:6 acid, H acid. E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co., Wilmington, Del. There was a diversified exhibit of fabrikoid and other products made by this company, apart from its main purpose of manufacturing munitions. The display of benzene, toluene, naphthalene, nitrobenzene, and dimethylaniline was limited to the raw materials which will serve in the extensive plans of the company to enter upon the production of dye-stuffs. The Calco Chemical Co., Bound Brook, N.J. A very effective display of intermediates, including nitrobenzol, aniline oil, aniline salt, dimethylaniline, dinitro-benzol, metaphenylenediamine, 8-naphthol, sulphanilic acid, naphthionic acid, nitro-xylol, xylidine, and paranitraniline. The dyes regularly manufactured are:Acid colours scarlet 2R, scarlet 2RX, orange II., Bordeaux B, crimson Y, Bordeaux 2BX, tartazine. Chrome colours-yellow, orange, green, brown. Basic colours-methylene blue, methyl violet. Direct colours -orange R, maroon red, red, chrysamine, violet R. Lake colours--lake scarlet 2R, lake scarlet 2RX, acid orange, Bordeaux B, methylene blue, methyl violet. All of the dye-stuffs were shown in solution. The sample dyeings were grouped together in a fan-shaped design, in front of which was an enormous cube of B-naphthol. The whole arrangement was very effective. The Williamsburg Chemical Co., Inc., Brooklyn. The exhibit included the following intermediates:Benzylchloride, benzalchloride, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, U.S.P., benzoate of soda, U.S.P., and dinitrochlorbenzol. But three dye-stuffs are made by the company :-Sulphur black, malachite green, and auramine. These were accompanied by sample dyeings. The whole display was very tastefully arranged. New Jersey Products, Inc., Silver Lake, N.J. Under this new designation appeared the products of the Thomas A. Edison Affiliated Companies. They were :--Benzol, toluol, xylol, solvent naphtha, naphthalene, phenol, aniline oil, aniline salt, acetanilide, para phenylenediamine, para-amidophenol base, para-amidophenol, hydrochloride, para-nitroacetanilide, benzidine, benzidine sulphate, acetyl-para-phenylenediamine. The coal-tar products made by the Edison companies are not many in number, but are manufactured upon a very large scale. Mr. Edison was one of the first, in 1915, to produce synthetic phenol and aniline in great quantities. He has limited subsequent expansion to a few important derivatives of these substances, notably para-phenylenediamine and para-amidophenol. Aniline is no longer produced for the market. The output of synthetic phenol continues, however, to be very large, and it is the intention to continuc this feature indefinitely after the return to normal conditions, even in competition with phenol secured directly from coal-tar. Both phenol and para-phenylene diamine are employed to quite an extent in the manufacture of records for phonographs and gramophones (conducted by the Edison Co. Butterworth-Judson Corporation, Newark, N.J. B-naphthylamine, para-nitraniline, meta-nitraniline, para. N.J The Radcliffe Colour and Chemical Works, Elizabeth, Nigrosine is the chief product made at present. It was shown in all the standard forms, in blue, blue-black, and jet-black shades, and oil, splrit, and water soluble varieties. The American Synthetic Colour Co., Stamford, Conn. The efforts of this company are now concentrated chiefly on intermediates. The products shown were :Picric acid, o-nitro-phenol, p-nitro-chloro-benzene, p-nitrophenol, and dinitro-chloro-benzene. The latter is the main element in the current output, and is supplied to manufacturers of sulphur-black. The company is now producing large quantities of sodium nitrite, for the use of dyers and manufacturers of azo colours. Empire Chemical Co., New Brunswick, N.J. The activities of the company are devoted chiefly to intermediates. Its exhibit contained :-Nitrobenzene, aniline, p-nitraniline, o-toluidine, p-toluidine, m-nitro-ptoluidine, p-nitro-o-toluidine, p-amido-phenol, and p-nitrochloro-benzene. In addition there were various nigrosines. King Chemical Co., Bound Brook, N.J. The company displayed sulphur-blue, sulphur-black, methylene-blue, and primuline, accompanied by various direct reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows. There was a good collection of sample dyeings. Hellenic Chemical and Colour Co., New York. The dyes made by this company are methyl violet, methylene blue, Bismarck brown, nigrosines, eosine, fuchsine, malachite green, and victoria blue. It specialises also in lakes and dry colours, and showed in this collection toluidine-red toner, para-red and para toner, phloxine lake and phloxine tener, magenta lake, rose lake, and madder lake. Dye Products and Chemical Co., Newark, N.J. The company made a very creditable exhibit of intermediates and finished dye stuffs. The former included nitro-toluol, dinitro-toluol, meta-toluylene-diamine, diamine-developer C (crystals), toluidine, aniline, and paraphenylene-diamine. The chief colours represented were:-Naphthol green, Newark-scarlet, ponceau-scarlet, acid-yellow, chrome blueblack, chrome brown, copper-purple, chrysoidine, cosin, and Bismarck brown. Madero Bros., New York. This firm, while not manufacturing, is doing a large business as a distributor of chemicals, and especially of dye-stuffs. It is rendering excellent service in building up foreign markets for our chemical products. It presented an excellent display of intermediates and of colours, including some made by the Monroe Drug Co., of Quincy, Ill.