Class IY.]
83
Cape of Good Hope , are exhibited by J. Lixdenbkrg, ofWorcester district (45, p. 950). This is an excellentmaterial for the manufacture of candles, when employedin conjunction with other solid fats. The Jury awardeda Prize Medal for these specimens.
From Western Africa an interesting collection of oilsand oil seeds is contributed by Warwick Weston*(1, p. 952), consisting of Shea butter, or galam butter,obtained from the fruit of the Micadenia, or BassiaParkii , a tree closely resembling the Bassia latifolia, andother species indigenous to Hindostan. According toPark, the tree is abundant in Bambara; the oil is solid,of a greyish-white colour, and fuses at 97°. Specimensare also shown of Beynie seed and Ground-nut ( Arachishypogcea'), and of the oil expressed from them; and like-wise of palm oil, and palm kernel oil, the former excellent.The Jury awarded a Prize Medal for these specimens.
A specimen of the Shea butter is also exhibited by Dr.McWilliam, from Egga, on the river Niger (5a, p. 953,954), which was deemed worthy of Honourable Mention.
A good specimen of myrtle or candle berry wax,accompanied by candles made from it in the crude un-bleached state, and a dried branch of the plant itself,bearing leaves and fruit from New Brunswick (29, p. 970),are exhibited by J. Chalmers ; these were deemed worthyof Honourable Mention.
Good samples of cocoa-nut oil are contributed by theRoyal Society of Natural History of the Mauritius ,(4, p. 970), and by Mr. Mellon, likewise from the Mau-ritius (6, p. 956).
Specimens of laurel oil, from the River Poomeroon,Essequibo, and crab or carapa oil, from the Essequiboriver, in British Guiana, are exhibited by J. S. Stutch-bury (52, 53, p. 980). The latter is a sort of vegetablebutter, being sometimes solid, and sometimes half fluid,which is obtained from the seed of the carapa or y andiroba,Carapa guianensis , or Xylocarpus carapa , a large tree,abundant in the forests of Guiana and Acagie. It is said toturn rancid very soon when exposed to the air, but this isprobably caused by the presence of impurities arisingfrom the crude and imperfect mode in which it is pre-pared by the natives, who boil the kernels, leave them ina heap for a few days, then skin them, and lastly reducethem into a paste in a woodeu mortar, which is thenspread on an inclined board, and exposed to the heat ofthe sun, so that the oil may melt and gradually trickledown into a vessel placed below to receive it. The Juryawarded a Prize Medal for this specimen.
Another sample of crab or carapa oil is also shown inthe collection of Trinidad, raw produce, exhibited byLord Harris (see p. 71; p. 973), as well as a portion ofcocoa-uut oil, of which a considerable quantity is obtainediu that island, chiefly on the eastern coast; and a specimenof cacao butter, obtained from the seeds of the Theobromacacao , a well-known white solid fat, fusible at about 120°.
Some excellent olive oil, the produce of New SouthWales , is exhibited by R. Hallet and Sons (5, p. 991).Independent of its interest as coming from a colony, thisoil deserves notice for its clearness, colour, and flavour;it was deemed worthy of Honourable Mention.
A good sample of olive oil, from South Australia , is alsoexhibited by the Colonization Assurance Corporation,in their series of Western Australian raw produce(see p. 71). They also show some sandal-wood nut oiland tar from Guildford; some distilled oil of the Lef,to-spemunn, which it is stated may be obtained in any quan-tity ; and a similar oil produced by distillation from theEucalyptus piperita, a powerful solvent of caoutchouc,evidently very similar, if not altogether identical, with theoil of Cajeput. The characters of these two oils are very 'similar, aud without some care, it is difficult to distinguish ,them from one another by the odour; the leptospermum ;oil has a slight tinge of yellow, its specific gravity is |0-9035; the eucalyptus oil is colourless, aud has a density jof 0*9145. It is probable that these oils might be used 1with great advantage in the manufacture of varnish, they !readily dissolve copal, and when its solution is spread over jany surface, the oil soon evaporates, and leaves a hard Ibrilliant and uniform coating of the resin ; these oils are !specially worthy of attention. !
