75 



ARTIFICIAL ICE IN PACKING FISH. 



As might liave beeu expected, tlie artificial ice macliiues have been 

 extensively called into play for the manufacture of ice to be used in 

 packing- fish. In corroboration of previous statements, it is said to be 

 far more durable than natural ice, the crystals being- much more solid 

 and exhibiting less tendency to split into flakes. The estimate has 

 been made that thirty per cent, less of artificial than of natural ice will 

 secure the same preservative efl'ect. One objection to some forms of 

 artificial ice is said to be the opacity of its color; but an inventor 

 announces his discovery of a method by which perfectly transparent ice 

 can be obtained, and for its publication to the world he asks the modest 

 sum of five hundred pounds sterling. 



CINCHONA IN JAYA. 



According to Professor Hasskarl, the cultivation of cinchona in Java 

 continues to be a success, the weather having beeu favorable and the 

 growth of the plant perfectly satisfactory. The number of plants 

 obtained from seeds and layers was about one and a half million, prin- 

 cipally of the species G. caJisaya ; eight hundred and seventy thousand 

 were transplanted in addition, and over one thousand pounds of the 

 dry bark were sent to Holland in 1869, bringing from thirty-six to fifty- 

 four cents per pound. The total product of 1870 is estimated at eight 

 thousand eight hundred pounds for exportation, besides some hundreds 

 for home use in the island. 



EARLY VEGETABLES. 



According to "iVa^ure," Professor Decaisne has brought to the notice 

 of the Academy of Sciences in Paris a scheme for the rapid growing of 

 cabbages, radishes, &c., which are to be sown in richly manured soil, 

 and then used, stem, root, and all, as fresh vegetables. This diet is 

 intended to protect the inhabitants of Paris against the scurvy, which 

 may be expected to make its appearance in time in consequence of the 

 necessity of using salted meats. 



ANALYSIS OF THE ASH OF THE POTATO. 



A careful analysis has lately been made, by Dr. Schoras, of the ash 

 resulting from the burning of potatoes, this amounting to from three to 

 four per cent, of the dried potato. According to this chemist, the 

 proportion of potash amounts to over fifty per cent., forty-five per cent. 

 . being the smallest quantity observed. Of soda, there is generally from 

 •two to three per cent. ; in most cases only one per cent, being apprecia- 

 ble. Next to the potash, magnesia enters as the principal constituent 

 among the bases ; nevertheless amounting to only the tenth part of the 

 proportion of potash. Lime is a subordinate element, in most cases 

 scarcely equaling half the amount of magnesia. The percentage of 

 potash was found to increase or diminish, as the yield of the crop was 

 greater or less ; but of the other bases little difference was found in 

 this respect. It was also observed that the percentage of phosphoric 

 acid increased as that of potash diminished ; so that in the abundant 

 harvests it is proportionally less than in the scanty ones, varying from 

 ten to nearly eighteen per cent. The proportion of sulphuric acid is 

 tolerably constant, varying from five to six per cent. The percentage 



