The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-03 00:00:00

Agricultural Chemistry,

M. Boussingault, whose important labours in
scientific agriculture are well known to our readers,
attributes, in the 31 volume of his " Agronomie,
Chimie Agricole et PhysiolcPgie," just published, to
the oxalic acid contained in guano, qualities hitherto

overlooked by other chemists. If, be observes,
guano be treated by water, and the solution be
immediately filtered, crystals of neutral oxalate
of ammonia will be deposited by evaporation; the
mother-ley thin contains sulphate and phosphate

of ammonia; but if, instead of filtering, the

mixture be left to digest for some time, the case
is quite different, ; the oxalic acid goes on dimi-
nishing in the liquid as the digestion proceeds,
ond phosphoric acid is formed instead ; after 24
hours, this acid and the ammonia are in sufficient

quantity to form an abundant precipitate of phcs-
pate of ammonia and magnesia, when a solution of
sulphate of ammonia is poured in. The phosphate
of ammonia is produced by the oxalate, which, being
dissolved, acts upon the phosphate of lime ; hence,
by double decomposition, w e obtain a soluble
phosphate of ammonia and an insoluble oxalate
of lime. From this our author concludes that

:he oxalic acid of guano is a principle of far greater

importance than has hitherto been supposed.
Both earthy and ammoniacal guano he considers
to have the same origin ; but in tie former
the disappearance of ammonia is probably due

to local circumstances, such as the abundance and
' frequency of rain, which naturally favours the de.
composition of organic substances and the dissolu-
tion of ammoniacal salts. And indeed that part of
the South Sea coast where ammoniacal guano is
found, offers this peculiarity that from Tumbes to
the desert of Atacama rain is almost unknown,
while in the parts nut comprist.,d between these
limits, north of Tumbes, is the impenetrable and
marshy forest 3 of the (Loco, it rains almost inces-
santly. At Pay ta,south of that province, it had not
rained for 17 years, at the time M. Boussirlgault was
there; and further south, at Chocope, in 7 deg.
46 min. S. lat., the rain which fell in 1726 was men-
tioned as a memorable event. Nor are there any
storms on this Peruvian coast. An inhabitant of
Pura or Sechura does not know what thunder is,
unless he has travelled. This is the zone within
which ammoniacal guana is found; north and south
of this zone, guano, exposed as it is to tropical
showers, generally contains no ammonia or soluble
salts, but retains an unsoluble one, phosphate of
lime. This third volume of M. Boussingault's work
contains much interesting matter concerning climate,
temperature, &c., chiefly comprising the results of
the author's own experience and accurate observe..
tion.

Foreign Mail Packet List.
-- •

MAILS DUE.

Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. June 18.
via Marseilles ... June 12,
,cirazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. June 5.
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena June 29.
China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton June 2
via Marseilles June 12.

Falkland Islands
Gibraltar, via Southampton June 2.
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton June 2

. .
via Mameilfes June 12.
India (Bombay), via Southampton June 11.

-- via Marseilles June 5.
Portugal.... June 5.
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton June 2.
via Marseilles June 5.
Newfoundland
Oporto and Vigo
U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... June 8.
by U.S. packet
by Canadian packet June 3.
All, parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, j June 10.
California. and British Columbia..

DEATH OF SIRJOHN WATSON GORDON,P.R.S.A,,
AND R.A.—The announcement of the death of Sir
John Watson Gordon, which took place at Edinburgh, on
Wednesday, will be universally received as that of a far
more than local, of a truly national, loss. President of the
Royal Scottish Academy, and member of the Royal
Academy, the honour due to his unrivalled eminence in his
especial department of his art was not less freely, nor
with less pride in his genius, paid in England than in his
native country, to which he, during his whole life, so
lovingly and so beneficently clung. John Watson Gordon
was born in Edinburgh some 74 years ago. He studied at
the Academy of Trustees for the Encouragement of Manu-
facture in Edinburgh. He early turned his attention to
that branch of his art in which he has achieved so high a
reputation. He first exhibited in the Royal Academy in
1827, continuing to do so up to the present exhibition:
In 1841 he was elected associate, and in 1851 member
of the Royal Academy. He ham filled the chair of Presi-
dent of the Royal Scottish Academy, which owes to him
so much of its vitality and its position, since the death of Sir
W. Allan, in 1850. In that year, also, he was appointed
limner to her Majesty, for Scotland, on which occasion he
received the honour of knighthood. Sir John was unmar-
ried.--Scotsman.

A NEW GIGANTIC BALLOON.—Mr. Caswell has
just completed a flaw balloon, which is somewhat
larger than the one in which he has made the high ascents,
in company with Mr. Glaisher. Like its celebrated prede-
cessor, the present machine has been constructed at Tot-
tenham—this time under canvas, on the aeronaut's pre-
mises, and we may add entirely from Mr. Coxwell's own
resources, both as regards artistic and pecuniary ability,
There is a peculiarity about this balloon which admits of a
vast increase of capacity, should enlargement be at any time
necessary, in order to compete with continental " Geants."
This novelty consists of the telescopic elongation, so to
speak, of the balloon, by means of indiarubber cloth intrp-
duced when required into the equator. Messrs. Fanehawe
and Jacques, of the Tottenham Indiarubber Works,
are trying a few experiments to ascertain which is the most
suitable material for Mr Cox well's purpose; and they have
permitted their designer, Mr Williams, to attend to Mr.
Coxwell's requirements, and also to execute an immense
figure of Britannia, as a specimen decoration to the balloon,
to be transferred thereupon when it shall have achieved its
first ascent. The magnificent addition to aerostatic art will
be inflated in the centre transept of the Crystal Palace, on
the 6tb, 7tb, and Bth inst. It is rumoured that the novel
idea of a concert inside the balloon is to be carried into effect
each day during the exhibition. An engine of two-horse
power will keep up a continual supply of fresh air, so that
the orchestral department may net be inconvenienced.
Some interesting experiments on the propagation of sound
will be connected with this balloon concert, and thus, like
most of Mr Coxwell's undertakings, amusement will be
associated with science.—lottenkant Advertiser, June 1.
MADRID, May 31.—Advices from Peru state that
the Government of that country seemed disposed to
give satisfaction to Spain.