EDITORIAL. 
LABORATORY TESTING OF CLAYS. 
The investigations into pottery clays in Westérn Australia carried 
out by the Institute of Science and Industry, in co-operation with the 
State Government, have created considerable interest in that State, and 
have provided some helpful knowledge to those engaged in the pottery 
industry. Mr. E. S. Simpson, D.Sc., of the Geological Survey Branch, 
who is a member of the Special Committee which is making the inquiries, - 
recently delivered an address to members of the Chemical Society ot 
Western Australia upon the “Laboratory Testing of Clays.” Amongst 
the various properties which must be investigated in the raw state are 
mechanical composition, mineral composition, plasticity, air shrinkage, 
and tenacity when dry, and in the burnt state, colour, fusibility, 
shrinkage, porosity, strength, and hardness. Very rarely is it found 
that a’ single clay is suitable for any article of pottery, but from the 
tests carried out in the laboratory it is possible to advise as to the 
necessary admixture to be made to give the desired colour and body. 
The Western Australian Committee has already made extensive tests of 
local clays, and its final report on the work it has so far completed is 
now in course of preparation. 
NEW TREATMENT OF WHEAT FOR BUNT. 
As the result of comprehensive tests made at the Wagea and Cowra 
experimental farms, it is claimed that a more satisfactory method has been 
found of treating seed wheat for bunt than by pickling in a bluestone 
solution. Mr. G. P. Darnell-Smith, D.Sc., and Mr. H. Ross, of the New 
South Wales Department of Agriculture, after several years of laboratory 
tests and field experience, during which several mineral and other dry 
substances were experimented with, have come to the conclusion that 
carbonate of copper gives the best results. The method which they 
finally adopted of treating the seed wheat was to dust dry copper 
carbonate through the grain at the rate of 2 ozs. of the fungicide to 
1 bushel of wheat. Substantial increases in the yield per acre were 
obtained in comparison with pickled seed, while other advantages which 
the new process possesses over the established practice are said to be 
that:—(a) no water is required; (b) no injurious effect is caused to 
either the grain or the young plant, as is the case with bluestone 
pickling; (c) seed wheat can be treated weeks before it is sown; (d) no 
damage is done to the grain if it should le in a dry seed-bed for weeks 
without germinating; (¢) a better germination is obtained; and (f) the 
process is quicker and less laborious than wet pickling. 
BROWN COAL. 
Professor David, of the Sydney University, who acted as Chief 
Geologist at Sir Douglas Haig’s headquarters, recently visited Brisbane 
at the invitation of the Royal Geographical Association, and of the 
University of Queensland; and lectured upon his experiences at the 
Front. Referring to the famous brown coal deposits west of Cologne 
he said that in February of this year he completed examinations of the 
chief part of the territory occupied by the British Army on the east 
side of the Rhine, in the neighbourhood of Cologne, Bonn, and Solingen. 
These brown coal deposits occurred in seams from 50 feet up to 200 feet 
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