EXHIBITION, BRITISH INDUSTRIAL 



449 



equal to any of the best real Spanish merino 

 manufactured in France. Some specimens of 

 wheat weighed as much as 68 Ibs. 8 oz. per 

 bushel. Another fine collection, which weigh- 

 ed 67 Ibs. 14 oz. a bushel, was stated to be the 

 produce of the sixth crop reared in succession 

 on the same land. The indigenous and accli- 

 matized fruits were shown in a fine collection 

 of wax models, cast from originals in Victoria 

 for the purpose of being sent to this exhibition. 

 Some of them, especially the pears, were won- 

 derfully fine, the pears attaining sometimes to 

 a weight of 3 Ibs. There was also exhibited a 

 fine and numerous display of highly scented 

 essential oils from various native trees and 

 plants. True kaolin, or the best porcelain clay, 

 which enters largely into the production of 

 soap wherever it is cheap enough, is found in 

 abundance in Victoria. The manufacturers are 

 utilizing the tallow by the production of can- 

 dles, called u sperm," though made from stearic 

 acid : some remarkable good specimens of 

 these candles were displayed. There was 

 shown dried meat called '' charqui,'' which is 

 almost peculiar to Victoria : it keeps fresh in 

 the hottest climates during almost any length 

 of time. 



A Victoria street cab was shown. It is a kind 

 of very broad dog cart, with high wheels like 

 those of a Hansom ; well balanced on its axle ; 

 it has three front and three back seats, shel- 

 tered by a large hood. A very good collection 

 4iown of the principal fishes of Victoria, 

 dried and stuffed, including among others, a spe- 

 cimen of the celebrated Murray cod : it is prob- 

 ably the largest fresh-water fish known, 150 

 Ibs. being not a very unusual weight for it. 



Tasmania. This colony (formerly Van Die- 

 men's Land, and one of our penal settlements) 

 made a good display of its products, of which 

 useful and ornamental timber was most promi- 

 nent. 



FEEXCH COLONIES. Algeria. The French 

 Government had evidently been at particular 

 pains to present to the world an adequate idea 

 of the resources and natural capabilities of its 

 great colony; Algeria, in fact, occupying as 

 much space as all the rest of the French colonies 

 put together. The soil of Algeria still retains 

 that wonderful fertility which made it in an- 

 cient times one of the granaries of Rome ; and 

 by far the most important part of the show was 

 the long array of cereals, provender of various 

 kinds, and vegetables. Natives as well as col- 

 onists exhibited here, and some of the finest 

 specimens of barley were grown by indigenous 

 cultivators. Of wheats there was an immense 

 variety. The best sample shown was by M. 

 Declonfle, of Constantine. Maize, too, white 

 and yellow, is extensively grown both in the 

 Oasis of the Sahara and the Tell. The exhibi- 

 tors of barley, oats, and rye were numerous ; 

 and at the entrance there was a sheaf of each 

 crop of the year's reaping. The Acclimatiza- 

 tion Society exhibited a collection, in which 

 there were not less than 58 varieties. Potatoes, 

 VOL. IL-29 



however, cabbages, and such vegetables as were 

 classed under the head of tubercules, flourished 

 in great abundance, and there was a large ex- 

 port. 



The results of the cotton cultivation in Al- 

 geria were very interesting. 



The cotton tree was shown in leaf and nut, 

 with here and there the beautiful white cotton 

 bursting from the pod. Mr. Hardy exhibited 

 samples produced from seeds from all parts of 

 the world which are in process of naturalization 

 in the Jardin d' Acclimation at Algiers. 



The production of silk in Algeria may be 

 said almost to be one of the results of the 

 French occupation of the country. 



There was a considerable display of wines, 

 both red and white ; one special wine called 

 vermouth, from Oran, has been described as an 

 imitation of the famous Hungarian vermuth. 

 The specimens of spirits and liqueurs included 

 the renowned and familiar " absinthe," and the 

 more recondite and almost unattainable " char- 

 treuse ;" both the result of French industry 

 and manufacture in the colony. 



The appearance of tobacco grown in Algeria, 

 in its raw state, and manufactured, in the shape 

 of cigars and snuffs, was good. Here may be 

 mentioned a very curious plant, like our com- 

 mon thistle, and from the pod of which is ex- 

 tracted a beautiful and delicate material which 

 is woven into as beautiful and delicate silk, 

 which is, besides, stout in substance, and the arti- 

 ficial colors of which are at once tasteful and rich. 



Of the Thuya, the olive, and the other beau- 

 tiful Algerian woods which are in such request 

 among Parisian cabinet-makers for meubles de 

 luxe, there were numerous specimens. 



PERU, COSTA KICA, AND UurGrAY. The 

 South American States contributed various 

 articles of produce and manufacture. Peru 

 sent silver, silver and plated articles, and mer- 

 cury; wools, including alpacas; and cotton 

 and wine. From Costa Rica, mining and 

 chemical substances ; skins and furs. Uruguay, 

 specimens of wool, roots, and skins, timber and 

 wheat ; lead, iron, copper, and coals. 



BKAZIL sent twenty-four varieties of tea, in- 

 cluding li Matti," coffee and sugar, wheat of 

 good quality, and very heavy ; tapioca, starch, 

 arrow root, flour from various descriptions of 

 grain; tobacco. 



Brazilian manufactures: oils, including oil 

 from the alligator, a black, thick, pitchy look- 

 ing material ; stearine candles ; furs and skins 

 tanned and dressed, the skin of an immense 

 boa constrictor ; boots and shoes of excellent 

 shape and finish ; cloths of various kinds ; and 

 felt hats of extraordinary lightness and fineness 

 of texture. Excellent rum and native wines ; 

 and with those of beeswax and honey was 

 shown a case containing twenty-four kinds of 

 bees. There were creditable specimens of iron- 

 casting, paper-hangings, wood-carving, and 

 decorations of various kinds. The manufacture 

 and cutting of glass was exemplified in some 

 good specimens of design and engraving. Self- 



