192 



Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



calcareous manures on vegetables. Immediately after its introduc- 

 tion into the organs of plants, the carbonate of lime determines the 

 developement of an acid which decomposes it, and sets its carbonic 

 acid at liberty, which, by means of light, is turned to account in 

 the vegetable kingdom. From hence, it may be concluded that 

 calcareous manures fill two important functions ; namely, the divi- 

 sion of the soil, and the nutrition of the plants. — Ann. de Chimie, 

 xli. 59. 



32. Plumbagine, a new Vegetable Substance. — M. Dulong has 

 obtained a particular vegeto-principle from the roots of the Plum- 

 bago Europcea, Lin. This substance crystallizes readily from 

 alcohol, ether, or water, in the form of numerous yellow needles. 

 On the tongue it first produces a sweet taste, followed by a sharp 

 acrid effect extending to the throat. Its aqueous solution becomes 

 cherry red by alkalies, subacetate of lead, permuriate of iron, &c. ; 

 but acids restore the yellow colour, and the plumbagine remains 

 unaltered. Besides this principle, the root contains a black fatty 

 matter, and gallic acid. As this root has been used in cases of 

 itch, toothache, &c, and proposed to be administered as an emetic, 

 it is supposed that its active virtues will be found in the plumbagine, 

 to ascertain which experiments are in progress. — Jour, de Phar. 



33. Proportions of Oil in different Oleaginous Plants. 

 Hand. Zeitung.) — According to some experiments 

 Schuebler and Bentsch on the oils of Germany, the 

 species of plants yield per cent, of oil — 



Filberts 

 Garden cress . 

 Olive . . . 

 Walnut . . 

 Poppy . . 

 Almond 

 Navew 



White mustard 

 Tobacco seed . 

 Kernels of plums 

 Winter rape 



60 



56 to 58 



50 



50 



47 to 50 



46 



39 



36 



32 to 36 



33 



33 



Summer rape . 

 W r oad . . . 

 Carnelina . 

 Hemp seed 

 Fir . . . 

 Linseed 

 Black mustard 

 Heliotrope 

 Beech masts . 

 Grape stones . 



(Allgem. 

 of MM. 

 following 



30 



30 



28 



25 



24 



22 



18 



15 



12 to 16 



10 to 11 



34. Colouring Matter of Lichen Rocella. — M. Robiquet having 

 undertaken a diligent examination of the Lichen Rocella, from 

 which a beautiful blue colour, used in dyeing, is obtained, has dis- 

 covered and separated from the other matter the colouring principle 

 of this vegetable. The new and singular product which he has 

 obtained has a very sweet flavour, is easily soluble in water, colour- 

 less, crystallizes in beautiful flat quadrangular prisms ; by means of 

 a moderate heat it may be volatilized without decomposing, and 

 does not acquire the colouring property till it has undergone suc- 

 essively the action of ammonia and of common air. — Antolo. 101. 



