78 ON ALGERIAN PRODUCTS. 



cold cream or pomades. It is probable that there are other variations 

 besides odour and colour, judging from the melting points. Miller 

 quotes the melting point of paraffin at 110 deg. : I found it melt at 

 133 deg., and congeal at 103 deg., China wax he states to melt at 182 cleg. : 

 I found it melt at 133 deg., and congeal at 103 deg. Japan wax I found 

 melt at 128 deg., and congeal at 102 deg. ; the melting point quoted in 

 the table being the mean of the two observations. 



The melting point of stearine is liable to vary from very slight 

 causes (see Miller's Chemistry) ; but so great a discrepancy as indicated 

 above for China wax must surely be the result of a difference in the 

 nature of the sample. The price quoted for Japan wax seems much 

 below what its good properties would seem to justify. The qualities 

 would probably become more uniform, and the prices would find a 

 more reasonable level, if more extensive trial were made of these 

 materials for the various purposes for which wax is at present used.' 



11, Grey-street, Newcastle-cm-Tyne. 



ALGERIAN PRODUCTS. 



BY PAUL MADINIER. 

 (Late Editor of the 'Annales d' Agriculture des Colonies.') 



In commencing this communication, I have to thank you for the 

 translation of mj article on the Plantain, which you published in the 

 Technologist for October last (vol. iii. p. 112). 



Since my arrival in Algeria, 1 have pursued my researches on that 

 plant with the view of making a monograph of it ; but the more I look 

 into the matter, the more difficulties I find. 



The description of the species of Musa by botanical authors is very 

 fallacious — what is defined as a species is often but a variety. Indeed, 

 the whole subject is what we call in French " la bouteille a l'encre," so 

 difficult is it to throw light on it. It is the'same, however, with several 

 other cultivated plants of tropical countries, such as the sugar-cane, 

 cotton, rice, sorgho, &c. 



With regard to the plantain, I must admit from my own experience 

 that the great number of varieties, and the absence of well-defined 

 characters among them, makes their proper classification a most trouble- 

 some labour, to which it would be necessary to devote several years 

 in visits to the different regions of their growth. 



I append hereto some remarks on a South African tree, from which 

 I have obtained a colouring gum, and of this I send you a small sample. 



While I remain in Algeria I am at your service, should you wish for 



