23 



fitable exportation in the leaf form ; the colour of the leather tanned by 

 them however is by no means bad, and if a satisfactory extract of not 

 less than 25 per cent, strength can be produced from them, this would 

 nc doubt find a market in this country. 



NoTB, by Dr. Buchbr, W. Indies Chemical Works, Ltd., Spanish Town 



Gallo- tannic acid, in a more or less impure form is used largely 

 in the tanning and dyeing industries. This body is found plentifully in 

 a great variety of plants. Whilst gall-nuts or galls, worth 62 pounds 

 sterling per ton, contain some 70 percent, of this tannin, air dry sumach 

 {Hhus Coriaria and R. Cotinus), worth £8 per ton, coutains some 25 

 per cent. Gallotanic acid is easily extracted in a pure state from galls, 

 whilst sumach contains a small amount of a yellow colouring matter, 

 which lowers the value of the tannin. 



Green logwood leaves contain 60 per cent, of water, and would 

 contain in deduction from Professor Procter's analysis, but a trifle over 

 4 per cent, of gallo-tannic acid. The fact of logwood leaves containing 

 a yellow colouring matter besides the tannin would detract from their 

 value. It is questionable whether an extract from logwood leaves could 

 compete with sumach, or an extract from sumach. An extract from 

 logwood leaves, at 51 ® Tw., the usual commercial density, would not 

 contain more than 19 per cent, of tannin. 



^0 



A NEW PACKING MATERIAL FOR FRUITS. 



An interesting experiment has just taken place in the matter of 

 packing fruits in the Colony of Victoria for shipment to England. 



As is pretty generally known, Apples and Pears are now brought 

 from the Cape of Good Hope and from Australian colonies in boxes 

 holding a bushel, which are stored -on board ship in cool chambers. 

 These chambers, or refrigerators, have been provided by the steamship 

 companies at a considerable outlay of money. The fruits are merely 

 wrapped in tissue, and placed in the boxes. 



Under this system, apples have for the most part come very suc- 

 cessfully; but pears have been less satisfactory. Occasionally, there 

 have been Pears from the Antipodes that have reached this country in 

 a sound condition, but numerous consignments have proved to be of 

 little value, and the commission agent is never able to speak of such 

 fruits or to gauge their value until they have been unpacked. The 

 freight per bushel from Victoria to London for Apples or Pears so 

 packed and stored on board ship in cool chambers is 3s 9d. 



Such are the circumstances of the present system, and the amount 

 of freight paid for passage. 



Andnowfor theexperiment for intelligence of which weare indebted 

 to Mr. J. B. Thomas, a well known fruit salesman in Coven t^^ Garden, to 

 whom the fruits which have, been the subjects of experiments were ad- 

 «lres8ed. 



