34 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



6. On the Production of Potash Salts from 

 Woodlands and Waste Lands. 



( With Plate.) 

 By G. P. Gordon, B.Sc. 



It is now a matter of common knowledge that, as a result of 

 the European crisis, the main supplies of potassium salts have 

 been cut off, and there is every reason to believe that the stocks 

 of these in Scotland will be completely exhausted by April 1915. 

 The annual consumption, in Scotland, is approximately 25,000 

 tons of low-grade salts having a potash content of from 

 10 per cent, to 15 per cent. (K„0), and 500 tons of high- 

 grade salts containing from 40 per cent, to 50 per cent, 

 potash (K,0). 



These potash salts are used in a large number of industries, 

 e.g., soap-making (soft soap); glass-making; pottery manufacture; 

 artificial manure making ; electro-plating, gilding and electro- 

 gilding ; dyeing, bleaching and fixing processes ; manufacture 

 of gunpowder and pyrotechnic materials ; manufacture of lucifer 

 matches; calico printing; extraction of gold by the "cyanide 

 processes"; manufacture of soluble glass; tanning; manufacture 

 of Prussian blue ; case hardening of iron ; salting and pickling of 

 meat; photography. 



The chief potash compounds used for industrial purposes are 

 the carbonate, sulphate, chloride, hydrate, chlorate, cyanide and 

 nitrate. In addition certain potash salts are used medicinally, 

 e.g., the iodide, bromide, acetate, bicarbonate, citrate and 

 chlorate. 



It has long been established that the ash of plants is rich in 

 potash salts, of which, as the analyses show, anything from 3-5 

 per cent, to 26 per cent, may be obtained. The following 

 analysis was made of a sample obtained by lixiviating wood ash 

 with boiling water and evaporating to dryness, and indicates 

 the manner in which the potash is combined with the various 

 acid radicles in the wood ash. The analysis was made by the 

 City Analysts, Glasgow. 



