L. TECHNOLOGY. 487 



in an English fifty-six, and in a Dacca they amount to one 

 hundred and ten. Some idea of the lightness of this Dacca 

 muslin may be inferred from the fact that a piece of it one 

 yard wide and ten yards and a half long weighed only a lit- 

 tle over three ounces ! This, as an article for summer wear, 

 would probably be quite equal to the ancient Greek fabric 

 poetically termed " woven wind" by the writers of that coun- 

 try. 1 A, April 14, 1 72. 



PRIZE FOR RHEA FIBRE MACHINES. 



According to Nature, the time for the trial of machines for 

 separating the fibres of the rhea plant, which are to be sent in 

 for competition for the prize of $25,000 offered by the Indian 

 government, has been postponed till April, 1872. It is re- 

 quested that notice of intention to compete be given. Ar- 

 rangements have been made to supply those who propose to 

 become competitors with some of the plant for experiment. 

 12^4, April l y 11. 



LEATHER PAPER. 



A late English patent endeavors to utilize scraps of leather 

 or skin by manufacturing from them a paper in combination 

 with rags or other fibrous substances. For this purpose the 

 refuse cuttings of any kind of leather are taken, those of calf- 

 skins, however, being preferred. 8.^4, June 1, 110. 



WETTING PRINTING PAPER BY ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE. 



The Imperial Printing Office in Vienna uses the air-pump 

 to great advantage in moistening large quantities of paper 

 for printing. The paper to be used is placed in a box capa- 

 ble of being closed air-tight, and the air is then removed by 

 means of the air-pump. Water is then admitted into the box 

 and driven through the paper by means of the returning 

 pressure of the atmosphere. The superfluous water is re- 

 moved after the wetting by the use of the screw press. 

 14 6 y ,CXCIX.,152. 



BURNT PAPER. 



It is sometimes important to be able to determine whether 

 burnt paper belonged originally to bank-notes or ordinary 

 writing paper ; and it is stated in a Russian Journal that, if . 



