488 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



the substance to be tested be calcined in a covered platinum 

 crucible, and the ashes carefully examined by means of a 

 lens, the printed figures, letters, and sometimes entice words, 

 or the ornamentation of bank-notes, can be readily recog- 

 nized 13 C, November 18, 1871,1578. 



PAPER FROM OAT REFUSE. 



Paper is manufactured from oat refuse by Mr. Hay, of Glas- 

 gow, by first immersing the oat husks in water in a tank in 

 order to float off mustard and other seeds, with which they 

 arefrequently more or less mixed, and which, if not separated, 

 materially deteriorate the quality of the paper. It is of ad- 

 vantage to have the water well stirred, as it facilitates the 

 separation of the foreign seeds, and allows them to float to 

 the surface. The oat husks are then allowed to settle, and 

 the surface scum and floating seeds are drawn off by an over- 

 flow pipe at the top of the tank, or skimmed off by a rake or 

 other tool, or otherwise removed ; after which the water is 

 drained from the oat husks by a waste-water pipe at the bot- 

 tom of the tank, and beneath a perforated false bottom, or 

 fitted with a strainer which retains the oat husks. The oat 

 husks may be left to steep in the water for from five to ten 

 hours after or during the removal of the scum, as this steep- 

 ing, by softening them and helping to loosen the silica from 

 the fibre, facilitates the subsequent boiling process. 8 A, Oc- 

 tober 1,193. 



PARCHMENT PAPER. 



The use of parchment paper for the preparation of deeds 

 and other purposes is increasing very rapidly, and is replacing 

 the genuine parchment in a great many of its applications. 

 An improved method of preparing this substance, according 

 to a late article, consists in using the commercial oil of vit- 

 riol in an undiluted state. The paper is first passed through 

 a solution of alum, and thoroughly dried previous to its im- 

 mersion, thus preventing any undue action of the corrosive 

 principle of the vitriol. After the application of the acid the 

 paper is passed into a vat of water, and then through an al- 

 kaline bath, to be again washed. Written and printed paper 

 may undergo this improved process without materially .af- 

 fecting the clearness and distinctness of the letters, and the 



