670 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1885. 



by the ordinary method of distillation and specific gravity. iSelected 

 "August Sweets" gave 9-40 per cent, alcohol; the same variety of 

 average quality gave 605 per cent. ; and imperfectly ripe apples of 

 same variety gave 4-80 per cent. '' Greening " apples picked from the 

 trees gave 4 per cent, alcohol. The average of eight experiments gave 

 5 per cent, by, weight. Ten months later the acidity and solid residue in 

 the samples was determined ; the former varied between lO-l per cent, 

 and 4-40 per cent., and the latter between 2*70 i)er cent, and 3-64. The 

 actual amounts of acetic acid found are lower than the alcoholic per- 

 centages in the original ciders demand, owing to imperfect acetification. 

 This investigation shows that a good cider should contain about 5 

 per cent, alcohol, and a fair sample ought not to fall below 4 per cent. 5 

 a good cider vinegar ought to contain from 5-5 of acetic acid to 7 per 

 cent. [Journ. A)n. Chem. Soc, Vll, No. 4.) 



NOTES. 



During the year 1884, 281,000 pounds of bromine were produced in 

 the United States, 7,000,000 pounds of borax, and 1,800 troy ounces of 

 of aluminium. (Albert Williams, Jr. Report on Mineral Resources 

 of the United States.) 



During the year 1883 there were manufactured in Germany 148,450 

 tons of hydrochloric acid and 115,500 tons of carbonate of soda; half of 

 the latter was made by Solvay's process. During the same year there 

 were manufactured in England 940,638 tons of sulphuric acid (calcu- 

 lated as H2SO4) ; '129,040 tons of soda ash (calculated as NazCOs) ; and 

 141,868 tons of bleaching powder. Dr. Luiige thinks the Leblanc pro 

 cess and ammonia process for manufacturing soda will flourish side by 

 side, and the latter will not displace the former unless hydrochloric 

 acid can be made at the same time. [Ghemlsche Industrie., vii, 78 and 

 213.) 



Professor Mart. Websky has continued his researches on the supposed 

 new element, idunium, contained in the lead vanadate of Cordoba 

 (Argentine Republic), but has been unable to establish the identity of 

 the metal as a new species. (Sitzungsb K. At; ad., Wiss. Berlin, February 

 5, 1885, ^a^re 95.) 



The rare metal gallium has been prepared by Dr. L. Ehrlich by an in- 

 dustrial process. From 80 kilos of zinc blende he obtained 00 grams 

 gallium. The melting point of ihe metal is 30-5° C. The luster of gal- 

 lium globules is greater than that of mercury. ( Chemiker-Zeitung.) 



Greville Williams finds that zinc dust occludes hydrogen. A given 

 sample of commercial zinc dust contained 39 times its volume of hydro- 

 gen. The experimenter thinks the absorbed gas was originally derived 

 from water and shows the bearing of thisou the conclusions arrived at 

 in the case of the Leiiarto meteorite. {Journal of Gas lighting.) 



The decom[)osition of potassium chlorate by heat has been studied 

 anew by Dr. F. L. Teed. He finds that the equation commonly em- 



