90 
VARIETIES. 
Last  year  I  used  all  my  influence  and  endeavors  with  the  late  President 
to  promote  the  passing  of  a  law  in  the  Assembly,  guaranteeing  five  percent, 
on  the  capital  expended  in  the  construction  of  a  good  carriage  road.  The 
law  was  passed  and  duly  sanctioned  by  the  late  President,  but,  unfortu^ 
nately,  that  law  has  been  revoked.  To  give  an  idea  of  the  importance  of  the 
road  in  question,  it  it  is  enough  to  state  that  goods  (foreign)  to  the  value  of 
600,000/.  to  1,000,000/,  sterling  are  annually  sent  to  the  diamond  district 
from  this  city,  and  that  its  exports  in  diamonds  average  between  600,000?. 
to  800,000/.  per  annum  ;  no  calculation  being  possible  of  the  value  of  cot- 
ton, nitrate  of  soda,  hides,  skins,  cattle,  iron,  &c.  &c,  that  would  be  sent 
down,  had  the  road  I  had  so  strongly  recommended  been  carried  into  ex- 
ecution.—  Chem.  News,  London,  Sept.  14,  1861,  from  Extract  from  the  Re- 
port of  H.  B.  M.  Consul. 
Influence  of  Sulphur  on  Fermentation. — When  finely-powdered  sulphur 
is  placed  in  grape  juice,  Leuchs  says  the  fermentation  goes  on  as  usual 
with  the  formation  at  the  same  time  of  a  good  deal  of  sulphuretted  hydro- 
gen. If  the  must  is  not  too  much  diluted  with  water,  there  is  a  smell,  and 
even  taste  resembling  that  of  garlic  or  onions,  but  when  diluted,  the  smell 
is  more  like  that  of  liver  of  sulphur.  The  sugar  appears  to  be  decomposed 
but  slowly,  for  the  fluid  remains  sweet  a  long  time.  Leuchs  suggests 
that  mineral  waters,  containing  sulphuretted  hydrogen  and  carbonic  acid, 
may  be  prepared  by  fermenting  with  a  little  sulphur.  Grapes  which  have 
been  dusted  over  with  sulphur  to  cure  the  disease,  the  author  says,  give 
wine  that  smells  of  sulphur,  but  loses  the  smell  in  six  months,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  oxidation  of  the  sulphur.  Powdered  sulphur  added  to  a 
solution  of  grape  sugar  excited  no  fermentation  in  the  first  eight  days. 
Afterwards  the  fluid  became  cloudy,  and  sulphuretted  hydrogen  was 
evolved.  The  fluid  passed  through  filtering  paper  with  great  difficulty, 
and  gum  appeared  to  have  been  formed. 
Colorless  Caoutchouc  Varnish. — Dr.  Bolley  recommends  to  cut  the 
caoutchouc  into  small  strips,  and  digest  them  in  benzine,  at  the  ordinary 
temperature  ;  stirring  or  shaking  the  mixture  frequently  and  long.  The 
jelly  which  forms  is  partly  dissolved,  and  gives  a  liquid  heavier  than  benzine, 
which  may  be  made  nearly  colorless  by  filtration  and  repose.  By  pressing 
the  residuum  in  a  strong  cloth,  may  be  obtained  a  dark  colored  insoluble 
jelly,  which  makes  a  good  adhesive  covering.  It  incorporates  well  with 
all  the  fat  and  volatile  oils,  and  dries  rapidly:  the  surface  is  not  shining. 
It  is  very  flexible,  and  may  be  spread  in  thin  coats. — Dingler's  Polytech. 
Jour.    Bull.  Soc.  d'Encour  pour  V Indus.  Nat. 
The  Working  power  of  Coal. — Professor  Rogers  estimates  that  nearly 
one-sixth  of  the  total  annual  produce  of  our  coal  mines  is  used  for  the  pro- 
