THE TECHNOLOGIST. [July 1, 1865. 



562 SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 



beating. In Ike first beating a sixteen-pound hammer is used ; in the 

 second, a twelve -pounder ; in the third, a ten-pounder. 



On Yellow Dye Extracted from the Berberidace, or Bar- 

 berry Order. — The French papers have lately spoken several times of 

 the utilisation of the berries of Malwuia illicifolia for the production of 

 alcohol ; (they yield 87°) the root and the bark of this plant can also 

 receive an useful application ; they contain, like those of many berberi- 

 dacese, a yellow dye, (berberine). Several barberries are employed in 

 different countries for dyeing. The Berberis vulgaris or common bar- 

 berry, grows abundantly in the Alps of Savoy ; the decoction of its 

 bark, and of its root is used there for dyeing leather, and woven fabrics ; ' 

 the same is done in Poland, in Nuremburg, in the manufacture of toys. 

 The same decoction is employed for giving to wood a fine yellow colour, 

 which is enhanced by varnish. The chloride of tin, or tin liquor, gives 

 very fine tints with the Barberry root. In China, the Berberis thunbergi is 

 employed under the name of Siao-pe. In East India the Berberis 

 Asiatica. Pure berberine is prepared in several places in Bavaria. In 

 the Pharmaceutical Institute of Biichner, at Munich, it costs about 15/. 

 a kilogramme. Some plants of neighbouring families contain also ber- 

 berine ; it can, for instance, be extracted from Colombo root (Cocculus 

 pabnatus), of the Moon-seed order, or Menispermaceee, and from the 

 bark known as " Abeokuta bark," or " yellow bark of Gbeido," (Cceluclyni 

 polycarpa) Custard apple order, or Anonaceae. The latter bark is used on 

 the Western coast jof Africa for the dyeing of skins and mats. — Ber- 

 NARDIN. 



JC'GOWAN AN1> DANKS, GREAT WINDMILL STREET, HAYMARKET, LONDON. 



