THE NATURAL SCIENCE JOURNAL. 
53 
solution came in contact with the tree, the 
iron was precipitated on the latter, and 
there was an interchange of vegetable 
and mineral matter, so that the rocks were 
relieved of their coloring and the tree 
took it up. 
A few years ago the proposal was 
made that the chief students of the 
Unionidm join in making a revision of 
the synonomy of that somewhat confus¬ 
ing family. It was a good idea, but we 
haven’t heard of its being carried out. 
We would suggest that it is not too late 
to begin. 
ON THE AKTIFIOIAL PEODHOTIOH 
OF DIAMONDS. 
M OISSON, by carbonetting iron, 
fusing it in the electric furnace 
and allowing it to fall in mercury lOmw. 
deep covered with a layer of water 20 
cum. thick, has obtained granules of 
irregular shapes and also spheres or 
ellipsoids, both saturated with carbon. 
While the former contained no carbon of 
high specific gravity, the latter contained 
both black and transparent diamonds, 
some of which, though microscopic, 
showed remarkably regular crystalline 
forms. Subsequently larger masses of 
the carbonetted and fused iron were 
allowed to fall into water and mercury at 
the bottom of a pit shaft 33 meters deep. 
But these conditions weTe not favorable 
to the production of spherical masses of 
iron. When the falling globules reached 
the tub containing the mercury, they 
broke up into scintilating globules, giv¬ 
ing a report like a rifle. When the fused 
carbonetted iron was run into a small 
cylindrical cavity into a large mass of 
iron or copper, the fused metal was very 
rapidly cooled and diamonds were ob¬ 
tained mixed with graphite, the yield 
however, being small. Moisson has ob¬ 
served that the so-called black diamond, 
included in transparent diamonds from 
Brazil, is a variety of carbon differing 
from the diamond. When such diamonds 
are pulverized and heated in oxygen at 
200^ below the ignition point of the dia¬ 
mond, the black matter burns away leav¬ 
ing the residue diamond white. 
The gold mine which has been discov¬ 
ered on General Longstreet’s property 
near Gainesville, Ga., yields from $7 to 
|T2 per ton of the precious metal. The 
vein varies from eight inches in width to 
two feet and a half. 
Papa (reading)—The naturalist, who 
had slipped from the edge of the preci¬ 
pice, gathered momentum as he fell. 
Mama—Mercy ! Kept right on pick- 
ng flowers, even when he knew he was 
going to be killed.—Odds and Ends. 
EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT. 
N'otices free to subscribers, but must relate to exchanges 
only. Sale notices subject to advertising rates. 
I have 37 fine single bird eggs of Indiana 
birds in nice case, some scarce; will exchange 
them for good, perfect Indian relics; good 
Indian relics to exchange for old flint lock 
guns or pistols. Send stamp for answer. 
C. E. Tribbett, Thorntown, Indiana. 
We have a large assortment of choice min¬ 
erals, fossils, shells, books, etc., to exchange 
for antique furniture and weapons, fine In¬ 
dian relics, etc. Atlantic Scientific Bureau, 
1036 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford, Mass. 
I want fine Indian relics, for which I will 
exchange good specimens of minerals, fossils 
and curiosities. Rev. Wm. Roeper, 1008 E. 
3rd. St., Cincinnati, O. 
