Qjieyies and Aiisivsrs. 24-3 



points were brought down to a horizontal direction. — S. B. IV. Jan. 1. 

 1833, 



Growing and curing Tobacco in Britain, (p. 121.) — Sir, E. S. again 

 speaks on the growing and curing of tobacco (p. 121.), and requests that I 

 will send a portion of my production for your examination. This I readily 

 do ; and the more readily, that he may be satisfied I did not tender my 

 remarks on growing and curing (Vol. VIII. p. iOl.) without at least 

 having attempted the attainment of these objects; for it is certain I never 

 contemplated showing it in competition with any other. It appears that 

 E. S. has improved in his management of late ; for, in his previous letter 

 (Vol. VIII. p. 42.), he asks for information on the subject; and, in his 

 last (Vol. IX. p. 121.), he says " he is convinced, by long experience, as 

 well as by the testimony of others, that his method is right." As to the 

 same means being applicable for making hay and preparing tobacco, I beg 

 leave to differ from your correspondent as well as others ; for this reason, 

 that tobacco should be fermented at intervals during the process of drying, 

 to destroy nearly the whole of its greenness and accompanying juiceii 

 before it is stowed away, when it should resume a glow of warmth ; con- 

 sequently, the dark green colour of that sent to you by E. S. I do not look 

 upon to be a recommendation. My observation, that it was not equal to 

 that imported, could be understood only as applying to my own. I wish 

 to take this opportunity of thanking E. S. for stating the result of his 

 experience. He says, it does not suit him to let all the world know where 

 he is. With respect to myself, it signifies but little ; and, as I have no 

 wish to send you any thing under false colours, I will fill up the vacancy, 

 and subscribe myself. Sir, yours, &c. — C. Austin, Gardener to Admiral Sir 

 B. H. Careiv. Beddingford Park, Surrey, Feb. 27. 1833. 



The tobacco sent, as well the uncut as cut, is, we think, superior to that 

 sent by E. S. : it has less of the sweetly fragrant scent, but an odour more 

 strongly narcotic. A smoker, to whom some of the cut was given, reports 

 it about equal in strength to the Orinoco of the shops ; and that it forms a 

 pleasant mild-flavoured tobacco. The gentleman by whom that sent by 

 E. S. was tried agrees in this opinion, and deems it much stronger than 

 E. S.'s. On chewing it, he found it almost as strong as shag tobacco ; but 

 less so than pigtail, the kind he usually chews ; and less agreeable, as, 

 from its being untwisted, it softened and passed away too rapidly. A 

 small sample of C. Austin's, cut and uncut, is left at 39. Paternoster 

 Row, for E. S. to send for if he pleases. — S. 



Art. V. Queries and Ansxvers. 



Dissolving Caoutchouc in Pyroligneous Ether. — Sir, In answer to the 

 enquiry of Dr. Wm. Hamilton (Vol. VIII. p. 735.J, as to " what is the 

 mode of dissolving caoutchouc in pyroligneous ether, and where the latter 

 can be obtained?" I beg to say that pyroligneous ether is a product of the 

 distillation of wood in the manufacture of pyroligneous acid; and is to be 

 obtained from such manufactories, where it is distilled from tar, for the use 

 of hatters, who consume a large quantity of it in making varnishes for, I 

 believe, silk and waterproof hats. Its price here, in Dublin, is 10*. per 

 gallon. The most convenient mode of dissolving caoutchouc in it is in a 

 tolerably capacious flask ; to the neck of which another is ground, having 

 an opening, also, for a safety-tube, containing a little mercurj'. The lower 

 flask, containing the ether and Indian rubber, is to be heated in a water- 

 bath, and a jacket of bibulous paper dropped over the upper flask, and 

 kept moist by dropping water from a funnel on it : by which arrargement, 

 the ether, which is extremely volatile, will be condensed, and continually 



