Safflower. — This article is imported from many different places. That 
from Spain is of a bright and deep colour, is well preserved, but often 
mixed with remains of dark coloured flowers. It is packed in a variety of 
modes. That from Egypt is of a dark red, and strong smell, the petals 
are more fringed than the Spanish. It comes in bales of three hundred 
and twenty, to three hundred and fifty kilogrammes, lined inside with blue 
cloth, and covered externally with rushes and strong bagging secured with 
cords, or in bags well tied with ropes which appear to be formed of some 
kind of bark. The article contained in this latter kind of package is not 
of as good quality as the first. That from India is in small, compact, 
flattened masses, of a faded colour externally, but of a rich rose tint within. 
It comes packed in gunny bags. This kind sometimes contains sand, 
and still more frequently yellow flowers which injure its quality. 
Diet, de P Industrie, &c. 
Crucibles. — The best crucibles for general use are the Hessian, and those 
manufactured at Paris, by Mr. Beaufay. The first are composed of three 
parts of clay (containing 46 silex, 34 alumine, 3 oxide of iron to the quin- 
tal,) and one of quartoze sand ; the crucibles of Beaufay are one part 
clay, (52 silex, 27 alumine, 2 oxide of iron,) and two parts of the same 
earth, baked and calcined. They are lined internally with a thin coating 
of raw clay. These crucibles will stand a heat of 150 Wedgewood's 
pyrometer. Ibid. 
Removal of grease spots. — The following composition, invented by Mr. 
Lenormand, has been found very useful in the removal of spots of grease 
from woolen clothes. Fuller's earth is to be mixed with a sufficient quan- 
tity of water to remove any sand; this will precipitate whilst the clay 
held in suspension in the fluid can be decanted with it. It is then per- 
mitted to settle, the water poured off, and the precipitate dried. To a 
kilogramme of this, is to be added 250 grammes of carbonate of soda, as 
much soap, and eight yolks of eggs beaten with 250 grammes of ox gall. 
The mixture is to be well levigated, and when the whole is perfectly 
homogenous, formed into balls or cakes and well dried. 
Ibid. 
Jlsparagine in extract of Belladonna. — Mr. Biltz, of Erfurt, has discovered 
the existence of well defined crystals resembling Asparagine in almost 
Vol. I— No. 4 44 
