No. IX.] APPENDIX. 187 



to contain scarcely anything inside the copper, and the pears, apples, &c., 

 consist of little else but the metaUio coat. The botanist -will readily 

 perceive in what way this process may be employed for his advantage. 



" The beauty of electro-coppered leaves, branches, and similar objects 

 is surprising. I have a case of these specimens placed on a black ground, 

 which no one would take to be productions of art. In the same room with 

 them are a couple of those cases in. which Ward has taught us to grow in 

 this smoky metropolis some of the most interesting botanical specimens. 

 In these cases are contained varieties of fairy-formed adiantums, verdant 

 lycopodiums, brilliant orchidese, rigid cacti, and' creeping lygodiums, all 

 growing in their natural luxmiance. The electro-coppered leaves, however, 

 are beautiful when placed by the side of the productions of this miniature 

 paradise ; and when I st^te that the numerous hairs covering the leaves 

 of a melostoma, and even the delicate hairs of the salvia, are aU perfectly 

 covered, the botanist must at once admit that these specimens have 

 rather the minuteness of nature than the imperfections of art." He also 

 shows how a beautiful effect of metallic surfaces may be obtained by the 

 deposition of crystallized metal on baskets which, "filled with metallic 

 fruit, leaves, insects, &c., might be used as ornaments for the drawing- 

 room, and would greatly exceed in interest the usual appendages." 



No. IX. 

 RECEIPT OF A WRITING INK made by Alfred Smee. 



56 NTjT-GAiiLS to 50 gallons of water ; specific gi'avity 22. 



15 lbs. copperas to 6 gallons of water. 



15 lbs. of gum to 5 gallons of water. 



1 gallon of pyroKgneous acid. 



i lb. corrosive sublimate. 



Hot water to be poured on the gaU-nuts, and this is to be allowed to 

 stand about twenty-four hours. 



The infusion of galls is then to be poured off, and the gum (previously 

 mi x ed with the five gallons of water) to be first added ; then the copperas, 

 which also has been previously mixed with five gallons of water, the pyro- 

 ligneous acid, and the corrosive sublimate are all to be mixed together. 

 The whole to stand tiU the ink is dark enough for writing, when bottle off. 



The specific gravity of ink, when made, to be 35-37. 



The ink should be run through sieves four or five, or even six times, to 

 make it clear. 



