G2 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [March 



ccrine and is not liable to leakage which is a serious difficulty with 

 all liquids of an oily nature. Its power is fully equal to the same 

 bulk of nitro-glycerine and it has also several advantages. Thus 

 it does not evaporate and give off fumes, which is a complaint 

 made by workmen against nitro-glycerine, because in a close 

 tunnel it gives rise to severe headaches. 



The saving of time and labour by its use is said to be very great. 

 The Dynamite is put up in cartridges, so that the workman has 

 simply to put them into his bore-hole and fire. Mr. Nobel states, as 

 the result of his experience, that the use of Dynamite or nitro-gly- 

 cerine, reduces the general cost of blasting by at least one third. 

 It is being largely used in Sweden, in Wales, at the Phoenix 

 mine on Lake Superior, also in the construction of the Pacific 

 Railway and the demand now considerably exceeds the ability of 

 existing Victories to supply it. 



ON THE GREAT SNOW FALLS OF 18G9. 

 Bv C. Smallwood, M.D., LL.D., D.C.L. 



The more than usual amount of snow which fell during the 

 winter 1868-9, renders it worthy of record for comparison with 

 past and future observations. 



The first snow of the winter (1868-9) fell on the 17th day of 

 October, and though inappreciable in quantity, ushered in a season 

 of very heavy snow falls. 



The total amount which fell during the month of 



October was 4.92 inches 



During the month of November 17.28 " 



During the month of December 27.96 " 



Duringthemonthof January, 1869 28.07 " 



During the month of February 73.76 " 



Up to the 15th March 11.67 " 



Total 163.66 " 



The mean average depth of the snow fiiU for the past twenty 

 years was 79.50 inches per annum. 



The greatest depth which fell in one month during the above 

 period fell in January, 1861, and was 31.80 inches. 



