REVIEWS. 451 



The Victoria Government Prize Essayb (pp. 387). Melbourne : 

 John Ferres. 



In 1860, the Colonial Government placed at the disposal of the Royal 

 Society of Victoria 600Z. to be awarded in premiums for essays. The 

 volume before us contains the four prize essays, for which a medal and 1251. 

 each was awarded. They treat of the following subjects, and are eminently 

 practical and useful : — 



u 1. On the Collection and Storage of Water in Victoria for Gold-Washing, 

 Irrigation, Motive-Power, and General Water Supply ; with reference also 

 to the practicability of Artesian Wells in certain localities, by Frederick 

 Acheson, C.E. 



" 2. On Agriculture in Victoria, with special reference to the Geological 

 and Chemical Character of Soils, to the Rotation of Crops, and to the 

 Sources and Application of Manures, by William Story. 



" 3. On the Origin and Distribution of Gold in Quartz- Veins, and its 

 Association with other Metals and Minerals, and on the most improved 

 Methods for extracting Gold from its Matrices, by Henry Rosales, C.E. 



" 4. On the Manufactures more Immediately Recpiired for the Economical 

 Development of the Resources of the Colony ; with special reference to 

 those Manufactures the raw materials of which are the produce of Victoria, 

 by Charles Mayes, C.E." 



The following few notes are from the section on Perfumery in Mr. Mayes' 

 paper : — 



" Pomades, or Pomatums, are made by mixing in a peculiar manner hog's 

 lard, beef suet, and the leaves of the flowers whose perfume is required. 

 These materials rmdergo certain preparations, simple and easily understood, 

 but which I need not refer to more particularly. As a substitute for flowers, 

 which are too valuable except for the best pomades, 'the essences commonly 

 used in the manufacture of pomades, are those of bergamot, sweet lemon, 

 rosemary, thyme, lemon thyme, lavender, marjoram, &c.' 



" Scented Oils are made by infusing flowers in pure, fresh oil, such as 

 rose leaves, orange flowers, &c. : the more delicate flowers, such as jessamine, 

 jonquil, and violet, are spread upon stretched calico, saturated with salad 

 or other suitable inodorous oil ; fresh floAvers are renewed until the oil is 

 saturated with their odour, the calico is then pressed to obtain the scented 

 oil, which operation requires seven or eight days. 



"Essence of roses, orange flowers, violets, &c, are obtained by distillation, 

 which is repeated for the best kinds. 



" Scentecl or perfumed spirits, of which so large a quantity are annually 

 imported into this colony, are obtained by digesting 25 lbs. of the scented 

 oil of roses, orange flowers, jessamine, or violets, &c, and 25 quarts of 

 spirits of wine, for three days, when the perfumed spirits are drawn off. 



" Eau de Cologne. — The only essences which should be employed, and 

 which have given such celebrity to this water, are bergamot, lemon, rose- 

 mary, Portugal, neroli, or the essence of orange flowers. 



" Pastes are made from the kernels of apricots, almonds, &c. 



" Pastilles for burning are made with gum, nitre, cloves, charcoal powder, 

 vanilla, &c. 



Vanilla is the oblong narrow pod of the Epide.ndron vanilla, Linn., which 

 grows in Mexico, Columbia, Peru, &c. It has a delicious aroma, and is 

 much sought alter by mahers of chocolate, ices, creams, by confectioners, 

 perfumers, and distillers ; and is, therefore, a fruit well worth cultivating 

 in Australia, 



