86 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



BRONZES. 



The protluctioii of a fine patina on onr bronze statues, instead 

 of a coatinix of dust and soot, is, especially in our lar«2;e cities, a 

 thing to be desired. In PoggendorlTs Annalen for April, we tind 

 the report of a series of experiments which were made by the di- 

 rection of the Berlin Verein zur lleforderung desGerwerbtleisses, 

 to examine into the causes determining the formation of this vert 

 antique patina on bronze statues. 



The experiments while in progress led the observers to suppose 

 that grease had much to do with the formation of the fmest patina. 

 Four busts were therefore placed in a part of the town which was 

 very unfavorable. One of them was rinsed every day, with the 

 exception of rainy days, and was painted once a month with bone 

 oil, which Avas rubbed off with woollen cloths at once. Another 

 bust was washed daily, but not oiled. A third was cleaned daily, 

 but oiled only twice a year. The fourth was not touched at all. 

 These experiments have been continued for 4 or 5 years ; the result 

 is that the bust which has been oiled once a month possesses a 

 dark-green patina, which is considered very beautiful by connois- 

 seurs ; the bust which has been rubbed twice a year does not look 

 so well ; the others have no i)atina. The bust which has been 

 washed regularly is the usual dark bronze color; the other is 

 quite dull and black. The final result of those who have been 

 engaged in the experiments is: this use of oil justities the hope 

 that for the future we may retain beautifully patinated monu- 

 ments, even in large towns. Where coal is the only combustible 

 they will not be bright, but dark-green, and perhaps black; but 

 they will have the other beautiful condition of the patina, the 

 peculiar transparent property of the surface. — Quarterly Journal 

 of Science, July. 



ELECTRIC ORGAN. 



A new electric organ action has been patented by^Mr. Ilillborne 

 L. Roosevelt, of New York. The object of this new electric 

 action, as well as the means employed, are very simi)le. In the 

 first plaCe it is necessary to mention, for the benefit of those who 

 are not familiar with the usual mode of building a large church- 

 organ, that, as a general rule, it is a great advantage for the or- 

 ganist to be placed at a considerable distance from the sounding 

 body of the instrument. To accomplish this purpose, the key- 

 board, at which the performer sits, is often placed on the fioor of 

 the church, while the organ itself is aloft in the gallery ; and this 

 arrangement enables the organist to form a belter judgment of 

 the etlect of his performance, and also accommodate the choir. 

 But, of course, it is indispensable to connect the key-board with 

 the main body of the organ, in order that the keys under the 

 touch of the player may promptly open the valves or pallets under 

 the ilistant organ-pipes; and this formerly required a comi)licated 

 system of wooden rods, wires, and squares, running under the 

 tloor from the key-board up to the gallery. The machinery, 



