proceedings of the polytechnic association. 325 



Vigor of Pollen. 



According to expofiments by M. Belhomnie, reported to the Academy of 

 Sciences at Faris, it is proved that the pollen of flowers will retain its 

 fecundating power for at least three years. 



Benzole. 



M, E. Kopp, having converted the heavy tar oils into lighting gas and 

 volatile oils rich in benzole by means of the superheating process, and separ 

 rated the gas and lighter products by the ordinary refrigerator, takes 

 advantage of the fact that benzole solidifies in the form of flakes, grouped 

 like fern leaves, or in crystalline masses like camphor, which melt at 8*^.5 

 above centigrade, and for the purpose of purification he cools the rough 

 benzole or benzine down to — 15^ in Carre's refrigerator, then strongly and 

 rapidly presses the crystals, still impregnated with other hydrocarbides. 

 The cr^'stalized benzine thus obtained is again melted, and once more sui)- 

 initted to the same treatment, and the product is benzole almost chemically 

 pure. 



Mr. L. B. Page said this item on benzole rem.inded him that recently at a 

 petroleum refinery in Williamsburgh, he noticed in one place where there 

 were about fifty barrels of benzole that the barrels were partly covered 

 with a frost-work which he supposed was frozen benzole. This was during 

 hottest weather in the latter part of last month. He took a portion in his 

 hand and it immediately melted. It was cold to the touch. 



Prof. Joy had noticed similar crystals on the ground in the establishment 

 at Hunter's Point, and had supposed they were napthaline or parafBne, 

 which is a white solid. 



Mr. Page said that paraffine would not melt in his hand as the substance 

 from the outside of naptha barrels did. 



Dr. Parmelee expressed the opinion that the snow found by Mr. Page 

 was produced by the rapid evaporation of the bisulphide of carbon. This 

 snow or ice is largely impregnated with the odor of benzine. If benzine is 

 passed through the chloride of calcium considerable water may be obtained. 



The Chairman remarked that the benzine or benzole spoken of is a mix- 

 ture of several hydrocarbon compounds- but the pure benzine of the books 

 consists of 12 equivalents of carbon and 6 of hydrogen ; or, doubling the 

 equivalent of carbon as recommended by Gerhardt, the com.pound would 

 contain an equal number of atoms of carbon and hydrogen. 



Motion of Musical Reeds. 



Mr. Watson said his attention had been attracted to the velocity of mu- 

 sical reeds in the melodeon and common accordeon. The vibrations of air 

 required to produce the pitch of the middle C of the musical scale is 512; 

 this niunber is doubled for every octave C above it. By calculation he has 

 found that some reeds move at the rate of 480 feet per second. These reeds 

 of brass are now made so accurately that when planned and finished by 

 machinery they are nearly in proper tune before being touched by the file. 



Dr. Rovvell said that it makes no difference about the width of the musical 

 toAgue of brass — the thickness and length detcrinines its pitch. 