-notably H acid. A most imposing display was made by this company of the great variety of general chemicals manufactured in its extensive works. It is but recently that it has entered the field of coal-tar compounds. The list of intermediates now currently produced is, however, long and varied. The exhibit contained :-Nitro-benzol, di-nitro-benzol, meta- and para-phenylene-diamine, benzidine sulphate, benzidine base, nitro-naphthalene, di-nitro-naphthalene, Frank Hemingway, Inc., New York. a-naphthylaminc, naphthionic acid, ethyl-a-naphthylamine, This company is also devoted largely to the distribution methyl-a-naphthylamine, diphenylamine, H acid, y-acid, and export of chemicals and dye-stuffs. It has, however, entered the field of coal-tar products, and manufactures on a large scale Michler's ketone, and various dyes made by its aid. The following colours were exhibited : Victoria blue B, victoria blue R, victoria blue 4R, crystal violet malachite green, Bismarck brown, primuline, safranine, para-nitraniline, methylene blue. Attractive charts, with coloured ribbons, outlined the genesis of each dye from coal tar crudes. THIS Bill, which was presented to the House of Commons by Sir Albert Stanley on November 19 last, seeks to amend the Patents and Designs Act, 1907, in the light of the experience gained from working the existing Act and also the Temporary Rules for which authority was given by Parliament in 1914. Under the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks (Temporary Rules) Acts licences have been granted for the working of enemy-owned patents and designs, and permission given to use enemy trade marks, and considerable information has been thus obtained as to the effect of our Patent and Trade Marks law on business undertakings, and in particular on those under foreign In view of this experience it appeared to the Board of Trade necessary that the principal Act of 1907 relating to patents should be amended in several im portant particulars. The whole question was considered from the commercial point of view by a Sub-Committee of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence, and the Board of Trade had also the advantage of the advice of a special Committee under the Presidency of Lord Parker containing representatives of the legal profession, inventors, and practising Patent Agents. The Bill is the result of their efforts. Fifty intermediates were shown, among which were a-naphthol, a-naphthylamine, aniline, Bayer acid, benzidine, base and sulphate, benzaldehyde, benzyl chloride, naphthol, B-naphthylamine, Broenner's acid, dimethylaniline, dinitrobenzene, dinitronaphthalene, di nitrophenol, dinitrotoluene, diphenylamine, y acid 26:8), H acid (1:8:3:6), metaphenylenediamine, Michler's hydrol, Michler's ketone, naphthionic acid, Neville and Winther's acid, ortho-nitro-phenol, ortho-toluidine, para-amido-control. phenol, para-dichlorobenzene, para nitro-phenol, para phenylenediamine, para-toluidine, phenylalphanaphthylamine, phthalic anhydride, picramic, resorcin, R salt (2:3:6), salicylic acid, Schaeffer's acid, sulphanilic acid, tetranitromethylaniline, and xylidine. A. Klipstein and Co., New York. The exhibit of this long established firm included numerous chemicals for the use of the dyer and tanner. Of especial interest were the sulphur dyes now made in quantity at Chrome, N.J., by the E. C. Klipstein and Sons Co. They embraced blacks, blues, yellows, browns, and khaki tints. The zeta black is in demand for hosiery. Vat blues and indigo extract of this company are in extended use. An interesting feature was the collection of ciba colours and other coal tar dyes, the products of the Basle Society of Chemical Industry, which the firm has imported regularly from Switzerland during the war, and which have done much to lessen the acuteness of the dyestuff shortage. Geisenheimer and Co., New York. A patent to an inventor is the grant of a temporary monopoly which serves the double purpose of enabling the inventor to secure the support of capital to develop and work his invention, and of giving to the public and trade generally the benefit of new discoveries. Human brains need the stimulus of human ambition to make money and get on in life, if the community is to get full value from their exercise. The inventor must, therefore, be