481 



Their macliiDery was in part derived from Cliatswortli, Illiuois, and cost 

 about $25,000. The success and economy of the new diffusion processes, 

 and the improved modes of utilizing the residues, warraut the belief 

 that certain prosperity will reward the energy which engages in these 

 enterinises. 



A Florida lake-water. — A specimen of the water from a small 

 lake in the northeastern part of Florida was recently examined qualita- 

 tively. The residue of the filtered liquid reached 300 grains per gallon. 

 Reaction slightly alkaline ; specific gravity, 1.0059. A large amount of 

 organic matter was suspended, probablj' owiug to carelessness in bot- 

 tling. The solid matters were chiefly sulphates of lime and magnesia, 

 common salt, and small percentages of iron and potash salts. The spec- 

 troscope gave no indication of the rarer elements sometimes found in 

 mineral waters. It is unusual to observe so large a proportion of dis- 

 solved mineral matter in lake- water. 



Virginia gold-bearing quartz. — The assay of a gold-bearing quartz 

 derived from Virginia yielded $2,237 54 per ton. As the specimens were 

 not selected by experts, this very unusual richness is deserving only of 

 brief notice. 



Edible fungus. — An analysis of the fungus called " tuckahoe " or 

 " Indian bread," Scleroticum cocoSj Schweinitz : {Sclerotimn giganfeum, 

 Torrey,) is of interest as showing that its nutritive value has been 

 greatly over-estimated. A specimen received from Mr. J. R. Bryan, of 

 Columbia, Virginia, has been very carefully analyzed by the assistant 

 in this laboratory. In external appearance it was rough, dark-brown 

 or brownish- gray in color, covered with a thin aud hard cuticle, and pene- 

 trated by cracks in every direction. The substance internally was 

 extremely hard and dr^^, and pinkish in color. Analysis of the latter, 

 (the bark having been removed,) gave the following results : 



Moisture, at 140° centigrade, in an atmosphere of carbonic acid 14. 16 



Organic matter 85. 68 



Mineral asb 0. 16 



100. 00 



A portion of the dried material yielded to the proper solvents and 

 reagents : 



Glucose 0. 93 



Gum (Arabin ?) and pectin (?) 2. 60 



Pectose 17. 34 



Cellulose, and insoluble nitrogenous matter 64. 81 



85.68 



The material also yielded by two experiments : IsTitrogen, 0.3GI: per 

 cent, and 0.392. As no nitrogenous body could be dissolved in the wa- 

 tery solution, it is inferred that some insoluble azotized principle is 

 present which was not separated from the cellulose. No fat, resin, oil, 

 or starch was contained in the specimen analyzed. 



The analysis of this curious fungus, or parasitic growth, by Dr. Tor- 

 rey, describes it as chiefly composed of a substance which he called 

 sclerotine. He considered this principle to be identical with ])ectiu, a 

 substance since discovered. It is not impossible that the extremely 

 hard aud dry condition of the material, evidencing its subjection to a 

 temperature suflicient to change at least its physical character some- 

 what before its receipt at the laboratory, may account for this discrep- 



