Xo. 31.— 1885.] 



PLUMBAGO. 



215 



suggest that crucibles composed of our indigenous plumbago 

 and kaolin clay, both abundant and cheap, might be profit- 

 ably used. The existence of "millions of tons" of iron ore 

 in Ceylon is not so apocryphal as that of anthracite, and 

 those who owe their origin to Britain are not likely to forget 

 that her wealth in iron quite casts into the shade all the 

 treasures of the diamond mines of Golconda and the gold 

 diggings of California and Australia. 



But to return to the Battersea works. Messrs. Morgan 

 Bros, get credit for a liberal and sensible scheme of pensions 

 for their workmen, while to some extent the men have a 

 share in the profits of the firm. Although the plumbago sent 

 from Ceylon is carefully prepared and assorted before being 

 packed for shipment, it yet appears, from a description of 

 the Battersea Patent Crucible Company's works contributed 

 to the Chemist and Druggist by Mr. J. C. Brough, that, 

 preparatory to grinding and manufacture, there is a careful 

 process of selection. Mr. Brough stated :— 



44 The graphite imported by the Company is not used solely in 

 the manufacture of melting-pots and metallurgical apparatus. A 

 good proportion of this valuable raw material is prepared for 

 domestic purposes, and sent from the Battersea works in the form 

 of ordinary 'black lead.' As this article is used wherever there 

 is a grate or stove to be kept bright, its annual consumption must 

 be very large. There is no substitute for it — nothing that can be 

 employed in the same way to polish and protect the ironwork of 

 common fireplaces. Without the factitious lustre produced by 

 the action of ' elbow grease' on black lead, the most elaborate 

 kitchen range would soon become unsightly, the trim parlour grate 

 blush with rust, and the cottager's 4 wee bit ingle' would leave off 

 4 blinkin' bonnily.' 



44 The various qualities of black lead which the Company sends 

 into the market under different fanciful names are all prepared 

 from graphite or plumbago, and nothing else. The highest 

 qualities are distinguished from lower by their superior fineness, 

 softness, and lustre ; but chemically they are identical. The 

 article sold under the sentimental name of 4 Servants' Friend' at 

 28^. per cwt. is quite as pure as the * Prize Medal Lustre,' which 

 fetches double the price, or 4 Halse's Roman Lustre,' the best 

 quality of black lead manufactured by the Company. Again, the 

 analytical chemist would fail to detect any essential difference 

 between either of the abovenamed products and the article labelled 