encouraged and rewarded so that he may exercise his skill, and those with capital who desire to assist him must be afforded protection in their enterprise. But since monopolies are liable to abuse, the State must endeavour to make sure that no monopoly granted to a private person by the Crown shall be wrongly used to the detriment of national trade or of national interests generally. Abuses of the Patent Monopoly. This well known importing and jobbing firm displayed a great variety of artificial colours, mostly from American works for which it is the selling agent. The most interesting feature of this extensive exhibit was the collec tion of dyes now made currently by the Ault and Wiborg Co., of Cincinnati, O. This company is one of the largest, if not the largest, producers of inks in the world. It requires normally very considerable amounts of a fewy to prevent the use altogether of the patented invention staple shades. When cut off from European sources of supply in 1915, it promptly erected large works to furnish an adequate supply for its regular needs. The results were so successful that the output was notably enlarged both in quantity and variety. The colours exhibited were the following pigments :-Ambrose red, liberty toner and liberty red, all in various shades, and the following dyes: Alizarin orange W, alizarin yellow GGW, chrome bordeaux, cloth red GO, acid bordeaux, acid orange No. 2, amaranth, azo crimson, brilliant acid orange G, croceine 3BX, fast red A, induline NN, metanil yellow, ponceau GG, scarlet RR, tartrazine conc, eosin, erythrosin, meldola blue, and Bismarck brown R and Y. The following intermediates, manufactured by Ault and Wiborg, were also shown-Amido-azo-toluol hydrochloride, amido-azo-benzol - hydrochloride, a-naphthylamine, a-naphthylamine-hydrochloride, a-nitro-naphtha lene, aniline oil, aniline salt, Bayer salt 2: 8, Broenner acid 2:6, B-naphthylamine, 8-naphthol, dinitro-benzol, dinitro-chloro-benzol, dinitro-toluol, monosulphonic acid F 2:7, nitro-benzol, nitro-ortho-chlor-benzol, naphthionic acid 1: 4, Neville-Winther acid, ortho-toluidine, paratolaidine, paranitraniline, para-amido acetanilide, paranitro-chlor-benzol, phenyl-a-naphthylamine, R salt 2:3:6, Schaeffer salt 2: :6, sodium naphthalene-B-sulphonate, sulphanilic acid, tetra-methyi-diamino-diphenyl-methane, and xylidine. (To be continued). The new Bill aims at preventing-or at least of making very difficult-the chief abuses to which patent monopolies are subject. First, an inventor may from ulterior motives within the United Kingdom. Secondly, an inventor may be a foreigner who wishes to manufacture the invention in his own country and to export the products to Great manufacturing the products itself; this would be to Britain, which would meanwhile be prevented by him from encourage trade abroad and hamper it in Great Britain. Thirdly, while not going so far as to try to prevent the use of the manufacture of an invention in this country, an inventor may, in fact, restrict British trade by keeping the fusing to grant licences for its manufacture by others. It invention entirely in his own hands and unreasonably re is in the interests of our National trade that these abuses of the grants of patents should be stopped, and that every encouragement should be given for the early manufacture within this country of promising inventions. The Act of does is to provide a complete and comprehensive scheme 1907 sought to effect these purposes; what the new Bill and to make good the discovered defects in the existing Act. Compulsory Licences and Revocation. Clauses 1 and 2 of the new Bill are in substitution of Section 27 (Revocation of Patents worked outside the United Kingdom) and Section 24 (Compulsory Licences and Revocation) of the Act of 1907. It was found that the procedure under Section 24 was cumbrous and expensive and had been rarely used. And as regards Section 27 the standard of comparison between British and foreign manufacture was one which has been difficult to work out In practice owing to the absence of the necessary data. It is therefore proposed in Clause I of the Bill to amalgamate these two Sections of the Act of 1907 and to replace them by one clause. Simplicity and inexpensiveness are aimed at. Clause I provides that any abuse of his patent rights by the patentee-either by failure to work his patent or to grant licences on reasonable terms whenever the public interest demands, or by unfair conditions imposed on the use or sale of the patented article-will render him liable to have his patent revoked, or a compulsory licence granted on reasonable terms whenever the latter course appears to be the fairer or more appropriate remedy. In comparison with Section 24 of the existing Act the procedure for obtaining licences has been greatly simplified and the grounds for applications for licences much enlarged and made more definite. Application is in the first instance to