68 
editor’s table. 
(Sbitor’s Sable. 
Gun-Cotton. —We have received from Dr. C. T. 
Jackson, of Boston, an account of his success in the 
manufacture of the celebrated gun-cotton, which has 
excited so much interest of late throughout Europe as 
well as in our own country. He obtained the best 
article by mixing in a current of air, equal measures 
of sulphuric acid (specific gravity 1.92 to 1.96) and 
nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.455), and stirring them well to¬ 
gether with a glass rod until the temperature of the 
liquid fell to about 130°F. He then took some clean, 
well-picked Sea Island cotton, dried it at a temperature 
of 212°, immersed it as quickly as possible into the 
acids, and let it remain covered by them from three to 
five minutes. He next poured off the liquid, squeezing 
out as much of the remaining acid as he conveniently 
could, and then subjected the cotton to repeated wash¬ 
ings in cold water by rapidly stirring it with a glass 
rod, so long as a trace of acidity remained, which he 
determined by blue litmus paper. The cotton was 
then squeezed dry as possible in a cloth, and imme¬ 
diately after in blotting paper; and the fibre, after being 
straightened and picked loose, was dried in the open 
air, at a temperature below 212°F. Cotton prepared 
in this manner explodes without odor or smoke, leaving 
little or no residue, and is totally insoluble in ether. 
The operation twice repeated, in strong acids, it is said, 
renders the cotton thirty-six times more powerful than 
an equal weight of gunpowder. 
In the course of his experiments, Dr. Jackson ascer¬ 
tained that a tolerably good article can readily be made 
by employing the acids a second time, without re-dis¬ 
tillation, first by soaking therein the cotton for twenty- 
four hours, and then treating it in every respect in the 
manner above described. The cotton prepared in this 
way will resemble the other in appearance, and will ex¬ 
plode nearly as well; but in burning on white paper, it 
will leave a yellow stain. It is completely soluble in 
strong sulphuric ether, giving out a great number of 
gaseous bubbles as it dissolves. This ethereal solu¬ 
tion is thick and ropy like the white of eggs, and 
makes an excellent varnish for pictures and an imper¬ 
meable covering for paper or cloth, as well as a good 
proof cement. Evaporated spontaneously in a watch 
crystal, it becomes transparent as glass, yet it is tough 
like horn, and is not in the least explosive. It is in¬ 
soluble in acetic acid, and hence differs from xyloidine 
discovered by Braconnot, in 1833, and was afterwards 
more fully noticed by M. Pelouze, in 1838, the latter of 
whom stated that “ it was very combustible, took fire at 
360°, and burnt with vivacity,” which he thought pro¬ 
bable, at some future day, might render it valuable in 
artillery. It differs, likewise, from xyloidine, according 
to Dr. Jackson, in many other respects, and is doubtless 
a new substance. Professor Schonbein, of Basle, and 
his associate M. Bottger, at all events, have the credit of 
the discovery of the first application of this remarkable 
substance to useful purposes, although the method em¬ 
ployed by them for its manufacture has not as yet 
been made public. 
When properly prepared, gun-cotton increases at least 
one-half in weight, rapidly burns with a voluminous 
yellow flame, at a temperature of about 350°F., 
although it has frequently been known to explode as 
low as 212°. Hence the utmost caution is necessary 
in its preparation as well as in its use. It burns so 
much more rapidly than gunpowder, that the latter, 
when placed in immediate contact, is not inflamed by 
it, and no inconvenience is felt by burning a flock of it 
on the naked hand. It detonates with some difficulty 
when struck with a hammer on an anvil, unless 
heated to nearly the exploding point. Wetting does 
not appear to injure it, if it be quickly and carefully dried, j 
The explosive, or projectile force of gun-cotton is 
much more effective than that of powder. An interest¬ 
ing experiment was made on the 4th of December 
last, in blasting a ledge of rock then excavating for the 
new canal, in Lowell, Mass., under the supervision ot 
Mr. Wm. E. Worthen, the engineer. About 78J oz. 
of gun-cotton were enclosed in a “Vulcanized” India- 
rubber cloth case, five inches in diameter, and three feet 
long; and then let down by its fuse, into a hole, drilled 
in the rock, five inches in diameter and nine and a half 
feet deep, and afterwards covered with six feet of dry 
sand. The-explosion, it is said, was accompanied with 
a report not louder than a musket shot, and the mass 
of rock rent off was estimated to weigh about 350 tons, 
an effect, it is thought, which would require in gun¬ 
powder about 10 lbs. 
Gun-cotton has been rejected for military purposes 
by the British Board of Ordnance, on account of its 
exploding at a much lower temperature than gun¬ 
powder, and also from its producing moisture within the 
gun. 
We have been thus particular in describing the nature 
of this important substance, both on account of its in¬ 
teresting scientific detail, and the increased demand for 
cotton which is likely to arise from its use in blasting 
rocks, and probably for many other purposes. 
Honorable Testimonial. —The American Institute 
has very properly manifested its approbation in award¬ 
ing Mr. Browne, for his treatise on the Trees of Ameri¬ 
ca, its highest premium, a Gold Medal; and it is 
evident that those who make themselves acquainted 
with the contents of this valuable work, will be con¬ 
vinced that this high mark of respect has been justly 
bestowed. 
Early Salads. —The preparation for raising early 
salads and other spring vegetables is one of the most 
important duties of the farmer or gardener. Those who 
have a desire to have good lettuce, endive, dwarf cab¬ 
bages, cauliflower, broccoli, parsley, asparagus, radishes, 
&c., early in the spring, need not be under any appre¬ 
hension of the difficulty, providing they are willing to 
be at the expense of a few frames. These may be 
made of stout planks, with the back one two feet deep, 
the front one fifteen inches, and the sides sloped towards 
the mid-day sun. The width may be about six feet 
and the length, which may be varied at pleasure, should 
be divided into compartments of three feet, over each 
of which there should be fitted a window or sash sc 
arranged as to be more or less withdrawn or replaced. 
These frames are usually set upon hot-beds formed of 
fresh horse manure, two or more feet in depth, and 
covered with six or eight inches of fine compost or 
warm garden mould. As soon as the frames 
are put down, the sashes should be placed over them, 
allowing the fumes of the manure to pass off for three 
or four days, occasionally opening the frames and stir¬ 
ring up the soil. The seeds may then be sown either 
in drills or broad-cast, and the two following points 
attended to without fail, viz., to promote the circulation 
of dry air or winds through them at all times , and to keep 
out frost. During cold nights, the latter may be done 
by covering the frames with matting or straw, and 
fresh air may be supplied by slightly removing the 
sashes in the warmer parts of the day. Hot-beds and 
frames should always be placed over a well-drained 
spot, receiving the full effect of the sun, and protected 
from cold chilling winds. 
A New Feature in Cattle Shows. —At the recent 
Agricultural Fair in Burlington, Vt., Mr. L. Chase pre¬ 
sented for premium three pretty female children, two and 
a half years old, born at a birth. The committee on 
Household Manufactures awarded him $14, which was 
voluntarily contributed by the old bachelors present, 
who said they considered him a legitimate object of 
charity. 
