THE WINES SHOWN AT THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 507 



Meerschaum is a hydrated silicate of magnesia, MG.O.SI.0 3 .HO. 



It is found in Greece, Spain and Moravia, but the finest quality is 

 produced in Turkey in Asia. Its French name is Ecume de Mer, hence 

 the reason why it is almost generally supposed to be solidified froth of 

 the sea. 



Meerschaum is found in blocks of various sizes and shapes, and conse- 

 quently, is not cast as Plaster of Paris, or moulded as clay. The natural 

 blocks are cut into shape first by a saw, and then with a knife and 

 chisel. The stem and upper part of the bowl are turned in a lathe 

 After the turning of the pipe, it is cleaned and boiled in white wax, 

 which imparts to it its required beautiful polish. 



The meerschaum mines in Turkey are the exclusive property of the 

 Sidtan, who exacts a very high price for it. It is packed in cases, and the 

 prices fixed upon it according to size of the blocks, the larger ones being 

 ten times the value of the smaller pieces. This is one reason why a large 

 meerschaum pipe is so expensive. Another reason which may be 

 assigned is, that some of the blocks are faulty. These faults or blemishes 

 are not discovered until the pipe has received its coating of wax, and, 

 consequently, to a great extent the labour is lost, and the manufacturer 

 is obliged to put an extra price upon the perfect pipe. 



The agents of the Sultan of Turkey do not allow the purchaser to 

 select his own meerschaum. The price is affixed on each case, which 

 must bs paid before it can be opened or examined, and should the case 

 turn out faulty, the buyer has no redress. 



It may not be out of place to add that the writer was the first English- 

 man who ever imported or manufactured meerschaum into the United 

 Kingdom. 



THE WINES SHOWN AT THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION 



OF 1862. 



BY J. B. KEENE. 



We have been favoured with a copy of the report made by Mr. 

 Keene to the Commissioners of Customs, of the results obtained by 

 him in testing samples of the various wines exhibited last year, from 

 which we make the following extracts : — 



Those exhibitors to whom I had an opportunity of mentioning the 

 subject entered willingly into the plan, and, from the wines which were 

 deposited in the west cellar of the Queen's Warehouse, I was from time 

 to time freely supplied with samples for testing. Of the wines which 

 were exhibited in the International Exhibition Building I obtained 18 

 representative samples, of Australian vintages only. This result was 

 doubtless the consequence of being unable personally to look after the 



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