268 
THE TROMCAL AORieULTURtST. [October i, 1891. 
THE DUTCH MARKET. 
Amsterdam, Aug. 24. 
The analyais of the cindjona It clfrred at thu 'iiii'lr 
sales in Amsterdara on Septomhur 3ril shows the fuiluwiug 
results : — The manufaoturing bark contains about 9 tuns 
sulpUate of quinine, or 4 19 per cent, on the average. 
About 8 tons contain 1-2 per cent, sulphate of quinine ; 
37 tons, 2-3 per cent. ; 75 tons, 3-4 per cent, ; 88 tons, 
4-5 per cent. ; 31 tons, 5-6 per cent, ; 24 tons, 6-7 per 
cent. ; 6 tons, 7-8 per cent. 
STEFHANITE.— A NEW FLUX. 
A number of gentlemen interested in the manu- 
faoture of iron and steel, recently visited the works 
of Messrs. H. Young & Co., Ecoleston-street, 
Pimh'co, with a view to investigate the proper- 
ties of a flux, named after the inventor, the late 
Mr. Stephan. The addition of aluminum to iron 
has lately received a ooosiderable amount of 
attention, owing to the fact that the resultant 
product is of much improved quality, providing 
that the admixture is properly effected. 
Various methods have from time to time been 
brought forward to secure this end, amongst which 
we may mention the ordinary addition of the alum- 
ilum to the charge ia the cupola, but it has 
been found in practice that the aluminum is, in 
operation, dispersed by the action of the blast; 
another method is to add it to the molten 
charge in the ladle, but this practice requires the 
aid of stirrers, and it has been found that an 
uniform adinixture does not result, the operation 
producing a merely mechanical mixture, and not 
a homogeneous metal. 
The Stephanite process, however, seems to 
overcome these difficulties ; certain proportions of 
alumina, lime, and emery aro taken and incor- 
porated and pressed into briquettes, which are 
added to the charge of iron and coke in the 
cupola, in the proportion of 80 lb.- of Ste- 
phanite to one ton of iron. The action which is 
then said to take place is that the temperature 
of the furnace converts the alumina into .metallic 
aluminum gases, which the niolten metal readily 
absorbs. The result is, that instead of a me- 
chanically mixed compound, a chemically perfect 
mixture is produced. 
One of the claims of the Stephanite Company 
of London-wall, who are introducing this inven- 
tion, is that the flux acts as a strong clearing 
agent, and that every particle of metal is sepa- 
rated from the slag. The Company was fortu- 
nate enough to have the foundry of Messrs- 
Young placed at its disposal for these experi- 
ments, and on the day of the demonstration, 
Messrs. Young agreed to have the whole of their 
castings run from the new compound. 
At the demonstration, the cupola was charged 
with three tons ot low quf.lity scrap iron and 
240 lb. of the flux. Immediately the metal was 
run ofi', its great fluidity was perceived from its 
behaviour in the ladles, and as a consequence, 
it follows that better castings are obtainable, and 
blow holes are, to a great extent, avoided. Several 
most severe tests were applied to some of the 
day's castings, in one instance two castings were 
taken from the moulds whilst at cherry heat 
and plunged into cold water, This test, instead 
of utterly spoiling the castings, as would be 
imagined, simply resulted in the production of a 
Bpleudid steely metal, as was at once seen on 
breaking a cooled casting. The file test was applied, 
and it was found that the merest superficial scratch 
was made. One half of a casting was afterwards 
heated in a forge and cooled in the air, and it 
yfS,n found to bQ uoft, mi Amenable to the HX^i 
the same piece was afterwards reheated and again 
pluQged into cold water at cherry heat, and it 
was Ih-n found tho.t the file once more made no 
imjjieBsion on the metal. 
This new metal — for practically it is a new 
metal, being really a combination of iron and 
steel, produced direot from the cupola without 
the aid of any after manipulation — met with 
general approbalion from those prfeseot, the pre- 
valent opinion beiog that the results were re- 
markable, aud that the invention is capable of 
very wide application. It only remains to be said 
that divers grades of metal may be produced by 
a variation of the proportions of iron and Sta- 
Tphnnite. —Slamifacturef and Inventor, 
« 
A VOYAGE TO THE COCOS ISLANDS. 
H. M. S. "Eattler" returned last Wednesday from 
the annual visit to the Cocos Islands, having on 
board Mr. Egerton, Commissioner to the Cocos. 
The " Batiler " left Singapore on the 25th July 
and calling at Batavia, anchored off Christians 
Island. The anchorage there is particularly bad 
even in the S. E. Monsoon when it is sheltered. 
The "Rattler " dragged and had she not been under 
steam, the results might have been serious. Dur- 
ing the N. W. monsoon, landing is impossible. 
Christmas Island is situated about five hundred 
miles to the S. E. of Java Head. The island is 
about the size of Singapore, is of considerable 
height, and is covered with vegetation. The pres- 
ent population consists of one of the brothers 
Ross and eight natives. Mr. Ross has taken 
over the whole island for ten years, after which 
period he will pay a sum annually to the British 
Government. So far, very little has been done 
in the way of cultivation for want of labour, 
but the soil is rich and perfect for planting pur- 
poses. The island abounds in a species of large 
blue or slate coloured pigeon, which is almost 
tame and is excellent to eat. The frigate bird 
and other sea bird are also seen in thousands 
and the small green pigeon is abundant. A kind 
of ground thrush is also common. The settlement 
on the island— the metropolis in embryo — consists 
so far of a few huts, The natives who are with 
Mr. Ross have come from the Cocos islands. 
Twice a month the schooner 'J. G, C. Boss' 
calls at the island en route to the Cooos from 
Batavia. 
Leaving Christmas Island, the " Rattler " pro- 
ceeded to the Cocos or Keeling group. The ocoa 
Islands are entirely of coral formation an are 
very low. The group is in the form of a horse- 
shoe, and the water, immediately around and between 
the islands, is so shallow that it would be possible 
to walk right down the group at low tide. The 
present Governor, Mr. Ross lives on the main island 
with his daughter, and the population has increased to 
above 540 (Mr. Egerton took the census during the 
"Rattler's stay at the islands). Mr. Ross's rule appears 
to be excellent. So far, there has been no crime what- 
ever, and, considering the fact that there are no 
laws properly so called and no police, this clean 
record of twenty-three years may be considered 
almost phenomenal. Mr. Ross's power, of course, 
is practically absolute. Lately he has suffered 
heavy losses. His sheep have died, and his deer 
in swimming from one inland to another h^ve 
been eaten by sharks in considerable numbers. 
At one time, the plague of rats was so great 
that it was feared the coco-nut palms would be 
exterminated by them. As a preventive measure, 
Mr, Rosa imported a number of cats. The oats 
