1885.] EDITORIAL NOTES. 245 



New Process foe Oak-staining. — As certain kinds of this wood 

 are a drug in the market, the following method of converting it into 

 a new merchantable material may be important. Immerse the 

 wood, in small pieces, for forty-eight hours in a cold saturated 

 solution of alum, in which has been mingled a watery decoction of 

 campeachy wood, which has been prepared by mingling one part of 

 the wood through ten of water then filterintr through a linen cloth, 

 then reducing the liquor by evaporation, and adding 10 to 15 

 drops of a saturated solution, though completely neutral, of soluble 

 indigo. After dipping the pieces many times in the alum solution, 

 they should be rubbed in a solution of verdigris (basic acetate of 

 copper), then in a cold solution of acetic acid till the intense black 

 tint of ebony wood is reached. The manufactured article will, when 

 completed, be indistinguishable from native ebony wood. 



Apples and Peaes at Gordon Castle, Banff. — From the 

 experience of Mr. J. Webster, high-class apples do not thrive with 

 him except under glass. The following table sorts ripen early and 

 are pretty hardy and free-bearing, viz., Early Harvest, Juncating 

 Oslin, Thorle Pippin, Kerry Pippin, Devonshire Quarrenden, and 

 Margil. Amongst pears successfully grown may be classed the early 

 Crawford or Lammas, and the Green Chisel. Other twelve sorts 

 are described at some length in the interesting paper by Mr. 

 Webster in the Transactions of tlic North of Scotland Horticultural 

 Socidif. 



The Scottish School of Porestry and Museum. — The 

 Committee charged with this matter met on the 22 nd ultimo, 

 under the presidency of the noble chairman, the Marquis of Lothian, 

 when progress was reported. It was resolved to press forward in 

 the raising of the £10,000 capital fund, of which a considerable 

 sum was announced. Our readers are already familiar with the 

 arguments for the need of such an institution. It is their part to 

 emulate the practice of the Society of Friends in their action 

 towards such public movements, and quietly but promptly subscribe. 

 Tlie stores of the Museum are to be utilized for teaching purposes in 

 conjunction with a new professorship, the domain of which will 

 include conversations and excursions, lectures on tree growth and 

 pathology, meteorology, and engineering in reference to Forestry. 

 Colonel Dods, 1 4 Queen Street, Edinburgli, will receive and acknow- 

 ledge donations. 



