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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
and submitted to a certain process, and then saturated in oil, has greater 
heating power than the best Welsh coal. The advantages possessed by this 
peat fuel are the rapidity with which a fire can be lighted, and economy in 
working and space. Put a few blocks in the furnace, apply a match, and in 
an instant the whole is in a mass of flame. Very little stoking is required.” 
Electro-Magnetism in Iron Smelting. — An experiment has been tried at 
Sheffield to test the action of electro-magnetism, on the smelting of iron, 
and if we are to believe reports the results were highly satisfactory. The 
following account is given of the experiment: — A fixed electro-magnet 
is placed opposite an opening in the side of the furnace : the magnet is 
excited by means of a Smee’s battery, and the current of magnetism is 
directed into the molten metal. The effect is described as being surprising. 
The metal appears to bubble and boil ; and the quality of the iron is so 
much improved that for toughness and hardness it can hardly be equalled. 
Gun-cotton in Mining — It is stated that by combining ammonia with gun- 
cotton, its liability to spontoneous combustion is removed without injuring 
its explosive qualities. 
Pozzolana. — A late number of the Mining Journal contains a letter from 
Naples announcing the discovery of a valuable deposit of this cement. 
It has been found at the foot of Vesuvius, on a property called Torre 
Bassano. The strength of this cement is said to be equal to, if not greater 
than that of the celebrated pozzolana of S. Paolo, of Rome, whence 
England has generally drawn her supplies. In 1852 there was a “ find ” 
of the same material, and the Government of that day were so satisfied as 
to its merits that they used it in the construction of the only dry dock in 
Naples. On making some alterations in this dock recently it was with the 
greatest difficulty that any impression could be made on the pozzolana 
above mentioned, proof being thus given of its great excellence. The 
Government has already contracted for a considerable quantity of it for the 
construction of the new mole, and for other public works in Palermo, and 
much has been exported to Alexandria. 
Bismuth in Australia. — We learn from the Melbourne Age that a discovery 
has recently been made in South Australia of a lode of bismuth, samples of 
the metal being now to be seen at the Melbourne Exchange, to which place 
it has been sent from the neighbouring colony. This metal is very valuable 
if found in quantity, and it is stated that the lode discovered contains abund- 
ance of rich u stuff,” but being situated about 200 miles in the interior, some 
serious difficulties in the cost of carriage have been encountered. Trouble 
was also experienced in getting the metal smelted, but a quantity of it was 
sent to England in ingots some time since, and it is expected the supply 
will be kept up. 
A Botary Blower , deserving the attention of all who are engaged in 
tc blast ” operations, is now exhibited in the French Exposition. It is the 
invention of Messrs. Roots of Connersville, Indiana, and is, we believe, 
extensively used in America. It is an improvement upon the ordinary system 
of a cylinders,” and has not the drawbacks either of the cylinder or the fan. 
It requires less than half the power to run it of even a fan ; its speed is 
not excessive, being only from 200 to 300 revolutions per minute, whilst the 
ordinary speed of a fan is ten times greater j and at the same time it can 
