LEAD TREK. 327 



trees or plants, which are still usually known by the Latin name 

 of arbors ; as the arbor Diance, or SILVER-TREE ; arbor Marti$, 

 or IRON-TREE ; and arbor Plurnbi, or LEAD.TREE. These expe- 

 riments are simple as well as curious and entertaining, and we 

 shall, therefore, subjoin the following as the easiest processes for 

 working them. 



Silver Tree. Arbor Diana'. 



In this experiment the branches and figure of a tree are repre- 

 sented by an amalgam of silver and mercury, which appear to vege- 

 tate in a very beautiful manner. To obtain it, one part of silver, 

 dissolved in nitrous acid to saturation, is mixed with twenty parts 

 of clean water, and poured upon two parts of mercury. When 

 left standing quietly, the desired crystallization will take place 

 after some time. A cylindrical glass vessel is best suited for the 

 purpose ; and that the process may succeed, it is necessary that the 

 ingredients be in their utmost purity. 



Iron Tree. Arbor Mortis. 



An apparent vegetation of iron, resembling a natural plant. It 

 is formed by dissolving iron tilings in diluted nitric acid, and adding 

 to the solution a quantity of carbonate of potash in a deliquescent 

 state, or what was formerly called oil of tartar per deliquium. The 

 mixture swells considerably, and is no sooner at rest than the 

 branches spring out on the surface of the glass. 



Lead Tree. Arlor Plumbi. 



Is a beautiful vegetation of lead. To form it, two drams of ace- 

 tite of lead (sugar of lead) are dissolved in six ounces of distilled 

 \vater ; the filtered solution is poured into a cylindrical glass, and 

 a thin roll of zinc being hung in it, the whole is left standing at 

 rest. The lead precipitates, adhering to the zinc in metallic leaves, 

 in the form of a tree. 



[Editor. 



Y4 



