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Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1613, 14 February 1866, Page 2

New Blasting Powdeb. — Captain Schulze's powder, according to German ideas the invention of the age, isbeing more and more frequently employed in the mines of Silesia and the Rhenish provinces. Its advantages over the old production of Berthold Schwara are stated to be many and importj ant. It is a little cheaper, considerably I lighter, produces neither smell nor smoke, i does not foul the gun, is not spoiled by water, and may be prepared and stored without danger of explosion. A few particulars about the composition and mode of manufacture will be acceptable to riiany of your readers. Beech and other wood is first reduced to powder, then boiled and purified from acid, next dried, and treated with nitric acid, and, finally, saturated with nitrate of potash, or a mixture of nitrate of potash and nitrate of barytes. It is this last process only that renders the powder explosive, and as it requires but a few hours to parforra, it might, if desired for the sake of security, be deferred. The Prussian Government still hesitate to introduce the new invention into the army ; but the French and Swiss Governments are entering upon experiments with a view to its ultimate adoption for military purposes. — Nov. 22. Effect of Soil and Climate upon Wooi« —As illustrating the effect of soil and climate as it affects the growth and characteristics of breeds of sheep, we may mention, from two authenticated cases, the alteration which soil or climate makes. The one is a case where a Cotswold sheep was taken as au experiment into Lincolnshire, to cross with that valuable breed the Lincolns. At t" e time he was somewhat close in the wool, ana. of course, without that peculiarity in the wool, the lustre. After this sheep had been in Lincolnshire for about twelve months, n<? had acquired the lustre for which the Lincolns are so celebrated, and his wool, insteai of being thick and close, had become lonj>> open and curly. Another instance we no is that of Lincolns being brought on t Cotswold Hills by a g ntleman who came from Lincolnshire to farm a Cotswold farm, brought a flock of well-bred Lincolns him, which had long, open, and curly w « and full of lustre. However, in a the lustre left the wool, and the wool beca close and thick on the Lincolns; lust tn verse of what occurred with the Cotsw when sent into Lincolnshire. This sho effect of soil or climate in the growth of * besides which the general appoarance _ become changed. It is so, perhaps, in. breed or variety of sheep, that the t stances of soil, climate, and roa " ® make sheep of the same breed most un tack other*— Agricultural Gazette,