222 Chronicles of Science. {April, 
Green Rotten Wood.— Mr. Berkeley says in his ‘ Outlines of 
Fungology, that “when wood is impregnated with the spawn of 
Pesiza xrugniosa, it assumes a beautiful green tint. This’is applied 
to various ornamental uses by the turners of Tunbridge Wells. 
Few people who admire it when manufactured are probably aware 
to what it owes its attraction.” A writer in the ‘Student’ quotes 
this in reference to a colourmg matter which has recently been 
obtained from rotten wood by two French chemists, and which 
evidently is what Mr. Berkeley alludes to, although they appear to 
be quite ignorant of its origin. M. Fordos found it to be soluble 
in sulphuric and nitric acids, and to be precipitated without alter- 
ation by water, and called it Xylochloric acid. M. Rommier, on the 
other hand, finds that, like indigo, it dissolves in alcohol (85° 
strength) in presence of potash and glucose, and the solution, which 
is at first brown, becomes green on contact with the air, and soon 
deposits the colouring matter in a gelatinous form. Silk and wool 
are easily dyed with it by adding acetic acid to an aqueous or 
ammoniacal solution of the colouring matter, steeping the thread 
in it and heating the solution to 80° C. M. Rommier calls this 
colouring matter Xylindeine. It is not stated whether an exami- 
nation has been made with the spectroscope. It would certainly 
be very desirable to ascertain whether there are definite absorption 
bands or not. Has it any relation to the colouring matter, Phy- 
cocyan of Cohn, of which we have spoken here before ? 
Ivary. — Artificial Hybrids among Cotton-plants.—M. J. E. Bal- 
samo found from experiments tried in the province of Terra d’Otranto 
in the South of Italy, during the American war, that the Siamese 
type of American cotton-plants, viz. the Louisiana and New Orleans, 
flourished well in that district, whilst the more valuable Sea Island 
or long-staple cotton was rendered valueless by the autumn rains. 
The cotton-trees which have been cultivated from time immemorial 
in the southernmost part of Italy are the Gossypiwm herbacewm 
and G. hirsutum, and these M. Balsamo thought might be advan- 
tageously supplanted by the American cotton- tree (Gossypium 
barbadense), if only the long-staple form could be made to ripen at 
a more convenient period. Accordingly he endeavoured to obtain 
hybrids between Gossypium hirsutum and G. barbadense, and has 
succeeded so far as to present specimens of the hybrids to the 
French Academy. Lach species of cotton-tree has five petals and 
a great number of monadelphous stamens, all bearing anthers, and 
surrounding the pistil at different heights. They seem to be so 
many radii implanted obliquely upon the central cylinder or bundle 
formed by the styles. There are as many styles as stigmata, and 
they may easily be separated with the point of a penknife. They 
may be recognized by the naked eye in the form of three, four, or 
five delicate nervures, united together on the inside. The number 
of cells in each capsule invariably corresponds to that of the styles ; 
