AGnicuLTUftAL MUsnu:\l 105 



of being' a modern imp^rovement, which many have sup- 

 posed, beai's all the marks, according to historical fact, 

 of antiquity. It appears, in noticing- this circumstance, 

 that the g-rcater part of the verdigrease made in ancient 

 times, was manufactured in Cyprus, which was celebra- 

 ted fqrits copper works, and in the island of Rhodes. 



Verdigrease, according to its chymical composition, is 

 composed of oxid of copper and acetic acid, in the pro* 

 portion to constitute what Dr. Thompson calls a ?ubace- 

 tate of copper. Thin compound, when further combin- 

 ed with acetic acid, forms a salt sold in our sliops under 

 the name of distilled verdigrease. Common verdigrease, 

 therefore, differs from the distilled, in containing less 

 acid ; and it also diticrs from verditer, which some have 

 confounded as one and the same, by being composed of 

 copper and acetic acid ; whereas verditer is formed of 

 copper and carbonic acid ; it being produced by decom- 

 posing a solution of copper by carbonate of lime. This, 

 then, is a sob-carbonate of copper. With respect to 

 this substance, it is usually prepared in England as fol- 

 lows : the refiners pour their copper ivatcr into whiting, 

 stirring them well together every day for some hours, 

 till the water grows pale. This portion is decanted, and 

 more of the gree/z reader is added ; after some days the 

 process is completed, and the verditer is dried for use. 



As the rays of chymical science is penetrating into 

 every portion of our country, nothing marks the pro- 

 gress of knowledge and invention, more than that which 

 relates to internal improvement ; more especially if such 

 improvement is directed either to the discovery of new 

 substances or new applications. Almost every day 

 shews the truth of this principle. In this sense our hat- 

 ters have employed, since verdigrease has become so ex- 

 tremely high, a substitute formed by decomposing sul- 

 phate of copper (which is madein this countiy) by the. 

 potash of the shops. — This preparation answers the pur- 

 poses generally of a mordant, in fixing the black dye. 



Speaking of this preparation brings to memory a facfr 

 not generally known. Since thecclcbratcd Scheele, of 