be made to the Comptroller with an appeal to the Court. The intention is to provide adequately against a patent being hung up. The provisions of the Clause do not operate until after the expiry of four years in the life of a patent, and this period of freedom may be extended if the Comptroller judges that | the time which has elapsed has been insufficient to enable the invention to be worked within the United Kingdom on a commercial scale. cost. The Two Main Classes of Inventions. Inventions may be roughly divided into two classes: those which do and those which do not require for their development large amounts of capital. A small patented article of general utility, cheaply made and put on sale, may become profitable quickly and at little initial On the other hand a machine, ultimately of great importance and value, may absorb £100,000 in capital and several years in time before the patentee or capitalist reaps the fruit of his enterprise. In the new Bill Clauses I and 2 are framed so that the tribunal-the Comptroller, the Court (on appeal), or in cases of agreement an arbitrator-may exercise adequate discrimination in deciding whether in any particular case there has been abuse of the patent monopoly. Revocation of a patent is not always, or even most often, the best course to adopt in the public interest. In very many cases the grant of compulsory licences is the most effective remedy and will secure the working in the United Kingdom of the patent. Suppose, for example, a foreign patentee wanted to prevent his patent from being worked in this country: if compulsory licences were granted to manufacturers here then the patent would be worked and British trade be benefitted; but if it were revoked altogether then the foreign patentee might secure a practical monopoly, in spite of this revocation, by importing the article from abroad on terms making British competition practically impossible without the assistance of the Patent monopoly by which the holder of a compulsory licence would be protected. A "Licence Patent." Clause 2, which is substituted for Section 24 of the Act of 1907, proposes that the patentee should be allowed to declare his patent to be a "licence patent" and to have it endorsed with the words licences of right." In that event anyone who wishes may claim a licence under it as a right. This provision is intended to encourage the commercial working of inventions, and to be of possibl assistance to inventors who have no means of exploiting their inventions themselves or of coming into contact with those who wish to use the invention commercially. In default of agreement the terms of the licence are to be settled by the Comptroller or the Court. Care will be taken when framing the rules to carry out the provisions of this Clause, that a patentee does not evade the possibility of the revocation of his patent by converting it into a "licence patent." Oppositions to Grant of Patents. It has been frequently represented to the Patent Office that the present search through British specifications of the preceding fifty years is insufficient and that an attempt should be made to make the search universal. Ine ex|perience of other countries, which profess to make a universal search, suggests that so catholic and ideal an aim is not possible of attainment in practice. It is, however, felt that in order to guard against the grant of invalid patents certain grounds of opposition might usefully be allowed in addition to those provided under Section II of the Act of 1907. Clause 4 of the new Bill provides that opposition to a patent may be filed-(1) on the ground that the invention has been published in any printed document before the date of application for a patent; and (2) in the case of applications under the International Convention, when the invention described in the application filed in this country differs from that described in the specification filed in the country of origin, and when the additional matter forms the subject of an application made by the opponent in the interval between the deposit of the application in the foreign State and the deposit of the application in this country. The remainder of Clause 4 consists of re-drafting made necessary by these proposed amendments. Assignments of Patent Rights. Clause 5 amends Section 12 of the Act of 1997 relating to the grant and sealing of patents. It provides a remedy for a breach of agreement by an applicant who has undertaken in writing to assign the patent, when granted, to another person or joint-applicant, but who refuses to proceed with the application. In such an event the patent application may, under the new Clause 5, go forward at the request of the person to whom the invention has been assigned when the original inventor declines to carry out his agreement. The Term of Patents: Extension. The present duration of a patent is fourteen years from the date of the original application. The term is less