1898] NATURAL GAS IN SUSSEX 113 
of the gas (a feature which appears to be not uncommon in the 
Natural Gas of the United States, though I believe not quite to the 
same extent). I myself and others have seen the gas burning at 
many times and at different periods, but this non-luminous phase 
has not presented itself to me or to anyone with whom I have yet 
met. 
I will therefore confine my remarks to the gas in what, out of 
respect for Dr Hewitt, I will call its normal or luminous phase. 
Under these conditions the gas has been carefully analysed by 
Mr 8. A. Woodhead, B.Sc. (Public Analyst for Sussex and Professor 
of Chemistry at the Agricultural College, Uckfield), and I here beg 
to record my thanks to him for the time and trouble he has taken 
to secure the accuracy of his determinations. He constructed his 
laboratory on the spot at Heathfield, an unlimited supply of gas 
being supplied to him direct from the bore-hole by means of tubes, 
and he has taken care to check his results. 
The analysis, which is shortly to be published in the Quarterly 
Journal of the Geological Society, speaking roughly, agrees fairly well 
with that of Dr Hewitt, so far as the presence of Methane (or Marsh 
gas) is concerned, but Mr Woodhead’s analysis reveals the presence 
of certain hydro-carbons which may make all the difference in ac- 
counting for the undoubted illuminating power of the gas. Other 
important differences between the analyses are outside of the scope 
of the present paper. 
I may remark in general that the Natural Gas, in common with 
the American Natural Gas, so frequently discovered in association 
with petroleum springs, is chiefly remarkable for its great heating 
power when mixed with a large proportion of air. Its main useful- 
ness may thus be said to lie in the direction of lighting by 
incandescent burners, fuel in manufacturing-engines, and general 
household purposes. 
Tested by Messrs Thorpe & Tasker’s photometer, the illuminating 
power approximates 94 standard candles. Mr C. E. Masterman, 
secretary of the Denayrouze Light Syndicate, has kindly tested the 
gas (forwarded to him in an india-rubber bag). He says (report 3rd, 
June 1898), he obtained very fine results, and that with a special 
burner on the Bandsept principle and a C.X. Welsbach mantle, he 
has obtained 72 candles with a consumption of 24 cubic feet of gas, 
at a pressure of 24 inches, which thus works out to 29°6 candles per 
cubic foot. This is 15 to 20 per cent. better than London coal-gas. 
In using Bunsen burners for heating purposes, it is found best 
to use about 8 to 10 parts of air to one of Natural Gas. These gases 
only reach their maximum heating power when a due amount of air 
is mixed with them, to insure complete combustion. 
The Waldron gases are exceptionally fortunate in containing no 