A remarkably good sample of oil of peppermint isshown by H. G. and L. B. Hotchkiss, of Lyons, NewYork (156, pp. 1446, 1447); for this the Jury awarded aPrize Medal.
An interesting specimen of maize, or Indian corn oil, iscontributed bv B. B. Kirtlaxd, of Greenbush, NewYork (84, p. 1432).
An excellent series of samples of Austrian linseed andlinseed oil is exhibited by A. Steinbock, of St. Georgia,near Mauthausen (103, p. 1013), consisting of UpperAustrian and Moravian seed, together with oil of first andsecond quality, both raw and prepared for drying, ex-tracted from both sorts of seed. For the superior qualityof these oils the Jury awarded a Prize Medal.
Some good Hungarian rape oil, in its crude state, amilikewise refined, is shown by C. T. Malyieux, of Pesth (102, p. 1013); this was deemed worthy of HonourableMention.
The chief oils shown in the Belgian collection are ofanimal origin, but there are also several good vegetableoils. L. E. Bisse, of Anderleckt, near Brussels (87, p.1154), exhibits remarkably fine clear samples of refinedvegetable oil: for these the Jury awarded a Prize Medal.Good linseed oil, prepared for the use of painters, andpurified colza oil, are contributed by F. Yanderstraeten,of Brussels (84, p. 1154). L. Claude, of Brussels (85, p.1154), shows extra-refined pale rape, purified for burningin lamps, as a substitute for sperm; and Debbaudt-Delacroix, of Courtrai (92, p. 1154), exhibits some goodcolza oil, both raw and purified. These three the Juryseverally deemed desert ing of Honourable Mention.
Some vegetable wax from China , is contributed, by HerMajesty’s Consul, at Shanghae (p. 1418): this substance,from its high melting point, and other physical characters,has of late attracted a good deal of attention ; it is ad-mirably adapted as a material for the manufacture ofcandles. The Jury, therefore, deemed it worthy ofHonourable Mention. A remarkable vegetable wax fromJapan is also shown.
Samples of castor oil, lettuce oil, safflower oil, turnip-seed oil, oil of nielle or nigelJa, linseed oil, and oil ofcotton seed, are shown in the Egyptian collection; thelatter is the most remarkable: the series of Egyptian oilswas deemed worthy of Special Mention.
Cotton-seed oil in the raw state, and the same refinedand bleached by a patent process, are exhibited bvDe Geminy, of Marseilles , where the manufacture of thisoil from Egyptian seed, and its purification, are now* car-ried on to a considerable extent (1613, p. 1254). Forthis specimen the Jury awarded a Prize Medal.
Specimens of various volatile oils are shown by Hucues,junior, of Grasse , Var (881, p. 1222). These oils areprepared by a direct process of distillation, discovered bythe exhibitor about a year since, and by means of w'hichthe oil is at once obtained in a state of purity, so that nosubsequent rectification is required. By this process,volatile oils are manufactured for the use of perfumers,in a liighly-economical maimer, and a superior product isobtained both in i*egard to colour, and likewise in respectto delicacy of odour. The Jury awarded a Prize Medalfor these oils.
Specimens of volatile oils prepared for the use of per-fumers, are also exhibited by C. D. Mero, of Grasse ,Yar (1.356, p. 1241). For these likewise the Jury-awarded a Prize Medal.
Samples of very superior bleached oil, for the use ofpainters and varnish-makers, are contributed by* E. F.Haro, of Paris (866, p. 1221). The Jury awarded aPrize Medal for these specimens.
Some very interesting specimens of artificial volatileoils, and perfumed essences, are shown by* M. A. C.Collas, of Paris (801, p. 1219). The Jury awardeda Prize Medal for these.
Some very good bleached oil, prepared for the use ofpainters, is shown by De Ruolz, of Paris , (1466, p.1246); this was deemed worthy of Honourable Mention.
A very fine cake of purified camphor is exhibited byW. Conrad, of Paris (1156, p. 1233); this was deemedworthy of Honourable Mention.
Purified oil, prepared for the use of watchmakers, for
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