48 Short Papers and Notes. 
Russian Fron. 
Probably, the only secret process which has been kept invio- 
late, and for ages openly defied the world of science, is the iron 
trade of Russia. The secret of making Russian iron is 
owned by the government, and is such an immense monopoly 
that it is currently supposed to defray the entire expense of the 
government. 
The works constitute an entire city, isolated and fortified 
against the rest of the world. When a workman enters the 
service, he bids a last farewell to his family and friends, and is 
practically lost to the rest of the world. He is never heard from 
afterwards, and whether he lives or dies all trace of him is for ever 
lost. There have been several desperate attempts made to steal 
or betray the secret, and in every instance it has resulted in the 
death of the would-be traitor. In one case a letter attached to a 
kite, which was allowed to escape, was picked up by some pea- 
sants, and despite their protestations that they were unable to 
read they were at once put to death by the guards to whom they 
delivered the letter, and it was afterwards decreed that the guards 
themselves should pass the remainder of their days within the 
works, 
The wonderful properties of this iron are so well known that it 
is unnecessary to enlarge upon them. Imitations have been made 
closely resembling the original article, but the durable polish, 
toughness, and anti-rusting properties are lacking, and to-day the 
secret remains as hidden as the philosopher’s stone. It has been 
recently claimed that a new discovery has been made, which, it is 
believed by some, will develop into an article equally as good, and 
preparations are now being made to erect large works in America 
for its production, but it is too early yet to predict what may be 
the result. — 
Hew Source of Verbena Oil, 
The £ucalyptus Staigeriana tree, known as the lemon-scented 
iron bark, is a native of Queensland. Its leaves possess an odour 
exactly like that of the lemon-scented verbena, and the oil they 
yield is equal in fragrance to that of the so-called oil of verbena 
of commerce, which is not obtained from the verbena, but from 
the grass, Andropogon citratus. ‘The dried leaves, according to 
Staiger, yield two and three-quarters per cent. of volatile oil of 
sp. gr. o'gor, The demand for the lemon-grass oil is considerable, 
nearly fourteen thousand ounces having been exported from 
Ceylon in 1805; it is also largely manufactured in Singapore. 
Hence the tree, the Lucalyptus Staigeriana, appears worthy the 
attention of planters on account of its volatile oil. The odour of 
the oil is quite different from that of Zucalyptus citriodora, which 
— 
ee 
