The finer kinds of asbestos, the strong fibres of which are of a pure white colour and of a fine silky texture, being at the same time free from silicic acid or metallic oxide, are comparatively rare; and, on account of their lubricating qualities, are especially valuable. This particular kind, I am told, is at the present time only to be found in Canada and some parts of the States. Whether this statement is correct or not, I am not in a position to say; but that it is found in Canada I know, for I have there personally witnessed the blasting out of many hundreds of tons. In the Dominion it is invariably obtained from hard rock somewhat difficult to work. In an interesting paper on Italian asbestos, to be found in the "Journal of the Society of Arts" for April, 1886, to which I have been indebted for a good deal of information respecting the Italian mines, I find a very singular statement given as the result of long observation by the _employés_ of the United Company in Italy. It is there said that "if asbestos be found on the surface of a rock exposed either to the south or south-west, the product is generally fairly abundant and of good quality. If exposed to the east there is fine quality, but very small quantity; whilst if exposed to the north the quantity is plentiful but dry and hard, and on entering the rock all traces of it are lost." Whether this be at all consistent with Canadian experience I cannot say. The lie of the ground and the course of the veins being so different, it is quite possible the theory may have no applicability at all to Canadian mining. But it is certainly suggestive and interesting, and I will cause inquiry in this direction to be set on foot at once. In the same paper I find the following given as analyses of the two varieties. The first is stated to be by Professor Barff, but by whom the latter was made does not appear. According to these there would be little doubt which was the most valuable for general manufacturing purposes, but as there is nothing to show what kind of Canadian ore was submitted for analysis, or by whom the analysis was made, you must take it as an analysis only, _quantum valeat_. ITALIAN. CANADIAN. Lime and magnesia 37·84 33·20 Silica 41·69 40·90 Oxide of iron 3·01 5·75 Potash ·85 traces Soda 1·41 ·68 Alumina 2·57 6·60 Moisture evaporated at 100° C. 3·04 -- Loss on heating to white heat, water of hydration, and organic matter 9·56 12·50 Chlorine -- ·25 Loss ·03 ·12 ------ ------ 100 100