BENZINE  (eUPION  NAPHTHA.) 
86T 
of  the  common  black  spruce  {Abies  nigra,  Poir),  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Kingston.  This  new  dje  closely  resembles  true  cochi- 
neal, a  most  expensive  coloring  matter  capable  of  being  produced 
in  warm  countries  only,  and  which  is  used  to  give  a  fine  and 
permanent  dye  in  red,  crimson  and  scarlets,  to  wool  and  silks. 
Unlike  cochineal,  the  new  dye,  discovered  at  Kingston,  is  a  na- 
tive Canadian  product,  and  capable  of  being  produced  in  tempe- 
rate countries.  Having  been  but  recently  observed,  a  sufficient 
quantity  has  not  yet  been  obtained  for  a  complete  series  of  experi- 
ments as  to  its  nature  and  uses ;  but  the  habits  of  the  insect  as 
well  as  the  properties  of  the  dye,  seem  to  indicate  that  it  may 
become  of  practical  importance.  In  color  it  closely  resembles 
ordinary  cochineal,  having  rather  more  the  scarlet  hue  of  the 
flowers  0^  Adonis  autumnalis,  and  no  doubt  other  shades  will  be 
obtained.  The  true  Mexican  cochineal  is  now  being  cultivated 
in  TenerifFe  and  other  vine-growing  countries  of  Europe  and 
Africa,  with  such  success  as  to  displace  the  culture  of  the  grape 
vine.  —  Ohem.  News,  London,  March  30,  1861. 
BENZINE,  (EUPION  NAPHTHA.) 
Benzine  so  called  is  a  light  eapion  oil  obtained  in  the  manu- 
facture of  coal  and  petroleum  oils  for  the  purpose  of  illuminat- 
ing, &c.  It  is  an  entirely  different  substance  from  the  hydro- 
carbon benzole  (sometimes  called  benzine)  obtained  by  the  dis- 
tillation of  coal  tar  ;  also  by  the  distillation  of  benzoic  acid  with 
lime.  True,  benzole  is  a  substance  having  a  definite  chemical 
composition  and  constant  boiling  point,  which  is  not  the  case 
with  the  light  oil  above  mentioned  ;  it  is  a  mixture  of  various 
hydrocarbons,  differing  in  chemical  composition  and  in  their 
boiling  points,  some  of  which  have  a  s.  g.  as  low  as  '650,  and 
increase  from  that  point  to  •TcO.  Oils  having  a  gravity  above 
the  latter  point  are  no  longer  fit  to  be  used  as  benzine,  as  they  do 
not  evaporate  rapidly,  and  then  not  without  leaving  a  greasy 
stain.  Large  quantities  of  this  substance,  of  late,  have  been 
used  for  the  purpose  of  removing  grease  from  clothing,  &c.  But 
the  demand  for  it  has  not  been  in  proportion  to  the  supply  ; 
and  some  new  uses  should  be  discovered  to  utilize  this  product. 
One  use  of  it,  in  particular,  has  suggested  itself  to  me,  namely, 
as  a  substitute  for  spirits  of  turpentine  for  painting.    The  high 
