&c., are distinguishable by another, TASTE; and had not our physical faculties clearly made the distinction, commerce and manufactures would have defined them:  I therefore repeat, that the artificial essences of fruits are not used in perfumery, as stated in No. 47, from the quoted authorities.  If any man can deny this assertion, let him now do so, “or forever after hold his peace,” at least upon this subject.  The “Journal of the Society of Arts” is not a medium of mere controversy.  If a statement be made in error, let truth correct it, which, if gain-sayed, it should be done, not under the veil of an anonymous correspondent, but with a name to support the assertion.  Science has to deal with tangible facts and figures, to the political alone belongs the anonymous ink-spiller.

    I am, sir, yours faithfully,
    SEPTIMUS PIESSE.
    42 Chapel Street, Edgware Road.

[If the word flavor had been used by the various authors who have written upon this subject, in place of the word perfume, the dissemination of an erroneous idea would have been prevented:  the word perfume, applied to pear-oil, pine-apple oil, &c., implies, and the general tenor of the remarks of the writers leads the reader to infer, that these substances are used by perfumers, who not only do not, but cannot use them in their trade.

But for flavoring nectar, lozenges, sweetmeats, &c., these ethers, or oils as the writers term them, are extensively used, and quite in accordance with assertions of Hoffman, Playfair, Fehling, and Bastick.  However, the glorious achievements of modern chemistry have not lost anything by this misapplication of a trade term.—­SEPTIMUS PIESSE.]

* * * * *

OTTOS FROM PLANTS.

QUANTITIES OF OTTOS, OTHERWISE ESSENTIAL OILS, YIELDED BY VARIOUS
PLANTS.

Pounds                     Of otto. 
Orange-peel,                10 yield about               1 oz. 
Dry marjoram herb,          20      "                    3 oz. 
Fresh   "    "             100      "                    3 oz.
"   Peppermint,          100      "               3 to 4 oz. 
Dry      "                  25      "               3 to 4 oz.
"  Origanum,               25      "               2 to 3 oz.
"  Thyme,                  20      "           1 to 1-1/2 oz.
"  Calamus,                25      "               3 to 4 oz. 
Anise-seed,                 25      "              9 to 12 oz. 
Caraway,                    25      "                   16 oz. 
Cloves,                      1      "                2-1/2 oz. 
Cinnamon,                   25      "                    3 oz. 
Cassia,                     25      "                    3 oz. 
Cedar-wood,                 28      "                    4 oz. 
Mace,                        2      "                    3 oz. 
Nutmegs,                     2      "               3 to 4 oz. 
Fresh balm herb,            60      "          1 to 1-1/2 oz.