968 
THE TROWOAL AQHIOULTURIST. 
[October i, 1891 . 
THE DUTCH MABKBT. 
AMeTHRDAU, Auo. 24. 
The aDalytiia of the ciucbooa to ^ o offeree^ at th(^ bark 
salee io Amstenlam un Soptotnber Srd sho^athe folluwiug 
results : — The manufauturing bark coutaina about 0 tons 
Bulpbato of quinine, or 4 Id per cent. 00 the average. 
About 8 tons contain 1*8 per cent* sulphate of quinine ; 
37 tons, 2-8 per rent. ; 75 tons, 3-4 per cent, ; 88 tons, 
4-6 per cent. : 34 tons, 5-6 per cent. ; 24 tons, C-7 per 
cent. ; 6 tons* 7-8 per cent. 
STEI’IIANITE.— A A^EW FLUX. 
A number of gentlemen intereatod in the manu- 
taoture of iron and ateol, recently viaited the works 
of Meeara. H. Young & Co., Eoeleaton-atreet, 
Pimlico, with a view to investigate the proper- 
ties of a flux, named after the inventor, the late 
Mr. Etephan. The addition of aluminum to iron 
has lately received a considerable amount of 
attention, owing to the fact that the resultant 
product is of much improved quality, providing 
that the admixture ia 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- 
ilnm to the charge in the cupola, but it has 
been found in piaotioe that the aluminum is, in 
operation, dispersed by the aotion of the blast; 
another method is to add it to the molten 
obarge in the ladle, but this praotioe requires the 
aid of stirrers, and it Las been found that an 
uniform admixture does not result, the operation 
produoing a merely meobanioal mixture, aud not 
a homogeneous metal. 
The Stepbanite process, however, seems to 
overcome these diflioulties ; certain proportions of 
alumina, lime, and emery are taken and inoor- 
porated and pressed into briquettes, which are 
added to the obarge of iron and ooko in the 
eupola, in the proportion of 80 lb. ot Ste- 
phanite to one ton of iron. The aotion which is 
then said to take place is that the temperature 
of the furnace converts the alumina into metallic 
aluminum gases, which the molten metal readily 
absorbs. The result is, that instead ot a me- 
chanically mixed compound, a chemically perfect 
mixture is produood. 
One of the claims of the Stephsnite Company 
of London-wall, who are introducing this inven- 
tion, is that the flux acts as a strong oleariug 
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 plaoed at its disposal for these experi- 
ments, and on the day of the demonstration, 
Messrs. Young agreed to have the whole of their 
castings tun from the new compound. 
At the demonstration, the cupola was charged 
with three tons of low quality scrap iron and 
240 lb. of the flux. Immediately the metal was 
run off, its great fluidity was perceived from its 
behaviour in the ladles, and as a oonsequenoo, 
it follows that better castings are obtainable, and 
blow holes are, to a great extent, avoided. Several 
most severe tests were applied to some ot 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, inste ad 
of utterly spoiling the castings, as would be 
imagined, simply resulted in the production of a 
splendid steely metal, as was at once seen on 
breaking a cooled easting. The file test was applied, 
and it was found that the merest superficial scratch 
was made. One half of a easting was afterwards 
heated in a forge and cooled in the air, and it 
{OHUd tQ be soft, and amenable to the file; 
the same piece was afterwards reheated and again 
plucgod into odd water at oberry heat, and it 
was then found that the tile once more made no 
impression on tlie metal. 
This new metal — for praotioally it is a new 
metal, being really a combination of iron and 
steel, produced direct from the cupola without 
the aid of any after manipulation— met with 
general approbalion from thoee pi'sseut, the pre- 
valent opinion being that the results were re- 
markable, and 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 ot the proportions of iron and Ste- 
ytumie.— Manufacturer and Inventor, 
^ 
A VOYAGE TO THE COCOS ISLAXDS. 
IX. M. S. “Battler” returned last Wednesday from 
the annual visit to the Cooos Islands, having on 
board Mr. Egerton, Commissioner to the Cooos. 
The “ Batiiler " left Singapore on the 25 tb July 
aud calling at Batavia, anchored off Chris liana 
Island. The anchorage there ia particularly bad 
even in the S. E. Monaoon when it ia sheltered. 
The “Battler ” dragged and had she not been under 
steam, the reaulls might have been serious. Dur- 
ing the H. W. monsoon, lauding is impossible. 
Ohristmaa Island ia situated about five hundred 
milea to the S. E. of Java Head. The ialand ia 
about the aize of Singapore, ia of considerable 
height, and ia covered with vegetation. The pres- 
ent population aoneists of one of the brothers 
Boas and eight natives. Mr. Boss has taken 
over the whole island for ten years, after which 
period ho will pay a sum annually to the British 
Government. So far, very little has been done 
in tbe way of oultivatiou tor want of labour, 
but the soil is rich and perfect for planting pur- 
po.seB. The island abounds in a species of large 
blue or slate coloured pigeon, whieh ia ahnoat 
tame and ia excellent to eat. The frigate bird 
aud other sea bird are also seen in thousands 
and the small green pigeon ia abuudant. A kind 
ot ground thrush is also common. The settlement 
on the island— the metropolis in embryo — eonsists 
so far of a few huts. The natives who are with 
Mr. Boss have come from the Cooos Inlunda. 
Twice a mouth the schooner ‘J. O, 0. Boss' 
calls at tbe island en route to the Cocos from 
Batavia. 
Leaving Christmas Island, the “ Battler ” pro- 
ceeded to the Cocoa or Keeling group. The oooa 
Islands are entirely of ooral formation an are 
very low. The group ia in the form of a horse- 
shoe, audtho^ water, immediately around and between 
the ielands, is so shallow that it would bo possible 
to walk right down the group at low tide. The 
present Governor, Mr. Boss lives on the main island 
with hU daughter, and the population has increased to 
above .540 (Mr. Egerton took the census during the 
"Battler’s stay at the islands). Mr. Boss'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 bo considered 
almost phenomenal. Mr. Boss’s power, of course, 
is practioally absolute. Lately he has suffered 
heavy losses. His sheep have died, and his deer 
in swimming from one island to another have 
been eaten by sharks in oonsidetable numbers. 
At one time, the plague of rata was so great 
that it was feared the oooo-nut palms would be 
exterminated by them. As a preventive measure, 
Mt. Boss imported a number of cats- The oats 
