New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-12
APPLIED SCIENCE.

"A Il
...
srrrNrny OF BIssrr7H.-A selenide Of bismuth
has been found IN mineral of the mining district
of Guanaxuato having in addition to selenium and
bismuth slight trace of zinc and some IRON
c,-r1xo AND BORING CAouTcHoUc CoEKs.-By
,oo,stening the knife or borer with moderately
strong solution of caustic soda and potash Instead
90 with water or alcohol it is said that Indiarubber
NAV be cut with much ease as ordinary CORK
wood.
REMOVAL OF ACID FROM THE SOIL BY 0u-PRo-
pUorNG PLANTs.-It is said that land 10 the neigh
borhood of Torgau has been rendered fit for the pro-
duotion of wheat by planting it with rape-seed
every two years; the oil-producing plants, like the
orac;fer6 In general, acting like lime upon the SUI
in the removal of acid from It,
VAsEIINE, A NEW PETROLEUM PRODUCr-A new
petroleum product has been introduced into '"o
trade under the name of vaseline which, aooo,uihs
to The English Mechanic, promises to DC uSeiui a.
vehicle for emolent preparations. ~ Is 49, so and
semtraqsparent ELY free y Io osined by evSporat.
inc crude petroleum. and hltering the residue
through animal charcOai.
NEW AND DURABLE COLoRs.-Durable colOrs can
Ia nrepared economically, according to The English
B6eobanic by mixing small portions of sulphate of
iron nitrate of manganese AMI nitrate of cobalt or
suInbate of copper with solution of sulphate OF
zinc The mixture is then reduced to dryness, and
subjected to sufficient heat to drive off the sulphurlc
acid. the cOlors prepared by tins process are yell
lows, green's gIays, pinks, and gold.
SLATE FOR ENGRAvERs.-As a matter of interest
to wood engravers the reported discovery is worth
noting that plates of polished slate NAV be used as
substitutes for lockwood in woOdengravng 1t DC
cared that such engraved plates will furnish over
100000 impressions without loss of detail and fur,
Their, that they will not warp and are not ahecteu
Inv either oil or wafer. The one drawback which
they possess, however, is the tact thag tney aI9
readily scratched an objection from winch Woou
is free.
RFPoRT on THE INSECTS OF MIssOURI-The last
annual report on the nOxiOus, beneficial and harm
less insects in the State of Missouri, made to the
State Board of Agriculture by Prof Charles v.
Riley is not inferior to its predecessors in interest
and Importance. As might he expected from the
especial connection of the author with the history
of the Phyl'Orera. grapevine louise insects par
tcular attention is directed ID this species aud its
various pecnliaTties and the most recent intOrma-
ton in regard to ii placed on record. The Colorado
pOtaObug. another of the IGost Formidable insects
of modern DAYS is also considered In all its rela-
tOns. Sev0al very good wOOd-cuts assist IN en-
bellishing the volume.
KEKUNE OIL, OR HUILE DE BANCOUL-The oil
from the nuts of the Aeuites tOba they contain 81
to 80 per cent which is found in the European mar
ket though not regularly, under the name OF
Kekune OIL or hie de baaoOal. deserves. according
to DIR. Wesner more notice from oil manufacturers,
not only on account of its cheapDess las it can be
produced in large quantities in Guadalupe, New
Caledonia, &cl but also on account of its quality.
1; belongs to the drying oils, and is said to be re;
markably well adapted to the preparation OF oil
paints and if it also proves adapted to the manu-
factnre of printing ink. less cost than that from
nseed OIL its introduction for that purpose Will Dc
very desirable.
PRICE OF BURNING GAs.-The following figures
show the net price of illuminating gas throughout
the United States upon the authority of the Wash
ington ID. c.. Ga,light Company: