1869.] Metallurgij. 463 



oil, which was at once rubbed off with woollen cloths. Another 

 bust was washed daily, but not oiled. A third was cleaned daily, 

 but oiled only twice a-year. The fourth was not at all touched. 

 These experiments have been continued for four or five years. The 

 result is that the bust which has been oiled once a-month possesses 

 a dark-green patina, which is considered to be very beautiful by 

 connoisseurs. The bust which has been rubbed twice a-year does 

 not look so well. The others have no patina. The bust which 

 has been washed regularly is the usual dull bronze colour. The 

 other is quite dull and black. The final result of those who have 

 been engaged in the experiments is, this use of oil justifies the hope 

 that for the future we may retain beautifully patiuated monuments, 

 even in large towns. Where coal is the only combustible they will 

 not be bright, but dark-green, and perhaps even black ; but they 

 will have the other beautiful property of the patina, the peculiar 

 transparent condition of the surface. 



We have recently received the following works which a^ 

 directly connected with the production of those minerals which 

 are of commercial value : — 



' Annuaire de V Association des Ingenieurs sortis de VEcole 

 de Liege.' This gives a very complete study of the coal basin of 

 Liege, 



' Les Houilleres en 1868,' being the Eeport of Amedee 

 Burat, the Secretary to the Society of French Coal Owners. The 

 present position of the coal trade of France is very clearly stated. 

 Some comparisons are drawn between the modes of working the 

 French collieries and those of Great Britain, in which the author 

 is disj)osed to look upon the system adopted in his own country as 

 superior to that which is adopted in England and Wales. The 

 comparisons are not fairly drawn ; there are doubtless isolated cases 

 where great carelessness exists, but generally the utmost amount 

 of care is found to prevail in our collieries. 



' The Mineralogy of Nova Scotia ' is a Report of the Pro- 

 vincial Government, by Dr. Henry How. It gives such a general 

 view of the mineral resources of the Province, as will show what 

 has actually been done in the working of its best known treasures, 

 — coal, gold, iron, gypsum, and building stones. This report is exe- 

 cuted with great care, and gives such statistical details as cannot 

 fail to be of great utihty to all who are in any way concerned in 

 the mineral resources of this most interesting colony. 



A recent work bearing on Metallurgy is noticed in our Clu-onicle 

 of Engineering. 



