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Paper from Beet-root.Eaperimental Desiderata. 391 
oils; and emits very little smoke. The cake remaining after the 
extraction of the oil may be given to cattle, who eat it with avi- 
dity.. The oil when cold is greasy, soft and pure; it does well 
for frying, especially fish.— Bibliotheque Physico- Economique. 
PAPER FROM BEET-ROOT. 
A M. Sinisen has published at Copenhagen, an account of a 
series of experiments which he has made for ascertaining the 
practicability of manufacturing paper from the pulp of beet-root. 
As a proof of the success of his experiments, he has printed his 
work on paper manufactured from this material. 
EXPERIMENTAL DESIDERATA. 
To Mr. Tilloch. 
Sir,—It has often struck me that many valuable facts might 
be added to science, if occasional series of queries or experiments 
were published, by way of turning the attention of those who 
have leisure and opportunity, to particular points in the ceconomy 
of nature, or the wide field of philosophical research. Many per- 
sons have a peculiar turn for certain pursuits, and would: feel a 
satisfaction in communicating their results, if invited to do it by 
the method | take the liberty to recommend. By this means, 
those who were more deeply versed in science might avai] them- 
selves of the labours of others; who only required a few. hints’in 
order to regulate their observations andrdirect their inquiry. It 
might lead persons of congenial habits to a closer connexion, and 
many a hint might be thrown out calculated to excite a spirit of 
investigation tending to important results. As an illustration of. 
the object I propose, I would submit the following queries and 
experiments to be tried in the course of the summer. 
Q. 1.—Let seeds of different sorts be placed at different and 
given depths (say a foot asunder) in the earth, in soil of similar 
quality in flower-pots. Required the appearance of each: set-at 
the expiration of three months. What degree of vegetation was 
observable, and what increase of weight. This experiment may 
throw considerable light on many singular facts respecting the 
sudden appearance of plants and flowers where none had been 
known to exist for years before; and also upon some other points 
in the ceconomy of nature which require further attention. 
Q. 2.— Place certain seeds in similar soils, let them be sup- 
plied with equal portions of water impregnated with various in- 
gredients—for instance, the different salts or gases, or filtrations 
from dung or other substances in a state of decay. Required their 
increase of weight, and appearance as to health and luxuriance, 
at the end of a given time. 
QO. 3,-— A similar experiment might be tried, and similar re- 
b4 sults 
