KRYOLITE 25 



crude essential oil, but from the prussic acid derived from the distillation of the cherry- 

 stones. 



There is a superior kind of Kirschwasser made in the Black Forest, prepared with 

 fewer kernels, from choice fruit, properly pressed, fermented, and distilled. 



XXRWANITE!. A mineral found in basalt on the north-eastern coast of Ireland, 

 consisting of silica, lime, alumina, and protoxide of iron. 



KISH. A workman's name for the crystalline scales of graphite, which separate 

 from certain kinds of cast iron on cooling. 



KNIFE-CLEANING MACHINES. Mr. Kent's machine for this purpose 

 consists of a box or case, containing a couple of wooden discs, fixed near to each other 

 upon a horizontal iron rod or spindle, which passes through the case, and is caused to 

 rotate by means of a winch-handle. Each disc is, for about three-fourths of the area 

 of its inner face, covered with alternate rows of bristles and strips of leather ; and the 

 remaining fourth part is covered with bristles only. The knife-blades to be cleaned 

 are introduced through the openings in the case, between the rubbing surfaces of the 

 discs ; and rotatory motion being given to the discs by a winch-handle, the knives are 

 rapidly cleaned and polished. 



Mr. Masters constructed knife-cleaning machines upon the same plan as the above ; 

 but the rubbing-surface of each disc is formed of strips of buff leather, with only a 

 narrow circle of bristles around the edge of each surface, to clean the shoulders of the 

 knives ; small brushes are fixed beneath the holes in the case, through which the 

 blades of the knives are inserted, to prevent the exit of dust from the apparatus. 



Mr. Price has also devised a machine for cleaning knives, and another for cleaning 

 forks. The knife-cleaner consists of a horizontal drum, covered with pieces of leather 

 or felt, and fixed within another drum or circular framing, lined with leather or felt. 

 The knives are introduced through openings, in a moveable circular plate, at the front 

 of the outer casing, and enter between the surfaces of the two drums. The plate is 

 fixed upon a horizontal axis, which extends through the case, and is furnished at the 

 back with a handle ; by turning which the disc is caused to rotate and carry round the 

 knives between the surfaces of the drums. The fork -cleaner consists of a box, with a 

 long rectangular opening in the side ; behind which two brushes are fixed, face to face. 

 Between these brushes the prongs of the forks are introduced, and the handles are 

 secured in a carrier, which is made to advance and recede alternately by means of 

 a throw-crank, and thereby thrust the prongs into and draw them out of contact with 

 the brushes. The carrier consists of two metal plates, the lower one carrying a cushion 

 of vulcanised India-rubber for the fork handles to rest upon, and the upper being lined 

 with leather ; they are hinged together at one end, and are connected at the other, 

 when the handles have been placed between them, by a thumb-screw. 



KNOIiIiS. A mining term in Germany for lead ore separated from the smaller 

 parts. 



XNOPPERN are excrescences produced by the puncture of an insect upon the 

 flower-cups of several species of oak. They are compressed or flat, irregularly-pointed, 

 generally prickly and hard ; brown when ripe. They abound in Styria., Croatia, 

 Sclavonia, and Natolia ; those from the latter country being the best. They contain 

 a great deal of tannin, are much employed in Austria for tanning, and in Germany for 

 dyeing fawn, grey, and black. See GALLS. 



XOFFO-HEMP. The name in the Moluccas for the Manilla hemp, or rather for 

 the fibres of the wild plantain of those islands, the Musa textilis. 



KOHIi-RABBI. A variety of cabbage (Brassica oleracea), in which the stem 

 enlarges into a fleshy excrescence, resembling a turnip. 



XOXiA NUTS. The bitter seeds of certain species of Sterculia, highly esteemed 

 for their medicinal properties by the tribes on the Niger. 



KOUMISS is the name of a liquor which the Kalmucks make by fermenting 

 mare's milk, and from which they distil a favourite intoxicating spirit, called rack or 

 rocky. 



The milk is kept in bottles made of hide till it becomes sour, is shaken till it casts 

 up its cream, and is then set aside in earthen vessels, in a warm place to ferment, no 

 yeast being required, though sometimes a little old koumiss is added. 21 Ibs. of milk 

 put into the still afford 14 oz. of low wines, from which 6 oz. of pretty strong alcohol, 

 of an unpleasant flavour, are obtained by rectification. 



JtOURIE -WOOD. The wood of the New Zealand pine, Dammara Australia, one 

 of the most magnificent of the coniferous woods. It is also called cowdie and kaurie 

 wood. It is much used for the masts of ships. 



KRAMERIA. A shrub, which is a native of Peru, yielding the well-known 

 rhatany root, often used as a dentifrice. 



KREOSOTE. See CREOSOTE. 



XR-7OI.ITE. See CKTOLITE. 



