Labrariory Occurrences. 8365 
‘Ynany paris of the cotton districts, no use at ali is actually 
made of it, and the high price which it occasionally bears 
when re-planting becomes necessary, is owing to the prodi- 
gality with which it is thrown out, and exposed to the weather, 
on the supposition, that there never can be any scarcity of a 
substance, which is accumulated. in such quantities around 
the cotton-gins, The writer was assured by Henry Donald- 
son, Esq. the proprietor of an extensive establishment for 
cleaning and spianing cotton at the Great Falls of ‘Tar river, 
in North Carolina, that boat loads of seed could be obtained 
ihere at five cents per bushel. Ihad also held some commu- 
nication with this gentleman on the subject of hghting his 
works with cotton seed-gas ; but my removal from the coun- 
try, and devotion to other objects, have prevented. Should 
this article be found as eligible for gas-lighting as it appears 
to the writer to be, its employment for sucha purpose will 
prove a public benefit, both by giving an increased value to 
this part of the cotton crop, and by diminishing the expense, 
and promoting the beauty and splendour of gas illumination. 
“«D. 0.” 
Ant. XVUl.—Laboratory occurrences.—Epitor. 
L. Spontaneous combustion of Chlorine and Olejiant gas. 
It has long been known that chlorine and hydrogen in mix- 
ture are liable to explode, when struek by the direct rays of 
the sun, and an instance is related in this Journal, (vol. HI. 
pa- 341,) in which these two gases exploded, even in the 
diffuse light of a cloudy and snowy day. { have not met with » 
any account of a similar action on the part of chlorine and 
olefiant or heavy carburetted hydrogen. It is well known 
that when mingled, in about equal volumes, they combine 
quietly, and become condensed into the peeuliar aromatic, 
oily looking substance, since called chloric ether. This effect 
I had so often witnessed, and had never seen any material va- 
riation in the result, that I was not prepared to look for any 
thing else. But in an experiment of this kind, (January 5, 
1826,) happening tomingle the chlorine with the olefiant gas 
in such a manner, that the latter gas was uppermost, the 
combination went on more slowly than when the reverse or- 
der was observed; and the oily matter was gradually pre- 