than has been adopted by most other countries signatory to the International Convention. It has been frequently urged by other countries-and among them our principal Allies-that we should extend our term of fourteen years. Inventors generally have supported this request. It has been felt by those responsible for the new Bul that oppor tunity should be taken now for extending the term of British patents to fifteen years at least. The Bill, by Clause 6, grants the term of fifteen years, and gives power by Order in Council for a further extension to sixteen years should this extension become expedient-in view of any conventions with foreign countries. It is important to note that the proposed extension under Clause 6 is granted to all patents in force when the Bill becomes an Act, and not only to new patents. The Suggested War Extension. The point which has just been mentioned has an important bearing on Clause 7 dealing with the power of the Court to extend for special reasons the term of a patent beyond the date of its normal expiry. At present if, after enquiry, the Court finds that a patentee has not been adequately remunerated by his patent-if, for example, it has been an important and worthy machine, or process, that has taken several years to develop before becoming revenue earning--the Court has power to extend the patent for seven years and even, in very exceptional cases, for fourteen years. The War has introduced a new factor, and it has been urged on the part of inventors that the term of all existing patents should be extended automatically for the period of the war. The Board of Trade did not feel able to recommend this general war extension of all patents, as it would not discriminate between those inventors who had made large war profits -as many of them have done-and those who have suffered losses. General war-period extension of patents cannot be defended. What the new Bill proposes to do is to provide for an extension in the case of those inventors who can establish a just claim to it. Power is given to the Court under Clause 7 to extend the patent term of those patentees who can prove that loss has been due to hostilities. Patentees who are subjects of enemy States are excluded from benefits of this Clause. In view of the general extension of patent terms by one or two years under Clause 6 of the Bill the period of extension within the discretion of the Court is reduced. Instead of being, as at present, for seven and, in exceptional cases, fourteen years, it becomes under the new Bill for six and twelve years respectively. The remaining Clauses of the new Patents Bill which aim at reducing the cost and rendering more simple the trials of patents actions, and those Clauses which deal with the grant of patents for articles of food and drugs, the registration of designs, the compulsory registration of assignment of patents and designs, the registration of patent agents and certain minor amendments to the Act of 1907 will be described and explained in a second article to be published next week.-The Board of Trade Journal, 1911, C., 4. millions sterling; the yield of maize is nearly as large as that of wheat, and is worth one thousand millions sterling, while the aggregate value of the six chief cereals (wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, and rice) is not less than six thousand millions sterlings, or thirty billions of dollars, yearly. The yield of potatoes is over fifteen hundred million quintals, and that of sugar beet is more than five hundred million quintals. Every year the world has at disposal a total of 150 million quintals of beet and cane sugar, nearly 150 million hectolitres of wine, ten million quintals of coffee, more than eight millions of leaf tobacco, nearly one million quintals of hops. Textile industries account annually for nearly fifty million quintals of cotton, eight millions of flax, seven millions of hemp, while silkworm breeders in Europe aud Asia deliver to the trade more than 200 millions in Cocoons. The raw material for vegetable oils comprises yearly throughout the world an aggregate of thirty million quintals of olives, and a similar quantity of linseed, four millions of hempseed, and five millions of rapeseed. TEN YEARS OF AGRICULTURE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.