Colonial Notes. AQ 
higher prices paid by French merchants, in consequence of com- 
petition, are not only amply compensated by the difference 
between these prices and those of second-hand purchases, but, 
being themselves on the spot, they can make a choice of the 
qualities best suited for their markets, thus deriving more profits 
thereby. The average prices per oke (2? lb.) ranged for fine 
sponges from 28s. 4d. to £2 15s., for common from ros. to 
26s. 8d., and for coarse from 4s. 2d. to 11s. 8d. 
LucIFER MatTcHEs.—It appears that M. Gaillard has lately 
presented to the Academy of Sciences what he calls a new pro- 
cess of manufacturing common phosphorus matches. The 
method consists in reversing the ordinary mode of preparation. 
Instead of steeping the wooden slips first into sulphur, and then 
into phosphorus, he plunges the matches into the phosphorus in 
the first place, and afterwards into the sulphur. This process is 
attended with several advantages. One of these is that sulphur 
is insoluble in water, and that, not being fusible under a tempera- 
ture of about 128 Fahrenheit, there is no risk of accidental or 
intentional poisonings of food by these matches, since the sulphur 
forms an insoluble covering for the phosphorus. Another advan- 
tage depends on the hardness of the sulphur coating, which 
requires more friction than is ordinarily applied for its removal, 
and the laying bare of a portion of the phosphorus. ‘This is cal- 
culated to decrease the risk of fires occurring accidentally from 
the too-ready inflammability of phosphorus as an outer covering 
for the lucifer match. How far this process is really new will be 
seen from the following extract from the ‘‘ Transactions” of the 
Society of Arts, referring to a meeting held on May 21, 1846 :— 
“The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. C. M. Barker, for 
his improved congreve-match. Mr. Barker’s improvement con- 
sists in putting a layer of sulphur over the combustible composi- 
tion, instead of (as formerly) putting the composition on over the 
sulphur ; so that it requires a temperature of nearly 300° to ignite 
the match by heat, and a greater quantity of friction than with 
those formerlyused. Moreover, the match is not affected by damp.” 
Insect Wax.—The trade in this article in China is large. In 
1864, from the single port of Hankow alone, 5,100 cwt. were 
exported. It is taken by the Chinese as medicine, but is prin- 
cipally used as stearine in the manufacture of candles. It is one 
of the most valuable of the many products of Sze-Chuen, being 
worth 60 and 70 taels per picul (133 lbs.). The wax is deposited, 
for the protection of its eggs, by an insect which inhabits the 
trees on which the wax is secreted. The formation of the wax 
was a subject which occupied the especial attention of M. Simon, 
a French savant, who, a year or two ago, passed a considerable 
time in the interior, during which he is said to have traversed the 
greater portion of Sze-Chuen, and to have reached the eastern 
confines of Thibet. It is hoped the result »f his researches into 
NEW SERIES.—VOL. I. | E 
