78 
VARIETIES. 
(4.)  An  exact  history,  accompanied  with  authentic  proofs  of  the  effect* 
ohtained  from  the  use  of  different  manures,  and  especially  the  sulphurous. 
(5.)  Variations  in  the  disease  due  to  climates,  exposures,  soils,  and  me- 
teorological circumstances. 
(6.)  Historical  account,  accompanied  with  authentic  documents,  of  the 
effects,  positive  or  negative,  obtained  from  the  different  remedies  proposed 
and  hitherto  employed. 
(7.)  Research  on^he  effects  produced  on  the  vine  towards  removing  the 
disease  by  plants  or  trees  in  their  vicinity,  and  especially  those  which  are 
rich  in  volatile  oils,  or  which  exhale  a  strong  odor. 
(8.)  Invention  of  apparatus  convenient  of  use,  for  throwing  different 
water  solutions  or  powders  on  the  vine. 
(9.)  Indications  of  the  measures  which  may  be  prescribed  by  authority 
for  preserving  the  green-houses,  and  even  whole  vineyards  from  the  ravages 
of  the  disease. 
The  society  at  the  same  time  issues  a  list  of  the  different  works  which 
have  been  published  on  this  subject,  and  will  distribute  all  these  documents, 
gratuitously. — Silliman's  Journal,  Nov.  1853. 
On  the  Origin  and  Composition  of  a  Mineral  called  Rotten- Stone*  By 
Prof.  Johnston. — After  having  stated  the  district,  the  Great  Fin,  Derby- 
shire, in  which  the  mineral  was  found,  the  Professor  went  on  to  describe  its 
chemical  character  and  affinity.  He  observed  that  its  component  parts  were 
not  of  a  constant  character,  as  had  been  asserted  in  some  mineralogical 
works.  Its  origin  was  stated  by  Phillips  to  be  from  the  decomposition  of 
the  slate  rocks  of  Derbyshire.  When  examined  under  the  microscope,  it 
did  not  exhibit  any  organisms ;  but  there  were  particles  or  bundles  of  some 
substance  resembling  the  bituminous  substances  found  near  Castleford. 
Rotten-stone  was  found  in  lumps  of  all  shapes  and  sizes,  at  depths  varying 
from  2  to  6  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  earth.  It  was  his  (the  Professor's) 
opinion  that  the  rotten-stone  was  not  the  result  of  the  decomposition  of  the 
shale  of  Derbyshire,  but  of  the  veins  of  black  marble  of  the  country,  which 
had  undergone  a  great  change.  In  proof  of  this  assertion,  he  produced 
specimens  which  he  found  to  be  black  marble,  with  the  merest  coating  of 
rotten-stone  on  them,  whilst  others  were  half  rotten-stone  and  half  black 
marble.  The  decomposition  had  been  effected  by  dissolving  the  lime  out  of 
the  rock,  and  not  the  rotting  of  the  strata.  This  substance  can  be  produced 
by  dissolving  the  lime  out  of  limestone,  by  bringing  weak  acids  to  bear  upon 
it.  This  proved  that  there  must  necessarily  exist  in  the  soil  some  acid 
which  dissolves  the  lime  with  which  it  comes  in  contact.  Farmers  would, 
therefore,  see  the  necessity  of  adding  lime  to  their  land  from  time  to  time, 
because  the  lime  kept  continually  washing  away  by  the  waters  of  heaven 
falling  on  it,  and  extracting  from  the  rotting  roots  of  the  earth  an  acid  which 
had  a  powerful  effect  not  only  on  lime  but  on  other  mineralogical  structures 
as  well. — Chem.  Gaz.  Nov.  1853,  from  Athenceum. 