* In dealing with the statistics of agriculture, even more particularly than in reviewing those relating to other matters, the wide variety of crops, of climate, of terms employed, makes it exceedingly difficult to draw up any estimates of production that are beyond cavil. In the course of the nineteenth century many efforts were made to accomplish this aim, but in order to reach a practical and tangible result it became necessary to create a central organisation of high standing, specially arranged for the collection and scientific classification of the very miscellaneous data which are published in so many parts of the world. This central organisation is the International Institute of Agriculture of Rome, so well known to competent authorities by its numerous publications, and this Institute has just issued a new work dealing on a very complete and accurate basis with the world's agriculture This volume is the "International Year-book of Agricultural Statistics 1907 to 1916," and is without any doubt the most complete work in existence on agricultural statisties, as it is the result of the most extensive and, at the same time, the most detailed research yet devoted to this study. Comprising over one thousand pages, the 836 statistical tables are replete with every sort of information upon the subjects considered, thus establishing the volume as one of the highest importance. The number of agricultural products embraced is very large, and those of tropical countries have received as much attention as the crops of the temperate zones have secured. In due sequence are furnished all the available data regarding areas cultivated in each country, the total yields realised, and the yields obtained on a given standard of area. Besides all this the Year-book includes the five years' and ten years' averages for the period included, so that readers can ascertain at a glance whether in any particular year cultivation has extended or has been restricted in a given country and whether the results have been favourable or the reverse. The first products to be considered are the cereals, as naturally being of capital importance for food, the very basis of human requirements inasmuch as they furnish our daily bread. We find that the ascertainable annual yield of wheat throughout the world exceeds a thousand million quintals, and represents at present values more than two thousand THE Minister of Munitions in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by the Defence of the Realm Regulations and of all other powers enabling him hereby orders as follows: 1. For the purposes of this Order the expression "coaltar" shall mean tar produced or derived from the destructive distillation of bituminous material by any means other than blast furnaces, the expression "water-gas-tar" shall mean tar produced by carburetting water-gas, aud the expression" tar " shall mean and include both coal-tar and water-gas-tar as above defined. date of this Order until further notice purchase or offer to 2. No person shall as and from the day following the under and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a purchase any tar (whether crude or dehydrated) except Licence issued by or under the authority of the Minister required of Munitions. Provided that no licence shall be (a) By a tar distiller for the purchase of tar in any intended to be and is in fact distilled to pitch by such quantities, provided that the whole quantity purchased is distiller. (i.) Accept delivery of or make payment for any coaltar tendered for delivery under any coutract existing at the date of this Order unless (a) such contract was entered into prior to September 5, 1917, and is in writing, and (b) full written particulars of such contract were furnished to the Minister of Munitions before October 1, 1917, by the person entitled at that date to deliveries thereunder; or (ii.) Accept delivery of or make payment for any watergas-tar tendered for delivery under any contract existing at the date of this Order unless (a) such contract is in writing and (6) full written particulars of such contract shall be furnished to the Minister of Munitions before January 25, 1918, by the person for the time being entitled to deliveries thereunder. 4. As on and from January 15, 1918, until further notice no person manufacturing or producing tar shall burn or consume any such tar for firing, steam raising, or beating purposes, nor use any such tar for any other purpose except under and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence issued by or under the authority of the Minister of Munitions. Provided that no such licence shall be required by a manufacturer or producer of tar who is also a tar distiller to entitle him to distil to pitch all or any of the tar manufactured or produced by him. 5. The Order of the Minister of Munitions dated September 4, 1917, relating to coal-tar is hereby cancelled, but such cancellation shall not affect the previous operation of that Order nor the validity of any action taken thereunder, nor the liability to any penalty or punishment in respect of any contravention or failure to comply with such Order prior to this cancellation nor any proceeding or remedy in respect of such penalty or punishment. 