232 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. IX. 



as an "impure carbon." It is, on the contrary, the purest 

 form of carbon in nature, with the one exception of the 

 diamond, as indeed is explicitly asserted in other portions 

 of the E7icyclopoedia. 



Under the heading " Manufactures" there is interesting 

 summarized information, which I quote — 



Proportionate Amounts of Graphite used for different purposes. 



Manufactures. 



Crucible and refractory articles, as 

 stoppers and nozzles, crucibles, etc. 

 | Stove polish ... 



| Lubricating graphite 

 | Foundry facings, etc. 



Graphite greases 

 Pencil leads ... 



Graphite packing 

 Polishing shot and powder 

 Paint 



Electro typing... 



Miscellaneous : — piano action, photo- 

 graphers', gilders' and hatters' use, 

 electrical supplies, etc. 



Kinds of Graphite used. Per cent. 



Ceylon, Araeric an... 



35 



Ceylon, American, 





German 



32 



American, Ceylon... 



10 



Ceylon, American, 





German 



8 



American 



6 



American and Ger- 





man 



3 



Ceylon, American... 



3 



Ceylon, American... 



2 



American 



i 



American, Ceylon... 



4 



100 



A table like this will give many of the readers of this 

 paper a new view of the multifarious uses of the mineral 

 carbon called plumbago. It will be observed that, next to 

 the manufacture of crucible articles, the great use of the 

 mineral is for polishing and preserving from rust the ranges 

 of stoves and other cooking appliances, which contribute so 

 much to the neatness, cleanliness, health, and comfort of 

 modern abodes. The proportion used for this purpose in 

 Europe — in Britain at least — cannot certainly be below that 

 given for the United States. There are graphite greases as 

 contradistinguished from lubricants, and the mineral seems 

 to be used for the packing of engines« From the largest 

 forges where tons of steel are manufactured in Pittsburg, down 

 to the studio of the photographer and the shops of the gilder 

 and hatter, plumbago is of valuable use. And not only is it 



