ON  COTTON  CULTURE  IN  INDIA. 
a37 
detergent,  and  mixed  with  common  soap,  preventing  the  usual 
loss  by  evaporation,  and  increasing  the  weight.  It  has  been 
used  by  several  parties  in  this  country  and  abroad  for  saturating 
timbers,  scenery,  dresses,  and  other  inflammable  material,  being 
itself  of  a  highly  incombustible  nature,  and  thus  protecting  other 
substances  to  a  great  extent  from  the  action  of  fire.  The  solu- 
tion consolidates  into  a  clear  glass  or  varnish,  which  is  not 
acted  on  by  cold  water,  and  may  therefore  be  freely  washed 
therewith.  In  contact  with  lime  it  consolidates,  and  is  partly 
converted  into  silicate  of  lime.  Hence  it  has  been  employed 
especially  in  Berlin,  in  the  process  called  "  Stereochrome,"  a 
revival  of  fresco  painting  on  the  walls  of  buildings ;  the  design 
being  perfectly  protected  by  the  application  of  a  solution  of  the 
"water  glass,"  as  a  varnish  over  the  surface.  This  maybe 
freely  washed,  and,  if  necessary,  renewed  from  time  to  time. 
The  same  substance  is  the  essential  element  in  Ransome's 
artificial  stone  process,  and  other  similar  processes,  in  which  a 
porous ^sandstone  or  limestone  is  saturated  with  this  silicate, 
which  not  only  consolidates,  but  combines  with  the  lime,  form- 
ing a  compact  mass  of  flinty  hardness,  and  impervious  to  atmos- 
pheric influence. 
Its  solution  possesses  highly  adhesive  properties,  and  may  be 
considered  the  basis  of  a  good  cement  for  glass  or  china.  By 
itself  it  holds  fragments  with  great  tenacity  in  the  cold,  but 
yields  on  the  application  of  heat.  The  solution  for  this  purpose 
must  not  be  too  strong,  and  if  mixed,  when  used,  with  a  little 
lime,  the  cement  is  very  firm. 
With  such  a  variety  of  useful  properties,  the  hope  may  be  en- 
tertained that  some  application  of  it  may  be  suggested  available 
to  purposes  of  Pharmacy. — London  Pharm.  Journ.,  May,  1851. 
DR.  ROYLE  ON  COTTON  CULTURE  IN  INDIA.  * 
The  recent  death  of  Dr.  Forbes  Royle  cannot  but  be  regarded 
as  a  loss  to  India.  No  man  living  was  so  well  acquainted  with 
the  productive  resources  of  our  Eastern  empire,  or  so  capable  of 
*  Review  of  the  Measures  which  have  been  adopted  in  India  for  the  Im- 
proved Culture  of  Cotton.   By  J.  Forbes  Royle,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S. 
22 
