376 



tobacco fly {Macrosila Carolina^) was iDJurious in xVmelia, Virginia. The 

 curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar^) injured frait-crops in Clarke, Virginia 

 Late wheat in Piscataquis, Maine, was infested with the weevil {TJiplosis 

 tritici.) The "borer" was observed in the corn-tields of Wicomico, 

 Maryland. In Lnnenburgh, Virginia, an undescribed insect attacked 

 growing corn, boring its roots, and causing it to tall. 



CHEMICAL MEMORANDA. 



By Wm. McMurtkie, Chemist. 



Castor plant. — Mr. J. P. Lawrence, of Dallas, Texas, sent to this De- 

 partment a sample of seed of castor plant, {Bicinus communis,) that the 

 quantity of oil contained therein might be determined, and in order to 

 compare their value in this particular with that of foreign varieties. We 

 have also made similar determinations with samples of the varieties B. 

 minor and B. sanguinarius from France. The beans from Texas seem to 

 belong to the variety it. sanguinarius, and, as will be seen from the analy- 

 ses given below, compare very favorably with those grown in France. 



The analyses resulted as follows : 



Moisture 



Oil 



Matter extracted by alcohol and water 



starch 



Albuminoids 



. Cellulose 



Inorganic matter 



II. 



in. 



No. I represents the composition of the sample of Bicinus sanguina- 

 rius, grown in Texas; No. II the same variety, grown in France ; while 

 No. Ill represents that of a sample of Bicinus Minor grown in France. 



The following are the results of an analysis of the mineral matter con- 

 tained ill the beans of Bicinus sanguinarius : 



Lime 1L31 



Magnesia 7. 33 



Peroxide of iron ^ 0. 89 



Phosxjlioric acid 3S. 657 



Sulphuric acid 2. 218 



Chlorine 0,89 



Potassa 29.52 



Soda 8. 75 



99. 565 



Artificial production of Indigo. — The discovery and applica- 

 tion of a i^ractical method for the artificial production of alizarin 

 bids fair to be followed by one somewhat similar for the produc- 

 tion of indigo. T. L. Phipson has succeeded in obtaining a purple- 

 black product in small quantity showing considerable resemblance 

 to the black product resulting from the unfavorable fermentation of 

 the leaves of Indigofera, It is insoluble in water and alcohol, but is 

 soluble in sulphuric acid, and is obtained in the following manner: 

 Phenolcyanin is melted with sodium acetate or with nitronaphthalin, 

 and the i)roduct dissolved in oil of vitriol. On addition of water a snl- 

 pho-acid is precipitated, which, when treated with excess of ammonia, 

 yields a small quantity of the purple-black product in question. 



