80 
VARIETIES. 
Culture of Cinchona Bark in Algeria. — It has been stated that the Jesuit 
fathers of the house of Cusco in Peru intend sending to an agricultural 
colony under the direction of the Jesuits in Algeria, a number of plants of 
the Peruvian bark tree. The possibility of naturalizing this valuable tree 
on the sides of Mount Atlas, and at a height about that at which it grows 
on the Andes, at 1200 to 3200 metres (4000 to 10,000 feet) above the level 
of the sea, is yet very problematical, because it appears to have a particular 
predilection for the region of the Andes, the direction of which it followsVith- 
out dispersing itself in other parts of tropical America. — Journ. de Pliarm. 
Cement for Stone Ware. By M. Heller. — Gelatine is allowed to swell in 
cold water, the jelly warmed, and so much recently-slacked lime added as is 
requisite to render the mass sufficiently thick for the purpose. A thin coating 
of this cement is spread while warm over the gently-heated surfaces of 
fracture of the articles, and let dry under a strong pressure. What oozes 
out is removed directly with a moist rag. — Chem. Gaz., from Central-Blatt. 
On Gambogic Acid and the Gambogiates, and tlieiruse in Artistic Painting. 
By Dr. Scofferx. — The author described the composition of gamboge as a 
gum-resin, and stated that some years since he had proposed the use of a 
preparation of it for oil-painting. For this purpose he had employed methods 
to get rid of the gum. To obtain the gambogic acid, he recommended ether 
to be employed when the coloring matter is dissolved, and by distillation 
the ether is given off ; the last portions however are retained with so much 
force that a temperature of 230° or 240° obtained, and this would destroy 
the color unless water was employed with the ether. About one-twentieth 
of water was previously added to the etherial solution of the pigment, or 
gambogic acid. The gambogiates of lime and other bases were under 
examination ; the gambogiate of iron however produced a rich brown, like 
asphaltum, but capable of more richness and certainty in oil. From the 
trials made, the yellow and brown seemed to be permanent colors, having 
useful properties as oil-colors. He also thought they might be usefully 
employed in fresco. — Ibid., from Athenceum. 
On a new Alkaloid from Opium. ByF. Hixterberger. — The author pur- 
chased as narcotine a substance which contained very little of that principle, 
but consisted for the greater part of a new alkaloid, whose composition is re- 
presented by the formula C 66 H 36 NO 23 . The author has named it opianine. — 
Ibid., from Liebig's Annalen. 
On tlie Quantitative Estimation of Manganese. By Richard Lamixg, Esq. 
— I find, contrary to what is stated in works on chemical analysis, that 
carbonate of manganese is not decomposable at ordinary temperatures by 
the oxygen of the atmosphere, but remains perfectly white if it have been 
