900 TRAySACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN lySTJTUTB. 



PACKING FOR STEAM JOINTS. 



JSIr. J. A. IMiller has remedied a diflSculty long experienced by 

 engineers in keeping steam joints tight for a long time, without 

 expensive rubber packing, by placing a thin sheet of muslin between 

 the flauches of the pipes, which are previously painted. The 

 muslin is a receptacle for the paint, holding it in place, and pre- 

 venting the steam from blowing it out, which is usually the case 

 when paint alone is used. The paint preserves the cloth, and thus 

 makes a permanent packing. 



TO DESTROY INSECTS ON FRUIT TREES. 



A writer in The London Journal of Horticulture says that either 

 common alcohol or mythylic alcohol (wood spirit), as a wash, will 

 destroy the wooly aphis and other insects on fruit trees more 

 effectually than soft soap, sulphur wash, or any other compound 

 generally used for that purpose. 



• PAPER BELTS. 



The latest use to which paper has been put is its substitution for 

 leather and vulcanized rubber in belts for driving machinery. The 

 new belt consists of layers of paper cemented together in such a 

 manner as to be little affected by moisture, or heat at ordinary 

 temperatures. Those who have tried it during the last six months 

 report that it does not stretch, and on account of its cheapness, it 

 is preferred for light machinery. 



THE COMMERCIAL IRON ORES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



Robert Hunt, F, R. S., keeper of the jMiuing Records of Great 

 Britain, publishes the following list of the varieties of commercial 

 iron ore produced aud used in that country, showing the average 

 percentage yield of iron of each variety, and the proportions in 

 which they are employed in British iron manufactures : 



Per cent of Proportions in 

 iron. which used. 



Red haematite 65.13 15 per cent. 



Brown haematite 41.40 13 per cent. 



Oolitic brown haematite 35.60 26 per cent. 



B'-"-* f.fA 42p.rce„.. 



Argillaceous ores 30.68 ) 



Spathoes ores 40.95 2 per cent. 



Magnetic oxide 56.10 2 per cent. 



It will be noted that only two per cent of the black or magnetic 

 oxide {^feiinmot), and fifteen per cent of the anhydrous sesqui-oxide 



