Germination and Fermentation of Grains, &>c. 219 



assumed a polish by moulding itself on the glass into which 

 it had been pressed. This result seems to bear some' analogy 

 to the substance called retinasphaltum described by Mr. 

 Iiatchett. 



No. 30. is a piece of wood partially converted into coal 

 by heat and compression. In some parts the substance en- 

 tirely resembles pitch, being full of large and .shinino- air- 

 holes ; in others, the fibres of the wood are still distinctly 

 visible. The whole is jet black, and burns with a bright 

 llame. 



No. 21. is a specimen of the substance, like wool, formed 

 in several of these experiments by the exudation of the fusi- 

 ble metal through the barrels of iron ; the metal, in a liquid 

 state spouting to a considerable distance, and depositino- this 

 substance upon any obstacle, opposed to the stream. 



XXXIV. Memoir upon the Germination and Fermentation of 

 Grains and Farinaceous Substances. By Messrs. Vau- 

 auKLiN and FouncuoY. 



[Continued from p. 182.] 



§ IV. Analysis of Garden Beans. 



A. he infusion of the farina of garden beans, drawn clear 

 off, and put into a phial well corked and completely filled, 

 becomes troubled like milk, and makes an abundant deposit, 

 which clears it up. Left in the phial for twenty days, it li- 

 berates no gas ; it is acid, preserves the taste of beans, red- 

 dens turnsole, and is precipitated, by means of lime water, 

 in transparent flakes: by the oxalate of ammonia it is preci- 

 pitated abundantly; by ammonia, but slightly; bv gall-nuts, 

 in flakes like wine lees; by the nitrates of mercury and sil- 

 ver, in yellowish white ; and by the prussiate of potash, in 

 green flakes which become blue. 



The spontaneous deposit becomes transparent upon dry- 

 ing, and burns like horn. 



The same infusion, put into a large bottle about tbree- 

 fourths emptyj acts in the same manner as at first; it di- 

 minishes 



