INDIAN PKAIIL \>H 



.'.iired : (</) Fniin the ashes .if plants. (/>) From tho noil (dm- to 

 the disintegration nf felspar ami other silicates ami the ultimate cornhinat ion 

 cif their p..l.i-li \\illi carl.nnie .-eid), al.-.o numi-nui- methods patented for t he 



iipli-hmeiit nf this same result art ilieiall v. (<) From the 

 sulphate, produced hy thn de-composition nf I In- rhl< >ri< If I hrou)/h tli. 

 Milphim. acid fnllnwcd l>\ fusion nf tin- result in/ sulphates with lirn. 

 charcoal, in other words a process alums) identical with tin- I..- Hlaiie method of 

 treating soda. ('/) From suint or the \vo.,| ni sh.-ep impregnated with the sweat 

 (hat exudes from the hodies of the animals. {<) lieet-root vinaKSO. 



Koxlitirgh's statements regard i nc; the production of pearl-ash are amusing 

 and interesting (Fl. Ind., \\., (>2). I Hhall <|iiotc his own words. "Ourextoi, 

 and I may also say inipenotrable forests, which cover such large tracts of the best 

 lands in India might by degrees be cleared and turned into potash, for the same 

 m and by the same means " on the saltworts of the coast might yield harilla. 

 .linly, lahonr is as cheap here as in Russia." "In this hot climate we have 

 many advantages, viz. immense tracts of wood of the most solid texture which 

 require lit t lc lahonr to prepare it for the fire, on account of the great drought and 

 heat which prevail at the season this manufacture could be best curried on. The 

 same heat and drought is fully sufficient to evaporate the ley without the 

 assistance of fire." " Our extensive and impend rahle forests " sounds remarkable, 

 when it is home in mind that one of the reasons assigned at the present day for 

 the recent expansion of the area of carbonate of soda impregnated sterile soils 

 is the ahsence of forest. We know as a matter of trade history that India never 

 actually burned her forests in the production of pearl-ash. Moreover, Roxburgh's 

 "impenetrable forests" had very possibly no reference to Northern India. 

 Still his remarks are significant since ho was one of the best informed and most 

 careful observers and at the same time one of the most accurate writers who ever 

 lived in India. His words cannot, therefore, be placed on one side as unworthy 

 of consideration. They doubtless denote that 100 years ago forest was very 

 much more plentiful than at the present day and was possibly ruthlessly destroyed 

 to make room for temporary cultivation. 



Of plants it may in general terms be said that herbaceous annuals contain 

 more pearl-ash than woody arborescent plants, but even of the same plant tlw 

 succulent young growths are more highly charged than mature tissues. Of different 

 species 1,000 parts of pine contain on an average only 0'46 parts of potash, oaks 

 o 7-">. vine shoots 5 - 50, ordinary straw 5'8, ferns from 4'25 to 6'26, Indian corn- 

 stalks IT'S, nettles 25'03, wheat straws before earing 47'0, wormwood 73 - 0, and 

 beet about the same amount. These facts naturally suggest the plants best 

 suited for the preparation of pearl-ash, and the immense development within 

 recent years of the beet-sugar industry at once awakened an interest in carbonate 

 of potash as a by-product that might supplement the returns of beet cultivation. 

 This has been actually turned to account. 



Indian Pearl-ash. The following may be given as the principal plants em- 

 ployed in India for the preparation of pearl-ash : 



ALKALIS 



POTASH 



Manufacture. 



Achyranthes aspera. 

 Adhatoda Vasica. 

 Alstonia scholaris. 

 Amarantus spinosus. 

 Bamboo spp. 

 Borassus flabellifer. 

 Butea frondosa. 

 Csesalpinia Bonducella, 

 Calotropis gigantea. 

 Cassia Fistula. 

 Cedrus Deodara. 

 Erythi ina indica. 

 Euphorbia neriifolia. 

 Euphorbia Tirucalli. 

 Gmelina arborea. 



Holarrhena antidysenterica. 

 Hordeum vulgare. 

 Indigofera tinctoria. 

 Luffa segyptiaca. 

 Musa sapientum. 

 Nerium odoruni. 

 Pennisetum typhoideum. 

 Plumbago zeylanica. 

 Pongamia glabra. 

 Shorea robusta. 

 Stereospennum suaveolens. 

 Symplocos racemosa. 

 Terminalia belerica. 

 Vallaris Heynei. 



View*. 



Impenetruble 



Yield In Various 

 Plants. 



Carbonate 

 of Potash a 

 By-product in 

 Beet-sugar. 



Plants used in 

 India. 



Vitex Negundo. 



The crude ashes obtained from the above and such-like plants are the chief 

 sources of the potash salts employed by the people of India in their arts, science 

 and medicine. 



Uses. In Europe carbonate of potash is largely in demand for the manufacture 

 of certain soaps, after having been converted into the caustic. It is also essential Soap and Ola 

 in the formation of potash-glass and enters into many tinctorial and textile 

 processes, such as the dyeing of Turkey red and of Arnotto (!.* Orfiinnn . 



49 4 



Crude Indian 



Alkalis. 



Turkey-red 

 Dyeing. 



