1 886.] MISCEL LA XEO U;S. 787 



of its branches thicken — after the fasliion of those of the oak — 

 spread outwards and recurve, tlius giving to the tree more character 

 and individuality. It often attains colossal dimensions, and it is by 

 no means rare to meet with trees 80 feet in height, with a trunk 

 feet in diameter. The report to the Federal Council on the 

 mountain forests mentions one in the Alps of Vaud, which, at a 

 lioight of feet, measured 8 feet in diameter, and was only 270 

 years old. The wood of the larch is very valuable, for it with- 

 stands the influences of air and water equally well. In the canton 

 of Valais there are many chtdets, constructed of larch, dating from 

 the fourteenth century ; the wood is entirely blackened by the sun, 

 but it is as firm and sound as recent timber. — Gardeners' Chronicle. 



Fossil Wood. — An interesting paper has been communicated to 

 one of tlie California scientific societies on the fossil wood found 

 throughout the State. This silicified wood is stated to be a variety 

 of quartz ; the wood fibre is gradually replaced by quartz, leaving the 

 form of the wood intact, so much so that sections cut and placed 

 under a microscope show the characteristic grain of the wood, by 

 which the genera may often be determined, and sometimes the species. 

 In what is known as tlie petrified forests in Colorado, where are 

 stumps of trees several feet in height and some 12 or 15 feet in 

 diameter, one stump seemed to have been fossilized while in a 

 charred state, and from it fossil charcoal was obtained. j\Iany of 

 the specimens of wood are encrusted with layers of crystallized 

 chalcedony <jf an opalescent tint, so beautiful that sections have 

 been mounted and worn as jewellery. In Wyoming there have been 

 found sections of trees 20 inches in diameter and several feet in 

 length, like hollow tubes, with the interior surface entirely studded 

 with pure quartz crystals, presenting a most beautiful appearance. 



A TLAX for rendering paper as tough as wood or leather, it is 

 said, has been recently introduced on the Continent. It consists in 

 mixing chloride of zinc with the pulp in the course of manufacture. 

 It has been found that the greater the degree of concentration of 

 the zinc solution, the greater will be the toughness of the paper. 

 It can be used for making boxes, combs, for roofing, and even for 

 makins boots. 