6. This Order may be cited as the "Tar (Coal and Water-gas) Order, 1917." CRUDE SOLVENT NAPHTHA, SOLVENT NAPHTHA, AND HEAVY NAPHTHA. The Minister of Munitions in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by the Defence of the Realm Regulations, and of all other powers enabling him hereby Orders as follows: 1. No person shall as from January 10, 1918, until further notice supply to any person, or take, or accept, or attempt to obtain delivery of any crude solvent naphtha, solvent naphtha, or heavy naphtha, except under and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence isssued by or under the authority of the Minister of Munitions. 2. All persons engaged in producing, treating, distributing, storing, selling, or dealing in crude solvent naphtha, solvent naphtha, or heavy naphtha, or in any manufacture, trade, or business in which the same or any of them are used, shall make all such returns with regard to their businesses and verify the same in such manner (including production of their books) as may from time to time be required by or under the authority of the Minister of Munitions. 3. For all purposes of this Order the expressions "crude solvent naphtha," "solvent naphtha," and "heavy naphtha" shall mean crude solvent naphtha, solvent CHEMISTS FOR THE ARMY. To the Editor of the Chemical News. SIR,-May I ask for a few lines in your valuable paper about a problem which is no doubt puzzling many young chemists to-day. We have joined the army with a desire to take a more active part in the war than as a junior chemist in a munition works. After taking the ordinary examinations at a secondary school we have continued our education in chemistry and metallurgy at night classes, working in the laboratory of a steel works during the day. What will become of us after the war? Shall we be given a chance to catch up our interrupted studies? Hoping I have not taken too great a liberty.—I am, &c., DURATION. NOTICES OF BOOKS. Trattato di Chimica Generale ed Applicata all' Industria. Vol. I. Chimica Inorganica. ("Treatise on General Chemistry and Chemistry Applied to Industry. Vol. I. Inorganic Chemistry"). By Dott. ETTORE MOLINARI. Fourth Edition, Part I. Milan: Ulrico Hoepli. 1918. Pp. xiv+560. Price L. 12.50. THIS well-known text-book has been thoroughly revised, and the fourth edition contains a large amount of new material. It gives a very comprehensive survey of applied inorganic chemistry, and may certainly be regarded as the The first part of Volume I. deals with the theories of standard work on the subject in the Italian language. chemistry, and the laws of physical chemistry are particularly fully and clearly treated, their application in processes of commercial importance being always kept in view. In the second section of the book the properties, preparation, and uses of the metalloids are discussed in detail. Industrial methods of preparation are described, as well as those ordinarily employed in the laboratory, and some processes of historic importance are included. Full statistics of production and consumption are given, and no important substances have been omitted. naphtha, and heavy naphtha obtained during distillation CHEMICAL of coal-tar or extracted from coal-gas. 4. This Order may be cited as the Naphtha Order, 1917. NOTE. All applications in reference to this Order, including application for licences, should be addressed to the Director of Raw Materials Supply, Ministry of Munitions, Department of Explosives Supply, Storey's Gate, Westminster, S. W. 1. To the Editor of the Chemical News. SIR, The presence of a solid paraffin in black peat is now well known. I may just mention that about the year 1869 Dr. Angus Smith asked me to extract a portion of Scotch black peat with benzene. The dried substance yielded abont 4 per cent of a deep brown paraffin. I recollect Dr. Smith remarking that possibly liquid paraffin might accompany the water underlying the peat, when the latter rested in a rock basin. These remarks of mine are suggested by the discovery of mineral oil at Ramsey, Hunts, on Christmas Day.I am, &c., P. H. NOTICES FROM FOREIGN SOURCES. NOTE. All degrees of temperature are Centigrade unless otherwise expressed. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences. Vol. clxv., No. 16, October 15, 1917. Refractory Properties of Magnesia.-H. Le Chatelier and B. Bogitch.-Pure magnesia fuses at about 2400°, but the magnesia used for making bricks is never pure; it contains varying proportions of oxide of iron which colours it brown, and also some silica and alumina. All these impurities increase its fusibility. The authors have compared commercial bricks with those made of pure silica, measuring the resistance to crushing at various temperaAll the bricks showed a sudden fall of resistance to crushing at a temperature depending upon their degree of purity, and it is for this reason that magnesia bricks are less satisfactory in furnace works than silica bricks, although their fusing-points, when they are not subjected to mechanical forces, are very considerably higher. tures. No. 17, October 22, 1917. Transformation of Secondary and Tertiary Fatty Amines into Nitriles.-A. Mailhe and F. de Godon.When di-isoamylamine is passed over reduced nickel beated |