494 



to the outer end of its axle, the inner turning on a pivot in the centre 

 of the machine. Under this ponderous weight the seeds are reduced 

 to a mealy stale, steamed in the tubs, formed into cakes, and pressed 

 by wedges in the manner above described ; the process of mashing, 

 steaming, and pressing being repeated with the kernels likewise. The 

 kernels yield above thirty per cent, of oil. It is called " ising-yu," 

 sells for about three cents per pound, answers well for Itimps, though 

 inferior for this purpose to some other vegetable oils in use. It is also 

 employed for various purposes in the arts, and has a place in the 

 Chinese pharmacopceia, because of its quality of changing gray hair 

 black, and other imaginary virtues. Artificial illumination in China 

 is generally procured by vegetable oils ; but candles are also era- 

 ployed by those who can afford it. In religious ceremonies no other 

 material is used. As no one ventures out after dark without a lantern, 

 and as the gods cannot be acceptably worshipped without candles, 

 the quantity consumed is very great. With an unimportant excep- 

 tion the candles are always made of what 1 beg to designate as vege- 

 table stearine. When the candles, which are made by dipping, are of 

 the required diameter, they receive a final dip into a mixture of the 

 same material and insect-wax, by which their consistency is preserved 

 in the hottest weather. They are generally coloured red, which is 

 done by throwing a minute quantity of alkanet root [Anchusa tinc- 

 toria), brought from Shantung, into the mixture. Verdigris is some- 

 limes employed to dye them green." 



2. ' On Victoria regia, Lindl. ;' by Mr, Edward Otto, Curator of 

 the Hamburg Botanic Garden ; communicated by Mr. G. Lawson. 

 This communication consisted of an account of the mode of treatment 

 adopted by Mr. Otto in the successful cultivation of the Victoria regia 

 in the Hamburg Botanic Garden, accompanied by observations on the 

 plant's growth. The quickest development he observed in the case 

 of the fifteenth leaf, from the 19th to the 20th of August, which 

 increased about nine inches in twenty-four hours, and from the 20th 

 to the 21st of the same month, when it increased eleven inches in 

 twenty-four hours. The leaf-stalks only extend after the leaves are 

 nearly full grown. After giving a full detail of the progress of the 

 plant, and the development of flowers and fruit, Mr. Otto enumerated 

 many other exotic aquatics which he had successfully cultivated in 

 the same aquarium. 



3. ' On the Structure and Reproduction of Volvox Globator ; ' by 

 John Sibbald, Esq. After giving a general description of this or- 

 ganism, the author proceeded to give a history of the opinions 



