Sept. 1, 1864. J THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 95 



gas or fuel. The oil having burnt out, the material is used over again ; 

 it leaves no ashes, and preserves its porosity. The use of fuel that is 

 free from sulphur is of the highest importance in the manufacture of 

 steel, iron, glass, &c, and it is claimed that artificial fuel is well adapted 

 for these purposes, as well as for other uses, because the price of manu- 

 facture is not so high as the present price of coal. 



Seaweed in Place of Hair. — It is becoming quite a common 

 practice in New York to use seaweed in place of curled hair for uphol- 

 stery, cheap furniture, and the filling of mattresses. Quite an extensile 

 business is carried on from Long Island in the seaweed line, and vessels 

 often leave the wharves bound for New York freighted with this article 

 of merchandise, where it is sold to upholsterers and others, bringing a 

 higher market price than a like quantity of the very best hay. On the 

 shore where this seaweed is gathered, it is spread out and dried, 

 and then pressed and baled the same as hay. In this condition it 

 is sent to the metropolis, where it is at once converted into hair mat- 

 tresses, used for sofas, chairs, &c. The best articles of this kind are 

 stuffed with seaweed, hair sufficient being used to conceal the former 

 and avoid detection. This branch of business is now carried on exten- 

 sively, and the profits accruing therefrom are of no inconsiderable 

 amount. [ Ulva marina has long been used for upholstery purposes in 

 England and on the Continent. — Editor.] 



Neat's Foot Oil. — The process of obtaining this kind of oil is very 

 simple, and many farmers often throw away enough feet annually to 

 furnish oil sufficient to keep all their harness, shoes, and leather machine- 

 belts in the best condition. By breaking the bone of the leg of a fat 

 bullock or cow, it will be found full of an oily substance which often 

 appears as rich and edible as a roll of excellent butter. This is neat's 

 foot oil, and it is sometimes surprising to see how much a single foot 

 and leg will yield when it is properly treated. In order to extract the 

 oil, wash the hoofs clean, then break up the shin bones, the finer the 

 better, and cut the hoofs and bones of the feet into small pieces. Then 

 put them in a kettle of any kind, and pour in water enough to cover 

 the bones. The kettle should never be filled so full that the water will 

 boil over the top of it. The finer the bones are broken, or cut, or 

 sawed, the sooner the oil will be driven out. Now let the kettle be 

 covered as tightly with a lid as it can be conveniently, and boil the bones 

 thoroughly all day. Of course, it will be understood that more water 

 must be poured into the kettle as it evaporates. The object of covering 

 the kettle with a close lid is to retain the heat as much as possible, and 

 thus expel the oil from the bones. The hot water and steam will liquify 

 the oil and expel it from the bones, when it will immediately rise to 

 the surface of the water. Therefore it is very important that the water 

 should not be allowed to evaporate so low that the oil that has risen to 

 the surface of the water comes in contact with the dry hoofs and 

 bones, as much of it will be absorbed by them, and will be lost unless 



