228 SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 
The finest starch is exhibited by Messrs. J. and J. Colman (United 
Kingdom, 39), who also introduce a novelty suggested by the Society of 
Arts, viz., " coloured starches." They consist of rice starch tinted with 
the aniline colours. Muslins starched with these preparations become 
temporarily dyed, and we believe that the colours are quickly and effec- 
tually removed by washing. 
The specimens of ethers shown bv Messrs. Boileau and Boyd (United 
Kingdom, 42), are very good. 
Irbitttfir jWe 
French Wire Nails. — Nails made of wire of various sizes, from £ 
of an inch down to l*32d, are still used in France. The points are 
conical, about 60 deg. They may be driven without splitting the wood. 
A common pin when driven into the edge of a thin piece of wood splits 
it ; but if the tapered point be cut off, and a conical point made, it may 
be driven without splitting. In making small models of soft wood, we 
have used steel pins with conical points, made of pieces of knitting 
needles. They drive well, and hold fully as well as brads. We believe 
that tapered nails are not so good, for some uses, as prismatic nails with 
pyramidal points would be ; or perhaps wedge ends, for convenience of 
manufacture, would be better. They would not split the wood ; the 
wedge point, if about 60 deg., would crush a little at a time, and make a 
hole for itself, whereas a long wedge or tapered point in its effort to 
crush a greater amount at a time, splits it ; that is, the power required 
to crush so much is more than is required to split the piece. Let any 
one file the ends of parallel nails that he finds among common nails, 
and try them, and he will find that they will be safer to drive where 
there is danger of splitting. The French wire nail is expensive ; but it 
is worth using for some purposes. For delicate work such nails, made 
of brass wire, with heads like screw heads without nicks, would be good. 
If a good machine could be invented to make nails of this kind 
cheaply, we think it might be worked with profit. But parallel cut 
nails with wedge points can be made cheaply, and we think a few should 
be tried. 
Bleaching. — Perhaps there is more prejudice than taste in the pre- 
ference of pure white to a tint such as that of unbleached cotton, or 
linen, that has been prepared by a process that does not darken it. 
During the siege of Granada, Queen Isabella, to insure the success of 
an assault, vowed that she would not change her linen until the city 
should be taken. The assault failed, and many weeks elapsed before the 
