104 
Analyses of Books . 
[February, 
Geological Survey of Alabama. Report and Progress for 1879 
and 1880, By E. A. Smith, Ph.D., State Geologist. Mont- 
gomery : Allred and Beers. 
The principal feature in this report is the exploration of the coal 
deposits of the Warrior Basin. In a section of 2600 feet there 
are from thirty to thirty-five seams of coal, of different thickness 
and quality. Many samples have been analysed, and the sulphur 
is found to vary from 0*4 to 275 per cent. The latter quality, if 
extensively used, cannot fail to have a very injurious effeCt on 
vegetation, from the quantity of sulphurous acid poured into the 
atmosphere. 
The Whole Art of Marbling, as applied to Paper , Book-edges, 
Sv. Containing a Full Description of the Nature and 
Properties of the Materials used, the Method of Preparing 
them, and of executing every kind of Marbling in use at 
the Present Time; with numerous Illustrations and Exam- 
ples. By C. W. Woolnough. 82 pages; 31 specimens. 
London : George Bell and Sons. 
The marbled papers so commonly used for the linings and covers 
of books are familiar to everyone, but very few have any idea of 
the process by which the curious, irregular, but often delicate and 
harmoniously coloured, patterns are produced. 
The former edition of Mr. Woolnough’s book, published more 
than twenty-seven years ago, has for some time become very 
scarce, and many improvements have taken place during that 
period which are embodied in the present issue. 
The exaCt date of the introduction of marbled paper is un- 
known, but it is found on old Dutch books of the beginning of 
the seventeenth century, and was known in Spain at least a 
hundred years ago. This country was formerly supplied from 
Holland, a considerable quantity of the paper finding its way 
here wrapped round parcels of toys, and by this means of im- 
portation escaping the payment of a very high duty. 
The author explains very much in detail the whole of the im- 
plements and materials employed, many of which, especially the 
colours, require great care both in selection and preparation. 
The process may be described as a peculiar kind of printing, 
the impression being taken on the paper from the surface of a 
mucilaginous fluid, by being carefully laid upon it after the pat- 
tern has been prepared. The medium used is generally gum 
tragacanth, which, when soaked in water, does not entirely dis- 
solve, as is the case with gum Arabic, but forms a somewhat 
