' oj the State of New YorJc.^ 2G1 



and as the enquiry Involved chemical details^ I was honored with a 

 commission to examine into the various processes adopted in the man- 

 ufacture of potash, and to analyze samples of the various kinds brought 

 to market. That duty I endeavored faithfully to discharge, and made 

 full reports of the results of my investigations. These reports were 

 published among the documents of the legislature, but as their circu- 

 lation was necessarily limited, I have tliought that a summary of the 

 facts which they contain, might be, with advantage, more widely dif- 

 fused. I have accordingly prepared the following paper, which you 

 ^vill oblige me by publishing in your valuable Journal. 



Various methods of Manufacturing Potash, pursued in the State 



of New York. 



The most plausible view of the formation of the carbonate of pot- 

 ash, (the form in which commercial potash occurs,) by the incinera- 

 tion of wood, is that the acetate of potash exists in the wood, and 

 that this by calcination, is converted into the carbonate. The wood 

 is burned upon the earth, in a situation protected from the wind, the 

 result of which is the formation of carbonate of potash and several 

 other soluble salts, together with some substances upon which water 

 has no action. By lixiviation with hot or cold water the soluble part 

 is dissolved out, and this solution, when boiled to dryness, leaves be- 

 hind a dark brown saline mass, consisting of carbonate of potash, a 

 minute portion of one or two other salts and a small quantity of ve- 

 getable inflammable matter; and in this state it is known in commerce 

 ty the name o£ Potash. Calcination at a moderate heat, complete- 

 ly burns off the coloring particles, and the salt becomes of a spongy 

 texture, and beautiful blueish white tinge ; it is then called Ptarlash, 



Such are the simple principles upon which these important arti- 

 cles are prepared. But instead of following them, various substan- 

 ces are frequently added, either previous to, or during the boiling, 

 ostensibly for the sole purpose of facilitating the manufacture, but 

 Which really have the effect of Increasing the weight of the resulting 



mass at the expense of its purity. 



To show what absurd notions were entertained on this subject, and 

 the necessity which existed for legislative interference, I will here 

 introduce the specifications of a patent obtained in February, 1831, 

 h an inhabitaTit of Oswego County, N. Y., for what is termed " an 

 improvement in the manufacture of potash." Strange as it may 

 seem, many well meaning and practiced manufacturers were deceiv- 



