•578 TEAN3ACTI0NS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, 



the color on itself and leaves a clear solution. Unless the mucil- 

 age is very deeply colored, the same alumina will serve for two 

 operations. 



LIGNITE. 



In Middlesex county, N. J., only twenty miles from the city of 

 New York, lignite or brown coal is found in considerable quan- 

 tities. It is estimated that 4,000 tons of marketable coal can be 

 obtained from one acre of land. A company has been organized, 

 and has leased 1,350 acres. It is said this fuel can now be sold in 

 New York at three dollars per ton. The best vein is about seventy- 

 five feet below the surface. If it were in rock it would pay to 

 mine it, but as the shaft must be lined with timber, it is not probable 

 that it could be taken out, at so low a cost, as to be sold even at the 

 price of hard coal in the city of New York. This lignite contains 

 some sulphur in the form of copperas {fer)nasot) which is very 

 objectionable. 



TEST FOR TANNIN. 



The Monitmr 8cientifique, of Paris, says, tannic acid or tannin is 

 now extensively used in manufactures. Although no fraud has 

 been effected, yet, by reason of the high price of this product, it is 

 well to be able to test it easily. Tannin being soluble in ether, 

 one gramme of tannic placed in the testing tube and covered with 

 ten grammes of ether, ought to be entirely dissolved in the latter. 



THE MAHOGANY TREE IN INDIA. 



Dr. T. Anderson has reported to the British Government, that 

 great success has attended the introduction of the mahogany tree into 

 the Calcutta Botanical gardens. Several young trees brought from 

 Jamaica and phinted in 1795, were destroyed in the cyclone of 

 1864, after having attained an average size of twelve feet in girth, 

 at four feet from the ground. 



THE VOLCANO AT SANTORINO. 



The eruption at Santorino, in the Mediterranean, appears to be 

 as active as ever. The detonations are exceedingly violent, and 

 the lava is constantly flowing into the sea in five diflfercnt direc- 

 tions. The crater which, in August last, was cleared of all append- 

 ages by a great explosion, is again crowned with a mushroom-shaped 

 cap of scoriae and lava. The motion of the soil is inconsiderable, 

 yet, the several keys have sunk about a meter, while the bottom of 

 some of the channels has risen many fathoms. 



