42 ON SOME N.S.W. TAN -SUB STANCES. 



Qualitative Tests. — (Very dilute extract, prepared by treating the 

 kino with cold water, and filtering. 



1. Reaction distinctly acid. 



2. Equal volume of sulphuric acid (1 in 5). In the cold, no 



change. On boiling, no change. 



3. Bromine water — Orange-yellow ppt. 



4. Dilute ferric chloride — Brownish purple ppt. Add Ammonia 



■ — Deepens the colour. 



5. Baric hydrate — Brown ppt. 



6. Ammonium sulphide — Slight yellowish turbidity. 



7. Potassium bichromate — Coffee-coloured ppt. 



8. Tartar emetic — Slight turbidity. Add Ammonium chloride 



■ — Whitish ppt. 



9. Copper sulphate — Greenish ppt. Add Ammonia — Light 



Vandyke-brown ppt. 



10. One drop strong sulphuric acid to one drop extract (on a 



white glazed tile). Slight reddish colour. 



11. Lead nitrate — Reddish-brown ppt. 



12. Manganese sulphate — No change. 



13. Chrome alum — Reddish ppt. 



14. Mercuric chloride — Salmon ppt. 



15. Hydro disodic phosphate — JSTo change. 



16. Potassium ferrocyanide — Darkens colour. 



Discussion. 



Rev. S. Wilkinson, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Maiden 

 for his paper, said he considered it to be exceedingly valuable, both 

 for commercial and practical uses in the Colony, and the 

 investigations were likely to have results of very great importance. 

 Some tanners felt themselves very dependent upon the bark they 

 had been importing from other colonies. Leathers were imported 

 largely from Europe, and this also was done to the disadvantage 

 of the whole colony. The kino extracts were also of great value 

 for polishers &c. At present our dyers import nearly everything 

 they use, while probably the Colony contains all that is necessary 

 for their trade. 



Mr. J. T. Wilshire seconded the motion and said he had been 

 identified with the tanning business through his parent, who was 

 the first to establish the industry here. He was glad to be able 

 to testify to the excellence of the paper read by Mr. Maiden, and 

 asked that gentlemen, through the chair, if the percentage of 

 tannin contained in the Acacia, would bear comparison with that 

 of the Oak. 



Mr. Maiden in reply, stated that there were some 336 species 

 of Acacia in Australia. He spoke from memory when he said 



