To prepare the chesnut wood for the purposes of tanning, a mode has been devised for reducing it to a suitable degree of fineness. This method consists in the application of knives, either in the direction of, or transversely to the grain, by a rotatory motion. This mode obviously involves the greatest possible economy of moving power. Messrs. B. and M. Stebbins, of West-Springfield, who are making arrangements for going largely into the exportation of the article, have in construction a machine upon this plan. As might be expected, the inspissated aqueous extract of the chesnut, bears a near resemblance in many particulars, to catechu. Professor Dewey, of William's College, who at my request, has gone through an extensive and elaborate course of experiments, informed me that he obtained a quarter more of the gelatinous precipitate from the former, than from the latter. By the taste, the two substances are not to be distinguished, except that the former is more pungent. It leaves upon the tongue, the same permanent and refreshing sweetness, for which the other is so much prized in the east; where it is used as an article of luxury, with betel nut. Might not the extract be advantageously substituted for catechu, in the celebrated life preserving composition of Dr. Pearson; the object being to concentrate the greatest possible quantity of nutritious and tonic substances in the smallest weight. The colouring properties of the two substances, are entirely different. After the discovery, twelve or fifteen years since, of the composition of the _terra japonica_, attempts were made in England to introduce it into the materia tingentia, as a substitute for galls; but unfortunately, like the extract of quercitron, it affords with iron nothing but a meagre olive; and Dr. Bancroft states, that in a great number of trials, he was unable, by the greatest accumulation, to produce any thing like a black, even upon wool, much less upon cotton and silk.