Miscellaneous Intelligence. 293 



round a cylinder. The hardness of ordinary copper over type metal 

 is in the proportion of 100 to 1. A London firm employed to print 

 stamps for the Government is in the habit of using raised copper sur- 

 faces for the purpose : — no less than 125,000,000 impressions have 

 been taken from one of their plates. The density of the copper used 

 in the manufacture of type is considerably increased by ihe compres- 

 sion which it undergoes by the machinery of M. Petit. The machine 

 j produces thirty-two types per minute ; and it would be difficult \o ex- 



ceed the typographic neatness of the character. Specimens of the 

 type and printing were distributed among those present. 



8. New Mode of copying Engravings ; by M. Niepce, (ibid.) — An 

 engraving is placed in a box containing iodine at such a temperature 

 that a small portion is vaporized. The ink of the engraving condenses 

 a much greater proportion of the vapor than the mere blank paper ; so 

 that when after a few minutes the engraving is taken out, exposed a 

 moment or two to the air, and then laid on a film or two of starch, part 

 of the iodine becomes detached from the engraving, and is transferred 

 to the film of starch, producing a very delicate and beautiful copy of 

 the engraving* As may be supposed, there are many niceties required 

 which M. Niepce only can practice with perfection. It is necessary to in- 

 close the film of starch between two glass plates in order to preserve it. 



9. Herbaria of New England Plants. — The extensive collections of 

 New England Plants, made by the late Wm. Oakes, Esq., have been 

 distributed into sets, and the specimens named with printed labels. 

 These are now offered for sale for the benefit of his family. The labor 

 of a life and large pecuniary sums have been expended in the forma- 

 tion of these collections, which were designed to illustrate and form a 

 basis of an elaborate Flora of New England. The numerous boianisls, 

 to whom the lamented Mr. Oakes generously imparted his specimens 

 during his life time, do not need to be told ibat they are remarkable 

 for their perfection and beauty. The specimens now distributed fully 

 sustain this character, and they are for the most part very copiously 

 applied to the sets. Nearly one-half the number, of which the fullest 

 sets comprise six hundred species or varieties, are alpine or subalpine 

 Plants of the White Mountain region, which Mr. Oakes has so sedu- 

 lously explored for many years; and among the rest will be found 

 roost of the rarer plants of New England, such as are in the hands of 

 few botanists. They consist entirely of Phsenogamous plants, and 

 Ferns; the Musci, Hepatica? and Lichens, if not otherwise disposed of, 

 wll be hereafter distributed. . . . , 



It is thought that literary institutions as well as botanists would be 

 glad to obtain such a New England herbarium, one which can only be 

 formed at an expense of time, labor, and indefatigable research, which 

 probably will never be again devoted to this object, ft is not expected 

 [hat the actual cost of preparing these collections will be reimbursed 

 b y their sale. But, to secure immediate though inadequate returns, 

 th ey are offered at an extremely low price ; namely, the sets that con- 

 tarn 570 to 600 species or varieties, at twenty-four dollars, those of 

 about 550 plants at twenty-two dollars; those of 500, at twenty dollars. 

 Application may be made (post paid) to Charles R. Thayer, Merchant, 

 °f Boston, or to Professor A. Gray of Harvard University, Cambridge. 



A. Gr. 



